An interestingly historical and enjoyably deductive episode of this yearly series adapted, as were several entries, from an M. R. James short story – which apparently also inspired the Dario Argento production THE CHURCH (1990) – about the search for a treasure hidden away years before in a monastery catacombs. The seekers are a current member of the religious order (Michael Bryant) and his enthusiastic young pupil; the latter's mother often employs the services of a would-be medium to conduct séances with the object of contacting her late husband but, in an early highlight, Bryant exposes the proceedings as a sham by interrogating the spirit – supposedly of a past man of the cloth – in both Latin and French to confirm or disprove his veracity. Their investigation of the treasure's whereabouts take them to a chapel with tell-tale illustrated windows and stony gargoyles seemingly pointing to the hidden loot. Since the clues are given out in the form of Latin riddles or quotations, it can prove somewhat heavy-going at times and the scenes depicting the attacks of the slimy guardian are very hurriedly dealt with, the panic-stricken Bryant being left with the burden of projecting the real horror of what he had in fact confronted. The climax – in which Bryant is about to get his comeuppance by supposedly meeting the abbot face to face while convalescing wheelchair-bound in a garden – takes place off-screen but still provides a satisfyingly creepy coda.
16 Reviews
Menacing mystery from a horror master
Prof-Hieronymos-Grost27 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Lord Peter Dattering(Paul Lavers) is a little bemused by his mother's daily séances, he himself doubts the credentials of Mr and Mrs Tyson, the self proclaimed couple with "The Gift" to talk to the hereafter. He asks the Reverend Justin Somerton, a learned clergyman whose daily job is to study medieval religious texts, to take part in a séance to dispel once and for all any doubts that the Tysons are nothing but bogus charlatans. Somerton revels in the challenge, and when Mrs Tyson seems to be channeling the voice of the long since deceased Father Dominic, Somerton asks to speak to him, one man of the cloth to another, with some deductions and slight of hand worthy of Sherlock Holmes, he quickly reveals the imposter's. These early scenes are surely there to instill in the viewer the fact that Somerton is no fool and is somewhat of a cynic when it comes to supernatural events. Somerton returns to his work at hand at the monastery, there he shows Peter an old text from a centuries old book written by monks. Peter's Latin is flawless and he quickly translates the ancient text, that pertains to a hidden treasure that Abbott Thomas was rumoured to have attained. Abbott Thomas, Somerton explains, was also an alchemist and all round charlatan, he stresses tough that his work is not to uncover said hidden treasure, but just to gain knowledge from the old texts. However when together they begin to find clues in the texts and in the stained glass window of the chapel, their motivations alter and they believe there might be a treasure, although Somerton still retains he belief that if it hasn't already been found many years previous, then its sure to be a treasure of worthless trinkets from the Abbott's alchemy work.
Somerton's quest ends in a dark murky underground tunnel filled to the waist with water, where Somerton's very belief system is shook to its core, fearing for his very life, he stumbles and staggers into the night with what he believes to be the treasure, all the while glancing behind him lest the horrific vision he seen is following him....it is, he flees to his lodgings and bolts the door, there he spends two horrific nights as the dark spectre looms outside his door, in terrible fear, Somerton can smell its rank musty aroma, lurking menacingly outside. Peter arrives looking for his missing acquaintance, there dishevelled and almost lifeless, Somerton pleads with Peter to return the worthless treasure in the hope that this guardian of evil will be content with its return.
The Treasure of Abbott Thomas is another of the fine BBC Ghost Story for Christmas productions based on the work of M R James, again its taken from his Ghost Stories of an Antiquary collection. Like a lot of James' work, the main character is lured into an investigation by some ancient object or text. Somerton is the very essence of intelligence and honesty, we the viewer can instantly relate to the integrity of his investigations, but as Somerton finally gets close to his objective, we see a man obsessed, is it his work or possible financial reward that is urging him on. The film builds up a sense of mystery and foreboding with Peter's discussions with Somerton seemingly being overheard on a couple of occasions by a mysterious hooded monk, that it would seem is only visible to Peter. In many ways it has echoes of Der Name der Rose (1986), as the main protagonist and his layman sidekick investigate a medieval mystery, that is both steeped in religion and some oppressive lurking unseen evil. Michael Bryant is the undoubted star of the film and will be recognisable to fans of The Stone Tape, his performance here is exemplary and at least the equal of that film. Lavers though is perhaps a little bland as Peter Dattering, but he doesn't distract or detract from the final enjoyment value. Clark's direction again though is superb if a little rushed on occasion, he manages to even make the countryside or the wind blowing through some trees seem filled with menace. The chilling ending is a little abrupt, the evil contained within left to the viewers imagination, just as it should be.
Somerton's quest ends in a dark murky underground tunnel filled to the waist with water, where Somerton's very belief system is shook to its core, fearing for his very life, he stumbles and staggers into the night with what he believes to be the treasure, all the while glancing behind him lest the horrific vision he seen is following him....it is, he flees to his lodgings and bolts the door, there he spends two horrific nights as the dark spectre looms outside his door, in terrible fear, Somerton can smell its rank musty aroma, lurking menacingly outside. Peter arrives looking for his missing acquaintance, there dishevelled and almost lifeless, Somerton pleads with Peter to return the worthless treasure in the hope that this guardian of evil will be content with its return.
The Treasure of Abbott Thomas is another of the fine BBC Ghost Story for Christmas productions based on the work of M R James, again its taken from his Ghost Stories of an Antiquary collection. Like a lot of James' work, the main character is lured into an investigation by some ancient object or text. Somerton is the very essence of intelligence and honesty, we the viewer can instantly relate to the integrity of his investigations, but as Somerton finally gets close to his objective, we see a man obsessed, is it his work or possible financial reward that is urging him on. The film builds up a sense of mystery and foreboding with Peter's discussions with Somerton seemingly being overheard on a couple of occasions by a mysterious hooded monk, that it would seem is only visible to Peter. In many ways it has echoes of Der Name der Rose (1986), as the main protagonist and his layman sidekick investigate a medieval mystery, that is both steeped in religion and some oppressive lurking unseen evil. Michael Bryant is the undoubted star of the film and will be recognisable to fans of The Stone Tape, his performance here is exemplary and at least the equal of that film. Lavers though is perhaps a little bland as Peter Dattering, but he doesn't distract or detract from the final enjoyment value. Clark's direction again though is superb if a little rushed on occasion, he manages to even make the countryside or the wind blowing through some trees seem filled with menace. The chilling ending is a little abrupt, the evil contained within left to the viewers imagination, just as it should be.
Atmospheric and with one of the most interesting protagonists of the all of the James' adaptations
dr_clarke_25 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is the first of two episodes of the original series of A Ghost Story for Christmas written by John Bowen, in this case based on another story by M. R. James. In adapting the story for the screen, Bowen takes certain liberties with the source material which turn out to serve the episode rather well.
M. R. James's original story is told in flashback: Bowen dispenses with this, and also creates the character of Lord Peter Dattering to aid exposition. The plot sees the Reverend Somerton - a typical James' Victorian scholar - searching for the lost treasure of the deceased eponymous abbot, which requires him to solve a puzzle left in a stained glass window: Peter's presence makes the explanation of the clues easier, as well as allowing them to discuss the plot. Moreover, it allows Somerton somebody to share his rational philosophies with; similarly, Bowen adds a scene in which Somerton exposes fake mediums the Tysens as frauds, establishing his rational credentials.
Rational men do not tend to do well in M. R. James' stories, and thus it is here. Bowen retains the essence of the source material, as Somerton eagerly discovers the location of Thomas' treasure, only to unleash a torrent of black slime that represents the terrifying supernatural guardian left to guard the treasure. Terrified out of his wits, Somerton entreats Peter to return the treasure, his rationality frayed beyond repair, but it is too late to stop the now frail and wheelchair bound Reverend from receiving one final visitation from the Abbot's guardian.
Bowen's script thus provides a suitably chilling screenplay for The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, but once again it is Lawrence Gordon Clark's direction that realises its creepy atmosphere effectively. Shot on location at Wells Cathedral, it is as visually impressive as its predecessors, and the usual 16 mm film allows cameraman John McGlashan to exploit its dark corners. Clark uses tracking shots and close-ups to create an intimacy between the audience and the characters of Somerton and Peter, with the giddying tracking shots of them climbing a spiral staircase a particularly nice example. The monochrome point of view shots of something approaching Somerton are very sinister, and culminate in the striking scene of the Reverend pulling the treasure free and unleashing the slime. The shattered model of the human brain on Somerton's carpet neatly reflects his fractured sanity after his experience in the culvert. The very last shot of the robed guardian moving speedily towards the helpless Somerton as the camera cuts once again sees Clark anticipating horror films yet to come. The soundtrack by Geoffrey Burgon - of which sound effects form a large part - also contributes significantly to the atmosphere.
Michael Bryant is well cast as Reverend Somerton, giving a believable performance throughout, and he gets good support from Paul Lavers as Peter, who goes from protégé to carer when Somerton's confidence in reason gets terminally punctured. The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is perhaps not as spine-tingling as either A Warning to the Curious or Lost Hearts, but it is certainly atmospheric and thanks to Bowen's screenplay it boasts one of the most interesting protagonists of the all of the James' adaptations.
M. R. James's original story is told in flashback: Bowen dispenses with this, and also creates the character of Lord Peter Dattering to aid exposition. The plot sees the Reverend Somerton - a typical James' Victorian scholar - searching for the lost treasure of the deceased eponymous abbot, which requires him to solve a puzzle left in a stained glass window: Peter's presence makes the explanation of the clues easier, as well as allowing them to discuss the plot. Moreover, it allows Somerton somebody to share his rational philosophies with; similarly, Bowen adds a scene in which Somerton exposes fake mediums the Tysens as frauds, establishing his rational credentials.
Rational men do not tend to do well in M. R. James' stories, and thus it is here. Bowen retains the essence of the source material, as Somerton eagerly discovers the location of Thomas' treasure, only to unleash a torrent of black slime that represents the terrifying supernatural guardian left to guard the treasure. Terrified out of his wits, Somerton entreats Peter to return the treasure, his rationality frayed beyond repair, but it is too late to stop the now frail and wheelchair bound Reverend from receiving one final visitation from the Abbot's guardian.
Bowen's script thus provides a suitably chilling screenplay for The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, but once again it is Lawrence Gordon Clark's direction that realises its creepy atmosphere effectively. Shot on location at Wells Cathedral, it is as visually impressive as its predecessors, and the usual 16 mm film allows cameraman John McGlashan to exploit its dark corners. Clark uses tracking shots and close-ups to create an intimacy between the audience and the characters of Somerton and Peter, with the giddying tracking shots of them climbing a spiral staircase a particularly nice example. The monochrome point of view shots of something approaching Somerton are very sinister, and culminate in the striking scene of the Reverend pulling the treasure free and unleashing the slime. The shattered model of the human brain on Somerton's carpet neatly reflects his fractured sanity after his experience in the culvert. The very last shot of the robed guardian moving speedily towards the helpless Somerton as the camera cuts once again sees Clark anticipating horror films yet to come. The soundtrack by Geoffrey Burgon - of which sound effects form a large part - also contributes significantly to the atmosphere.
Michael Bryant is well cast as Reverend Somerton, giving a believable performance throughout, and he gets good support from Paul Lavers as Peter, who goes from protégé to carer when Somerton's confidence in reason gets terminally punctured. The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is perhaps not as spine-tingling as either A Warning to the Curious or Lost Hearts, but it is certainly atmospheric and thanks to Bowen's screenplay it boasts one of the most interesting protagonists of the all of the James' adaptations.
Flawed but chilling
bob the moo17 March 2008
The Reverend Justin Somerton is called upon by Lord Peter Dattering to help add a much needed bit of cynicism to his mother's regular séances with the "gifted" Mr and Mrs Tyson. This he does with relish before returning to his main work the study of the time of Abbot Thomas and, perhaps, the achievement of uncovering the whereabouts of the legendary treasure that Abbot Thomas was said to have hidden somewhere around the monastery.
Shown recently on BBC4 as part of their season of ghost stories around Christmas time, this is a flawed but still quite enjoyable entry in the series. The flaws are mostly in the delivery of the story as it feels like it had time to fill. The first ten minutes seem to be done just to introduce Somerton as a cynic who is having none of this supernatural nonsense, but what purpose this serves is questionable and I wondered why it required a fifth of the film to do this. Certainly later we get no real play up of cynicism from Somerton to justify showing us his starting point. After this things do get a little better as we begin the investigation into the treasure in earnest and get into that. This is quite well developed even if the latter stages seem a bit rushed and dealt with too easily.
It is creepy though, which is the main thing, and the final image is quite chilling despite being very sudden and all too brief. Bryant leads the cast pretty well but deserved to have more time in fear on camera. Lavers is a little bland but this is as his character has it as well. The rest of the cast are OK but really it is the delivery from Clark that makes it work as he patiently delivers this chilly conclusion. Not brilliant then but still nicely creepy without anything in the way of gore or violence and much left to the imagination.
Shown recently on BBC4 as part of their season of ghost stories around Christmas time, this is a flawed but still quite enjoyable entry in the series. The flaws are mostly in the delivery of the story as it feels like it had time to fill. The first ten minutes seem to be done just to introduce Somerton as a cynic who is having none of this supernatural nonsense, but what purpose this serves is questionable and I wondered why it required a fifth of the film to do this. Certainly later we get no real play up of cynicism from Somerton to justify showing us his starting point. After this things do get a little better as we begin the investigation into the treasure in earnest and get into that. This is quite well developed even if the latter stages seem a bit rushed and dealt with too easily.
It is creepy though, which is the main thing, and the final image is quite chilling despite being very sudden and all too brief. Bryant leads the cast pretty well but deserved to have more time in fear on camera. Lavers is a little bland but this is as his character has it as well. The rest of the cast are OK but really it is the delivery from Clark that makes it work as he patiently delivers this chilly conclusion. Not brilliant then but still nicely creepy without anything in the way of gore or violence and much left to the imagination.
Lost opportunity?
sonofajoiner23 January 2004
Slightly disappointing adaptation of the MR James story. In my opinion it lacks the uneasy atmosphere of many of the other Ghost Stories for Christmas and much more could have been done to build up a sense of dread and horror. Having said that it is worth watching and is a decent way to spend a winters afternoon.
Not Very Scary And Not Very Effective
JamesHitchcock16 March 2022
Between 1971 and 1978 the BBC used to dramatise a ghost story every year under the title "A Ghost Story for Christmas". The first five entries in the series were all based upon tales by that great master of the genre, M. R. James. "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas", first shown in 1974, was the fourth of these. John Bowen, who adapted the story for television made many changes to James' plot. In the original the old monastery where the treasure is hidden was in Germany; here it is in England. (The film was shot in and around Wells, Somerset). James's protagonist Somerton, described by him simply as an "antiquary", here becomes a clergyman and an Oxford professor of Medieval History. (He is also given the Christian name Justin; James simply referred to him as "Mr Somerton"). Bowen also invented two important characters, Somerton's young friend and pupil, Lord Peter Dattering, and Peter's widowed mother, and the scene in which Somerton exposes two fraudulent mediums.
Somerton has been researching the history of a ruined monastery in the area and tells Peter of a legend that a former Abbot concealed a vast sum in gold somewhere in the monastery grounds. With Peter's help he deciphers a number of clues to the location of this treasure, starting with a series of mysterious inscriptions in a stained-glass window in a local church. Somerton also discovers warnings that Abbot Thomas, who appears to have been a less than holy man, may have appointed a supernatural guardian to watch over his hoard, but as he takes a rationalistic, sceptical attitude towards the paranormal, he disregards them.
This is not my favourite of the "Ghost Story for Christmas" series, and I think that this is because it is a difficult story to adapt for the screen. The ghost in James's original story was something capable of being perceived through the sense of touch rather than sight or hearing, so it is easier to describe it on the printed page than it is to find an equivalent in an audio-visual medium like television. Moreover, the ghost only features at the very end of the story, most of which is given over to the intellectual process of working out the clues to the whereabouts of the treasure. Bowen probably inserted the scene with the fake mediums because this brings some action and excitement to a story in which these qualities are otherwise lacking. Compared to such excellent fare as "A Warning to the Curious" or "Lost Hearts", "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" is really not very scary, which means that it is not very effective as a ghost story. 6/10
Some goofs. The story is set around 1850, but when Somerton and Peter are looking down from the tower (actually the tower of Wells Cathedral) we can see an estate of houses of obviously twentieth-century design and a rugby pitch; at this period the game was still only played at Rugby School. Somerton and Peter are supposedly fluent in Latin phrase, but they interpret the phrase "decem millia" (which actually means "ten thousand") as "two thousand". During the séance scene Somerton exposes the falsity of the mediums by showing that their "spirit guide", supposedly a priest from the time of the Wars of the Roses, was unable to understand Latin or French. Certainly, all priests at this period would have been required to know Latin, but there was no requirement to speak French, which had died out as a spoken language in England about a hundred years earlier.
Somerton has been researching the history of a ruined monastery in the area and tells Peter of a legend that a former Abbot concealed a vast sum in gold somewhere in the monastery grounds. With Peter's help he deciphers a number of clues to the location of this treasure, starting with a series of mysterious inscriptions in a stained-glass window in a local church. Somerton also discovers warnings that Abbot Thomas, who appears to have been a less than holy man, may have appointed a supernatural guardian to watch over his hoard, but as he takes a rationalistic, sceptical attitude towards the paranormal, he disregards them.
This is not my favourite of the "Ghost Story for Christmas" series, and I think that this is because it is a difficult story to adapt for the screen. The ghost in James's original story was something capable of being perceived through the sense of touch rather than sight or hearing, so it is easier to describe it on the printed page than it is to find an equivalent in an audio-visual medium like television. Moreover, the ghost only features at the very end of the story, most of which is given over to the intellectual process of working out the clues to the whereabouts of the treasure. Bowen probably inserted the scene with the fake mediums because this brings some action and excitement to a story in which these qualities are otherwise lacking. Compared to such excellent fare as "A Warning to the Curious" or "Lost Hearts", "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" is really not very scary, which means that it is not very effective as a ghost story. 6/10
Some goofs. The story is set around 1850, but when Somerton and Peter are looking down from the tower (actually the tower of Wells Cathedral) we can see an estate of houses of obviously twentieth-century design and a rugby pitch; at this period the game was still only played at Rugby School. Somerton and Peter are supposedly fluent in Latin phrase, but they interpret the phrase "decem millia" (which actually means "ten thousand") as "two thousand". During the séance scene Somerton exposes the falsity of the mediums by showing that their "spirit guide", supposedly a priest from the time of the Wars of the Roses, was unable to understand Latin or French. Certainly, all priests at this period would have been required to know Latin, but there was no requirement to speak French, which had died out as a spoken language in England about a hundred years earlier.
Excellent short ghost story
Leofwine_draca22 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
A truly chilling adaptation of the M. R. James story, this is an example of the BBC at their best. An entry in the Ghost Story for Christmas series, this particular offering was only bettered by A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS and THE SIGNALMAN in terms of sheer fright factor and disturbance. I don't want to give too much away, other than to say that the movie is hugely atmospheric, subtly delightful, and bone-chilling in places, director Lawrence Gordon Clark once again excelling at his job.
Events culminate in a fantastic encounter with something horribly slimy, and the ambiguous conclusion is another nerve-wracker. Lead Michael Bryant (TORTURE GARDEN), dressed as an old man, is extremely convincing in his portrayal of the dedicated and haunted clergyman, with hints of ulterior motives adding to the depth throughout. Newcomer Paul Lavers is also worthwhile as his young companion. A spooky, scary, compelling slice of television, the likes of which they unfortunately can't seem to make anymore.
Events culminate in a fantastic encounter with something horribly slimy, and the ambiguous conclusion is another nerve-wracker. Lead Michael Bryant (TORTURE GARDEN), dressed as an old man, is extremely convincing in his portrayal of the dedicated and haunted clergyman, with hints of ulterior motives adding to the depth throughout. Newcomer Paul Lavers is also worthwhile as his young companion. A spooky, scary, compelling slice of television, the likes of which they unfortunately can't seem to make anymore.
Hunter becomes hunted
begob6 January 2016
At the invitation of his pupil, a rational cleric disabuses the pupil's mother of her belief in a pair of spiritualists, but then finds his own beliefs challenged in the hunt for an alchemist's buried treasure.
This is my favourite James adaptation. The storytelling is brisk, and the actors are excellent, especially in the close ups on so many interesting faces.
Some reviewers question the opening act, but seems to me it sets up the protagonist's intellectual pride, which is about to come crashing down. Couple of flaws in the story: no clear motivation for the cleric to uncover the treasure on his own, and the triumph of the mother's belief isn't brought full circle at the end. But it does convey the uncanny nature of James' horror, and in the final scene the usual menace of a figure approaching from afar.
This is my favourite James adaptation. The storytelling is brisk, and the actors are excellent, especially in the close ups on so many interesting faces.
Some reviewers question the opening act, but seems to me it sets up the protagonist's intellectual pride, which is about to come crashing down. Couple of flaws in the story: no clear motivation for the cleric to uncover the treasure on his own, and the triumph of the mother's belief isn't brought full circle at the end. But it does convey the uncanny nature of James' horror, and in the final scene the usual menace of a figure approaching from afar.
Oddly Structured, But Very Good
lolleyballz23 November 2021
A short, taut, adept piece of horror film making. The opening scenes feel slightly askew from the rest of the movie, but they serve their purpose in establishing the priest figure as a man of sound mind and mostly rational thought (as much as a priest can be a man of logic anyway) which will later leave no ambiguity about whether this is a psychological thriller or a gothic horror thriller.
Beautifully shot, beautifully lit, and backed by an unsettling score. Seek it out if you're in the mood for a short but extremely compelling piece of 70s horror.
Beautifully shot, beautifully lit, and backed by an unsettling score. Seek it out if you're in the mood for a short but extremely compelling piece of 70s horror.
This film sure is no treasure
Horst_In_Translation23 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" is a 37-minute live action film from 1974, so a pretty old one and you probably guessed already correctly from the title that this is a British (television) production in the English language. And when the Brits go treasure hunting, it is not really an adventure or family movie because in this very case here it is more of a mystery film with a touch of horror when a Reverend and his Lord are visiting an Abbey library and trying to find something out about a particular treasure. Director Lawrence Gordon Clark as well as the two writers working on this one (one the one who wrote the original, the other who wrote the adaptation) were prolific, but never really made waves in terms of their film-based works. Same can be said about basically every single actor in here. And seeing this one here I can see why. It is extremely dialogue-driven without ever being a good character study or an interesting enigmatic (I guess that's what they were going for) journey. I assume you must really be into British movies a lot more than I am to see the appeal in here. i give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended.
A chilling experience
Film Monkey22 November 2002
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is in part a sort of quasi-detective tale and also a ghost story. The setting of the story makes it very atmospheric, as it is set in a monastery building with a 'heavy' almost oppressive style of architecture.
It is a programme where someone who was adamant that ghosts are mere fiction, comes to find the most chilling encounter, while obtaining the hidden treasure of Abbot Thomas. The effects, although now far surpassed, are chilling, and especially with the tar like substance that bubbles under the door and from out of the hole where the treasure lay.
It has an open ending, for you to decide what happens (how obvious it may seem) and I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. It is a thing with M.R. James and the programmes made of his works, that you wish you had never seen them before, so that you can have the excitement of seeing them for the first time and not know what happens.
It is a programme where someone who was adamant that ghosts are mere fiction, comes to find the most chilling encounter, while obtaining the hidden treasure of Abbot Thomas. The effects, although now far surpassed, are chilling, and especially with the tar like substance that bubbles under the door and from out of the hole where the treasure lay.
It has an open ending, for you to decide what happens (how obvious it may seem) and I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. It is a thing with M.R. James and the programmes made of his works, that you wish you had never seen them before, so that you can have the excitement of seeing them for the first time and not know what happens.
creepy tale
andy fortnum18 June 2002
I remember watching this program back in Christmas of 1974. It was a rather creepy tale about the guardian of hidden treasure returning to claim its own. The guardian came from an old well, and left a trail of slime as it tried to find a way in to reclaim the treasure. It is an atmospheric and disturbing tale, but may be a slight disappointment to anyone who has read the original short story.
A memorable chiller.
Sleepin_Dragon2 June 2023
The young Lord Peter Dattering enlists the help of The Reverend Justin Somerton to cast a shadow of doubt over the séances his mother delights in holding most evenings, after the event, the pair look for hidden treasure, the clue a stain glassed window.
The Ghost Story for Christmas series is still going strong, despite a lengthy hiatus, very much split into the classics, and the more modern episodes. The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is very much a classic episode, dating back to 1974, The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is another classic.
The short running time allows for a well paced and chilling ghost story, it is atmospheric and unsettling from the very start, a treasure hunt with a psychological twist.
It is very atmospheric, at times it feels very claustrophobic and leaves you feeling tight chested, lots of impressive moments, the séance scene looked terrific, the voices helped add a bit of ghoulish vigour, until Somerton resorts to a little bit of cleverness that is.
I loved the ending, a scene that is very much the stuff of nightmares. They knew how to put the frighteners up you in 1974.
Michael Bryant is excellent as Somerton, he's an intellectual, he's determined, he's fairly opinionated, a good contrast to Paul Lavers, who plays Dattering as a somewhat mild mannered, quiet chap.
8/10.
The Ghost Story for Christmas series is still going strong, despite a lengthy hiatus, very much split into the classics, and the more modern episodes. The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is very much a classic episode, dating back to 1974, The Treasure of Abbot Thomas is another classic.
The short running time allows for a well paced and chilling ghost story, it is atmospheric and unsettling from the very start, a treasure hunt with a psychological twist.
It is very atmospheric, at times it feels very claustrophobic and leaves you feeling tight chested, lots of impressive moments, the séance scene looked terrific, the voices helped add a bit of ghoulish vigour, until Somerton resorts to a little bit of cleverness that is.
I loved the ending, a scene that is very much the stuff of nightmares. They knew how to put the frighteners up you in 1974.
Michael Bryant is excellent as Somerton, he's an intellectual, he's determined, he's fairly opinionated, a good contrast to Paul Lavers, who plays Dattering as a somewhat mild mannered, quiet chap.
8/10.
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas
Prismark1023 December 2023
Michael Bryant is the arrogant and too clever by half clergyman the Reverend Justin Somerton. Together with his young aristocratic assistant Peter (Paul Lavers) they try to solve Latin riddles to find the Abbot's fortune in an old Abbey.
Only the Abbot might not have wanted his fortune found. The Reverend afterwards seems to be disturbed and crept out by some slime that follows him about.
Although this had an interesting opening. The way the Reverend exposed the seance as a sham. It loses its way and feels drawn out.
The big problem is that the story is too similar to another M R James story, A Warning To The Curious. That was a better adapted ghost story. This is dull by comparison.
Only the Abbot might not have wanted his fortune found. The Reverend afterwards seems to be disturbed and crept out by some slime that follows him about.
Although this had an interesting opening. The way the Reverend exposed the seance as a sham. It loses its way and feels drawn out.
The big problem is that the story is too similar to another M R James story, A Warning To The Curious. That was a better adapted ghost story. This is dull by comparison.
