BBC Ghost Stories (A Ghost Story for Christmas) - Page 3 - Blu-ray Forum

BarnDoor · 07-29-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

Are the stories good/actually interesting and scary? Or are they badly dated (not sure how old these are.) Some older British shows haven't aged as well as others.

For me, they aren't dated at all, and they manage to produce the kind of atmosphere which you just don't get in today's films. I consider 'Lost Hearts', 'A Warning to the Curious', 'The Stalls of Barchester Abbey' and 'The Signalman' to be particular standouts.

Number 13, one of the more recent productions, is for me the weakest of the James adaptations, along with the John Hurt 'Whistle', which is creepy but is ruined by a terrible, nonsensical ending. Stigma and The Ice House are rather poor but no one is really buying the set for them.

deepbreathsanddeath · 07-29-2013, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

For me, they aren't dated at all, and they manage to produce the kind of atmosphere which you just don't get in today's films. I consider 'Lost Hearts', 'A Warning to the Curious', 'The Stalls of Barchester Abbey' and 'The Signalman' to be particular standouts.

Number 13, one of the more recent productions, is for me the weakest of the James adaptations, along with the John Hurt 'Whistle', which is creepy but is ruined by a terrible, nonsensical ending. Stigma and The Ice House are rather poor but no one is really buying the set for them.

Thanks. When it drops to a low price I'll get it I think. Can't really justify spending top dollar on DVDs anymore.

BarnDoor · 08-01-2013, 08:47 PM

They've changed the cover art for Dead of Night and Robin Redbreast it seems. The latter looks a lot better I feel:

McCrutchy · 08-01-2013, 09:55 PM

Updated first post with 2013 releases. Some are not strictly BBC Ghost Stories canon, so they have been modified. Do note that the BBC horror Schlacken the Painter is coming from BFI's Flipside strand on Dual Format Blu-ray/DVD:

BarnDoor · 08-04-2013, 11:53 AM

I've been looking into what else BFI could release in future from the BBC's horror output of the late 60s-80s, based on their probability of survival. For example, I haven't listed the series 'Menace' from the early 70s, since only two episodes are known to exist.

Series'

Out of the Unknown (1965-1971) - Four series' but only about 10 episodes survive, some with more of a sci-fi tone. I imagine they'd be best off doing a single release of all the surviving episodes.

Leap in the Dark (1975-1980) - Series 1 was more of a documentary style but series 2-4 adopted a docu-drama style re-enacting real-life paranormal occurrences. I don't know how many of these survive, but I imagine the chances are good given it was made in the late 70s. If they do all survive, individual series releases would be an option.

Playhouse: The Mind Beyond (1975) - I think these six survive. They should also include the Playhouse episodes that led into this spin-off: Mrs Acland's Ghosts and The Breakthrough.

West Country Tales (1982) - I know this must survive since I have a copy. There's a couple of really creepy episodes here. I'd say this must have a good chance of being released.

One-Off Dramas

The Witches of Pendle (1976) - I haven't seen this, and I understand it's more a straight horror drama than a gothic tale. Would still be an interesting release though.

Tarry Dan, Tarry Dan, Scary Old Spooky Man (1978) - Again I know this survives because I have it. It isn't great and is geared more towards children, but it would be nice to have as an official release.

In addition to these, I'd like to see the 1978 short film 'Panic' put on something as an extra (I've no idea what though). And the jewel in the crown would obviously be ITV's 1989 adaptation of The Woman in Black, but I've given up hope on that ever getting a release over here (on DVD let alone Blu-ray).

James78 · 10-29-2013, 08:59 PM

Here is a DVD review of Robin Redbreast. I watched it last night and thought it was fantastic. Rosemary's Baby meets The Wicker Man!

http://television.thedigitalfix.com/...redbreast.html

Steedeel · 10-29-2013, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James78

Here is a DVD review of Robin Redbreast. I watched it last night and thought it was fantastic. Rosemary's Baby meets The Wicker Man!

http://television.thedigitalfix.com/...redbreast.html

Thanks, love tv/movies like this

DEACONFROST11 · 12-05-2013, 11:19 AM

Has anyone else read the back page of the booklet included with the boxset? It says A Warning To The Curious was remastered in High Definition using the original 16mm negatives. Future blu ray release perhaps? Seems Warning and Whistle And I'll Come To You 2010 version are the only ones remastered in high def. The rest are all standard def. I would probably skip the 2010 version of Whistle, but I would buy A Warning To The Curious on blu ray in a heartbeat. Why scan Curious in high definition unless there were future blu ray plans?

