A Warning to the Curious (1972)

Directed by: Lawrence Gordon Clark | 50 minutes | drama, horror, thriller | Actors: Peter Vaughan, Clive Swift, Julian Herrington, John Kearney, David Cargill, George Benson, Roger Milner, Gilly Fraser, David Pugh, Cyril Appleton

‘A Warning to the Curious’ is an episode of the ‘Ghost Story for Christmas’ series, produced for television by the BBC in the 1970s. In this episode, the unemployed Mr. Paxton searches for a medieval crown buried, according to ancient legend, in the woods near the coastal village of Seaburgh. That things can end badly for treasure diggers in Seaburgh, however, is immediately made clear in the opening scene, which takes place twelve years earlier, when a treasure hunter is brutally killed.

The oppressive atmosphere, which has been successfully created, quickly becomes apparent in this episode of the BBC series. Not so much by using all kinds of violent or bloody scenes, with the exception of perhaps the opening scene, but by using a remarkably restrained approach, as is noticeable in other parts of this series. In addition, the use of traditional attributes such as dark corridors and dimly lit areas or related matters remains limited. There is, however, a graveyard and some nighttime shots as Paxton is engaged in his treasure hunt and he sees the first signs of impending doom, but otherwise the story takes place for the most part during the day. Yet this does not detract from the atmosphere of lurking and unavoidable doom that it seems to have set for Paxton. This doom comes in the form of a single, distant figure, appearing repeatedly in broad daylight, staring at Paxton from a distance. And he literally does not do more than this, but an unmistakable malicious intention and thus a clearly palpable threat does emanate from this immobile figure. All the more so since he shows up in the most unexpected places, even when Paxton thinks he is alone and unwatched in the vast and deserted sands and forests.

In addition, director Clark makes effective use of the necessary indefinable sounds that Paxton receives in his immediate surroundings, making it clear to him that the apparition, although it can approach him unnoticed up close, remains elusive and out of sight for Paxton himself. That’s why Paxton slowly takes hold of a torturous and all-consuming fear when he comes to realize that he has summoned dark forces that are beyond his cap and from which he has only a vague hope of escaping. In this respect too, the approach chosen for this film adaptation, with the support of appropriate supportive music at regular intervals, results in a story that honors the naming of the ‘Ghost Story for Christmas’ series due to the ghostly atmosphere that characterizes this episode. affected. A precondition for this is the good play of the cast members.

Neat work, especially by Peter Vaughan, who gives shape to Paxton, who is slowly and increasingly consumed by fear. A performance with which his character will also evoke the necessary sympathy. As in the first part of this series ‘The Stalls of Barchester’ again expertly thoughtful work by Clive Swift as Dr. Black, whose visit to Seaburgh coincides with Paxton’s and who becomes Paxton’s mainstay as he feels increasingly cornered. There is solid support work from the other cast members, although this is also limited here by the screen time that the characters Paxton and Black are allotted. A flaw in the story is perhaps the ease with which Paxton manages to find the burial place of the crown. The question arises as to why the crown was not located and excavated earlier, even though there was a guard at the crown’s berth in ancient times. Due to his actions, even after his death years earlier, the necessary oppressive scenes are conjured up, although things manifest themselves – with the name ‘Ghost Story’ in mind – perhaps in the end in a slightly too physical way. Nevertheless, Clarks’ approach again results in an effective film adaptation. Again with a low-key approach, minimal resources and a simple story, an atmospheric and oppressive ghost story within this BBC series.