M.R. James is considered the best ghost short-story teller of all so that all it takes to tell an effective tale is to follow the source and that's just what is done here. Period detail, interior sets, costumes and language are all intact here in this spooky teller of the mysterious room 13 in a small hotel the dark secret behind which flares up into life when an innocent ecclesiastical scholar comes across a secret note in his research. The other-worldly effects aren't overdone, with no great special effects employed to convey the other-worldly visitation, merely some shadow-play, lighting effects and off- camera sound effects, but this is in keeping with the general, unspectacular tenor of the piece, saving the viewer's imagination to do its own work, which is as it should be. My only carp with the story is that in the end-up three parties enter the foreboding Room 13 at once, when any horror scholar will tell you that this should be done by one party acting alone. All of the acting was solid and without histrionics and the neat twist at the end which explained the sudden disappearance of a previous scholar at the same hotel was a good finishing touch.
11 Reviews
Can you improve on James?
begob4 January 2016
A visiting scholar lodges at an ancient inn while he trawls the manuscript collection of the local cathedral, only to find a connection that puts him in a deadly bind.
I'm in two minds about this: it elaborates on the original story to give a more joined up drama, but it loses much of the uncanny alienation that is the hallmark of M R James. The protagonist is loaded with characterisation and yet he's unlikeable, his task is given more detail and that sets up plot points that come to fruition later on, and the haunting is more conventional than the original, with a cheesy shadow passing across the unnecessary print of Bosch's painting The Garden Of Earthly Delights - I much prefer the weird shadow dancing cast by the light of the bedroom window in James' story.
It's well acted and well paced, and the post script is satisfying.
Overall - well done, but although the drama is improved it's an adaptation too far for fans of the author.
I'm in two minds about this: it elaborates on the original story to give a more joined up drama, but it loses much of the uncanny alienation that is the hallmark of M R James. The protagonist is loaded with characterisation and yet he's unlikeable, his task is given more detail and that sets up plot points that come to fruition later on, and the haunting is more conventional than the original, with a cheesy shadow passing across the unnecessary print of Bosch's painting The Garden Of Earthly Delights - I much prefer the weird shadow dancing cast by the light of the bedroom window in James' story.
It's well acted and well paced, and the post script is satisfying.
Overall - well done, but although the drama is improved it's an adaptation too far for fans of the author.
A slightly generic attempt to mimic the original series' M. R. James adaptations
dr_clarke_26 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
After the success of A View from a Hill, the revived A Ghost Story for Christmas returned the following year with another M. R. James adaptation, Number 13. Unfortunately, the script writing and directing team of Peter Harness and Luke Watson did not, with Justin Hopper providing the screenplay and Pier Wilkie - who produced the previous episode - behind the camera. And the result is a bit disappointing.
Hopper's script relocates James' story from Denmark to a generic English town, losing much of the richness of the original story in the process; what is left is a pared down story about a mysterious room in an old hotel, which is ends up feeling like a generic attempt to mimic the original series' M. R. James adaptations, which is probably the case. Unfortunately, the result is that the first three quarters of the episode are actually a bit dull, with a plot rendered slight being dragged out in an attempt to intrigue that could have been better achieved with greater brevity. It doesn't help that the protagonist doesn't engage the audience's sympathies: intellectually proud academics are a stable of James' stories, but never before in A Ghost Story for Christmas has one been written to be as utterly obnoxious as Professor Anderson.
Having said all of that, Number 13 is not all bad. During the last quarter, Wilkie's direction and the editing combine to raise the hairs of the back of the neck from the moment that Anderson sees a remorseless shadow creep across his wall and the door to Number 13 finally opens. Unusually for an M. R. James story, Anderson survives his brush with the macabre relatively unscathed, but it still makes for an unsettling conclusion when the remains of the missing Cambridge academic mentioned at the start are discovered beneath the floorboards.
