Difference between revisions of "The Stone Tape (1972 film)"
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| − | While working on a revolutionary research project involving development of new recording technologies, a man, his former girlfriend and other team members encounter a ghost, and realize the experience is relevant to their quest for new technology. | + | While working on a revolutionary research project involving development of new recording technologies, a man, his former girlfriend and other team members encounter a ghost, and realize the experience is relevant to their quest for new technology. ''The Stone Tape'' was originally intended to be an eighth episode of the anthology horror series ''Dead of Night'', but was instead broadcast on its own stand-alone strengths. |
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* Genres/Technical: Horror, Science Fiction | * Genres/Technical: Horror, Science Fiction | ||
* Runtime: 1 hr 30 min | * Runtime: 1 hr 30 min | ||
| − | * Starring: Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Iain Cuthbertson | + | * Starring: Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Iain Cuthbertson (various for ''Dead of Night'') |
| − | * Director: Peter Sasdy | + | * Director: Peter Sasdy (various for ''Dead of Night'') |
| − | * Writer: [[Nigel Kneale]] | + | * Writer: [[Nigel Kneale]] (various for ''Dead of Night'') |
* Producer/Production Co: BBC | * Producer/Production Co: BBC | ||
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A rough [[Tentacle Ratings|measure]] of how "Lovecraftian" the work is: | A rough [[Tentacle Ratings|measure]] of how "Lovecraftian" the work is: | ||
* SS___ (Two Tentacles: Barely Lovecraftian; could be a very loose adaptation) | * SS___ (Two Tentacles: Barely Lovecraftian; could be a very loose adaptation) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''The Stone Tape'' features a vaguely "Lovecraftian" mix of science with folklore and the supernatural, with hints of cosmic horror to the vague nature of the haunting. ''Dead of Night'', its parent series, appears to have had a vaguely Gothic ghost story or two, but nothing particularly "Lovecraftian". | ||
''Note: This rating is not intended as a measure of quality, merely of how closely related to Lovecraftian "Weird" fiction the work is.'' | ''Note: This rating is not intended as a measure of quality, merely of how closely related to Lovecraftian "Weird" fiction the work is.'' | ||
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==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
<!-- Optional; Objective, unbiased, detailed synopsis of film's plot and themes --> | <!-- Optional; Objective, unbiased, detailed synopsis of film's plot and themes --> | ||
| − | + | * ''The Stone Tape'': While working on a revolutionary research project involving development of new recording technologies, a man, his former girlfriend and other team members encounter a ghost, and realize the experience is relevant to their quest for new technology. | |
| − | While working on a revolutionary research project involving development of new recording technologies, a man, his former girlfriend and other team members encounter a ghost, and realize the experience is relevant to their quest for new technology. | ||
| − | |||
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===Comments, Trivia, Dedication=== | ===Comments, Trivia, Dedication=== | ||
<!-- Optional; describe anything known or reported by experts about the origin of the story or inspiration for elements of it; list dedication, trivia, images, anything else of note --> | <!-- Optional; describe anything known or reported by experts about the origin of the story or inspiration for elements of it; list dedication, trivia, images, anything else of note --> | ||
| − | * The | + | * ''The Stone Tape'' shares some similar themes and a similar style with ''[[Quatermass (1953 franchise)]]'' by the same writer, [[Nigel Kneale]]. By extension, the film also shares some similarities to ''[[Doctor Who (1963 franchise)]]'' and its spin-offs. |
| − | + | * ''The Stone Tape'' story, its author's other work, and Kneale himself are referenced directly in ''[[Prince of Darkness (1987 film)]]'', and provided an obvious inspiration for many ghost/paranormal investigation films to follow, including ''[[Poltergeist (1982 franchise)]]'', ''[[Insidious (2010 franchise)]]'', ''[[White Noise (2005 francise)]]'', etc. | |
| − | * | + | * Only 3 episodes from the would-be parent series ''Dead of Night'' are known to have survived the BBC purge of its archives in the 1970s. They are: "Return Flight", "The Exorcism" and "A Woman Sobbing". |
===Associated Mythos Elements=== | ===Associated Mythos Elements=== | ||
| + | ''The Stone Tape'': | ||
* [[Faerie]]s | * [[Faerie]]s | ||
* [[Ghost]]s | * [[Ghost]]s | ||
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===Keeper Notes=== | ===Keeper Notes=== | ||
<!-- Optional. Notes to Keepers on using this for film for scenario ideas. Heresies and Controversies: this is also a good place to include non-canon and controversial aspects of the film's mythos. Suggested Alternative Theories include: Derleth's elemental scheme; pseudo-science interpretation; "fanon" interpretations; unofficial humorous or eccentric versions; identification with "Real Life" mythological, religious, folklore, natural, and historical phenomena; rumor and speculation contribute some flexibility and ambiguity to the mythos. * Alternative_theory. ([[source]]) --> | <!-- Optional. Notes to Keepers on using this for film for scenario ideas. Heresies and Controversies: this is also a good place to include non-canon and controversial aspects of the film's mythos. Suggested Alternative Theories include: Derleth's elemental scheme; pseudo-science interpretation; "fanon" interpretations; unofficial humorous or eccentric versions; identification with "Real Life" mythological, religious, folklore, natural, and historical phenomena; rumor and speculation contribute some flexibility and ambiguity to the mythos. * Alternative_theory. ([[source]]) --> | ||
| + | * As a story about a team of paranormal investigators using scientific equipment to solve a scientific problem with supernatural qualities to it while characters break down under the strain of dealing with the unknown, the basic premise and plot of ''The Stone Tape'' might provide the basis for a short, one-shot scenario, given a team of interesting enough pre-gen researcher characters (the story's plot might have to depend rather heavily on character interaction and reaction, rather than on characters putting many clues together or doing many proactive things, without a lot of heavy tampering with the story to give it more traditional CoC qualities!) | ||
Revision as of 20:01, 25 December 2016
Summary
While working on a revolutionary research project involving development of new recording technologies, a man, his former girlfriend and other team members encounter a ghost, and realize the experience is relevant to their quest for new technology. The Stone Tape was originally intended to be an eighth episode of the anthology horror series Dead of Night, but was instead broadcast on its own stand-alone strengths.
Details
- Release Date: 1972
- Country/Language: UK, English
- Genres/Technical: Horror, Science Fiction
- Runtime: 1 hr 30 min
- Starring: Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Iain Cuthbertson (various for Dead of Night)
- Director: Peter Sasdy (various for Dead of Night)
- Writer: Nigel Kneale (various for Dead of Night)
- Producer/Production Co: BBC
Ratings
MPAA Ratings
- Rated: (none) (perhaps a "G" or, at most, a "PG" for off-screen violence and general eeriness)
Tentacle Ratings
A rough measure of how "Lovecraftian" the work is:
- SS___ (Two Tentacles: Barely Lovecraftian; could be a very loose adaptation)
The Stone Tape features a vaguely "Lovecraftian" mix of science with folklore and the supernatural, with hints of cosmic horror to the vague nature of the haunting. Dead of Night, its parent series, appears to have had a vaguely Gothic ghost story or two, but nothing particularly "Lovecraftian".
Note: This rating is not intended as a measure of quality, merely of how closely related to Lovecraftian "Weird" fiction the work is.
Reviews
Review Links:
- (needs review!)
Synopsis
- The Stone Tape: While working on a revolutionary research project involving development of new recording technologies, a man, his former girlfriend and other team members encounter a ghost, and realize the experience is relevant to their quest for new technology.
Notes
Comments, Trivia, Dedication
- The Stone Tape shares some similar themes and a similar style with Quatermass (1953 franchise) by the same writer, Nigel Kneale. By extension, the film also shares some similarities to Doctor Who (1963 franchise) and its spin-offs.
- The Stone Tape story, its author's other work, and Kneale himself are referenced directly in Prince of Darkness (1987 film), and provided an obvious inspiration for many ghost/paranormal investigation films to follow, including Poltergeist (1982 franchise), Insidious (2010 franchise), White Noise (2005 francise), etc.
- Only 3 episodes from the would-be parent series Dead of Night are known to have survived the BBC purge of its archives in the 1970s. They are: "Return Flight", "The Exorcism" and "A Woman Sobbing".
Associated Mythos Elements
The Stone Tape:
Keeper Notes
- As a story about a team of paranormal investigators using scientific equipment to solve a scientific problem with supernatural qualities to it while characters break down under the strain of dealing with the unknown, the basic premise and plot of The Stone Tape might provide the basis for a short, one-shot scenario, given a team of interesting enough pre-gen researcher characters (the story's plot might have to depend rather heavily on character interaction and reaction, rather than on characters putting many clues together or doing many proactive things, without a lot of heavy tampering with the story to give it more traditional CoC qualities!)
