The author and medievalist M. R. James (1862-1936) wrote over 30 ghost stories, which have been widely adapted for television, radio, and theatre. The first adaptation of one of his stories was of A School Story for the BBC Midlands Regional Programme in 1932, the only one produced in James' lifetime. The only notable film adaptation is Night of the Demon (1957), directed by Jacques Tourneur and based on Casting the Runes, which is considered one of the greatest horror films of all time.[1][2] The most celebrated adaptations of his works are those produced for British television in the 1960s and 1970s, which have made him, according to critic Jon Dear, “the go-to folk horror writer for television.”[3]
- ^ CC. "The 100 best horror films: the list". Time Out. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ Scorsese, Martin (28 October 2009). "11 Scariest Horror Movies of All Time". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ Dear, Jon (2022-12-05) [Whistle and I'll Come to You, first broadcast May 7, 1968]. Ghost Stories for Christmas: Volume 1: Disc 1: Commentary for Whistle and I'll Come to You (DVD). BFI.
M. R. James has become the go-to folk horror writer for telly because of the Ghost Stories for Christmas.