Streaming review: Whistle and I'll Come ToYou

Today we look at a 1968 adaptation of M.R. James' story "O, Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad" made for the BBC's Omnibus.

Summary: Classic BBC adaptation of an equally classic ghost story about a skeptical professor on vacation in Norfolk who finds a cursed whistle. Unlike most other episodes of this documentary series about music, this one is live action folk horror.

A university professor, confident that everything which occurs in life has a rational explanation, finds his beliefs severely challenged when, during a vacation to a remote coastal village in Norfolk, he blows through an ancient whistle discovered on a beach, awakening horrors beyond human understanding.

A special thanks to our Dark Cultist Patreon supporters.
THE SHADOWS
Heroes Horrors and Cats, Western Canadian Guy, Pvt_Unicorn_Parts, Scott Nesmith, Lisa Kuta, John L., Normand Richardson, Richard Sadler, John Hepp, Thom MacIntyre, Logistical Nightmare, Joe Niedbala, Joseph Hines, Stephen Crane, Christopher Eckart, Anthony Strocks, John S. Savage , You Don't Get to Know, Ford , Jasmine Shafer, Allan Liska, goddessoftransitory, rachemus, Zachary Nolan, Chris Weakley, Heather and Michael Bailes, Colleen Crouch, Christie Bryden, Dan D Doty, Joseph Dougherty, Chris Hewson, David H. Adler, Hidden Trail Video, Brian brennan
THE ACOLYTES
Jraptor, Ann Knight, Janna Nicole, Clarence Pitre, D Allen spencer, Fritz Rutz, Joe Porter, Tony Breneman, Thomas Brown, Chris Fischer, D R Wellington, Ken Smiley, Richard D'Ambrosia, Matt P, Andy M, Milton Knight, Michael Schmidt, C, Michael Dean Jackson, Gemma Crowley, Andrew Weber, NuclearSaber, Picatea, Jim Rockford, Mystic Cyclone, Prince Charming, Kyle Olson, Ch'aska Huayhuaca, Johnathan Henning, James Robertson, Nils Muninsheim, David Pellot, Brian Kidd, Albertus Magnus, rachael kafrissen, Janne Wass, Robert Freeborn, David Conner, Amber Wesley, Tony Belmonte, Henry Brennan, Alex B, Mark Buckley, Uwe Marquardt, Russ Chandler, Simon Ash, Lavaughn Towell, Dave Smith, Tim Smith, Melissa Hayes, Dark_Roast, Raven House Mystery
THE INITIATES
Chad , Magnús Ingi Sveinsson, Madame Eve, Daniel Robinson, james Steadman, Andre, Jeffrey Disharoon, G.Kumar Achar, Ashleigh Rose, Claire Chandler, Chris A, Lorna Smart, Seth Coleman, Joshua Allen, Jeff Pleimling, Barry P., Terry LeCroix, VC, Jim Smith, greg Galanos, Clifford Parson, Martin Vlachynsky, Karl Bunker, Brian Ullmark, Alexandra Virgiel, Stephen LaPlante, Greg Hartwick, Marìa Gd, Derek Summers, bob de builder, Michael Schwern, GadgetBlues, Jakub ŁabeÅ„ski, Double – U, Felix Weißig

Written and presented by Robin Bailes @robinbailes
Directed and Edited by Graham Trelfer
Lockdown Review S1E53
#HorrorMovieReview​ #DarkCornersReview​ #StreamingReview

[J_D_Sisson]

This is literally one of the best films ever made.

[buzzawuzza]

Hipping us to films like this is one of the MANY excellent things about DC. Thank you.

[curiousworld]

Anything by MR James, Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood, or Joseph Brennan's 'Canavan's Backyard'.

[scottnapier]

I think most of us remember and recognise Michael Hordern as the voice from Paddington and The Wind In The Willows. He is superb in this little gem from the BBC.

[michaelevans]

Horden was also a quality reader of M.R. James' audio books.
I think he understood that material as much as any screenwriter might -- good collaboration!

[YetiHideout]

Watched this based on your recommendation...what an offbeat little film! Some great laughs and chills! Michael Hordern was a treasure! I’d like to read the short story now...I’ve read some of James’ other ghost stories and really enjoyed them so I know I will love it! Thanks for the new inspiration!

[InghamL]

Hordern also does several readings of James stories that are currently on YouTube. Better listened to at night of coarse, but not too late because with his reading they can also be used as ASMR.

[MrBartleby]

I always loved watching these M R James tales at Christmas.

[GrandOldMovies]

Thanks for highlighting this film - I've heard a lot about this adaptation of probably James's greatest of all his ghost stories. As for other writers to adapt, I would hope someone will adapt the ghost stories of E.F. Benson. Most know him as the author of the Mapp & Lucia novels, but he was a brilliant ghost-story writer.

[therosebride]

I love M.R. James' work. I spent most of last October watching the various adaptations available on youtube and listening to audio collections. In terms of stories that haven't been adapted for visual media, I would quite like to see someone do "Number 13."

[schizoidboy]

I've seen it a couple of times, it succeeds without anything more elaborate then someone moving something on a string. I once showed a clip of the show to my niece, and from what I heard it gave her nightmares; I could be wrong about it, but it certainly is unnerving that scene with the "thing on the string."

[markbarrera]

love everything about this short- spooky setting, great source material, and a perfect lead actor!

[CinemaMacabro]

When I first saw this awesome short film, I got it from a dead torrent site that specialized on rare cult films called Tracker 3 torrents 15 years ago. "O, Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad" had a profound effect at me as a filmaker, its so minimal but at the same time complex in how the camera follows the main character, its so hard to explain, as we are the voyers in this mans life to see the shape of events to come once he finds the whistle. Great video, and I am glad you covered this

[cunegonde]

The sound small sounds that are amplified throughout really prime our ears for the end when we hear the bedclothes, and our terror is multiplied when we realize it was there with him the night before!

[action]

It is available on DVD from BFI Classic Ghost stories from the BBC with the 2010 version.

[Cybermudgeon]

Canon Alberic's Scrapbook...would love to see that.

[SurlyInsomniac]

The late great Jonathan Miller also directed a mesmerizing TV movie version of Alice in Wonderland that I highly recommend. It has a similar mood and style to Whistle and I'll Come To You.

[skylx]

Seems the original story says the flute was found at Templar Knights grave. Had it been part of a Pan flute that would have been interesting. Since a Pan's scream was said to cause insane panic and disorientation of armies during a battle.

[orchidcarpetcleaningrp]

Love the breakfast scenes Sir Micheal Horden just brilliant.

[maplebob]

One of my favorite English ghost stories is a deconstruction of English ghost stories that was republished in Twilight Zone Magazine in the 80s.

From what I remember, it dealt with a man visited by the ghost of his uncle on Christmas Eve.

One thing I remember is that, as a ghost, you get the ghost of all the tobacco you smoked in life. Also, ghosts only appear on Christmas Eve.