Be sure to lock your doors when you get home this Halloween, for a sinister, unearthly presence willing be walking the streets this All Hallow’s Eve.
We don’t mean actual ghosts, obviously, we’re talking about all those precocious costumed youths in shoddily applied face paint having the audacity to knock on your door demanding some of the multipack of snack-size sweets you got from Tesco on the way home from work. Bought them for trick-or-treaters? Pffft. Those Haribo were all for you, and you know it.
So embrace the darkness (and the sugar), draw the curtains, and shut out the world ready to scare yourself silly with these classic British TV ghost stories.
Whistle and I’ll Come to You (1968)
A classic in the ghost story genre, this deeply atmospheric and unnerving production is Jonathan Miller’s adaptation of the 1904 M. R. James tale “Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You,...
We don’t mean actual ghosts, obviously, we’re talking about all those precocious costumed youths in shoddily applied face paint having the audacity to knock on your door demanding some of the multipack of snack-size sweets you got from Tesco on the way home from work. Bought them for trick-or-treaters? Pffft. Those Haribo were all for you, and you know it.
So embrace the darkness (and the sugar), draw the curtains, and shut out the world ready to scare yourself silly with these classic British TV ghost stories.
Whistle and I’ll Come to You (1968)
A classic in the ghost story genre, this deeply atmospheric and unnerving production is Jonathan Miller’s adaptation of the 1904 M. R. James tale “Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You,...
- 10/16/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
“What Family Doesn’T Have Its Ups And Downs?”
By Raymond Benson
One of the gems of 1968 was The Lion in Winter, a multi-nominee for the Oscars (including Best Picture and Director), and one of the better period costume dramas that seemed to be so popular in the 60s. Capitalizing on the success of Becket and A Man for All Seasons, Winter is based on a stage play by James Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay and won an Oscar for it.
While the picture is a handsome production, its primary asset is the acting. What a cast, and what performances! Katharine Hepburn, as Eleanor of Aquitaine, picked up the Best Actress trophy (although that year there was a tie—she shared the award with Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl). Peter O’Toole stars as Henry II for the second time, and received a nomination for Best Actor. For my money,...
By Raymond Benson
One of the gems of 1968 was The Lion in Winter, a multi-nominee for the Oscars (including Best Picture and Director), and one of the better period costume dramas that seemed to be so popular in the 60s. Capitalizing on the success of Becket and A Man for All Seasons, Winter is based on a stage play by James Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay and won an Oscar for it.
While the picture is a handsome production, its primary asset is the acting. What a cast, and what performances! Katharine Hepburn, as Eleanor of Aquitaine, picked up the Best Actress trophy (although that year there was a tie—she shared the award with Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl). Peter O’Toole stars as Henry II for the second time, and received a nomination for Best Actor. For my money,...
- 4/15/2018
- by [email protected] (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
"Now I have only one desire left - to see you King." Rialto Pictures has revealed a captivating trailer for the brand new 4K restoration re-release of the classic historical drama The Lion in Winter, which won three Academy Awards back in 1969. Katharine Hepburn (who won Best Actress for this) stars as Eleanor of Aquitaine, along with Peter O'Toole (who was also nominated but didn't win) as King Henry II - they play husband and wife. The ensemble cast also includes a young Anthony Hopkins, a young Timothy Dalton, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Jane Merrow and Nigel Stock. This is perfectly timed for a holiday season re-release, as the film takes place during a Christmas Court in the 12th Century. This trailer also features some of John Barry's Oscar-winning score. If you're never seen the film, no better time than now to catch it. Here's the new trailer for...
- 11/23/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Anthony Harvey’s multiple-Oscar-winning “The Lion in Winter,” his lauded adaptation of the play by James Goldman, is coming back to the big screen, thanks to a carefully crafted 4K restoration from Studiocanal and Rialto Pictures.
The dazzling historical drama stars Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn as King Henry II and his Eleanor of Aquitaine, a royal couple on the cusp of bloody ruin and rebellion. The film also boasts the screen debuts of both Anthony Hopkins (as Richard) and Timothy Dalton (as King Philip of France), with stellar turns from John Castle (as Geoffrey) and Nigel Terry (as John) to round out one of the most impressively casted features in Hollywood history.
Read More: ‘Citizen Kane’ Trailer: Orson Welles’ Classic Get Stunning Restoration for Its 75th Anniversary
“The Lion in Winter” is appropriately set during Christmastime — and you thought your family gatherings were messy — and follows the royal...
The dazzling historical drama stars Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn as King Henry II and his Eleanor of Aquitaine, a royal couple on the cusp of bloody ruin and rebellion. The film also boasts the screen debuts of both Anthony Hopkins (as Richard) and Timothy Dalton (as King Philip of France), with stellar turns from John Castle (as Geoffrey) and Nigel Terry (as John) to round out one of the most impressively casted features in Hollywood history.
Read More: ‘Citizen Kane’ Trailer: Orson Welles’ Classic Get Stunning Restoration for Its 75th Anniversary
“The Lion in Winter” is appropriately set during Christmastime — and you thought your family gatherings were messy — and follows the royal...
- 11/22/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
By Tim Greaves
Director John Mackenzie's powerful and captivating 1972 kitchen sink drama Made has been given the opportunity to find a new audience via a tasty UK Blu-Ray release from Network Distributing.
Valerie Marshall (Carol White) is a single mother eking out a meagre living as a London telephone exchange operator whilst simultaneously caring for her multiple-sclerosis-stricken mother (Margery Mason). Seemingly destined never to find true happiness and weary of the inapposite attentions of would-be suitors, Valerie agrees to assist priest and family friend Father Dyson (John Castle) in chaperoning a bunch of underprivileged youths on a day trip to the seaside. There she meets folk singer Mike Preston (Roy Harper), whose outwardly relaxed approach to life just might pave her way to salvation.
A slightly ponderous and largely dispiriting snapshot of early 1970s lower class Britain, I'll openly confess that when I first saw Made I was convinced it would leave me cold.
Director John Mackenzie's powerful and captivating 1972 kitchen sink drama Made has been given the opportunity to find a new audience via a tasty UK Blu-Ray release from Network Distributing.
Valerie Marshall (Carol White) is a single mother eking out a meagre living as a London telephone exchange operator whilst simultaneously caring for her multiple-sclerosis-stricken mother (Margery Mason). Seemingly destined never to find true happiness and weary of the inapposite attentions of would-be suitors, Valerie agrees to assist priest and family friend Father Dyson (John Castle) in chaperoning a bunch of underprivileged youths on a day trip to the seaside. There she meets folk singer Mike Preston (Roy Harper), whose outwardly relaxed approach to life just might pave her way to salvation.
A slightly ponderous and largely dispiriting snapshot of early 1970s lower class Britain, I'll openly confess that when I first saw Made I was convinced it would leave me cold.
- 9/30/2016
- by [email protected] (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Callan McAuliffe, Andy McPhee, Arthur Angel and John Orcsik have joined the cast of writer-director Matthew Holmes. The Legend of Ben Hall, which started shooting on Sunday in regional Victoria. The plot follow the last six turbulent months of the life of the notorious bushranger (newcomer Jack Martin), whose gang pulled off the largest gold heist in the British Empire, and the circumstances surrounding his controversial execution by police in 1865.
Martin played the character in Holmes. Kickstarter-funded short film, footage from which is being incorporated in the feature. The cast includes Joanne Dobbin as his ex-wife Biddy, Adam Willson as Mick Coneley, who harboured Hall, Jamie Coffa and William Lee as fellow gang members, Angus Pilakui as an Aboriginal tracker, Jordan Fraser-Trumble as Inspector Davidson and Gregory Quinn as Sergeant Condell.
The La-based McAuliffe (The Great Gatsby, Robot Overlords) and McPhee (Animal Kingdom, Sons of Anarchy) are playing members of the gang.
Martin played the character in Holmes. Kickstarter-funded short film, footage from which is being incorporated in the feature. The cast includes Joanne Dobbin as his ex-wife Biddy, Adam Willson as Mick Coneley, who harboured Hall, Jamie Coffa and William Lee as fellow gang members, Angus Pilakui as an Aboriginal tracker, Jordan Fraser-Trumble as Inspector Davidson and Gregory Quinn as Sergeant Condell.
The La-based McAuliffe (The Great Gatsby, Robot Overlords) and McPhee (Animal Kingdom, Sons of Anarchy) are playing members of the gang.
- 3/29/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Episode 36 of 52: In which if there’s only one Katharine Hepburn film you see, make it this one.
When you take Screenwriting 101, your first lesson is the Three Act Story Structure. Act 1: Introduction. Act 2: Conflict. Act 3: Climax (and hopefully Resolution). If I were to so arrange the lives of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, it would roughly look as follows: Act 1: Eleanor and Henry II fall in love. Act 2: Eleanor and Henry fall out of love and into battle. Act 3: The Lion in Winter.
James Goldman’s script starts in media res, with Eleanor of Aquitaine (our own Kate) and Henry II (Peter O’Toole) already at the end of two civil wars and any pretense of civility. Knives are out as everyone prepares to fight at the Christmas court at Chinon. Joining them are their three angry sons--Richard (Anthony Hopkins...
When you take Screenwriting 101, your first lesson is the Three Act Story Structure. Act 1: Introduction. Act 2: Conflict. Act 3: Climax (and hopefully Resolution). If I were to so arrange the lives of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, it would roughly look as follows: Act 1: Eleanor and Henry II fall in love. Act 2: Eleanor and Henry fall out of love and into battle. Act 3: The Lion in Winter.
