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Post by number13 on Feb 20, 2020 11:38:57 GMT
I have expanded the title of this thread to go beyond the original purpose of highlighting one single, excellent collection of BBC Jamesian adaptations. While it is indeed an excellent collection, and most highly recommended, it contains only the tip of the BBC iceberg of readings and adaptations of James' ghost stories produced by the corporation since the 1930s.
Therefore, delve deeply, for in this thread we may find reference to further radio works from The Master, and from those who have followed closely in his footsteps...
EDIT; 2021/3/18 And I've just expanded it again. All things Jamesian, post them here...
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This is a collection of some of the full cast short story productions of M.R.James' ghost stories made for BBC Radio 4 over a few Christmases (12 of which are included here, 15 mins each) with starry casts, each story introduced by Sir Derek Jacobi or Mark Gatiss as James! (Several of the 12 listed were dramatised in both the Jacobi and Gatiss-presented collections and I can't tell which version is used here for which story, though I suspect we have all 5 of the 2018 'Gatiss' versions.)
Plus three others as readings by Benjamin Whitrow (all also 15 min and excellent) and two associated docs about James from Radio 4 of which I've only heard the 'Great Lives' one.
And a one hour drama 'The Haunting of M. R. James' starring Mark Gatiss as the writer gains some 'real-life' inspiration for his stories! (This title was also used for the associated 2018 season of 5 of the short story dramatisations.)
The listing doesn't say total length but I'm estimating 5 CDs for this content. Some of the full cast stories have been released before, but not all and I think all the other material is new on CD.
Now released all together, its a bargain at £18 with many of his best stories faithfully adapted and some great 'extras'. James fans, don't miss it! (Released on March 5th.)
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Post by number13 on Feb 21, 2020 14:37:51 GMT
After some Googling, a few more details on which stories are from which BBC sources (I think I've got it right but not 100%.) Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come To You, My Lad; The Tractate Middoth; Lost Hearts; The Rose Garden and Number 13 are definitely the 2007 Christmas week run presented by Sir Derek Jacobi. The Mezzotint; Casting the Runes; The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral; A Warning to the Curious and Rats are from the 2018 'The Haunting of M.R.James' week presented by Mark Gatiss. (As is the Jamesian drama of the same name, 30 min.)
All the adaptations are full-cast, 15 minutes long. The other two full-cast stories are where it got interesting (for me anyway!) as relatively unknown rarities I've never heard:
Count Magnus (maybe James' purest 'horror' story) is I think a 2000 adaptation from a Christmas season of 15 minute ghost stories collectively called 'The Red Room'. And that's all I know. and last but by no means least of the full-casts
Martin’s Close must be this 1963 full-cast play (30 mins) with Sir Donald Wolfit starring as Judge Jeffreys. (He's named in the Amazon listing but no role / context.) I've never heard this production of course but James' story paints us a pretty full-on Jeffreys and I'm imagining that's what we'll get here! Then Benjamin Whitrow's readings of Canon Alberic’s Scrapbook, A School Story and The Haunted Dolls’ House (all 15 min again) are I think from the early 2000s. I heard these repeated at Christmas around 5 years ago and they're also very good. (There were also readings of Rats and Lost Hearts but these aren't in the collection presumably because there are full-cast versions included.) So in all, I make that 3hr 15min of full-cast adaptations, 45 min of readings, the 30 min play 'The Haunting of M.R.James' and the two documentaries. Great value.
(We'll know most of this for sure in a couple of weeks if there's a booklet with the collection but I had fun doing it. )
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Feb 21, 2020 18:00:47 GMT
Thanks for the heads up. I have limited exposure to James but what I have heard I liked so will definitely investigate this release!
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Post by number13 on Feb 21, 2020 19:18:02 GMT
Thanks for the heads up. I have limited exposure to James but what I have heard I liked so will definitely investigate this release! You're welcome.
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Post by number13 on Mar 6, 2020 16:10:22 GMT
'Quis est iste qui uenit...'
The M. R. James BBC Radio Collection CDs, that's who! Arrived today.
Fortunately for my creaking Latin, James does give a translation of the ominous phrase on the old whistle in 'Oh, Whistle and I'll Come to You'... Who is this who is coming...
(Reading that on a whistle found in ancient ruins, would you blow it? No nor me neither!)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2020 16:31:11 GMT
'Quis est iste qui uenit...'
The M. R. James BBC Radio Collection CDs, that's who! Arrived today.
Fortunately for my creaking Latin, James does give a translation of the ominous phrase on the old whistle in 'Oh, Whistle and I'll Come to You'... Who is this who is coming...
(Reading that on a whistle found in ancient ruins, would you blow it? No nor me neither!)
Cool - I must say though that David Suchet is my favourite audio narrator of M.R James. On TV, Robert Powell is exceptional too. To me both compare favourably in comparison to Derek Jacobi & Christopher Lee respectively. Are these dramatisations or narrations, and whom by, do you mind me asking? Edit - I see you answered this in your first post - apologies!
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Post by muckypup on Mar 6, 2020 16:51:49 GMT
i was surprised the re-telling/inspired by dramas went not included in this collection
many were excellent and worth keeping a look out for some were recently on bbc sounds but i came across some of them on youtube in the past
some of titles were Black Stockings and Broken Mirrors boat hook A Warden For All Saints backwards glance the hex echos from the abbey the lodestone
there are others but these once i have listened to.....
my favourite m r james story is view from a hill my favourite reader of this is Nigel Lambert.......
