The Woman In Black - Britmovie

neilzodiac · 24-03-2008, 07:00 PM

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum...
Huge fan of eerie ghost stories, and personally think THE WOMAN IN BLACK is one of the scariest and finest ever made, even if it strays from the book by Susan hill.

Huge fan of the BBC M.R. James adaptations also.

Any other fans ?

Neil

smudge · 24-03-2008, 08:32 PM

Definitely a fan, although I have not seen THE WOMAN IN BLACK since the original transmission.

Many years ago - when the not yet Mrs. Smudge and I were still 'courting' - we saw TWIB at the theatre, and I had the misfortune of sitting in an aisle seat, where the apparition sweeps past, and 'it' brushed against me...

Well it was (overall) a very spooky evening, culminating in us sitting in a deserted late night train on a quiet side platform, waiting to return to (almost)Mrs. Smudge's house some miles away in the wilds of Shropshire. Boy did we jump out of our skins when a sudden burst of heavy rain started bouncing off the roof and windows!

I think for every two steps forward at our destination, we were looking over our shoulders into the darkness on that night....

Smudge

neilzodiac · 25-03-2008, 03:54 PM

The theatrical version is astonishing considering there's only two people in it. I saw it in London, it remains one of the most chilling experiences ever, and I too was sitting on the aisle when the claoked figure drifted by.

I can't understand why the film isn't available. there were NTSC dvd's about, and I have the VHS but there's such a demand for the older, eerie ghost adaptations.

batman · 25-03-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilzodiac

The theatrical version is astonishing considering there's only two people in it. I saw it in London, it remains one of the most chilling experiences ever, and I too was sitting on the aisle when the claoked figure drifted by.

I can't understand why the film isn't available. there were NTSC dvd's about, and I have the VHS but there's such a demand for the older, eerie ghost adaptations.

I have read the book, seen the film and have watched the stage version (several times). All three are the among the scariest in their respectives mediums I can think of.

I can't think of any other story that has been so good in all it's incarnations.

Does anyone know if there is a radio version? That would be interesting.

DVRs often crop up on ebay.

Steve Crook · 25-03-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batman

Does anyone know if there is a radio version? That would be interesting.

It was serialised on Radio 4 not too long ago. Although that didn't work as well as doing it as a single play because they couldn't maintain the suspense

Steve

batman · 25-03-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Crook

It was serialised on Radio 4 not too long ago. Although that didn't work as well as doing it as a single play because they couldn't maintain the suspense

Steve

Thanks Steve. The story does rely on the building and maintaining of suspense, to have that broken up would certainly reduce the 'scary' factor.

Redstar · 25-03-2008, 11:23 PM

I agree absolutely it is one of the eeriest and scariest tv movies I have ever watched.
I cant think of anything made for tv that is comparable apart from the Christmas ghost stories of the seventies, but even those never made me jumps so much as the Woman in Black.

Azanti · 26-03-2008, 12:36 AM

Agreed, love both the Film and the play which I have seen 3 times.

And there are three people in it, not two.

Don't forget the woman in black.

neilzodiac · 27-03-2008, 04:23 PM

Yes, but the 'woman in black' is not actually mentioned in the prgramme of the London showing!! It gives it a great mystifying edge...

I recall the WOMAN IN BLACK on the radio recently, there's not enough ghostly stuff on the radio.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK remains the most terrifying experience for so many people, the tension throughout but more so the fact that the actress who plays the woman is truly terrifying and the bed scene is hideous.

I love the old t.v. stuff, Oh Whistle And I'll Come To You...was similarly eerie. It's a shame that H.P. Lovecraft's tales haven't been so mesmerisingly recreated, most of the films have been poor.

magicdog · 27-03-2008, 06:19 PM

I'm also a big fan of the ghostly/mystical tales - Woman in Black really is excellent, like others I saw it at the London theatre too, only I had the misfortune to be sat on an almost vertical slope of seats so vertigo made it even chillier...

The M R James adaptations are eerie in a similar way to Woman in Black - they're so sparse, with lots of silence that really builds the foreboding. Of the ones recently shown on BBC4 I thought the Ash Tree was quite a good one and more bizarre than some of the others.