The casting also works: whilst Anderson is unlikeable, Greg Wise gives a believable performance in the role, and the episode also benefits from the return of David Burke after the previous year's A View from a Hill, this time accompanied by his son Tom, who's drunken and crass Edward Jenkins works well. The great Paul Freeman also appears as the cathedral librarian. In keeping with the program's traditions, we also get some handsome location filming in Winchester Cathedral, plus some nice touches from Wilkie including the bizarre but strikingly macabre presence of Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights" in Anderson's hotel room.
Overall, Number 13 could and should have been better, but it still manages some chills and makes an effective seasonal ghost story. How popular it was at the time I'm unsure, but in the event it would be another four years before it was followed by another one, and that would see A Ghost Story for Christmas revisiting its earliest roots...
Hopper's script relocates James' story from Denmark to a generic English town, losing much of the richness of the original story in the process; what is left is a pared down story about a mysterious room in an old hotel, which is ends up feeling like a generic attempt to mimic the original series' M. R. James adaptations, which is probably the case. Unfortunately, the result is that the first three quarters of the episode are actually a bit dull, with a plot rendered slight being dragged out in an attempt to intrigue that could have been better achieved with greater brevity. It doesn't help that the protagonist doesn't engage the audience's sympathies: intellectually proud academics are a stable of James' stories, but never before in A Ghost Story for Christmas has one been written to be as utterly obnoxious as Professor Anderson.
Having said all of that, Number 13 is not all bad. During the last quarter, Wilkie's direction and the editing combine to raise the hairs of the back of the neck from the moment that Anderson sees a remorseless shadow creep across his wall and the door to Number 13 finally opens. Unusually for an M. R. James story, Anderson survives his brush with the macabre relatively unscathed, but it still makes for an unsettling conclusion when the remains of the missing Cambridge academic mentioned at the start are discovered beneath the floorboards.
The casting also works: whilst Anderson is unlikeable, Greg Wise gives a believable performance in the role, and the episode also benefits from the return of David Burke after the previous year's A View from a Hill, this time accompanied by his son Tom, who's drunken and crass Edward Jenkins works well. The great Paul Freeman also appears as the cathedral librarian. In keeping with the program's traditions, we also get some handsome location filming in Winchester Cathedral, plus some nice touches from Wilkie including the bizarre but strikingly macabre presence of Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights" in Anderson's hotel room.
Overall, Number 13 could and should have been better, but it still manages some chills and makes an effective seasonal ghost story. How popular it was at the time I'm unsure, but in the event it would be another four years before it was followed by another one, and that would see A Ghost Story for Christmas revisiting its earliest roots...
Quality little chiller for a dark evening on a windy night
bob the moo10 March 2007
Academic Anderson comes to a small English cathedral town to authenticate some newly discovered letters that appeared to date back to Cromwell. At night he stays in room 12 of his hotel and by day he works out of the cathedral chambers. One day he discovers a letter from a mysterious figure called Nicholas Franken, while also looking into some shadowy allegations made against a former bishop of the town. As he digs though, he finds more mysterious goings-on exist outside of his letters and historical records.
An atmospheric little ghost story this, based on a short story by MR James. Delivered by BBC4, the film doesn't really deliver all the answers that one would like and modern viewers such as myself might notice that it is not all tied up and resolved at the end in the way that many of our stories now are. However this is a slight point because really the film does much better where we're not sure at all what is going on and are caught up like Anderson in the fear and desire to get to the bottom of things.
It is not particularly scary and again modern viewers who maintain that horror = gore will be left cold by this; however it is very creepy and it produces this very well. The sound design is well engineered to produce gradual noises and sudden silences while the visual effects are restrained and all the better for it. Wise leads the cast well while Freeman and David Burke both provide solid turns as the older figures in the story. I must admit that I didn't really like Tom Burke as Jenkins, but mostly because his character just felt like a red herring for most of the film.
Overall though I found it enjoyable as it got by with its strong sense of atmosphere covering over for the lack of detail and slightly slow pace. Perhaps not the strongest thing that BBC4 were responsible for last year but it is still a quality little chiller for a dark evening on a windy night.
