The Ash-tree (1975)

Original title

The Ash Tree

Directed by

Lawrence Gordon Clark

Genre

mystery, horror, tv movie

Country

United Kingdom

Runtime

32 min

Rating

6.3 of 10 from 20 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

An 18th-century aristocrat inherits his uncle's estate and is troubled by nightmares about a 17th-century ancestor involved in a witch trial. Strange noises from an ash tree outside his window suggest a connection to the past.

atmosphericslow-burneeriemelancholicunsettlingvisually lushhauntingthoughtful

What happens

The Ash Tree is a short film which is part of the British supernatural anthology series A Ghost Story for Christmas. Written by David Rudkin, produced by Rosemary Hill, and directed by the series' creator, Lawrence Gordon Clark, it is based on the ghost story "The Ash-tree" by M. R. James, first published in the collection Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904), and first aired on BBC1 on 23 December 1975. It stars Edward Petherbridge in the dual role of Sir Richard, an 18th-century aristocrat who inherits the estate of his late uncle, and of Sir Matthew, his 17th century ancestor whose role in the witch trial of Ann Mothersole (Barbara Ewing) haunts Sir Richard via nighttime visions. Sir Richard is also disturbed by strange noises coming from an ash tree outside his bedroom window, which is revealed to have a connection with these events. Since airing it has received a mixed response from critics in comparison with the other James adaptations produced in the series' original run, with even Clark regarding it as a disappointment. It was the last James adaptation produced as part of the series' original run, and the last one to air until A View from a Hill (2005). (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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• Ghost Story (1974)
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• Blue Blood (1973)
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