Lost Hearts
Encyclopedia
"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 uncle at a remote country mansion. His uncle is a reclusive alchemist obsessed with making himself immortal. Stephen is repeatedly troubled by visions of two gypsy children with their hearts missing, and he soon realises that their appearances are a warning to stay clear of his uncle.
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. It starred Simon Gipps-Kent
as Stephen and Joseph O'Conor
as the uncle. 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.
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary is the title of M. R. James' first collection of ghost stories, published in 1904...
. The tale tells the story of Stephen, a young boy who is sent to stay with his uncle at a remote country mansion. His uncle is a reclusive alchemist obsessed with making himself immortal. Stephen is repeatedly troubled by visions of two gypsy children with their hearts missing, and he soon realises that their appearances are a warning to stay clear of his uncle.
BBC adaptation
It was adapted by Robin ChapmanRobin Chapman
-Biography:Chapman began his career as an actor at Cambridge before holding a spear at Stratford-Upon-Avon, working in repertory and then joining Joan Littlewood’s revolutionary Theatre Workshop where he turned to writing. Among his stage plays are High Street China, Guests and One of Us...
in 1973 as part the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas
A Ghost Story for Christmas
A Ghost Story for Christmas is a strand of annual British short television films originally broadcast on BBC One from 1971 to 1978, and later revived in 2005 on BBC Four. With one exception, the original instalments are directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark and the films are all shot on 16 mm...
strand, directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark
Lawrence Gordon Clark is an English television director and producer, perhaps best known for his A Ghost Story for Christmas series of mostly M.R...
. The shortest of the adaptations, it was first broadcast on Christmas Day 1973 at 11.35pm. It starred Simon Gipps-Kent
Simon Gipps-Kent
Simon Gipps-Kent was a British actor, particularly noted as a prolific child actor in the 1970s.His television credits include: the 1973 BBC television adaptation of M.R...
as Stephen and Joseph O'Conor
Joseph O'Conor
Joseph O'Conor was an Anglo-Irish actor and playwright.- Early years :O'Conor was born in Dublin on 14 February 1916, the son of Frances and Daniel O'Conor. His family moved to London, where he attended the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, the University of London and RADA...
as the uncle. The adaptation is noted for the distinctive hurdy-gurdy music that accompanies appearances of the two ghostly children. Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
's English Folk Song Suite
English Folk Song Suite
Written in 1923, the English Folk Song Suite is one of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams's most famous works for military band. Although it is commonly known by the title given above, it was actually published as "Folk Song Suite" - the title which is used on the score and parts...
is also featured.
External links
- Lost Hearts at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
.