The Stone Tape — Retro TV

16th January, 2016: The Stone Tape.

You know, it’s not THAT often I get a Saturday night off.

But when I do, and if I’ve nothing else to do, I like to try and catch a movie.

Or a TV series.

Dr Who is a perennial favourite: but I’ve been binge-watching Penny Dreadful and House of Cards, over the past few months.

I’m ALSO planning to catch series two of Gotham: week by week, as and when it’s aired here in the UK.

Occasionally … ?

Just occasionally, I find a TV show that’s not a series: doesn’t get anywhere near being a series, or beyond pilot.

Or … can I be frank?

I’ve spent tonight watching an old ‘made for TV’ PLAY: the Nigel Kneale penned, Peter Sasdy directed, The Stone Tape.

And it’s rather hard to explain, unless you know a little background.

~≈È≈~

Part One: The Summary.

Filmed in 1972, The Stone Tape shows us a small team of scientists — led by Peter (Michael Bryant) — moving into their new research establishment: in a renovated Victorian mansion called Taskerlands.

The project is aiming to develop new recording media.

The mansion seriously unnerves computer programmer, Jill (Jane Asher): even Roy, the estate’s manager, finds the place strange at times.

Especially as he knows one particular room has a reputation for being haunted.

Further research … ?

Shows the team the Taskerlands isn’t haunted: far from it.

It is, in fact, the ‘stone tape’ of the title: ‘recording’ events onto the room’s very walls.

Including the death of a Victorian era maid, whose screams scare the researchers … but which can’t be recorded to audio tape …

The drama builds to a climax: with Jill eventually realising the house is seriously tape-like.

It can be recorded to, many times …

~≈È≈~

Part Two: Conclusions.

There’s so much that can be said, here.

In introducing this post, I mentioned background?

I don’t know how much I can tell you about the history of television: either as an art-form, or its impact on the world around us.

But do know writer, Nigel Kneale, was the man who penned the influential Quatermass serials: without which British science fiction wouldn’t be the same.

I’m also aware The Stone Tape is generally hailed as a major influence: not just on TV, either.

Many paranormal reseachers refer to the concept that the landscape can ‘record’ traumatic events as ‘the stone tape theory.’

Personally … ?

I’m sceptical of that idea: but aware how plausible it sounds.

However plausible something is, I can only deal with what’s in front of me: what I’ve seen, in other words.

So I’m very aware I’ve seen something that has aged very well.

Something that, in 1972, was watched and enjoyed by many.

If The Stone Tape turned up now … ?

I don’t know how it would play: but suspect it would be played as a straight horror, rather than the think-piece it is.

But this original … ?

Is still watchable, after some forty-four years.

That’s a hell of a testament to the people that made it.