A View From A Hill 4/4 Ghost Story by M.R James

[jhibbitt1]

what exactly happened at 2:49, why was there a jump sound effect (what ever you call them) and why did he stop and look scared?

[gmlbak]

Wonderful camerwork and direction.

At the end, at the railway station - yellow signal light? Not quite of that era I don't think.

[Matt68385]

@gmlbak I interpreted it as a twist ending, i.e. revealing that the film is actually set in the modern day.

[wordreet]

I'll have to get myself to the library now. There's not enough information here. It makes a good story right enough, but from what I've been hearing about James's writing skills, there's more on the page that shows in the film.

[mjeshaw]

Nice atmospheric production and way better than the awful "re-imagining" of "Oh whistle and I'll come to you my lad" which the BBC did last Christmas, (2010). They completely ruined it - changing everything but the title in a modern setting. The writer arrogantly inserted his own pathetic 'contemporary' ideas in place of the original story, retaining the title just to exploit M.R. James's reputation in order to draw an audience, despite there not even being a whistle in his dreadful travesty!

[roadsoleil]

So far this is my favorite! Thank you!

[jonfletcher147]

I love this version....and room 13........would love it on DVD ;)

[alexander3826]

@jonfletcher147 I think it might be available on video because my history teacher put it on for us every now and then. He had a video player and never used to put DVDs on.

[Ettrick8]

@beatle1874 Do you think? or are you so self centred that you cannot accept anyone else's point of view. You obviously have never read the original story so you wont know or understand the why I am annoyed with the pale version of the original

[Monterey2am]

@Ettrick8 prey tell, why are you called Ettrick? do you live on Ettrick rd? Also, is this actualy film or real events? Amazing that they happened to have a camera there just as these bizarre events unfoled?

[dragontrouser]

@mattrichanderson Yes youre right - 2005. Well it fooled me!. Very much in keeping with the genre.

[dragontrouser]

Not read the story, but this is still very good anyway - one of the better ones from the 1970s BBC. I love the way these stories are set in fine old countryside - woods, marshes, etc where the spirits of the past can still be felt or imagined with atmosphere and suspense. Why does it all have to be so fast paced/in your face/over the top/gore, horror, special effects these days? Attention span issues I guess - for makers and schedulers rather than viewers.

[Ettrick8]

I usually like what you post but this version of The View form a Hill is awful. Any chance of removing it

[Bluesteel750]

Yes, we know your opinion by now :)

[beatle1874]

@Ettrick8 yes please remove this goddamn travesty, because one arsehole doesn't like it, you're entitled not to like it but why why why didn't you just stop watching. do you self harm?

[sdblosom]

What happens at the end? I don't get it...

[Ettrick8]

Probably the ghost of M R James coming to get his revenge on the jokers who ruined his classic story with this awful BBC production (and number 13 while they were at it)

[landslidepurist]

Excellent. Thanks for uploading this!

[mattovboro]

if your looking for books the publisher 'wordsworth editions' sells the complete catalogue for less than £3 - bargain!

[vonkvetch]

Brilliant! I've watched a few M.R.James stories and thought them enjoyable but not as scary as I would have liked. This one though totally creeped me out! Five stars and thanks for posting!

[clemdane]

Loved it. My favorite so far. I've seen three of your M.R. James stories. Will immediately go watch the remaining two.

[bustasnipe]

that was definitely my favorite of the 5 stories you uploaded. I felt inspired to summarize it:

binoculars accursed with the melted down bones of a man who died hundreds of years ago. They allow the viewer visual contact with the castle where the man was killed, but with the deadly price of granting the spirit with physical power over he who dares to look.

[buffscrag]

It's an abbey rather than a castle - otherwise, a fairly accurate summary.

[Ettrick8]

No actually the binoculars allow the viewer to look back through time. The spirits of the eyes used to make the binoculars come back for revenge opp thats the original story not this travesty that the BBC made

[jolynnhi]

awesome story thanks for posting..

[KISTOVI]

THAT WAS SCARY...totally.....

:)

[gtrfinger]

Brilliant. I'm so glad i subscribed to you! Thanks a lot from Yorkshire! Mike

[ebenezerhoary]

This is a very effective tale-and a nice return to the BBC's Christmas Stories of previous years-just hope they produce another one for 2009!

[vpfan31]

M.R JAMES is good I should see if I can't find any of his books.

[gtrfinger]

"Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" is a great start.

[creolelady182]

Another great ghost story Thanks for sharing Lily!