No I don’t mean The Great Escape and Andrew Preview with Eric n Ernie – are there any films\ TV shows that you dig out at this time of year as an act of welcoming the season to be jolly/miserable?
For the past 30 years – first from an off-air VHS, then a BBC Video and finally a shiny DVD for me it has been ‘The Box Of Delights’ first broadcast 31 years ago tonight. Although it may look basic these days it’s mix of live action and animation effects were mesmerising to the pre-teen DFB. Added to this the marvellous Patrick Troughton, devilish hamming of Robert Stephens and ghoulish ner-do-wells that scared the kiddies along with typically creepy intro music – this is perfect winter warmer material
In years past we always watched the BBC adaptations of M.R. James, Scrooge, The Man Who Came To Dinner, The Apartment and Gremlins.
I doubt I’ll ever watch any of them again.
Ooh no, Mrs Chris bought me the boxset of the BBC Ghost Stories a couple of years back and they’re on repeat watch around this time of year. Outstanding.
I love The Box Of Delights series too. I saw it before I read the books, and prefer it to the printed version. I will save the dvd until nearer Christmas though, as it is really Christmassy in parts. Comfort viewing would make a good thread. I trapped a nerve in my back gardening in the summer and was unable to move without pain. At one point I tried to get out of bed and jammed my unbending self between the bed and the wardrobe. Anyway, I spent my convalescence on a straight backed chair in front of the TV watching Star Wars dvds. I had to summon my wife to change the discs though. Other comfort films for me are Hellboy and the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Nowt wrong with escapism.
What a great reminder! I’d forgotten all about this. I read The Midnight Folk when I was about 10, and so had already made friends with Kay long before this was made. Troughton is superb. Four quid from the Dodgers? Bargain. Top tip DFB.
I’ve already started wearing gigantapants. Brr.
Great tip DFB. I must order it from the taxdodgers.
Kate Rusby does her Christmas show at the Union Chapel on December 7th, that’ll kick start my festivities.
LOTR, due to its Christmas release schedule I guess, must always be watched.
The Box of Delights just has a great atmosphere:- and Toby’s dad chews the scenery with great relish….Patrick Troughton’s eye twinkle set to max.
But at Xmas all I want is a darkly comic swearathon set in my favourite city: