Ghost Story (Stephen Weeks, 1974)

[MarcMorris]

Any fans here of this neglected gem?

Black Hole Reviews (http://blackholereviews.blogspot.com/2008/04/ghost-story-1974-haunting-tale-of.html) | CineBeats (http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/11/18/stephen-weeks-ghost-story-1974/) | IMDB Users (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071791/usercomments?filter=love)

[tobiaswragg]

Count me in. I first saw it on a Friday night (regional) ITV screening in 1980 when I was 14 or 15 and was very impressed. As this was before video recorders were commonplace, I had a habit of recording the soundtrack of any horror (or anything else of interest) film and this was a tape I listened to nonstop. So much so that I can tell you that this broadcast was edited (almost de rigeur for ITV at that time) as I found when finally seeing the film on the BBC in the late 80s/early 90s. As the missing sequences had nothing whatsoever in it to offend (the three protagonists chatting as they make their way to Murray Melvin's house, and a later scene, played almost for comedy, when the three are out shooting) I can only surmise that this was done in order to make the film fit into a timeslot and these scenes could be jettisoned without affecting the storyline (as also happened with Hammer's MUMMY, WITCHFINDER GENERAL etc.)

[MarcMorris]

I have the BBC recording from 1994. This one could really do with a DVD release ;)

[tobiaswragg]

I agree. As befits the M. R. Jamesian atmosphere of the film, I should add that the 1994 showing, which I still have also, was during the Xmas season as part of a series of ghost stories, along with THE HAUNTING and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL.

In addition to what I was saying above about ITV's cavalier attitude towards the films that it broadcast, I just remembered there that Weeks' other horror film, I, MONSTER, was a victim of this. I finally saw an extra scene involving the repressed lady who becomes a nymphomaniac as a result of a drug administered by Christopher Lee's Jekyll-and-Hyde-in-all-but-name character on a BBC showing. Amazingly, this is the version that Ch 4 still trots out from time to time!

[ecc]

I'm a fan of this one too. The BBC version looks great. I also have the MADHOUSE MANSION version which I know is unauthorized but for quite some time it was the only way of seeing this one (did it even get a UK tape release?). That version has a video generated title but an otherwise completely different opening title sequence than the version shown on UK TV.

[Timmy Lea]

Second attempt at posting this, after software and cookie gayness yesterday.

GHOST STORY is an excellent film, and most undeserving of the bad review it gets in the (otherwise excellent) TEN YEARS OF TERROR.

Weeks' direction works perfectly- conjuring up the balmy, slightly ominous atmosphere of a haunted summer. Dare I say there's a slightly hallucinogenic/psychedelic atmosphere at work? Maybe it's just because the whole shebang- the setting, the music (with electronic flourishes from Floyd collaborator Ron Geesin), and the fact that it stars a dead alcoholic called Vivian, reminds me somewhat of the Bonzo Dog Band at their best. Maybe it's because Marianne Faithfull and Leigh Lawson are in it. Either way, it works.

The cinematography is superb,the acting (even from Mackerell, the 'reallife Withnail', who Bruce Robinson will be the first to tell you was not a great performer) is first rate. Penelope Keith and Barbara Shelley (in her last major horror role!!) excel themselves as usual, Anthony Bate is convincingly unpleasant, and his death scene has to be one of the most surreal in a British horror film ever, almost like a macabre ballet that predates Guy Maddin by some 20 years.

The scenes involving the doll (bugger Chucky, THIS is the scariest non-ventriloquist doll ever seen) are handled really well: the unusual perception shots, such as the sequence in which Dann and his cohorts are pictured at the breakfast table in miniature as if they were toys, are bordering on genius. And contrary to what has been said elsewhere, the dialogue is not stilted, but rather an accurate depiction of how reserved upper-class Englishmen spoke to each other at the time.

