Whistle and I'll Come to You: Christmas Eve, BBC2, 21:00
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Did anyone catch the trailer last night? :cool:
John Hurt and Gemma Jones star in Whistle and I'll Come to You, a BBC Two Christmas Eve 2010 ghost story based on a tale by MR James
BBC Two is bringing viewers a Christmas Eve ghost story on 24 December 2010 with a one-off drama Whistle and I’ll Come to You based on a 1904 story by MR James and starring John Hurt in the lead role as James Parkin, who encounters an apparition on a desolate beach. Updated for 2010 by screenwriter and novelist Neil Cross (Luther), Whistle And I'll Come To You is a modern adaptation of MR James' atmospheric Edwardian ghost story. It focuses on one man, James Parkin, and his separation from his wife Alice (played by Gemma Jones), whom he has just left in the care of a nursing home.
The programme looks at themes such as ageing, hubris and the supernatural as it provides the traditional night before Christmas scary story.
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There was The Crooked House more recently and they have repeat the MR James series on occasion, but I'd be quite happy to see them every year if there isn't money to make new series every time.
But on learning that this was to be penned by Neil Cross of Luther and Spooks fame, a shiver ran up my spine. And it had nothing to do with the subject matter.
Surely they could have got someone better to do this, it's just not Neil Cross's thing. But as I suppose as Cross is now on an exclusive contract to the BBC they have to get their money's worth.
I could get lucky as the original's appeal (to me at least) was the long the long silent emptiness of the piece, the sense of bleak isolation, and the fact that the scares are mostly in what you don't see, as it's all left mainly to the imagination. That being the case, maybe we won't be subjected to too much of Mr Cross's dumbed down narrative and excruciating dialogue.
I want to enjoy this, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Mr Cross hasn't f*****d it up, but I don't hold out too much hope.
"A modern adaptation"
I have the original recorded from BBC4 a couple of years back. they showed a wodge of the old ghost stories and i recorded quite a few of them. They're so good.
Actually, BBC4 is missing a trick this week. They've got aome old detective dramas on, and are showing a Bergerac, but not the utterly terrifying and ghostly Christmas 1985 episode, Fires In The Fall.
I used to love to watch the Christmas Ghost stories from the 70s and it isnt Christmas without a good Ghost story ! they should show more of the older ones aswell as these BBC repeats would be well worth watching ! Though im really looking forward to this latest John Hurt one ! :eek:
It was on BBC 4 earlier this year.
Amazing that the end is just some sheets rustling, but Michael Hordern's reactions make it quite terrifying!
Recent BBC attempts to do the classic "Ghost Story for Xmas" have been hit and miss. The Haunted Airman was fairly rubbish, and Number 13 was so-so. View from a Hill was very good , and even Crooked House had it's moments...however, but nothing can chill like the Signalman, Warning to the Curious, and the original Whistle.
Watched The Signalman recently ... spoooooooooky!
First time I saw the ghostly figure's face I must have been about 14. Terrified the life out of me. Nightmares aplenty!
Oh The Signalman scared the pee out of me when I first saw it. Was staying with friends and could not sleep in a strange house with strange noises.
Really looking forward to updated 'Whistle' having just seen the trailer. I too recently watched the original on YouTube - very atmospheric, I hope they don't lose that.
Love a ghost story at Christmas. An odd tradition but long may it reign.
I actually think "Oh, Whistle" is something that anyone would have a tough time trying to film. Even the Michael Hordern version failed for me. It succeeds so superbly in the written word, I just think it's impossible to enhance!
Gotta agree with you about Hurt, and he's the main reason I'll be recording it for watching later.
Very true - fantastic actor. May be slow but I am enjoying the atmosphere
Was about to say that too..... it's very atmospheric.
I'm all for atmospherics but 34 mins in and it's very slow to do anything.
I'm going to watch The Signalman on youtube.
Woman in Black is still the most scariest thing I've watched so far. But having said that, the door is....:eek: