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M.R. James: Casting The Runes
01/09/2007 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
Region 2 DVD. pub: Network 7952765. Price: £ 9.99 (UK). 1 DVD 50 minute episode plus a 50 minute documentary and 25 minute play) stars: Iain Cuthbertson, Jan Francis, Bernard Gallagher and Joann Durham. Buy M.R. James: Casting The Runes in the USA - or Buy M.R. James: Casting The Runes in the UK  check out website: www.networkdvd.co.uk
'Casting The Runes' is a rather famous story by ghost writer M.R. James. It has the distinction of being made into a 1958 film, 'Night Of The Demon' (US title: 'Curse Of The Demon') starring Dana Andrews and in the 70s, a drama as part of Yorkshire TV's Playhouse series which is released here for the first time. Elements of both make for an interesting cross-match and neither are the period piece of the original.
Karswell, an upset warlock in the Alaister Crowley mode (played here by Iain Cuthbertson), arranges the death of anyone who upsets him public denouncement by secretly passing them a strip of paper bearing runic symbols. Make a note not to upset such people as they take revenge very seriously. Such is the fate of reader John Harrington after submitting his damning report on Karswell's book to his publisher and the warlock reads it.
A year later, Pru (played by Jan Francis), a producer of a documentary about magic in the UK, fails to get an interview with Karswell but succeeds in rubbishing him when its released. Not knowing who Karswell is, she doesn't realise she has been handed a runic strip of paper in one of her library books and over the story realises that unless she can pass it back, her fate is sealed. To say more than that would reduce the tension of this story, not to mention the extra twist and guilt at the end.
This is an intelligently thought out up-date, well for the 70s, scripted by Clive Exton. By underplaying events and mixing mundane with the paranormal upped the stakes for the characters played against an ordinary backdrop. Maybe not enough to think you would suffer a similar fate but enough to see how Pru, with a little help from her friends, saves her life. In many respects, except for the longer length, this would not have been out of place amongst 'The Tales Of The Unexpected'.
An interesting extra with this story is a 50 minute documentary about Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936) himself, who was not only an Eton College Prost but whose expertise was in medieval manuscripts. His ghost writing tales came more by accident than deliberation to entertain his fellows before getting published. It seems an odd contrast to his normal occupation but if anything, it looks more like a release from his normal job.
There is also a 20 minute 1976 TV film called 'Mr. Humphries And His Inheritance' based on another M.R. James short story. When it starts you'll be wondering where the story is but is in fact part of a series showing how music was created for TV. I doubt if things have changed much in the past thirty years so its an interesting lesson in production. Composer Phil Wilby explains how only nine musicians were used and how the pace of the music propels the story along. The story itself is about a man inheriting a house and a garden maze and getting spooked when making a map of the latter. If anything, this is an oddity than a must see.
Overall, at such a cheap price, I'm sure this DVD will appeal to those of you who like your 70s material, let alone an opportunity to see some familiar faces doing serious roles. If you like seeing interpretations of M.R. James work then the added bonus feature on his life is a must.
GF Willmetts
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