The Ash Tree (1975) (TV)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Lawrence Gordon Clark

Writers:

M.R. James (story) (book "Ghost Stories of an Antiquary")
David Rudkin (adaptation)

Release Date:

23 December 1975 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Short

Plot Keywords:

Based On Book

Cast

Edward Petherbridge	...	Sir Richard / Sir Matthew
Preston Lockwood	...	Dr. Croome
Barbara Ewing	...	Anne Mothersole
Lalla Ward	...	Lady Augusta
Lucy Griffiths	...	Mrs. Chiddock
Oliver Maguire	...	William Beresford
Clifford Kershaw	...	The Witchfinder
Cyril Appleton	...	Master Procathro
David Pugh	...	Herdsman
Glynn Sweet	...	Young Cleric

Also Known As:

Ghost Story for Christmas: The Ash Tree (UK) (series title)

Runtime:

35 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

"No sweet babes shall mine be!"

And the witch ain't whistlin' Dixie!

Legendary (because I say so) entry in the long running Ghost Story For Christmas 'series'. Another little gem from Mr Clark, meticulously and subtly weaving past with 'present', in this case around the time the novel Tom Jones was published, as it is mentioned in one scene. Don't ask me the date, my history is terrible, and I can't even blame modern schooling! Like all the previous ghost stories, you have to concentrate a little to follow the plot.

The poor chap in this evil little rustic tale is the most unfortunate in the series, being that he is haunted by both his ancestor and the women he had wronged. He has a portent of his own doom, and is his own marionette, leading himself to a fate you wouldn't wish on your worse enemy. Well, maybe. Signalling the past through echoing voices is a little hokey, but the ending is juicy.