Mrs Amworth 1975 British Short

[algernon]

Does anyone remember seeing the 1975 Bristish short (approx 29 mins running time) called Mrs Amworth? It was an adaptation of the classic short story by E. F. Benson. It starred Glynis Johns and was directed by Alvin Rakoff. I remember during the early to mid 80's, my older brother would regale me with tales of the horror films he'd seen the night before (as I was too young to be allowed to stay up late and see the actual films). They were mostly Hammer Horror, Amicus and Tygon films, with the occasional more modern film (such as The Omen, The Manitou etc). Of these films, there was one that stood out for me more than the others. It was a short film about an elderly lady who was a vampire in a quiet English village. The film was called Mrs Amworth. The scene of Mrs Amworth's face in the dark (I can't remember if it was before, during or after the car accident scene in the film) gave my brother the willies and I loved to hear him describe it....as I could actually hear in his voice how much it had frightened him at the time.
Then some years later I got lucky, as it was repeated once late at night on HTV (the Welsh regional variation of ITV) and it frightened the bejeesus out of me too. I have looked online but I have not been able to discover if it's avaiable on DVD anywhere (perhaps as part of any "DVD Extras" or anything on any other DVD). Does anyone on the Vault of Evil forum have any good news for me regarding any DVD release of this forgotten jem?

[Johnlprobert]

May 7, 2013 23:52:46 GMT algernon said:

Does anyone remember seeing the 1975 Bristish short (approx 29 mins running time) called Mrs Amworth? It was an adaptation of the classic short story by E. F. Benson. It starred Glynis Johns and was directed by Alvin Rakoff. I remember during the early to mid 80's, my older brother would regale me with tales of the horror films he'd seen the night before (as I was too young to be allowed to stay up late and see the actual films). They were mostly Hammer Horror, Amicus and Tygon films, with the occasional more modern film (such as The Omen, The Manitou etc). Of these films, there was one that stood out for me more than the others. It was a short film about an elderly lady who was a vampire in a quiet English village. The film was called Mrs Amworth. The scene of Mrs Amworth's face in the dark (I can't remember if it was before, during or after the car accident scene in the film) gave my brother the willies and I loved to hear him describe it....as I could actually hear in his voice how much it had frightened him at the time.
Then some years later I got lucky, as it was repeated once late at night on HTV (the Welsh regional variation of ITV) and it frightened the bejeesus out of me too. I have looked online but I have not been able to discover if it's avaiable on DVD anywhere (perhaps as part of any "DVD Extras" or anything on any other DVD). Does anyone on the Vault of Evil forum have any good news for me regarding any DVD release of this forgotten jem?

I saw this back in 1975 and it scared me, too (I was eight, and I think it was shown quite early in the evening). I don't know of a DVD release, but someone found it for me on youtube recently, so if you're desperate you could try there.

[David A. Riley]

I managed to download it off youtube and actually put it on a CD to watch on TV through my DVD player. It's very good. Excellent cast and something which should definitely be available on DVD. It's at least as good as most of the BBCs Ghost Stories for Christmas. And makes a pleasant change to the usual James.

I could try and do a copy of the CD if you like.

[algernon]

May 8, 2013 8:19:30 GMT David A. Riley said:

I managed to download it off youtube and actually put it on a CD to watch on TV through my DVD player. It's very good. Excellent cast and something which should definitely be available on DVD. It's at least as good as most of the BBCs Ghost Stories for Christmas. And makes a pleasant change to the usual James.

I could try and do a copy of the CD if you like.

Hi David.

I'd love a copy if that's ok? I'd be very grateful and indebted to you. I would be willing to pay you for the disc, p&p and your time and effort:-)
Let me know if that's ok and I can inbox you my address.

Thanks again.

[David A. Riley]

May 9, 2013 2:01:32 GMT algernon said:

May 8, 2013 8:19:30 GMT David A. Riley said:

I managed to download it off youtube and actually put it on a CD to watch on TV through my DVD player. It's very good. Excellent cast and something which should definitely be available on DVD. It's at least as good as most of the BBCs Ghost Stories for Christmas. And makes a pleasant change to the usual James.

I could try and do a copy of the CD if you like.

Hi David.

I'd love a copy if that's ok? I'd be very grateful and indebted to you. I would be willing to pay you for the disc, p&p and your time and effort:-)
Let me know if that's ok and I can inbox you my address.

Thanks again.

No need for reinbursement. It's only a CD disc. Send me your address and I'll see about making a copy for you.

[algernon]

Thanks David....your a Gent... :-)
I've inboxed you with my address.
Thanks again

[ripper]

I must have seen Mrs. Amworth at the same time that John saw it, and I, too, remember it being fairly early in the evening. It scared me at the time and it is a great pity that titles like this are not more easily available. There was a lot of good TV horror being made in the 1970s and 1980s. Those were the days when there were only 3 or 4 channels instead of the hundreds we have now, yet back then there was more that you looked forward to viewing. Also, as VCRs were rare, watching a programme was an event; if you missed it, then it was bad luck and you might have to wait years to see it again.

[Craig Herbertson]

May 11, 2013 8:39:01 GMT ripper said:

I must have seen Mrs. Amworth at the same time that John saw it, and I, too, remember it being fairly early in the evening. It scared me at the time and it is a great pity that titles like this are not more easily available. There was a lot of good TV horror being made in the 1970s and 1980s. Those were the days when there were only 3 or 4 channels instead of the hundreds we have now, yet back then there was more that you looked forward to viewing. Also, as VCRs were rare, watching a programme was an event; if you missed it, then it was bad luck and you might have to wait years to see it again.

I'm grateful to Rog Pile for unearthing this one. Absolute beauty.

A Child's Voice.

youtu.be/1mrVaEebdVw

[Jojo Lapin X]

I am unable to find this on YouTube.

[ripper]

Thank you for the link, Craig. I don't remember this one at all.

[Craig Herbertson]

May 13, 2013 9:05:54 GMT ripper said:

Thank you for the link, Craig. I don't remember this one at all.

Should thank Rog, Ripper. It's a little gem.

[ripper]

Thanks, Rog. It's a pity that more of this kind of stuff isn't more widely available.

[valdemar]

I remember seeing this on Anglia TV [East of England, for anyone unfamiliar with UK Television Regions] - and I'm sure that you're all correct about it not being on late. It was possibly midweek, at about 8-8.30 [20.00 - 20.30]. It was talked about at school : I don't recall much else about it, other than the usual darkness that always seems to accompany UK TV horror shows, even making 'light' horror/supernatural shows oppressive - a good example being 'The Canterville Ghost' with David Niven [also 1975] almost unbearably creepy. Only UK TV horror seems to do this. I do recall 'Mrs Amworth' having scenes set in broad daylight, but the feeling something nasty was going to happen was there, right from the start.

[ripper]

I saw it in the ATV (nidlands) region, but don't know if it was shown at different times in different regions, or simultaneously.

[Michael Connolly]

May 11, 2013 11:04:26 GMT Jojo Lapin X said:

I am unable to find this on YouTube.

It's on now: youtu.be/nzsx1JNj9z0
I remember that the updating of it made it dated.