Similar in flavour to Thriller? We're hooked on these & loving the nostalgia trip. We've got all the Tales Of The Unexpected & Hammer Horrors & the 2 Armchair thrillers available in the UK but are desperate for more fixes of excellent British creepy suspense series from the 1970s.
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If you don't mind the supernatural, then Sapphire & Steel is an absolute MUST.
Similarly, Nigel Kneale's Beasts is a very creepy anthology of 6 stories, with some very creepy moments.
And although it was a kids' TV show, Children of the Stones holds a dear place in my heart for its creepy music and opening titles.
Phoo Are My World!
We've got all the 'Beasts' & they are indeed wonderful, especially the 'Baby'1 (shudder). I was never over keen on Sapphire & Steel at the time but maybe I'd take a fresh look at it now. I've been thinking of trying 'Children Of The Stones' for a while so thanks, that's persuaded me to take the plunge.
Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion
Although not anthologies, if you're looking for some creepy stuff, try the BBC's Ghost Stories for Christmas offerings. Sadly only a few are available on DVD (from the BFI) but they're well-worth tracking down.
Phoo Are My World!
Yes; I have the excellent Signalman & A Warning To The Curious (now happily available from Amazon; though I got mine from the BFI). I wish they'd release more. Think the whistling 1 is out now but I can't remember if I've seen that 1 or not. I wish they'd release the rest of the Armchair Thriller series too. So quirky & the 2 I've got are superb blasts from the past.
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Yes, I watched both Armchair Thriller stories the other week. I was surprised at how adult and un-PC they were. But I suppose that's the thing about how TV has moved on. And not in a good way...
And Oh Whistle... is superb. I think it's one of the best M.R. James adaptations ever.
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Fabulously un-PC! The ribbing the Cambridge copper got from the others was hilarious. Did you spot a very young Susie Blake (Bev Unwin recently of Coroation Street as Shelley's mum)in the role of sexy social worker in A Dog's Ransom? That was weird!
What about the little Scottish girl who played Rachel In Danger? Amazing vocabulary for a 10 year old!!! Even her wooden delivery was somehow compelling! And that ending was superb.
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I did indeed spot Susie Blake.
And the woman in the clothes store in Rachel in Danger was Alan B'Stard's wife from The New Statesman!
But yeah, they were great. I love the recap voice-overs at the start, too... It was like watching school TV!
Phoo Are My World!
Yes they were brilliant & had that 'protected' '70s feel. Talking of feeling protected; what about Rachel being given milk & a boiled egg at the train station by the police??!!! Imagine the health & safety & paperwork nightmare such a gesture would cause nowadays? That was also the fastest boiled egg in history. I loved the 'breaks' where the photo of the poodle was on screen for an eternity in 'A Dog's Ransom'. It was at a hideously 'taxidermied' angle too. I laughed hysterically as I kept cueing & it was STILL THERE for..ever LOL! I'm pondering on getting some of the others from the www.raretv.co.uk site but am wary as there's no contact address or 'phone number & there's an error 404 going on there tonight. If you have any personal or anecdotal experience of them let me know as they show some amazing old stuff on there.
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Yeah, I love the whole "language" of TV from back then, with the ad "bumpers" and stuff. The lingering dog shot reminded me of some kind of freaky version of Brasseye's similar never-ending bumpers...
As for the others, I'm just waiting for an official release... Let's hope they work out. But no, I've never heard of them but I'll check it out - under advisement of course!
Phoo Are My World!
Thanks. They've changed their name to www.raretelevision.com now I think. I used the email submission form to ask for proper contact details last night but no reply as yet. Hmmm....
Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion