Mя Hυмρняєуѕ αη∂ Hιѕ ǀηнєяιтєηcє [HQ]

[@museonfilm8919]

The real horror would be finding an entire improvised jazz ensemble at the heart of the maze!! 😵‍💫

[@MyGreatAuntFanny]

The music reminds me of an Oliver Postgate production. Rather whimsical.

[@adrianemming3212]

It was an adaptation for schools that tried to illustrate how music can be used to convey emotions and events.

[@pollyfoofoo8703]

Hard to be scared with a jazz ensemble constantly in tow. Still, thnx for sharing. Love that mr james.

[@martinholmes-ue9ko]

Not jazz.

[@paulbrown8956]

This is one of my favourite MRJ stories, but until yesterday I had no idea that a dramatisation of it existed. This short re-telling captures the atmosphere of the story brilliantly (the edgy, unsettling soundtrack certainly helps). Thanks for sharing - I can see me coming back to this one time and time again.

[@christosvoskresye]

The soundtrack is MUCH too prominent. It's like pouring ketchup all over a steak.

[@BeeLZBeeb]

@@christosvoskresye agreed, it’s funny tbh, like someone is shouting “throw the wind section at random!, horns, go! Flutes! Purr! “ 🤣 I know it’s supposed to feel unsettling but it just makes me giggle. Love the story though, I’d like to see it redone without random instruments being chucked at me

[@arthurbaldwin1804]

That dam music really grates on one’s nerves . Completely spoiled it for me.

[@twittykins]

The music may be a little jarring (especially at the start), but considering it was made on a miniscule budget for the ITV Schools & Colleges department, it is actually quite good.

[@schizoidboy]

Simple and unpretenous and short making it to the point, and the end is like a nightmare before waking up.

[@stefanlundin9649]

Excellent Keeping up with the tradition of good ghist dramas

[@zacetto]

I have been after this short film for nigh on 42 years....I did not know the title, nor was I aware it was M.R. James. I watched it on daytime TV when I was about 4 and it scared me. I often wondered why such an early time slot? .....strangely, I knew that this was the film and it was spooky watching it and being proved right. Many thanks for putting this up!

[@cathydoyle8804]

Lovely to hear, that you have followed up and have this gem of a film

[@Mike8981]

Four? Good Lord, Sir!

[@zacetto]

@@Mike8981 You’re never too young for a bit of M.R., Sir! Mind you, I nearly soiled myself on the first watching, but insisted on watching the educational repeats, for the rest of the week. One of my early introductions to the supernatural/horror, you could say.

[@zacetto]

@@cathydoyle8804 Thank you. I was doing the most random KZbin searches.....ghost story.....maze......hole......skull. I was convinced it was a deformed, fanged skull at the end. I am delighted to have found this and even in 1976, found the music very amusing. Everyone is commenting on the trad jazz soundtrack, but I suffer it. I think the whole point of the daytime educational slot was to illustrate the use of incidental music.

[@geoffjoffy]

TV was far better back then. More polished. Thanks.

[@paulcowell7588]

Looks like Peter wyngards double..

[@John-he1ep]

splendid show,thankyou very much..

[@deejaydubla]

This is one I've never seen! Thank you so much!

[@KeithDec25]

May I send my thanks for posting-short and to the point, creepy as hell...

[@chrispenny3965]

It is a shame about the tuneless music but i am still very glad 2 have seen it...thankyou. ...🌟

[@ggrey5990]

Pity about the soundtrack. Clearly an avant-garde jazz ensemble isn't quite the ticket when adapting James for the screen.

[@camo7886]

Gwynne Gibbons the opening sounds when the train arrived were awful. Like a trumpet vomiting in ones ear.

[@ajones747]

Bad isn't it.

[@sugar1973us]

Why is it any mention of the word "shrubbery" makes me laugh? Thanks to Monty Python...😄

[@BeeLZBeeb]

I even replied with “a shrubberyyyyy???!!” 😅

[@brendangilmore4297]

Where would English Gothic Horror be without the Clarinet?

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

Was this an episode of an anthology aeries or isbit a standalone one off production? Its not a ghost story for xmas, not a play for today or whatever.

[@SlipdeGarcondeJour]

Wonderful little adaptations... I love the MRJ understatement... "something more ... considerable..."

[@racoondiver]

Thanks.