Another similar story which I think is brilliant is Robin Redbreast, a Play for Today from the 70s by John Bowen, with Anna Cropper. A woman goes to live in an isolated cottage and gets unwittingly involved in a pagan festival - it's almost Blair Witch (to quote something out of time synch!) in the way the bare trees and wintry sunlight are used.

24-03-2008, 07:00 PM	#1
neilzodiac Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kent Posts: 5 Country: iTrader: (0)	The Woman In Black Hi all, I'm new to the forum... Huge fan of eerie ghost stories, and personally think THE WOMAN IN BLACK is one of the scariest and finest ever made, even if it strays from the book by Susan hill. Huge fan of the BBC M.R. James adaptations also. Any other fans ? Neil

24-03-2008, 08:32 PM	#2
smudge Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 3,067 Country: iTrader: (10)	Definitely a fan, although I have not seen THE WOMAN IN BLACK since the original transmission. Many years ago - when the not yet Mrs. Smudge and I were still 'courting' - we saw TWIB at the theatre, and I had the misfortune of sitting in an aisle seat, where the apparition sweeps past, and 'it' brushed against me... Well it was (overall) a very spooky evening, culminating in us sitting in a deserted late night train on a quiet side platform, waiting to return to (almost)Mrs. Smudge's house some miles away in the wilds of Shropshire. Boy did we jump out of our skins when a sudden burst of heavy rain started bouncing off the roof and windows! I think for every two steps forward at our destination, we were looking over our shoulders into the darkness on that night.... Smudge __________________ Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

25-03-2008, 11:23 PM	#7
Redstar Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 207 Country: iTrader: (0)	frightened the life out of me I agree absolutely it is one of the eeriest and scariest tv movies I have ever watched. I cant think of anything made for tv that is comparable apart from the Christmas ghost stories of the seventies, but even those never made me jumps so much as the Woman in Black.

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25-03-2008, 03:54 PM	#3
neilzodiac Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kent Posts: 5 Country: iTrader: (0)	The theatrical version is astonishing considering there's only two people in it. I saw it in London, it remains one of the most chilling experiences ever, and I too was sitting on the aisle when the claoked figure drifted by. I can't understand why the film isn't available. there were NTSC dvd's about, and I have the VHS but there's such a demand for the older, eerie ghost adaptations.

26-03-2008, 12:36 AM	#8
Azanti Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Posts: 122 Country: iTrader: (0)	Agreed, love both the Film and the play which I have seen 3 times. And there are three people in it, not two. Don't forget the woman in black.

27-03-2008, 04:23 PM	#9
neilzodiac Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kent Posts: 5 Country: iTrader: (0)	Yes, but the 'woman in black' is not actually mentioned in the prgramme of the London showing!! It gives it a great mystifying edge... I recall the WOMAN IN BLACK on the radio recently, there's not enough ghostly stuff on the radio. THE WOMAN IN BLACK remains the most terrifying experience for so many people, the tension throughout but more so the fact that the actress who plays the woman is truly terrifying and the bed scene is hideous. I love the old t.v. stuff, Oh Whistle And I'll Come To You...was similarly eerie. It's a shame that H.P. Lovecraft's tales haven't been so mesmerisingly recreated, most of the films have been poor.

27-03-2008, 06:19 PM	#10
magicdog Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK South Posts: 21 Country: iTrader: (2)	I'm also a big fan of the ghostly/mystical tales - Woman in Black really is excellent, like others I saw it at the London theatre too, only I had the misfortune to be sat on an almost vertical slope of seats so vertigo made it even chillier... The M R James adaptations are eerie in a similar way to Woman in Black - they're so sparse, with lots of silence that really builds the foreboding. Of the ones recently shown on BBC4 I thought the Ash Tree was quite a good one and more bizarre than some of the others. Another similar story which I think is brilliant is Robin Redbreast, a Play for Today from the 70s by John Bowen, with Anna Cropper. A woman goes to live in an isolated cottage and gets unwittingly involved in a pagan festival - it's almost Blair Witch (to quote something out of time synch!) in the way the bare trees and wintry sunlight are used.