An atmospheric little ghost story this, based on a short story by MR James. Delivered by BBC4, the film doesn't really deliver all the answers that one would like and modern viewers such as myself might notice that it is not all tied up and resolved at the end in the way that many of our stories now are. However this is a slight point because really the film does much better where we're not sure at all what is going on and are caught up like Anderson in the fear and desire to get to the bottom of things.
It is not particularly scary and again modern viewers who maintain that horror = gore will be left cold by this; however it is very creepy and it produces this very well. The sound design is well engineered to produce gradual noises and sudden silences while the visual effects are restrained and all the better for it. Wise leads the cast well while Freeman and David Burke both provide solid turns as the older figures in the story. I must admit that I didn't really like Tom Burke as Jenkins, but mostly because his character just felt like a red herring for most of the film.
Overall though I found it enjoyable as it got by with its strong sense of atmosphere covering over for the lack of detail and slightly slow pace. Perhaps not the strongest thing that BBC4 were responsible for last year but it is still a quality little chiller for a dark evening on a windy night.
An enjoyable interpretation of James .
willandferg15 December 2019
Having just watched a really sub-standard depiction of Casting the Runes, I found this superior to many of the older M.R.James interpretations, except maybe The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral. The acting was excellent and the hotel scenes were a feast for the eyes for lovers of historic buildings and set the mood for a James story. The climactic scenes were truly frightening unlike Oh,Whistle and I'll Come To You,My Lad which were quite laughable.
Solid, but unexceptional
Leofwine_draca29 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
NUMBER 13 is the BBC 'Ghost Story for Christmas' adaptation of an M. R. James short story, ROOM 13. It came out in 2006 and stars Greg Wise as an Oxford academic investigating some local church history who becomes aware of something strange going on in the hotel room next to his own - number 13, which doesn't even seem to exist. He soon comes to realise that his own investigations are tied up very much with his place of stay and that both are about to meet in a sinister way...
I'm a big fan of this BBC series and, for me, the best ghost stories were made in the 1970s with the delights of A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS and THE SIGNALMAN. This later work is invariably a lesser enterprise, although not without merit. It's a subtle and atmospheric little piece with a good back story and some creative moments in the direction; you can't fault the performances either. A throwback to the ghost stories of yesteryear, although not quite on the same level and not as powerful.
I'm a big fan of this BBC series and, for me, the best ghost stories were made in the 1970s with the delights of A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS and THE SIGNALMAN. This later work is invariably a lesser enterprise, although not without merit. It's a subtle and atmospheric little piece with a good back story and some creative moments in the direction; you can't fault the performances either. A throwback to the ghost stories of yesteryear, although not quite on the same level and not as powerful.
A rousing finale!
ebeckstr-131 May 2019
Suffers in the first 3/4 and over the closing credits from an abysmal, ineffectual score which misses every opportunity to create suspense or a creepy atmosphere. In fact it is so sedate it creates the opposite effect: the air of a mellow British country drama rather than an MR James ghost story.
However, the episode is well redeemed in the last eight or ten minutes, during which it is very creepy, with an effective accompanying score, and rendering in fine fashion the sense of camaraderie and shared goal that characterizes the original story, when the lead characters come together in fear to solve the mystery. Despite the shortcomings of much of the first part of the episode, Number 13 is well worth watching if only for the denouement.
However, the episode is well redeemed in the last eight or ten minutes, during which it is very creepy, with an effective accompanying score, and rendering in fine fashion the sense of camaraderie and shared goal that characterizes the original story, when the lead characters come together in fear to solve the mystery. Despite the shortcomings of much of the first part of the episode, Number 13 is well worth watching if only for the denouement.
Knock on the door
Prismark1026 December 2017
Number 13 is a creepy adaptation of a MR James story.
Greg Wise plays a rather dull and stern scholar, Professor Anderson who is going through some ancient and re-discovered manuscripts at a local cathedral that he has to authenticate.
He is taken aback when the local hotelier wants money in advance as previous guests have disappeared in the night.
As he carries out his research about a local mischievous bishop back in the time of Cromwell, his sleep is disturbed by strange sounds coming from the room 13 even though that room is supposed to not exist.
