The Tractate Middoth
MR James
Duration: 35 minutes
The chilling story of Dr Rant, whose wicked streak continues from beyond the grave. Based on the festive ghost story by MR James.
When a relative comes to find a particular book at the university library, young student Garrett is drawn into a family feud over a will and its legacy - with terrifying consequences.
The Tractate Middoth
"The Tractate Middoth"
A Ghost Story for Christmas episode
Directed by Mark Gatiss
Written by M. R. James (story)
Mark Gatiss (adaptation)
Original air date 25 December 2013
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"The Tractate Middoth" is a short ghost story by British author M. R. James. It was published in 1911 in More Ghost Stories, James's second collection of ghost stories.
Adaptations
On 7 May 1951, an American television adaptation of the story was broadcast as "The Lost Will of Dr Rant", as part of the Lights Out mystery series. It starred Leslie Nielsen.
On 26 February 1966, a version of the story adapted by Dennis Webb was broadcast by ATV and Thames Television as part of the Mystery and Imagination series of ghost story adaptations. It starred Giles Block, David Buck and John Crocker.
On 25 December 2007 the story was read on BBC Radio 4 by Derek Jacobi as part of the M R James at Christmas series.
On 25 December 2013, a version of the story adapted by Mark Gatiss was broadcast by the BBC2 as part of the long-running A Ghost Story for Christmas series. It stars Sacha Dhawan, John Castle, Louise Jameson, Una Stubbs, David Ryall, Eleanor Bron, Nick Burns and Roy Barraclough.
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Replies
Saw this at the time of broadcast, does anyone think it was a good production?
I thought it was excellent.. ----------------------------------- R
Well acted with some neat special effects. The script is pretty true to the original text but Mark Gatiss is an actor's writer. He tends to populate his scripts with very vivid often operatic characters and all too often, plot development gives way to dramatic visuals. But then again he does write for TV.
I really enjoyed it. Lots of times I will get something in video that was written by someone who is an audio writer too and I wonder why the video is even there because I can close my eyes and visualize far better for me than the pictures on the video. With his work I have to watch even though I know the story by heart. I do like that because i am forced into another's construct and if they are really good it is better than mine in my head. His writing is like that for me. Excellent!!!! --------------------------- R
Many thanks, Rick! I already have this one but do thank you for posting it. Great English stars of stage, screen, and radio in this looking very long in the tooth but still quite potent!
Thank you!