James Goldman’s script starts in media res, with Eleanor of Aquitaine (our own Kate) and Henry II (Peter O’Toole) already at the end of two civil wars and any pretense of civility. Knives are out as everyone prepares to fight at the Christmas court at Chinon. Joining them are their three angry sons--Richard (Anthony Hopkins...
- 9/3/2014
- by Anne Marie
- FilmExperience
The Tractate Middoth
Once upon a time, ghost stories were an integral part of the BBC’s Christmas line-up. Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) is attempting to revive that tradition and he took his first steps in that direction with tonight’s broadcast of M R James’ The Tractate Middoth.
I love a good ghost story but M R James isn’t really my cup of tea. That being said, Mark Gatiss did well to turn this short story into a fairly entertaining half-hour of TV. It always helps when you have a good cast and for The Tractate Middoth, Gatiss signed up some big-hitters. The cast included Sacha Dhawan (Outsourced), Louise Jameson (Doc Martin), John Castle (I, Claudius), Eleanor Bron (Ab Fab) and David Ryall (The Village). The aforementioned A-listers all put in a good shift but the show was fun rather than scary. It wasn’t exactly Randall and Hopkirk...
Once upon a time, ghost stories were an integral part of the BBC’s Christmas line-up. Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) is attempting to revive that tradition and he took his first steps in that direction with tonight’s broadcast of M R James’ The Tractate Middoth.
I love a good ghost story but M R James isn’t really my cup of tea. That being said, Mark Gatiss did well to turn this short story into a fairly entertaining half-hour of TV. It always helps when you have a good cast and for The Tractate Middoth, Gatiss signed up some big-hitters. The cast included Sacha Dhawan (Outsourced), Louise Jameson (Doc Martin), John Castle (I, Claudius), Eleanor Bron (Ab Fab) and David Ryall (The Village). The aforementioned A-listers all put in a good shift but the show was fun rather than scary. It wasn’t exactly Randall and Hopkirk...
- 12/25/2013
- by Edited by K Kinsella
Una Stubbs will star in an upcoming BBC Two adaptation of The Tractate Middoth by Mr James.
Mark Gatiss will reunite with the Sherlock actress for the festive ghost story in his directorial debut.
The History Boys star Sacha Dhawan and John Castle (I, Claudius) will also appear in the project, which will air on BBC Two this Christmas.
Gatiss said of the film: "The wonderful adaptations of Mr James's tales that I saw on TV as a child have been a lasting inspiration to me.
"I'm delighted to restore the tradition of a BBC Ghost Story for Christmas and bring to life a personal favourite - The Tractate Middoth - one of James's most atmospheric, thrilling, and downright scary tales."
The story follows a group of frightening ghosts that arrive at a library after two men read through an ancient Hebrew text.
Gatiss will also front a documentary about Victorian author Mr James,...
Mark Gatiss will reunite with the Sherlock actress for the festive ghost story in his directorial debut.
The History Boys star Sacha Dhawan and John Castle (I, Claudius) will also appear in the project, which will air on BBC Two this Christmas.
Gatiss said of the film: "The wonderful adaptations of Mr James's tales that I saw on TV as a child have been a lasting inspiration to me.
"I'm delighted to restore the tradition of a BBC Ghost Story for Christmas and bring to life a personal favourite - The Tractate Middoth - one of James's most atmospheric, thrilling, and downright scary tales."
The story follows a group of frightening ghosts that arrive at a library after two men read through an ancient Hebrew text.
Gatiss will also front a documentary about Victorian author Mr James,...
- 9/5/2013
- Digital Spy
Garrow’s Law co. BBC
Kieran Kinsella
Acorn Media’s February 26 line-up begins with a value box set of the BBC’s most popular courtroom drama – Garrow’s Law. Acorn have previously released some of the 18th century barrister’s stories in the U.S. but this 6 disc set is Garrow’s Law: The Complete Collection. Aside from the twelve episodes that aired during the show’s three year run, you also get an hour of extras that includes a feature on the real life William Garrow and some behind-the-scenes footage.
The real William Garrow was something of a social reformer who did his best to defend the poor and the uneducated at a time when “justice” was often swift and harsh. Andrew Buchan (The Sinking of the Laconia) takes on the title role. He looks a little like Ross Poldark and the whole show is based in the same...
Kieran Kinsella
Acorn Media’s February 26 line-up begins with a value box set of the BBC’s most popular courtroom drama – Garrow’s Law. Acorn have previously released some of the 18th century barrister’s stories in the U.S. but this 6 disc set is Garrow’s Law: The Complete Collection. Aside from the twelve episodes that aired during the show’s three year run, you also get an hour of extras that includes a feature on the real life William Garrow and some behind-the-scenes footage.
