Fear on Four - William & Mary

Classic BBC Radio Horror with Edward De Sousa - The Man in Black
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Staring;
Jos Acklin
Elizabeth Morgan
Alan Dudley
John Bagley
Written by Roald Dahl
Dramitized by Jill Brook
Directed by Jerry Jones

[@MarkHarmer]

I did the sounds of the brain removal, working with Joss Ackland in this production, in Broadcasting house all those years ago. So pleased to find this. Believe it or not, we got complaints that it was a bit gory. Shows that radio drama gets in your head because you are trying to make up the pictures in your mind as you listen. Even though the brain was a watermelon and the veins were balloons. The skull was a flower pot and the saw was an electric toothbrush.

[@hudsony777]

Ouch! Sadist. 😫 The thing is, the surgeon or madman or whatever says it will take a long time to remove the brain from the skull, and then, about two minutes later, the brain is out. There's no transition. Am I missing something? Is this supposed to be an unimportant detail? It seems sloppy. Sorry.

[@MarkHarmer]

@@hudsony777 It’s about the script - if you don’t like the pace blame Roald Dahl or the producer! You don’t allocate real time to things like this. The drama is in the interaction of the characters and the ideas, and the way they develop. Personally I’d have liked more time too but in context that would have unbalanced the flow of the story. In this case the sounds are illustrating the ideas the surgeon expounds - we are in that time but cleverly it brings us forward to the actual operation. It if was TV it would probably be more literal.

[@hudsony777]

@@MarkHarmer I write, produce and direct audio dramas. The production was tight, the acting excellent, the writing sloppy. Of course the audience isn't going to sit there for 6 hours to reflect the reality of the statement. It just stood out for me. If I had done something like this, I would have been mortified. Someone should have mixed in some kind of fade implying time passing. Anyway, Dahl is dead and it was a long time ago. Who cares? I'm just surprised at the BBC.

[@MarkHarmer]

@@hudsony777 who cares indeed! I only came as a comment that I’d done the sound effects. Not to get into an argument.

[@hudsony777]

@@MarkHarmer The brain removal was excellent. And I always thought Roald just used to forget to use the "n" in his name where it ought to be. Never knew if it was supposed to be "RO-ald" or "Rolled" or whatever. Perhaps Patricia Neal did.

[@glamdolly30]

This starred the sublime actor JOSS ACKLAND as the doctor. Joss Ackland turned 92 in February 2020. He guest starred in TWO episodes of ITV's 'Tales of the Unexpected' - but funnily enough, not this story, which featured in the long-running series and starred Elaine Stritch as Mary and Marius Goring as the doctor.

[@hudsony777]

I think you'll love these ghost stores, so perfect for Halloween! Two radio play ghost stories and, AND a brand new mystery listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT AND a radio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners. Here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbbY5-qrtCBiq8--Claud. If you don’t want to click the link just search “Claude Chabot presents” on KZbin

[@MarkHarmer]

Joss Ackland had the most wonderful voice

[@JavertRA]

Joss Ackland has such a great voice

[@hudsony777]

I think you'll love these ghost stores, so perfect for Halloween! Two radio play ghost stories and, AND a brand new mystery listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT AND a radio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners. Here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbbY5-qrtCBiq8--Claud. If you don’t want to click the link just search “Claude Chabot presents” on KZbin

[@MarkHarmer]

Absolutely he does! I have to take credit for getting him to pronounce “Caratoid” properly in this production. He was such a nice guy to work with.

[@jwsuicides8095]

Delightfully preposterous as only Dahl can be. He took the old B Movie plots, shrunk them down and ended with a zinger. If only Vincent Price had played some of these characters.

[@hudsony777]

I think you'll love these ghost stores, so perfect for Halloween! Two radio play ghost stories and, AND a brand new mystery listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT AND a radio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners. Here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbbY5-qrtCBiq8--Claud. If you don’t want to click the link just search “Claude Chabot presents” on KZbin

[@undeadondine1977]

Woot woot Roal Dahl story 🙌 Excellent! I loved this one, it was so funny 😂👍

[@hudsony777]

I think you'll love these ghost stores, so perfect for Halloween! Two radio play ghost stories and, AND a brand new mystery listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT AND a radio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners. Here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbbY5-qrtCBiq8--Claud. If you don’t want to click the link just search “Claude Chabot presents” on KZbin

[@zep66]

This was also a 'Tales of the Unexpected', worth a watch

[@eduardo_corrochio]

Yes, with Elaine Stritch.

[@atomiccritter6492]

yes an excellent version but was also adapted for tv earlier in the 1960s for a series called Way Out

[@ellenmendoza7246]

I remember that it was wonderful witty

[@ellenmendoza7246]

Excellent .. delicious dark wit...so beautifully read

[@BenKellyMusic92]

LITERAL. GOOSEBUMPS.

[@hudsony777]

I think you'll love these ghost stores, so perfect for Halloween! Two radio play ghost stories and, AND a brand new mystery listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT AND a radio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners. Here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbbY5-qrtCBiq8--Claud. If you don’t want to click the link just search “Claude Chabot presents” on KZbin

[@violetfemme411]

Roald Dahl inspire me to write...

[@carmaaa8508]

That would be a living hell As I divorced my wife Decades ago there's no one in hell I will want her To be in control of my brain and my one eye. Even though this is just a fictional story.

[@carmaaa8508]

I just listened to this no more than 7 hours ago., But you see, they were with different characters.. The wife wasn't involved. That's the difference between this play and the other play.. But thank you anyway.

[@jeremypearson6852]

Tales of the Unexpected…

[@ArunPlaysPiano]

Ahem ahem

[@queenashantee8432]

I LOVE THIS STORY. GOOD FOR PEOPLE WID CONTROL ISSUES...….LOLLL

[@hudsony777]

I think you'll love these ghost stores, so perfect for Halloween! Two radio play ghost stories and, AND a brand new mystery listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT AND a radio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners. Here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbbY5-qrtCBiq8--Claud. If you don’t want to click the link just search “Claude Chabot presents” on KZbin

[@Pentapus1024]

I'll bet that this very sort of thing has actually been tried and been successful. I weep for the poor souls that end up being trapped in a "basin," without any hope of escape. Only the purest psychopathy science:medicine has to offer could preform such a marvelous torture as this. But it's ok because it's for "the greater good," innit?

[@RSEFX]

I think the Vincent Price "Price of Fear" version of this story much superior since it builds in the female character's relationship from the start. This one is ok, but...certainly helps to have more detail and nuance.