Ghost Stories For Christmas Volume One (1968 - 1973)

The BBC's original Ghost Stories for Christmas series has been available on DVD for sometime, and the 'new' Mark Gatiss-directed shows have recently been released on DVD as well. Now, finally, the BBC are releasing these old shows on Blu-ray, with the first volume out now. Because they are old shows, the question remains, is this set worth the upgrade? Well let's have a look. The first box set consists of three discs, with content as follows:

Disc One: Whistle & I'll Come To You

The very first BBC 'Ghost Story for Christmas' wasn't actually broadcast at Christmas (instead it was on 7.5.68) and was part of Omnibus, a documentary series that occasionally did adaptations (Schalken the Painter is another). Jonathan Miller's film starring Michael Hordern is a classic of TV horror, and the first thing you notice on playing the BBC's new Blu-ray is how much improved the picture quality is. 

There's a new commentary track by Jon Dear which is nice and clear and presents plenty of information both about the story and the adaptation. Extras from the old DVD include Ramsey Campbell (plus recommended alcohol one presumes to accompany his extras!) talking about MR James for 15 minutes before reading his own story The Guide. In another archival extra Neil Brand reads the original MR James 'Oh Whistle..." as an accompanying third audio track to the main feature. Finally, we get the 2010 adaptation of the story (starring John Hurt), which some people don't think much of but which I think is a very good, very bold attempt at doing something a bit different with the story. Full marks for disc one.

Disc Two: The Stalls of Barchester (1971) and A Warning to the Curious (1972)

Ghost Stories for Christmas proper got under way in 1971, continuing at the rate of one story per year for almost the next decade. Both stories here again benefit from the upgrade to Blu-ray, with the transfers feeling a little warmer than disc or TV ever made them feel. 

Kim Newman and Sean Hogan provide commentary duties for 'Stalls' and as always they prove extremely listenable to. Jon Dear returns for the commentary on 'Curious' and a good job he does, too.

Archival 'extras' include introductions to the two stories from writer-director Lawrence Gordon Clark, and we also get the fireside readings of the two tales by Christopher Lee that formed part of a series broadcast in 2000 and also previously available on DVD. All excellent stuff.

Disc Three: Lost Hearts (1973)

While disc two gives us two 50 minute stories, disc three feels a little sparse by comparison, with only the 30 minute Lost Hearts as the main feature. Again, though, this 16mm-shot film looks better and feels warmer for the Blu-ray upgrade and comes very much recommended. We get another Kim Newman and Sean Hogan commentary and an archival introduction by Lawrence Gordon Clark.

Finally, the set comes with a booklet with essays by Reggie Oliver, Ramsey Campbell, Jon Dear, Jonathan Rigby and Adam Easterbrook.

The bottom line: Fans of classic TV horror, and MR James and the Ghost Stories for Christmas series will snap this up. If you've yet to discover these classics, or want to introduce a friend to them, these are the best transfers that exist and there are plenty of extras to keep you entertained. When's volume two out, then? Oh, I see from the press release it's next December, so that's something to add to next year's Christmas list. 

Ghost Stories For Christmas Volume 1 is out in a three disc Blu-ray set from the BFI now.