A Warning to the Curious

Plot synopsis:
The story is written in the typical Jamesian style and uses a multi layered narrative device to tell the tale. Time is taken to describe a pleasant traditional Victorian holiday resort, Seaburgh. The narrator states that he collects stories about the area as a result of his happy memories there as a child and that this is one he was told by a man he had done a favour for.
We now hear the story first hand from the second narrator. He states that he was on holiday at Seaburgh with his friend, Henry Long, when they are approached by another guest called Paxton who has a tale of woe to tell.
Paxton explains that he has some interest in the architecture of medieval churches, whilst visiting one such place he learns of a local legend about a buried Anglo Saxon crown that protects the country from invasion; linked to this are a deceased family, called Ager, who were sworn to guard the crown.
Paxton states he found the crown but has been stalked ever since by its supernatural guardian to the point of desperation. Both the narrator and Long are moved by Paxton's story and decide to help him return the crown. During their successful mission both men have some appreciation of being under surveillance by a supernatural presence.
The next day the narrator and Long are to meet Paxton for a walk but discover him gone; a servant states that she saw Paxton running towards the beach having heard his friends call for him. The two men set off after Paxton onto the beach where a thick sea mist descends making visibility poor. The two men come across Paxton's body, he has met a violent end. An independent witness at the subsequent inquest absolves them of any involvement. The narrator states that they keep the location of the crown secret, finishing by saying that he has never been back, or even near Seaburgh, since.

Tags: murder

Review:
This excellent lesson in 'less is more' tells the story of an archeologist who attempts to unearth an ancient Saxon crown but gets more than he bargains for.The setting is Seaburgh, on the Norfolk broads near the coast.
As the character Dr. Black puts it: 'You can't tell where the beach ends and the sea begins.'10 out of 10 in all departments: acting, script, plot, direction.
Even the music is excellent in its unspectacular way.Warning: this film may not be suitable for some American audiences used to a diet of unsubtle, sensationalist horror movies.
On his arrival in the misty Seaburg, he checks in to the local Inn where he finds the locals are untrusting and suspicious of him, his inquiries lead to the grave of William Ager, who it is said was the protector of the last crown, who died twelve years previously decrying his sorrow that he was the last of the line of protectors and that England was now at risk.
His continuing detective work leads him to Ager's former home where he learns that Ager spent his nights in the nearby woods, working on instinct Paxton begins his dig here and soon finds his treasure, but this is where his problems being, as what he digs up gives him cause for grave concern and fears for his life from forces unknown..Dum Dee Dum Dum Dummmm!
Paxton believes that he must replace the treasure where he found it, in order to stop these visions apparitions and nightmares that plague his every moment.In 1971 the BBC launched its periodic series of A Ghost Story for Christmas, to produce a one off film that would be screened each Christmas and based on Britain's most famous ghost story writer, M R James.
Lawrence Gordon Clark was the brains behind the series, of which he directed the first 7 films, while also producing and writing the scripts, he managed to put his style firmly on these films and capture the very essence of James' writings in a visual format.
Warning to the Curious is a slow burner that builds up its characters backgrounds before getting to the scares with Vaughn's understated performance being quite exemplary, the fear growing on his face by the moment.
As its made for 70's TV, its production values are quite low and because of this and its leisurely pace it may not be for the modern horror fan, but for those of a certain age and a discerning eye for good ghost stories, this is hard to beat..
The spookiest scene must be when Peter Vaughan is digging for the crown and we fleetingly see the ghost over his shoulder.
I am a great lover of horror films but if I need to feel a real chill this always succeeds in producing the goods..
Modern horror directors, most of whom rely on violence, gore and sudden shocks as cheap scare-tactics, ought to take a look 'A Warning to the Curious (1972),' a short made-for-TV horror story presumably produced on a shoestring budget.
This film was adapted from a story by M.R. James {whose writing also inspired the equally-wonderful 'Whistle and I'll Come to You (1968)'}, and was directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, the second film in BBC's acclaimed "Ghost Story for Christmas" tradition.
While not particularly faithful to James' original story (of which an audio reading is available on the British Film Institute DVD), there are certainly enough unsettling moments to keep you awake at night.Mr. Paxton (Peter Vaughan) is an amateur archaeologist who, having arrived in the small town of Seaburgh, is set on unearthing an ancient Saxon crown, the last of three buried along the Norfolk coast to protect its inhabitants from overseas invasion.
This is the ghost of William Ager (John Kearney), the final member of an old family dedicated to protecting the secret of the crown, even after death.
Ager, dressed in a silly black cloak, might have made a laughable villain, but creative camera-work and editing  shooting from a distance, obscured by darkness or fog, blurred photography  means that this mysterious phantom is always at the back of our minds.'A Warning to the Curious' is not quite as subtle as 'Whistle and I'll Come to You'  the ghost is seen, however briefly, relatively early in the film  making it more accessible to the average viewer, though some may require a few minutes to come to terms with the unique, underplayed style of British low-budget horror film-making.
The acting is excellent both from Peter Vaughan and fellow visitor Dr. Black (Clive Swift) in whom he confides.
All this, through the steady craftsmanship of director Lawrence Gordon Clark, adds together to create an excellent British ghost story chiller.
Not particularly faithful to the original MR James short story but a blinding adaptation nonetheless!
This is really a hidden gem in the spooky department, a real pearl of a ghost story.I did not expect too much when i came across this while searching for good old ghost stories, all the more surprised i was how good this little chiller is.The dark setting, the sinister atmosphere and the desolate landscapes give the perfect not-of-this-world feeling, something that reminded me of the old Japanese ghost movies.
This was really done by people who know their craft, especially the ghost scenes are very effective and eerie.Now this is what i call a piece of fine arts.
Filmed on location at some lonely piece of coastline in East Anglia 'A Warning to the Curious' is based on one of respected ghost story author M R James stories.
This is part of a superb series of MR James ghost stories serialised by the BBC and is well worth seeking out.
It is quite simply at first glance terrifying,  it's blend of suspense, dark atmosphere, good script and wonderful shots make it one of the best ghost films there is and I hear it cost under £10,000 to make, Hollywood could learn a thing or two from these British classics.
Vaughan and Swift are good in the leading rolls and the ending is really spooky to say the least..
This is without any doubt my favourite entry in the Ghost Story for Christmas series.
Peter Vaughan is wonderful as the determined archaeologist Paxton, you get to see his character truly tormented by the ghostly figure.
It shows that horror can be delivered in such a way that doesn't need to be graphic, subtle horror can be equally as chilling.The Stalls of Barchester is a very good, very solid opener, this time they pulled out all the stops, A Warning to the curious is a master stroke, a fabulous, subtle piece of horror.The moral of the story, be careful what you dig for.
GHOST STORY FOR Christmas: A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS (TV) (Lawrence Gordon Clark, 1972) ***1/2.
The best episode yet that I have seen from the BBC's yearly GHOST STORY FOR Christmas benefits greatly from a fine central performance from Peter Vaughn (atypically but effectively cast in a sympathetic role), an interesting archaeological-historical background to the story, on-location shooting of the lovely English countryside and brilliant direction that makes the most of its creepy loner villain; the sequences showing archaeologist Vaughn being relentlessly pursued at great speed by the ghostly curator of the burial place of the third (and last remaining) crown of Anglia sent genuine shivers down this spectator's spine.
Clive Swift - who also appeared in the modern-day bookends of the previous entry in the series, THE STALLS OF BARCHESTER (1971) - plays Vaughn's fellow hotel lodger who, being an amateur painter, is a regular around these parts for the purpose of scenery sketching and, indeed, another frisson is provided when the ghost appears out of nowhere right in the middle of the landscape!
Like most other reviewers here, I love this short film dearly.