India makes an excellent substitute for the English countryside- if anything, it adds to the film's colonial absurdity. Murray Melvin is a picture of perfect camp, and whilst seemingly annoying in the initial stages, actually redeems himself as one of the storyline's more sympathetic characters.

It has been suggested that it looks more televisual than cinematic (this may be true, but to me that's part of the appeal), but for me the most unique feature of the whole thing is its languid, dreamlike quality: rather than bearing a resemblance to any of its contemporaneous Brit Horror suspects (Hammer, Amicus, Tigon, British Lion, Pete Walker or even Brian Clemens) it resembles some kind of drug-induced, half-remembered almost pleasant nightmare. At least it does to me, but then again I had several of those in the 90s, which was when I recorded it off air to tape. I wonder which came first?

Sixteen or so years on, said cassette is now beginning to wear very thin in terms of sound and picture quality, so, yes, I think a DVD release would be most welcome. And, unusually for a Brit horror, 90 percent of the cast are still alive- so some interesting extras could be in order.

[WillHay]

I liked this the 2nd time I saw it, but it looks very dull and is a bit plodding.

[ecc]

It has been suggested that it looks more televisual than cinematic (this may be true, but to me that's part of the appeal), but for me the most unique feature of the whole thing is its languid, dreamlike quality: rather than bearing a resemblance to any of its contemporaneous Brit Horror suspects (Hammer, Amicus, Tigon, British Lion, Pete Walker or even Brian Clemens) it resembles some kind of drug-induced, half-remembered almost pleasant nightmare. At least it does to me, but then again I had several of those in the 90s, which was when I recorded it off air to tape. I wonder which came first?

Yes, stylistically it reminds me of some of the British TV horror films shot entirely on film. It actually kind of fits in with POOR GIRL (one of two episodes of the abandoned series HAUNTED) which featured Penelope Keith's (who plays Faithful's nanny here) TO THE MANOR BORN co-star Angela Thorne.

[MarcMorris]

I guess I can now announce here that Nucleus have recently licensed Ghost Story for a 2009 UK DVD release ;)

[chrisoneill99]

That is great news! Look forward to it.

[Mojo]

I saw this one on the telly donkeys years ago and remember it as being extremely bizarre to say the least. Looking forward to seeing it again via the Nucleus release.

[ecc]

Here's a link to a review I wrote months ago:

Ghost Story aka Madhouse Mansion Film Review (http://hubpages.com/hub/Ghost-Story-aka-Madhouse-Mansion-Film-Review)



.

[Pygar]

And here's mine - glad to hear it's finally on the way. Obviously - I'll change the NOT ON DVD status when it hits the shelves.

GHOST STORY (1974) a haunting tale of madness (http://blackholereviews.blogspot.com/2008/04/ghost-story-1974-haunting-tale-of.html)

[tigon]

i remember this from the 94 bbc screening, what a superb little chiller it was and very atmospheric it was. was it shot on a very low budget?

[MarcMorris]

We now have the Ghost Story master, so a release date will be announced shortly. Hurrah!

[Dracucarr]

Hurrah! indeed. Not that well known this one so it'll be nice if the DVD release can put that right. More Barbara Shelley in anyone's collection can only be a good thing, eh? Really looking forward to this release and I'll certainly be pre-ordering.

[Timmy Lea]

We have to target this at the Marianne Faithfull audience. Aparrently her cancer is better and she'll be touring again soon. In the meantime, would you like me to locate Penelope Keith? Apparently, she lives up here somewhere.

[MarcMorris]

Penelope Keith lives in Surrey.

[WilsonBros]

If you can get Ms Faithfull for an interview, that would be awesome!

Kev W

[Timmy Lea]

Penelope Keith lives in Surrey.

She must have moved back. The last I heard, she was living in the Hebrides or Highlands somewhere, and doing a lot of charity work.

Strange that she should return to the home of Margo Leadbetter.:)

I still think the Faithfull angle should be pursued a bit though.