[@bbb103]

I disagree with most. I like the music. It sets the appropriate mood for the piece.The atmosphere is supposed to be odd, discordant, off putting and bizarre. I think the director picked the music very carefully and knew exactly what he was doing.

[@cathydoyle8804]

I agree! The music goes well with this little tale...

[@michaeldevaney5728]

@@cathydoyle8804 i totally agree with you what is yur favourite m r James story

[@euthydemos]

If you think this music is inappropriate try listening to Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This composition by Philip Wilby takes a lot from Stravinsky's disconcerting and discordant piece from the early 1900's.

[@michaeldevaney5728]

@@euthydemos hi i never ever said thst music was inappropriate you are obviously mixing me up eith another commenter

[@bubby2325]

I agree: the music was jarring and did not match the story.

[@Shineon83]

The actor playing Humphries is much too old for the part - he was supposed to be in his 20s….

[@Derek_Smallshorts]

What on earth is with the poncing-about-in-meadows-whilst-a-jazz-quartet-has-a-cheeky-wank-in-the-bushes music? And why does Mr Humphreys look like something out of a Monty Python sketch? Why does everyone for that matter?

[@elizabethsheffield6609]

.......somehow was expecting Mr Bean to emerge from the maze to complete this peculiar adaptation.

[@samsum3738]

It was 1976 after all .

[@steerpike66]

The locations are good but it is too brief (it is one of James' longest stores, and one of the least cinematic) and the script is shallow, plus Humphreys is too old. If ever a James adaptation needs plenty of wordless location shooting, long tracking shots, bad dreams, montages, suggestive sound design, understated foreshadowing and slow pacing, this is it.

[@mzeewatk846]

It's only a cheap t.v. production though, crammed into 20 minutes. very 1970's, late prime time. :)

[@mzeewatk846]

P.s. Bugs bunny used this trope.

[@rodneyhatch56]

Have any other of James' stories been committed to film?

[@martinholmes-ue9ko]

I would be more concerned about being followed around by a woodwind quartet.

[@jackpayne4658]

The composer was clearly a budding Stravinsky. Sadly, the bud failed to arrive at fruition.

[@hillaryclinton1232]

me too Mr Humphreys my favourite MRJ stories, my Family were Humphreys in Arkansas, USA Humphreys Dairy Farm but until today I had no idea that a dramatisation of it existed Humphrey's Dairy Farm is a historic farm property at 1675 Shady Grove Road in Garland County, Arkansas, several miles southeast of Hot Springs. The farm is now a 12-acre remnant of a property that was once more than 400 acres.

[@corettaha7855]

Glad of the post, but the story is much better than the adaptation in this case.

[@incredibleflameboy]

I find it an odd choice that they used lines from oh, whistle and I'll come to you my lad at the end because they're not 100% in line with the plot. I wonder why they did that

[@JasonJason210]

Mr Cooper (1:15) is a dead-ringer for Stephen Fry.

[@barryroach1980]

Mmmmm! Really?

[@albertogarcia716]

I have one question that I must propose, after listening to "The Ash Tree" and this story, is, when will the English discover screens for their windows and doors?

[@blossom___blossom___blossom]

Well that adaptation was a let down. No figurines on the globe. No visit by Lady Winthrop. I know the stories require trimming to work as short adaptations but why trim the best bits ?

[@kmaprod]

If we’re lucky they’ll retell it in “A Ghost Story at Christmas”.

[@GradKat]

Atmosphere is lost because of that irritating, intrusive and completely inappropriate music.

[@christopherheinig3066]

A good adaptation within its means, comparing to James' original story is pointless, enjoy this short film as is. The Mezzotint should really have been adapted in the early 70's as well, this is a pity because it's among his best stories ! The Alderton Theatre has a good adaptation as well here on utube otherwise all are audiobooks though well read, Michael Hordern's reading is brilliant but The Mezzotint begs for visuals !

[@dotthompson9146]

0:00

[@chrisevans5259]

This let's down the book on all aspects, doesn't do the creepy story no justice at all.....a letdown

[@summerrose299]

That awful so-called 'music' is horrific!

[@michaeldevaney5728]

Absolutely excellent absolutely top quality and sheer class

[@camo7886]

Jazzzzz.

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

Very weak adaptation of an excellent story.

[@cardinalnight3883]

This one I missed. Thanks for uploading. Not as masterful as Whistle but certainly some great 70's effects.