Lost Hearts

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"Lost Hearts"
A Ghost Story for Christmas episode
Lost Hearts.jpg
Title screen, depicting the fog in which the carriage carrying young Stephen arrives
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 3
Directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
Written by M. R. James (story)
Robin Chapman (adaptation)
Original air date 25 December 1973
Episode chronology
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"A Warning to the Curious"
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"The Treasure of Abbot Thomas"

"Lost Hearts" is a ghost story by M.R. James, found in his 1904 book Ghost Stories of an Antiquary. The tale tells the story of Stephen, a young boy who is sent to stay with his cousin at a remote country mansion. His cousin is a reclusive alchemist obsessed with making himself immortal. Stephen is repeatedly troubled by visions of a young gypsy girl and a traveling Italian boy with their hearts missing.

[edit] BBC adaptation

It was adapted by Robin Chapman in 1973 as part the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas strand, directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark. The shortest of the adaptations, it was first broadcast on Christmas Day 1973 at 11.35pm.[1] It starred Simon Gipps-Kent as Stephen and Joseph O'Conor as the cousin. The adaptation is noted for the distinctive hurdy-gurdy music that accompanies appearances of the two ghostly children. Ralph Vaughan Williams's English Folk Song Suite is also featured.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Lost Hearts". British Film Institute Database. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 

[edit] External links