[MarcMorris]

We've just received a very informative audio commentary with director Stephen Weeks, moderated by Media Studies Professor Sam Umland.

Some incredible facts and trivia on this one!

[cloud]

I've seen this under the title "Madhouse Mansion" is that any different to its "Ghost Story" edit?

I thought it was alright but certainly no great shakes. It fell apart once it became apparent why it was haunted and became a bit boring from then on. Up until then it held up well with nice shots of the British countryside and some quite effective M.R. James-like sequences.

I'd probably get the official release at some stage.

[ForestFilmsUK]

I'm really glad to hear about this, I taped it off TV back in the late 80's, but a friend threw up over the tape at a party, and Ive not seen it since.

Surprised to hear about it being released, it seemed ro be one of those films that nobody remembered.

[loops]

Just noticed this on the bbfc site, passed uncut with a '12' rating.

Any news on the release date?

[MarcMorris]

We're aiming for a Halloween release. ;)

[loops]

Cant wait!



..............................

[Timmy Lea]

So when do you want me to crack on with those sleevenotes then? Shouldn't a screener be winging its way to me? Let me kernow...

[MarcMorris]

Another Ghost Story update: We've just returned from Stratford Theatre where we did a lovely interview with actor Murray Melvin (Mc Fayden). Tomorrow we're interviewing Larry Dann (Talbot). The featurette will be entitled "Ghost Stories".

We have additional interviews in the works... as well as some other unexpected extras. ;)

[Jonny Rojo]

Another Ghost Story update: We've just returned from Stratford Theatre where we did a lovely interview with actor Murray Melvin (Mc Fayden). Tomorrow we're interviewing Larry Dann (Talbot). The featurette will be entitled "Ghost Stories".

We have additional interviews in the works... as well as some other unexpected extras. ;)

All sounds excellent! Really looking forward to this one, haven't seen it in years

[MarcMorris]

This is shaping up to be a two-disc set. We're off to interview soundtrack composer Ron Geesin (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Ron%20Geesin&tag=mondoerotico05&index=music&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738) this week. Cool eh? Looks like we'll have around an hour-long featurette entitled Ghost Stories on disc one and some really amazing surprises on disc 2.

[Pygar]

Would really, really love the soundtrack. Please ask Mr Geesin is he still has it anywhere.

[MarcMorris]

I'll certainly ask if he has any plans to issue it on CD.

[loops]

This is shaping up to be a two-disc set. We're off to interview soundtrack composer Ron Geesin (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Ron%20Geesin&tag=mondoerotico05&index=music&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738) this week. Cool eh? Looks like we'll have around an hour-long featurette entitled Ghost Stories on disc one and some really amazing surprises on disc 2.

Great! I'll definitely be picking this up.

Deadly Spawn next Marc?:D

[MarcMorris]

Deadly Spawn next Marc?:D

It's now unlikely since it's being bootlegged. No point.

[loops]

Shame. I would have bought it.:(

Do you have any goodies planned after Ghost Story?

[MarcMorris]

Yes, but we can't announce them until the contracts have been signed.

[cloud]

While I don't rate Ghost Story all too highly (it's alright but no great shakes) I'll probably pick up the Nucleus disc, and especially now it's a 2 disc affair, sometimes hearing the background of these films is better than watching the film itself. I've only got 4 Nucleus discs too, I've a few gaps to plug.

When is Grindhouse Trailer Classics 3 going to come out then?

[MarcMorris]

Yesterday we did an interview with composer and Pink Floyd collaborator Ron Geesin. What a top bloke!

[mrb]

Did he show you his collection of spanners Marc?


:D

[MarcMorris]

No, but he is a renowned expert and is writing a book about them.

[Mark Y]

Looks like a very interesting release this. Whatever happened to The Body, the 1970 film that Geesin did the soundtrack for with Roger Waters? It had a pre-cert release but seems to have disappeared without a trace.