16th January, 2016: The Stone Tape
You know, it’s not THAT often I get a Saturday night off.
You know, it’s not THAT often I get a Saturday night off.
No, really …
But when I do … ?
If I’ve nothing else to do — or planned — I like to try and catch a movie.
Or possibly 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 it’s aired on Channel Five, 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 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 history.
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.
Aiming at developing 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 room, in particular, has a reputation for being haunted.
Further research … ?
Shows the team 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 age maid, whose screams scare the researchers … but which can’t be recorded to tape …
The drama builds to a climax: with Jill eventually realising the Stone tape is seriously tape-like.
It can be recorded to, many times …
Now …
There’s so much that can be said, here.
In introducing this post, I mentioned history?
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.
I DO know Nigel Kneale was the man who penned the influential Quatermass serials: without which British science fiction wouldn’t be the same.
And that 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 can only deal with what’s in front of me: what I’ve seen, in other words.
I am 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 this original … ?
Is still watchable, after some forty-four years.
That’s a hell of a testament to the people that made it.
Occasionally … ?
Just occasionally, I find a TV show that’s not a series: doesn’t get anywhere NEAR being a series, or 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 history.
~≈È≈~
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.
Aiming at developing 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 room, in particular, has a reputation for being haunted.
Further research … ?
Shows the team 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 age maid, whose screams scare the researchers … but which can’t be recorded to tape …
The drama builds to a climax: with Jill eventually realising the Stone tape is seriously tape-like.
It can be recorded to, many times …
~≈È≈~
Now …
There’s so much that can be said, here.
In introducing this post, I mentioned history?
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.
I DO know Nigel Kneale was the man who penned the influential Quatermass serials: without which British science fiction wouldn’t be the same.
And that 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 can only deal with what’s in front of me: what I’ve seen, in other words.
I am 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 this original … ?
Is still watchable, after some forty-four years.
That’s a hell of a testament to the people that made it.
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