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Post by muckypup on Mar 6, 2020 17:06:50 GMT
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Mar 11, 2020 19:37:10 GMT
Box set arrived today and very nice it looks. Also checked that link, a very extensive range on there!!
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Post by BHTvsTFC on Mar 15, 2020 12:15:30 GMT
Have listened to half a dozen or so audios on that list - the Fear on Four audios are very atmospheric and it was a surprise to hear Thora Hird in one, Fat Andy, also featuring Susan Sheridan as the young Andy, sounding very similar to Simon in The Hollows of Time. Currently listening The House at World's End, an MR James adaptation with David Collings in a supporting role. I recommend that link to anyone exploring audio drama. Many thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2020 8:42:17 GMT
A nice Halloween treat and still available for another 25 Days: M.R James 'Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You'. A Radio Dramatisation from 1963 and Starring Michael Hordern, five years before the Televised version by Jonathan Miller: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b06sqq9z
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Post by number13 on Nov 8, 2020 12:11:11 GMT
A nice Halloween treat and still available for another 25 Days: M.R James 'Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You'. A Radio Dramatisation from 1963 and Starring Michael Hordern, five years before the Televised version by Jonathan Miller: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b06sqq9zOh excellent, thanks for the post! This certainly should have been in the CDs, but I guess there are more Jamesian things in the BBC archive than could be dreamed of including in one set.
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Post by number13 on Feb 23, 2021 13:49:00 GMT
'Sheila Hodgson - The Backward Glance'
As every Jamesian will surely be aware, The Master bequeathed to his loyal followers a most tantalising document entitled 'Stories I have Tried to Write'. Within its brief but fascinating paragraphs lie numerous hints of tales untold, some sketched out in considerable detail, others little more than a vague idea awaiting manifestation.
I have a copy before me, the paper yellowing with age and one corner chewed by small teeth of a most curious pattern, surely not those of any animal known to Science...? By the uncertain light of my candle, I find one of the fuller (the term is relative) descriptions to be that of a strange mask, and a man alone in his study one evening. "Alone" is, of course, also a relative term...
In the final quarter of last century, the writer Sheila Hodgson scripted for the BBC a series of plays inspired by the document to which I have referred, and one such is the tale of the curious mask, entitled 'The Backward Glance'. These plays may be encountered on "YouTube", but the presence is much clearer when they are raised from the original source.
It will remain present for but another seven days, before departing once more to the archives. Therefore, do not delay, but summon your BBC familiar app(arition?) and carefully take a backward glance to 1977, and beyond...
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Post by number13 on Mar 7, 2021 0:54:33 GMT
Paging @daver @davros1 grinch and other fellow Jamesians! You might find this a bit of fun if you've not already heard it. 'A Warning to the Furious' (yes, furious) was a Jamesian homage/satirical spoof afternoon play on Radio 4 sometime in the 2000s. (And now to be found on Youtube.) It's full of in-jokes and references for fans of M.R.James and his stories, and it's fun satirical story-telling, with a ghostly twist (of course. ) {Spoiler}One bit of satire I especially liked was the opinionated documentary film-maker who had never actually read ANY of his stories, but knew exactly what she wanted to say about the subject. No film-maker would ever do that about any subject, would they?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2021 4:51:10 GMT
Paging @daver @davros1 grinch and other fellow Jamesians! You might find this a bit of fun if you've not already heard it. 'A Warning to the Furious' (yes, furious) was a Jamesian homage/satirical spoof afternoon play on Radio 4 sometime in the 2000s. (And now to be found on Youtube.) It's full of in-jokes and references for fans of M.R.James and his stories, and it's fun satirical story-telling, with a ghostly twist (of course. ) {Spoiler}One bit of satire I especially liked was the opinionated documentary film-maker who had never actually read ANY of his stories, but knew exactly what she wanted to say about the subject. No film-maker would ever do that about any subject, would they? {Spoiler} Surely not!
Thanks for this link - I'll definitely give this a go!
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Post by grinch on Mar 7, 2021 10:24:27 GMT
Thanks for the link number13!
And yes, all sounds very prescient to me.
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Post by number13 on Mar 7, 2021 13:11:55 GMT
May I wish you both... pleasant listening... *fading ghostly chuckle*
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2021 19:16:56 GMT
Not radio, but certainly of interest - the letters of James are being curated in a hardback book. Currently open for crowdfunding which has perks including getting your name in the book's credits and....an M.R. James tote bag - just what all the trendiest shoppers use! unbound.com/books/casting-the-runes/
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Post by number13 on Mar 18, 2021 0:16:01 GMT
Not radio, but certainly of interest - the letters of James are being curated in a hardback book. Currently open for crowdfunding which has perks including getting your name in the book's credits and....an M.R. James tote bag - just what all the trendiest shoppers use! unbound.com/books/casting-the-runes/(I've expanded the thread title again - all things Jamesian, cast them here! )
Very interesting link, thanks. And it's already funded (with at present a wonderfully significant looking 111%) so I'll be looking out for the book, whenever it manifests itself.
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Post by number13 on Mar 27, 2021 13:32:05 GMT
Paging @daver @davros1 @davygallagher grinch and other fellow Jamesians, again!
Another Jamesian BBC play I found recently on YouTube:
"The House at World's End"
We begin one Christmas Eve at Cambridge, long ago. The Master will be delighted if you can join him in his rooms. He has a tale to tell...
(I'm sure you'll be as pleased as I was to find David Collings as the doctor (no not that Doctor ) and that the residence of Uncle Magnus is, by pure coincidence no doubt, Cranleigh Hall...)
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