Whistle and I’ll Come to You

From the collection of

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton collects, preserves, catalogues and provides public access to its collection of films and magic lantern slides. The collection charts the rise of screen culture in the region and the nation and captures many aspects of life, work and creativity in the South East from the late 19th century to the present day. It is available for research, screenings, creative re-use and commercial access.

Whistle and I’ll Come to You

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton
1 Jan 1956
Sound
10m

A decade before the BBC's version of M R James supernatural classic came this chilling version from the North Downs Cinematograph Society

On a lonely beach a man finds a wooden whistle and pockets it. An eerie figure is seen in the distance. In his hotel the man shows the whistle to a friend who translates the strange Latin inscription it bears. The man blows the whistle before going to bed. In a dream he is chased across the beach by a ghostly figure. Waking he sees the same figure in the room coming towards him. His friend enters the room and sees the terror struck man. The next day they throw the whistle back into the sea.

This film is one of the earliest known adaptations of the classic ghost story by M R James - pre-dating the BBC version, directed by Jonathan Miller and starring Michael Hordern, by more than a decade. The original story was first published in 1904, appearing in the collection 'Ghosts Stories of an Antiquary'. This collection of short stories were originally written as Christmas entertainments for a selected group of M R James' students and friends while he was teaching at both Eton and King's College, Cambridge.

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From the collection

Amateur Auteurs

Ever dreamed of shooting your own movie? These pre-digital cine-enthusiasts did - with all the passion and devotion of the true auteur.

These low- (or no-) budget creations reach beyond simple point-and-shoot, back-garden efforts towards something more ambitious and skilful, revealing their authors' passion for film and their often astonishing ingenuity with limited resources. No desktop editing software or digital special effects for these amateur auteurs. The films include fiction and documentary, competition prizewinners and private labours of love. They may be the work of cine-clubbers or individual enthusiasts. But they all show a devotion to filmmaking that far transcends hobbyism. So look out for the delightful handmade intertitles, table-top special effects and library soundtracks which decorate many of the quirky stories, ultra-local documentaries and painstakingly composed home movies featured here.