One of the best adaptations of M.R. James to date alongside "Whistle and I'll come to you" and "Lost Hearts".I just want to add that the music used in "A Warning to the Curious" is a section of the aptly named "Atmosphères for Orchestra" by György Ligeti written in 1961.
Previously used to great effect by Stanley Kubrick in "2001: A Space Odyssey" during the star gate sequence and I'm pretty sure that the version used here in "A Warning to the Curious" is the same version used by Kubrick in "2001" - Ernest Bour conducting The Sudwestfunk Orchestra..
All the BBC2 GSFCs by LGC are far and away the best adaptations of the often arid James texts.
Simple, surprisingly effective ghost story.
This is a very slight but creepy tale of an archaeologist who goes to a remote English village looking for a crown, supposedly guarded over by a ghost.
You have to appreciate that this is a very low budget TV movie (50 minutes) with very small production values, but it still manages to summon up an eerie atmosphere and some chilling moments through very effective direction and a minimal score.
The photography is wonderful and the performances are effective, including a young(ish) Clive Swift who could later be seen in Keeping Up Appearances.Worth watching with the lights off to achieve the best atmosphere.
It's not super scary, or as effective and well done as the BBCs later adaptation of The Woman In Black, but it is a good example of how to create atmosphere with the barest of plot and resources..
Either you're dead or you're not, son.Despite risibility, Lawrence Gordon Clarke deserves to be acknowledged as one of the great directors of horror and suspense, like Hitchcock or Carpenter, depending on your point of view.
Is this the best ever film of a ghost story?.
James was among the greatest writers of ghost stories and A Warning to the Curious is one of his most celebrated works.
Although made for television, this may be the finest ever film version of a ghost story.
The film has a sepia look and the atmosphere and use of music are superb.
This film is more satisfying than many big budget movies, although comparable films include Stanley Kubrick's `The Shining' and the 1963 version of `The Haunting'.What sounds like the exact same piece of music as accompanies Paxton's night-time dig for the crown was also used in the night-time robbery sequence in Michael Mann's `Heat'..
A classic Christmas ghost story.
Shown at Christmas time by the BBC, "A Warning to the Curious" is a classic spine chiller from the early '70s.With music to induce nightmares (by Dick Manton), this is a dark and foreboding tale.Peter Vaughan was always a very watchable actor and he's nothing short of magnificent as the haunted Paxton.
Atmospheric ghost story.
I saw this on television one Christmas Eve when I was in my teens and it is my favourite ghost story.
It becomes a story of class conflict and alienation.Peter Vaughan was at his best in the role of the unemployed man who looks for and finds treasure that professionals have been looking for in vain.
The setting in Victorian Norfolk is accurate and atmospheric and it gains from the involvement of another man who is a guest, perhaps not initially drawn to the clerk but forced in the course of the story to act through sympathy and later horror..
So far, this has been my favourite episode of the BBC's adaptations of the work of M.R James.Peter Vaughan - usually cast as a villain - is well cast as the leading character.
He does much to convey a sense of fear and vulnerability.Clive Swift offers fine support in his second appearance as Dr. Black.The setting for this story was changed from Suffolk to Norfolk for some reason but that doesn't affect the episode..
I found this one good but in my humble and for what its worth opinion does not touch Whistle and I'll come to you, which I might add is my favourite M R James piece.I have been trying to find a copy of the Green Man which they showed on TV recently with Albert Finney and the wonderful Michael Hordern but to no avail.
The signalman is another M R James piece they showed on TV over Christmas another eerie masterpiece.I did find a copy of A Warning to the Curious on play.com.Hope this is helpful to someone..
This is certainly more entertaining, better-acted and more "believable" than the other M R James adaptation in the same series, "Whistle And I'll Come To You".
