Michael Hordern stars in Jonathan Miller's version of Whistle and I'll Come to You, that famous grisly chiller by the Victorian academic M.R. James. The setting is the windy Norfolk coast in winter, and the story hinges on the finding of a mysterious whistle buried in the sand. Hordern is backed by Ambrose Coghill (the Colonel), George Woodbridge (the hotel proprietor), Nora Gordon (the proprietress), and Freda Dowie (the maid); Miller himself produces. Judging by press reactions after the original showing, this team succeeds admirably in its flesh-creeping task:
"...splendidly sensitive and atmospheric adaptation." (The Times)
"The last few moments of terror were as powerful as anything Hitchcock did." (Maurice Wiggin, Sunday Times)
"Jonathan Miller's adaptation... made me jolly glad I had someone to go to bed with." (Peter Black, Daily Mail)