Treasure
Gary-16130 January 2005
Formula had by now set in. Perhaps this is the fault of James? I've only read one of his stories, which was short. 'Treasure' is a bit boring, truth be told, although blessed with the meticulous direction of the great Lawrence Gordon Clark and his gift for the off beat observation. Special mention to the photography in this series, which is never less than resonant of both past and pastoral heritage.
Once again a member of clergy or academia, through detective work, is after some buried treasure which will have some sort of supernatural guardian attached. I think in Lost Hearts (my favourite of all time), it was arcane knowledge that was sought after, leading to hubris and eventual downfall.
Nothing new here then, and a rare miscalculation from Clark in having a cackling Abbot at a moment of cloying terror. However, the ending is one of the best. Chilling indeed!
Once again a member of clergy or academia, through detective work, is after some buried treasure which will have some sort of supernatural guardian attached. I think in Lost Hearts (my favourite of all time), it was arcane knowledge that was sought after, leading to hubris and eventual downfall.
Nothing new here then, and a rare miscalculation from Clark in having a cackling Abbot at a moment of cloying terror. However, the ending is one of the best. Chilling indeed!
Doubting Thomas
southdavid11 February 2022
After a couple of weeks off, I decided to go back on the M. R James trail with another seventies Christmas Horror, this time 1974's "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas". I think, more so than with the other's I've watched from this period, I struggled with the pace of this one - finding it really slow.
Having helped his protégé, Lord Dattering (Paul Lavers) expose a crooked séance that is exploiting his mother, Reverend Justin Somerton (Michael Bryant) returns to his research. He's focusing on Abbot Thomas, a crooked holy man some 400 years hence who, it is alleged, hid a cache of gold coins somewhere in the cathedral. Firmly believing that they are doing so for research, rather than financial reward, the pair follow a series of clues leading them towards the treasure, but also a warning, that the gold is protected.
Again, it's familiar M. R James territory for the plot. A lot of time spent in ecclesiastical libraries, looking at religious iconography. Each of the ones I've watched previously I recognised some of the actors but not with this, though Michael Bryant and Paul Lavers have a lot of credits between them. Again, it's more of a morality piece, than a straight horror story - as the haunting only really begins once Somerton has sacrificed his pursuit of knowledge for that of gold.
Generally, I've been OK with the slower pace to 70's drama, but I do feel that this was slower than I would have liked and that the investigation was lacking a bit. I also feel I missed a bit of the logic, in how they got from the hidden image on the photograph to the gargoyle. I'm also not the sort of person that needs to see the creature, or ghost in this case, in detail for it to be affective, a hint of movement can be enough - but I felt this time that the images used as the scare were more confusing than anything else.
It wasn't awful, but I have to say that I enjoyed "The Stalls of Barchester" and especially "A Warning to the Curious" a lot more.
Having helped his protégé, Lord Dattering (Paul Lavers) expose a crooked séance that is exploiting his mother, Reverend Justin Somerton (Michael Bryant) returns to his research. He's focusing on Abbot Thomas, a crooked holy man some 400 years hence who, it is alleged, hid a cache of gold coins somewhere in the cathedral. Firmly believing that they are doing so for research, rather than financial reward, the pair follow a series of clues leading them towards the treasure, but also a warning, that the gold is protected.
Again, it's familiar M. R James territory for the plot. A lot of time spent in ecclesiastical libraries, looking at religious iconography. Each of the ones I've watched previously I recognised some of the actors but not with this, though Michael Bryant and Paul Lavers have a lot of credits between them. Again, it's more of a morality piece, than a straight horror story - as the haunting only really begins once Somerton has sacrificed his pursuit of knowledge for that of gold.
Generally, I've been OK with the slower pace to 70's drama, but I do feel that this was slower than I would have liked and that the investigation was lacking a bit. I also feel I missed a bit of the logic, in how they got from the hidden image on the photograph to the gargoyle. I'm also not the sort of person that needs to see the creature, or ghost in this case, in detail for it to be affective, a hint of movement can be enough - but I felt this time that the images used as the scare were more confusing than anything else.
It wasn't awful, but I have to say that I enjoyed "The Stalls of Barchester" and especially "A Warning to the Curious" a lot more.
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