The two have extremely similar plots, and even similar shots, so if you have to choose between the two (those BFI DVDs are expensive!) choose this one.Plot holes aside - I won't spoil it, but there are moments when you think: 'How did he know it was there?' 'How did he know what to ask?' - this is an entertaining short film, with good performances (including a character played by Clive Swift, later Richard in the BBC's "Keeping Up Appearances").I didn't find it very scary, but this may have been because I was watching it in the kitchen while eating my dinner (!); for the full effect, dim the lights and sit back and enjoy this bit of classic BBC film-making..
If you are curious about watching this movie, be warned.
I'm always looking for a solid ghost story, I happened upon this one from the IMDb and it sounded like a good chiller.
A classic ghost story this is far from, but if you have 35 minutes to waste and want to get a chuckle at something really sad this could be your movie.
However, I warn you...it might say 35 minutes running time, but it feels like 200.
One of the scariest ghost stories ever filmed.
One of the Ghost Story for Christmas films that the BBC ran yearly back in the 1970s, this is an excellent suspense story which ably succeeds in scaring the wits out of the viewer.
The story itself is based on a tale by M.R. James, that master of the ghost story, and authenticity is added in the bleak Norfolk surroundings where the tale is set.
The sinister title neatly sums up the contents of this film, where a man is purchased by the sinister spirit of a tramp after digging up a legendary crown.
After giving the character in the story realistic reasons for wanting the crown (he's recently unemployed), the film then propels the viewer into a nightmarish netherworld where he can never be free of the tramp's spirit.
Like the recent trend in horror films such as THE SIXTH SENSE and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, this shows that the best horror works when it is subtle and chilling instead of gory and horrific.
Just watch the ending, so subtle and yet so frightening.Peter Vaughan is well cast as the man who digs up the crown and is haunted, and his name lends support to the BBC's production.
Set in a time and era that can never be recaptured, A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS is, like most of the BBC series it was included in, a forgotten gem of a film which keeps it simple and succeeds in horrifying the viewer, a rare occurrence these days.
I'd go so far as to describe it as a chilly visual masterpiece, and one of the most purely effective and primal ghost stories ever filmed..
The best M R James adaptation.
The master, M R James was the very finest writer of ghost stories, and this is the adaptation which best captures his style.
It doesn't stick strictly to the story but the the difference is not worth noting - as to the ghost being able to bash your brains out, well M R James did always make his ghosts malevolent and able to do you harm, either just by frightening (Whistle And I'll Come To You) or by violence (Casting The Runes).
Best moments: the scene in which the farmworker looks up the track and sees Peter Vaughan being followed by the ghost, and that in which the ghost is in the hotel room and the lights go out - superb..
According to the IMDb I have seen 2275 films as of June 2004 and 530 of those are classified as horror.
I've seen films from all over the World and IMHO this is the scariest.I'm not saying the majority of viewers would agree if they were lucky enough to see this classic short, just that it's my favourite.
Whether you might agree depends on what you like in a horror film.
"The Haunting (1963)" "The Wicker Man" "Don't Look Now" "Halloween" "La Cabina" "BWP"...........they all have this same quality but "A Warning to the Curious" does it best.I won't include any spoilers but I will say that the film contains two terrifying images and the music is extremely unsettling.
Made on a very small budget (so don't expect any special effects) this BBC classic is now available to buy on DVD from the BFI.
It is one of a series of DVD's re-issued by the BFI from the BBC's "A Ghost Story For Christmas" series aired in the 1970's.
They have also issued "The Signalman" and the excellent "Oh Whistle and I'll Come To You" both of which are worth purchasing.The film has some unique features.
A ghost that appears in the day as well as the night?
Very reminiscent of "Don't Look Now"The film also retains its eeriness no matter how many times you watch it.The scariest film I've ever seen..
cracking good ghost story.
Based on a fine M.R. James story, this is a deliciously frightening yarn, in which an amateur archaeologist is convinced that he knows where some fabled treasure is buried.
However, there are some who do not like people showing disregard for their historical heritage...It's got everything you need for a very British tale : history, crowns, ancient churches, dusty books, graveyards, grey-haired vicars pointing at gravestones or talking about unholy local traditions.