Ghost Stories for Christmas: Volume 2 (Region B) Blu-ray

Broadcast in the dying hours of Christmas Eve, the BBC’s A Ghost Story for Christmas series was a fixture of the seasonal schedules throughout the 1970s and spawned a long tradition of chilling tales, which terrified yuletide viewers for decades to come.

After the best-selling release of Volume One last year, this much-requested follow-up gives five more festive landmarks their Blu-ray debut, having been newly remastered by the BFI from original film materials. As well as two MR James adaptations, the series includes the celebrated version of Charles Dicken’s The Signalman starring Denholm Elliot, as well as specially written stories set in the contemporary 1970s.  These influential films, all but one directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, were written by some of the best scriptwriters working in British TV in the 1970s: John Bowen, David Rudkin, Andrew Davies and Clive Exton.

The Films:

• The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (1974, 37 min)
• The Ash Tree (1975, 32 min)
• The Signalman (1976, 39 min)
• Stigma (1977, 32 min)
• The Ice House (1978, 34 min)

   

  Extras:

  A View From a Hill (2005, 39 mins): a young museum curator, Fanshawe finds himself in possession of a pair of binoculars that grant him a strange new ability. Ignoring all warnings about their necromantic creator, Fanshawe carries out his research, but the bloody past of the area is best left undisturbed…

  • Number 13 (2006, 40 mins): infuriated by the ghoulish noises made nightly by his neighbour, Professor Anderson is soon driven to investigate the diabolical secrets of the old hotel and its mysteriously vanishing room 13.
  • Newly recorded audio commentary on The Treasure of Abbot Thomas by TV historian Simon Farquhar
  • Newly recorded audio commentary on The Ash Tree by author Johnny Mains
  • Newly recorded audio commentary on The Signalman by TV historian Jon Dear
  • Newly recorded audio commentaries on Stigma and The Ice House by Kim Newman and Sean Hogan
  • Ghost Stories for Christmas With Christopher Lee (2000, 30 mins): Ronald Frame's adaptation of M R James’ Number 13 is brought to life by horror maestro Christopher Lee
  • Introductions by Lawrence Gordon Clark (2012, 39 mins): the director introduces The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, The Ash Tree, The Signalman and Stigma
  • Illustrated booklet with archival essays by Alex Davidson, Dick Fiddy, Matthew Sweet, and Helen Wheatley