James78 · 03-27-2020, 03:44 PM

Supernatural British Television Series:

Supernatural British Children's Television Series:

Fnord Prefect · 03-27-2020, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEACONFROST11

Has anyone else read the back page of the booklet included with the boxset? It says A Warning To The Curious was remastered in High Definition using the original 16mm negatives. Future blu ray release perhaps? Seems Warning and Whistle And I'll Come To You 2010 version are the only ones remastered in high def. The rest are all standard def. I would probably skip the 2010 version of Whistle, but I would buy A Warning To The Curious on blu ray in a heartbeat. Why scan Curious in high definition unless there were future blu ray plans?

I know I'm replying to a 7 year old post but what the heck. I believe it's standard BFI policy to scan everything in HD even if the material is only destined for their archive or the occasionally wonderful and certainly sprawling BFIPlayer free collection. Perhaps the BBC simply weren't willing to provide HD ready elements (or HD scans there of) despite all titles in the collection surviving on suitable formats?

Haven't the BFI said on a couple of occasions they're aware there's a demand for a Ghost Stories for Christmas blu-ray set and at least in theory they're interested in putting one out?

James78 · 07-27-2020, 10:36 AM

I emailed the BFI to ask whether it would be possible for them to release remastered Blu-rays of Ghost Stories for Christmas. The reply was from Ben Stoddart, who actually replied the last time I asked eight years ago! Unfortunately, this was his response:

"Sadly, the required materials to do a Blu-ray version of our DVD set simply don’t exist. From memory it would be possible to do one of them (I think it’s A Warning to the Curious) but that’s about it. Given the runtime, that’s not really a feasible release unless we had some other appropriate titles to package with it."

Steedeel · 08-18-2020, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James78

Supernatural British Television Series:

Supernatural British Children's Television Series:

Nice one! Hammer horror used to be on a Sunday night after the avengers, is that right? Or maybe it was repeated in Sunday but that’s when I watched it. I own the DVD.

grahams76 · 08-18-2020, 04:48 PM

Network's Hammer House Of Horror blu-ray set is brilliant.

Steedeel · 08-18-2020, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahams76

Network's Hammer House Of Horror blu-ray set is brilliant.

I haven’t upgraded. There has just been too much to buy lately!

CV19 · 08-18-2020, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I haven’t upgraded. There has just been too much to buy lately!

Grahams76 is right - I also have Network's Hammer House blu-ray set and it is excellent, should you decide to upgrade one day.

Steedeel · 08-18-2020, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CV19

Grahams76 is right - I also have Network's Hammer House blu-ray set and it is excellent, should you decide to upgrade one day.

Cheers Carl. I wonder if the 70’s ‘Thriller‘ tv series will get a Blu-ray upgrade?

CV19 · 08-18-2020, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Cheers Carl. I wonder if the 70’s ‘Thriller‘ tv series will get a Blu-ray upgrade?

Would that be the Armchair Thriller series? I'd snap that up in an instant if that ever made it to blu-ray.

Steedeel · 08-18-2020, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CV19

Would that be the Armchair Thriller series? I'd snap that up in an instant if that ever made it to blu-ray.

No mate, it was just called Thriller. It’s available on DVD.

CV19 · 08-18-2020, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steedeel

No mate, it was just called Thriller. It’s available on DVD.

Ah yes, sorry, I know the one you mean now - for a moment I was thinking this series:

James78 · 08-18-2020, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CV19

Grahams76 is right - I also have Network's Hammer House blu-ray set and it is excellent, should you decide to upgrade one day.

I agree. Definitely upgrade Steedeel. The restoration is beautiful.

08-04-2013, 11:53 AM	#45
BarnDoor Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2010 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:4056 Trading Score:3	I've been looking into what else BFI could release in future from the BBC's horror output of the late 60s-80s, based on their probability of survival. For example, I haven't listed the series 'Menace' from the early 70s, since only two episodes are known to exist. Series' Out of the Unknown (1965-1971) - Four series' but only about 10 episodes survive, some with more of a sci-fi tone. I imagine they'd be best off doing a single release of all the surviving episodes. Leap in the Dark (1975-1980) - Series 1 was more of a documentary style but series 2-4 adopted a docu-drama style re-enacting real-life paranormal occurrences. I don't know how many of these survive, but I imagine the chances are good given it was made in the late 70s. If they do all survive, individual series releases would be an option. Playhouse: The Mind Beyond (1975) - I think these six survive. They should also include the Playhouse episodes that led into this spin-off: Mrs Acland's Ghosts and The Breakthrough. West Country Tales (1982) - I know this must survive since I have a copy. There's a couple of really creepy episodes here. I'd say this must have a good chance of being released. One-Off Dramas The Witches of Pendle (1976) - I haven't seen this, and I understand it's more a straight horror drama than a gothic tale. Would still be an interesting release though. Tarry Dan, Tarry Dan, Scary Old Spooky Man (1978) - Again I know this survives because I have it. It isn't great and is geared more towards children, but it would be nice to have as an official release. In addition to these, I'd like to see the 1978 short film 'Panic' put on something as an extra (I've no idea what though). And the jewel in the crown would obviously be ITV's 1989 adaptation of The Woman in Black, but I've given up hope on that ever getting a release over here (on DVD let alone Blu-ray). Last edited by BarnDoor; 08-18-2020 at 04:53 PM.

12-05-2013, 11:19 AM	#48
DEACONFROST11 Junior Member Member since:Jan 2012	A Warning To The Curious HD Has anyone else read the back page of the booklet included with the boxset? It says A Warning To The Curious was remastered in High Definition using the original 16mm negatives. Future blu ray release perhaps? Seems Warning and Whistle And I'll Come To You 2010 version are the only ones remastered in high def. The rest are all standard def. I would probably skip the 2010 version of Whistle, but I would buy A Warning To The Curious on blu ray in a heartbeat. Why scan Curious in high definition unless there were future blu ray plans?

03-27-2020, 03:44 PM	#49
James78 Senior Member Top contributor Member since:May 2011	Supernatural British Television Series: Supernatural British Children's Television Series: Last edited by James78; 09-17-2020 at 04:24 PM.

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08-01-2013, 08:47 PM	#43
BarnDoor Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2010 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:4056 Trading Score:3	They've changed the cover art for Dead of Night and Robin Redbreast it seems. The latter looks a lot better I feel:

08-01-2013, 09:55 PM	#44
McCrutchy Contributor Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 Location:East Coast, USA Home Theater Gallery:2 4K collection:471 Blu-ray collection:4524 DVD collection:191 Blu-ray reviews: 5 Trading Score:14	Updated first post with 2013 releases. Some are not strictly BBC Ghost Stories canon, so they have been modified. Do note that the BBC horror *Schlacken the Painter* is coming from BFI's Flipside strand on Dual Format Blu-ray/DVD:

10-29-2013, 08:59 PM	#46
James78 Senior Member Top contributor Member since:May 2011	Here is a DVD review of Robin Redbreast. I watched it last night and thought it was fantastic. Rosemary's Baby meets The Wicker Man! http://television.thedigitalfix.com/...redbreast.html

07-27-2020, 10:36 AM	#51
James78 Senior Member Top contributor Member since:May 2011	I emailed the BFI to ask whether it would be possible for them to release remastered Blu-rays of Ghost Stories for Christmas. The reply was from Ben Stoddart, who actually replied the last time I asked eight years ago! Unfortunately, this was his response: "Sadly, the required materials to do a Blu-ray version of our DVD set simply don’t exist. From memory it would be possible to do one of them (I think it’s A Warning to the Curious) but that’s about it. Given the runtime, that’s not really a feasible release unless we had some other appropriate titles to package with it."

08-18-2020, 04:48 PM	#53
grahams76 Power Member Member since:Jun 2013 Location:London, UK 4K collection:64 Blu-ray collection:1831 DVD collection:440 Digital collection:1 Trading Score:12	Network's Hammer House Of Horror blu-ray set is brilliant.

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