The real William Garrow was something of a social reformer who did his best to defend the poor and the uneducated at a time when “justice” was often swift and harsh. Andrew Buchan (The Sinking of the Laconia) takes on the title role. He looks a little like Ross Poldark and the whole show is based in the same...
- 2/26/2013
- by Edited by K Kinsella
With the exit from Iraq and the draw-down of troops in Afghanistan, the numbers of Americans killed continues to drop. Still, loved ones are mourning 311 lost, and as of Dec. 17, the wars' toll since 2001 now stands at 6,656. Edward Joseph Acosta, 21 Trevor Brandon Adkins, 21 Ahmed Kousay al-Taie, 46 Erica Paige Alecksen, 21 Tobias Christoph Alexander, 30 Joseph James Altmann, 27 Mabry James Anders, 21 Joshua Ryan Ashley, 23 Bradley Wayne Atwell, 27 Daniel Benjamin Bartle, 27 Jon-Luke Bateman, 22 Jonathan Batista, 22 Rayvon Battle Jr., 25 Taylor John Baune, 21 Jordan Logan Bear, 25 Clayton Ross Beauchamp, 21 Genaro Bedoy, 20 Bryan Richard Bell, 23 Russell Ryan Bell, 37 Jose Oscar Belmontes, 28 Kenneth Wade Bennett, 26 Keith David Benson,...
- 12/22/2012
- by Daniel S. Levy
- PEOPLE.com
The awkwardly titled “I Against I” is a new British thriller from writer director James Marquand, son of Richard Marquand, best known for helming “Return of the Jedi” and “Jagged Edge” back in the 1980s. The film is a complex, noir-tinged affair, with a twisting, cat and mouse plot played out against a stylishly modern London background, its events taking place over the course of a single night and intertwined with flashbacks. Without giving too much away, things kick off with a businessman called Drake (Kenny Doughty, “The Incident”) being snatched by the ruthless gangster Joseph (Mark Womack, “Route Irish”), who accuses him of having killed his father Tommy (veteran Brit television actor John Castle). Although Drake denies the murder, Joseph has CCTV footage of him in the building at the time of the crime, and with Tommy having owed him money, the pieces seem to fit. When Drake claims...
- 8/8/2012
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
Blowup (1966) Direction: Michelangelo Antonioni Cast: David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, John Castle, Veruschka, Jane Birkin, Gillian Hills, Peter Bowles Screenplay: Michelangelo Antonioni, Tonino Guerra, Edward Bond Oscar Movies David Hemmings, Veruschka, Blowup By Dan Schneider of Cosmoetica: Made in Great Britain in 1966, the flat-out great Blowup was Michelangelo Antonioni's first English-language effort. "Inspired" by Argentinean writer Julio Cortazar's short story Las babas del diablo, Blowup was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Direction and Best Original Screenplay (Antonioni, Tonino Guerra, and Edward Bond), in addition to winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes and the National Society of Film Critics' Best Film Award. Having first seen the two Hollywood films most influenced by Blowup, Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation (1974) and Brian De Palma's Blowout (1981), I did not know quite what to expect since the former is an excellent film — arguably, Coppola's best — and the latter is...
- 3/13/2011
- by Dan Schneider
- Alt Film Guide
This week sees the release of several new movies and TV shows, some for the first time ever on Blu-ray. Of the ones coming out this week, we’re excited for not as many as last week. But still, the release of An Education, Collateral and Sherlock Holmes (pictured above with Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law) is reason enough to be excited. Plus, there’s always next week. . . and the week after that.
Check them out:
Film
Alice in Wonderland (2-Disc Special Un-Anniversary Edition) ~ Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn (DVD)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel ~ Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, Justin Long (Blu-ray and DVD)
An Education ~ Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard (Blu-ray and DVD)
Collateral ~ Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx (Blu-ray)
I Sell the Dead ~ Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman (Blu-ray and DVD)
Rivals of Sherlock Holmes: Set 2 ~ Derek Jacobi, Judy Geeson, Jean Marsh (DVD)
Sherlock Holmes ~ Robert Downey Jr.,...
Check them out:
Film
Alice in Wonderland (2-Disc Special Un-Anniversary Edition) ~ Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn (DVD)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel ~ Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, Justin Long (Blu-ray and DVD)
An Education ~ Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard (Blu-ray and DVD)
Collateral ~ Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx (Blu-ray)
I Sell the Dead ~ Dominic Monaghan, Ron Perlman (Blu-ray and DVD)
Rivals of Sherlock Holmes: Set 2 ~ Derek Jacobi, Judy Geeson, Jean Marsh (DVD)
Sherlock Holmes ~ Robert Downey Jr.,...
- 3/31/2010
- by Joe Gillis
- The Flickcast
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