Chloe's Not Scared

A Ghost Story for Christmas is a series of British short films airing on BBC, mainly in the 1970’s and 2010’s. I first heard about this Christmas series from one of my favorite podcasts, Evolution of Horror. Immediately intrigued, I searched but could not find any of the stories (save for shitty YouTube versions), at least in the United States. Luckily, Shudder has resurrected these frightening tales for us Americans. It’s a Christmas miracle!

But first, a little history. 

All of the original short films in A Ghost Story for Christmas aired between 1971 and 1978 and were all shot on 16mm. However the original tale, “Whistle and I’ll Come to You,” premiered on the BBC in 1968, but is credited as being the inspiring film to BBC documentarian Lawrence Gordon Clark. Clark directed all but one of A Ghost Story for Christmas, based on stories of M.R. James (with one– “The Signalman”– by Charles Dickens). 

M.R. James was a scholar of medieval literature in the early 1900’s. Though his scholarship is well regarded, his books Ghost Stories of an Antiquity and subsequent other collections is his legacy, at least in my eyes. His stories introduced folk and antiquarian horror (this librarian’s dream) to the general public. His stories often focus on a well-meaning but naive academic in the English countryside who accidentally uncovers an antique and unleashes an ancient evil.

A Ghost Story for Christmas is beloved by Brits, but is the tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas inherently Victorian or British? Yes and no. Most think that this tradition originated with Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in 1843, but according to Kat Eschner at the Smithsonian, the tradition may be even older than that. The winter solstice- the darkest day of the year- inspires gathering, storytelling, and dark tales. It makes sense that these folk horror tales of ancient evil (with pagan undertones) would be as effective ghost stories.

In 2005, BBC4 reprised A Ghost Story for Christmas, but it wasn’t until the premiere of a new adaptation of “Whistle and I’ll Come to You” in 2010 that the series started back up in earnest, with actor-filmmaker Mark Gatiss at the helm. The series aired in 2013, and again from 2018 to present. All of the stories were also written by M.R. James except for the most recent (“Lot #249” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 2023 and this year’s “Man-Sized in Marble” by Edith Nesbit). For the purpose of this article, I’ll be focusing on the 1971-1978 short films, as I am an old British man at heart, trapped in a cool, hip 33 year old’s body. 

For the purpose of serving the algorithm, let’s rank the 1970’s A Ghost Story for Christmas, from least-best to best.

10. Casting the Runes (1979)

Casting the Runes (1979) directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark and based on the story by the same name by M.R. James. This production aired on ITV after Clark left the BBC and feels very different than the rest. It feels a bit too modernized, and lacks the old-world charm of the others.

9. Stigma (1977)

Stigma (1977), directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, about a woman who disturb a menhir while renovating their house. Not a good story but there certainly is a lot of nudity. I wonder how this went over as a family viewing party. I guess it’s not based on an M.R. James anything, so maybe that’s why it’s one of my least favorites.

8. The Ash Tree (1975)

The Ash Tree (1975) directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, based on a M.R. James story by the same name. Ari Aster and Mike Flanagan would have a field day with this story based in familial trauma, exploring the age-old question: what would you do if your ancestor was one of the baddies from witchcraft trials?

7. The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (1974)

The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (1974), directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, based on a M.R. James story called- you guessed it- “The Treasure of Abbot Thomas.” Lots of mud in this one, more of an elemental haunting. A historian finds a treasure in an abbey library, but of course there is a curse that comes with it.

6. The Ice House (1978)

The Ice House (1978) directed by Derek Lister, and- to my knowledge- not based on anything at all. Though it doesn’t have antiquarian ties, John Bowen captures the magic of James through this tale. A recently divorced man takes solace in a health spa run by a wacky brother and sister duo, but there’s something nefarious going on near the ice house. There’s also a haunted vine, a hole directly in the center of the windowpane, and some strange shots of naked middle-aged men getting massages. 

5. The Stalls of Barchester (1971)

The Stalls of Barchester (1971), directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, based on “The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral” by M.R. James. This is a great story-within-a-story about a researcher who unearths a diary of an Archdeacon. The Archdeacon is haunted by a black cat and grim reaper, in connection to the dark wooden carvings of his cathedral. This episode is filled with things that M.R. James does best: a metatextual exploration of scholarship, random-ass haunted objects, and a killer ending.

4. The Signalman (1976)

The Signalman (1976), directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, based on a story by Charles Dickens. Regarded as the most well-known to its original British audiences, mainly because of that ghastly face, I think it’s up there but not pinnacle. A traveller (very into trains) talks to a railway signalman who seems to be cursed with images of a deadly crash and a grim reaper of death. If you liked the movie Men, or if you are intrigued with the Mothman as a harbinger of doom, you’ll love this shit. 

3. Lost Hearts (1973)

Lost Hearts (1973), directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, based on the M.R. James short story by the same name. An orphan moves into the countryhouse of his much older, much weirder cousin. He begins to see other children playing on the grounds. They seem to be kid-vampires, but they have an important message to send him. There are long fingernails, a hurdy-gurdy, and an old man just giving it his all. What’s not to love?

2. A Warning to the Curious (1972)

A Warning to the Curious (1972), directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, based on M.R. James’ short story “A Warning to the Curious.” After an archaeologist dies in a horrible accident, another archaeologist unearths more than he can bargain for. A beautiful lost crown contains an ancient curse. A haunted mysterious figure lurks in the woods. There’s a lot of running in this one, and nothing’s scarier than a ghost who chases you through the woods.

1. Whistle and I’ll Come to You (1968)

Whistle and I’ll Come to You (1968) directed by Jonathan Miller, based on the short story “Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come To You, My Lad” by M.R. James. The O.G. The G.O.A.T. The original masterpiece of this ilk. A professor finds an old whistle while exploring a coastal cemetery. He blows into it and is haunted by the dread that something is coming. They did not have to go this hard in a made-for-tv ghost story, but they did. For starters, it is meticulously acted by the Shakespearan actor Michael Hordern as the bumbling old professor. Applause to director Jonathan Miller, because the special effects are stunning considering the budget and the era in which it was made. Whistle and I’ll Come to You is basically The Seventh Seal of ghost stories, and it’s only 41 minutes long.

All of these movies are on Shudder, but you can also find Whistle and I’ll Come to You on YouTube. If you have a regency-free media player, you can purchase the box set of the original 1970’s versions from BFI. Not sponsored, again, just an old British man at heart.

Craving some more Victorian ghost stories? Take a look at Ash’s Notebook of Ghosts.