This is an atmospheric thriller with several scares and jolts.
Greg Wise plays a rather dull and stern scholar, Professor Anderson who is going through some ancient and re-discovered manuscripts at a local cathedral that he has to authenticate.
He is taken aback when the local hotelier wants money in advance as previous guests have disappeared in the night.
As he carries out his research about a local mischievous bishop back in the time of Cromwell, his sleep is disturbed by strange sounds coming from the room 13 even though that room is supposed to not exist.
This is an atmospheric thriller with several scares and jolts.
Highly enjoyable mystery drama.
keysersoze1310 January 2007
BBC Four continue their excellent form in drama with an adaptation of this MR James short story. This was a Christmas treat that perhaps continues a new tradition for the channel's Christmas output, after last year's MR James adaptation 'View From A Hill'.
'Number 13' was simple, pleasurable entertainment; delivered in 40 minutes of suspenseful storytelling. The story was simple, with he mystery coming from the fact that room 13 does not exist, but can be heard by Greg Wise, in the lead role.
There was very little to 'Number 13'. It was a short and enjoyable Victorian ghost story, something that should be welcome as an annual fixture for BBC Four.
'Number 13' was simple, pleasurable entertainment; delivered in 40 minutes of suspenseful storytelling. The story was simple, with he mystery coming from the fact that room 13 does not exist, but can be heard by Greg Wise, in the lead role.
There was very little to 'Number 13'. It was a short and enjoyable Victorian ghost story, something that should be welcome as an annual fixture for BBC Four.
A very poor show
grrrr9714 June 2007
As a big M.R James fan I am slighty worried about the quality of the two resent BBC4 productions of his work. True it is about time the stories of M.R James were re-told but to be honest these attempts at horror are nothing more than second rate at best.
They are not nearly dark enough for my liking the atmosphere is really non-existent and the ghosts are a real disappointment, I agree one shouldn't see much of the ghost in stories like this but what you do see has to live up to the picture one has in ones imagination and to be honest these weren't even close.
So my advice to you is watch the Laurence Gordon Clark adaptations made in the 70's available through the BFI if you want to see the infinitely more terrifying versions.
They are not nearly dark enough for my liking the atmosphere is really non-existent and the ghosts are a real disappointment, I agree one shouldn't see much of the ghost in stories like this but what you do see has to live up to the picture one has in ones imagination and to be honest these weren't even close.
So my advice to you is watch the Laurence Gordon Clark adaptations made in the 70's available through the BFI if you want to see the infinitely more terrifying versions.
A Creepy Classic from the pen of M.R. James
t-dooley-69-3869169 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Made by the BBC in 2006 this is a classic tale from legendary ghost story writer M.R. James. Professor Anderson is an ecclesiastical scholar and historian from Oxford University. He has come to a rural Cathedral town to examine the authenticity and worth of the Cathedral's papers and that of some recent finds.
He is staying at a very old Hotel with wood panelling, beams some interesting guests and night noises that always seem to emanate from the next room. Then he discovers that the town has a secret past in which one very unpopular Bishop was accused of being in league with Satan and operating from a particular house. He finds it intriguing but hardly anything to be taken seriously – or so he thinks...
Now this is just creepy enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It uses noise and shadows to conjure up the requisite fear and is done so in a way that belies the less than subtle approach. Still I much prefer techniques like this than modern slasher or scream ones that seem to be so popular. The period detail and acting is all top notch and I wish we still made them like this – completely recommended.
He is staying at a very old Hotel with wood panelling, beams some interesting guests and night noises that always seem to emanate from the next room. Then he discovers that the town has a secret past in which one very unpopular Bishop was accused of being in league with Satan and operating from a particular house. He finds it intriguing but hardly anything to be taken seriously – or so he thinks...
Now this is just creepy enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It uses noise and shadows to conjure up the requisite fear and is done so in a way that belies the less than subtle approach. Still I much prefer techniques like this than modern slasher or scream ones that seem to be so popular. The period detail and acting is all top notch and I wish we still made them like this – completely recommended.
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