What TV Have You Seen?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

I had started to watch the surviving feature length episodes of tv anthology series Mystery and Imagination. (1968-70)

Following Dracula last night, the third story, i've decided to leave the remainder until the new year. Well made and acted it's easy to see they are made for the small screen and are predominantly studio bound, at times seeming very stagey. Having said that the sequence of Dracula rising from his grave is very nicely done.

Dracula for example due to it's confines dismisses Jonathan Harker's original visit to Transylvania and begins with the Count as played by Denholm Elliott (Not someone i would have cast but he's actually not bad and sports some nasty fangs) in London smoothing into the lives of Dr. Seward and Lucy Weston (Susan George). Amazingly Renfield, it turns out is actually Harker driven mad by his ordeal at Castle Dracula.

So not wanting to waste precious movie watching time when i could be taking in horror, classic ghost stories and British sleaze, i'll return to Mystery and Imagination in January 2017.

Denholm Elliott as Dracula.

[J Harker]

Ghost Stories for Christmas.
Two first time viewings for me.

The Signalman by Charles Dickens.

Like every one of these short films this is dripping in atmosphere. Denholm Elliott here brilliant plays the Signalman of the title (or does he?) a railway signal operator on a lonely remote stretch of the line. He is initially fearful when a hiker calls out to him but soon comes to appreciate the company and strikes up a friendship with the unnamed man referred to only as 'The traveller'. Brilliant, one of my favourites now.

Followed up by

Stigma. One of only two installments written specifically for the series and actually set in the present day.
While it's not bad this one wasn't a patch on The Signalman and is a step down from most of the episodes although it held my interest far better than The Ash Tree. This one tells of a family that have moved into a cottage in Wiltshire. In the garden is a huge stone that the husband (Peter Bowles) wants shifted. When workmen try hoisting the rock out strange events begin to occur. Not bad but not top tier like The Signalman or Lost Hearts.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Ghost Stories for Christmas.

Stigma. One of only two installments written specifically for the series and actually set in the present day.
While it's not bad this one wasn't a patch on The Signalman and is a step down from most of the episodes although it held my interest far better than The Ash Tree. This one tells of a family that have moved into a cottage in Wiltshire. In the garden is a huge stone that the husband (Peter Bowles) wants shifted. When workmen try hoisting the rock out strange events begin to occur. Not bad but not top tier like The Signalman or Lost Hearts.

I really like this. Great setting and quite creepy with all that bleeding.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I really like this. Great setting and quite creepy with all that bleeding.

It's not a bad episode. I think the (relatively) modern setting weakens it somewhat. And while I didn't think it was particularly creepy it is a very cold story in that neither the husband or wife have any idea what is going on. It's a pity the wife wasn't played by a better actress, or that the husband wasn't in it a bit more to give a sense of their relationship. Some emotional depth.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

It's not a bad episode. I think the (relatively) modern setting weakens it somewhat. And while I didn't think it was particularly creepy it is a very cold story in that neither the husband or wife have any idea what is going on. It's a pity the wife wasn't played by a better actress, or that the husband wasn't in it a bit more to give a sense of their relationship. Some emotional depth.

What the hell's up with The Ash Tree by the way? That's one of my faves...actually they are all one of my faves... even The Ice House.

I gave a second viewing this December to 1968's Whistle and I'll Come To You.

Michael Hordern gives the performance of the entire series. Brilliant stuff. Last year i preferred the 2010 telling but this year my allegiances have switched.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

What the hell's up with The Ash Tree by the way? That's one of my faves...actually they are all one of my faves... even The Ice House.

I gave a second viewing this December to 1968's Whistle and I'll Come To You.

Michael Hordern gives the performance of the entire series. Brilliant stuff. Last year i preferred the 2010 telling but this year my allegiances have switched.

The Ice House is the last one I have left to watch.
The Ash Tree bored me, it took me a few attempts to actually get to the end and it's not exactly long. Nothing really happens, an uninteresting character doesn't really do a lot, we have some poorly staged flash back moments that just come across as a bit silly and it finally picks up for the ultra weird last 3 minutes. I've seen both versions of Whistle a few times and though they are both brilliant i still think I prefer the John Hurt version.

[Inspector Abberline]

“Nitro and gylcerine... and I light the fuse!”

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Safari suits,bad haircuts and side burns,no not another cheese and fondue night Le Dem's house of disrepute.But the 1970's homo erotic double act of Moore and Curtis,racing saucy cars and shagging fast women is just all in days work from this duo. With acting that comes straight out of lumber yard and casual sexism that On The Buses would be proud off.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Inspector Abberline

“Nitro and gylcerine... and I light the fuse!”



the 1970's homo erotic double act of Moore and Curtis

Homo erotic? The amount of birds they get through in those 24 episodes would put Ron Jeremy to shame.

[Deadite]

I'm just about to dip my toes into Pretty Little Liars (ooh, er) so if you don't hear from iank from now on, you'll know i think its pants and have sent him to Siberia as punishment.

[Inspector Abberline]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Homo erotic? The amount of birds they get through in those 24 episodes would put Ron Jeremy to shame.

its just a front to cover there true feelings,like you and rik.