The Signalman (1976)
A traveller comes across a signalman stationed by the exit of a railway tunnel in a deep cutting. The traveller becomes familiar with the signalman, and finds that he is troubled by an apparition which appears by the tunnel.
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One of the worst movies I've ever seen
Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
Lack of good storyline.
The movie really just wants to entertain people.
The Signalman is an adaptation of a Charles Dickens short story. I watched this several times over the years, the first time I was still a kid.It has an eerie haunting presence mainly because the way it was shot and lit. It is enveloped with atmosphere and great acting from both its stars, Denholm Elliot and Bernard Lloyd.Set presumably in the 19th century, Elliott plays a signalman haunted by a spectre which seems to warn him of some impending doom. The traveller (Lloyd) staying in a nearby inn tries to give him a rational explanation to it but unsure whether the signalman was one step away from insanity.It is a simple ghost story that spooks you out because it was wonderfully directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark.
THE SIGNALMAN is perhaps one of the most frightening of all the Ghost Stories for Christmas that the BBC made back in the 1970s, and it's my joint favourite alongside A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS. Ironically, it's also one of the stories actually not based on a story by ghost story expert M.R. James, but rather Charles Dickens himself.This is a brief, simple, and effective tale about a world-weary signalman who finds himself haunted by an apparition at a tunnel entrance that warns of doom. There's little more to it than that, but this tale is layered with nuance and atmosphere, as well as a couple of absolutely fantastic performances both from Bernard Lloyd and in particular Denholm Elliot, who has never been better as the ordinary man driven out of his mind.Perhaps the most important thing to say about THE SIGNALMAN is just how effective it is as a piece of horror. It's one of the finest ghost stories ever put on film, and it continues to deliver even to this day, never feeling dated or forced. The ghost scares are simple but hugely affecting, and the back story compliments the present day events very well. Add in a perfect twist ending and you have a piece of unrivalled brilliance.
I'm 14 an we watched this for English class. its scary as hell. just so scary. s c a r y watch with like 200 people. and don't let children under 15 watch alone please thank u. me and my friend Claire were hiding behind our books and people laughed but they laughed with fear. even jess was scared and she never is scared. this film should be banned, you can't have people running around saying hello down there. if you like films here are some happy ones: lion king, high school musical, moulin rouge, Bambi, thirteen, hunchback of notre dame, actually all Disney films. here are some happy words: love, smile, joy, yellow, campbell.
In the days when television could do this sort of thing...there has never to me been a more perfect adaptation of a ghost story. The location is spot-on, the performances beautifully polite but tense, and the atmosphere has to be experienced to be believed. Lawrence Gordon Clark, as with all the MR James adaptations, stays loyal to the notion of showing a little not a lot, and it works a treat. At forty minutes, it never outstays its welcome,and some of the camera work and individuals shots (eg Denholm Elliott standing at the mouth of the tunnel as smoke billows out behind him after the collision) and the night shot of the traveller returning to the inn are remarkable. Incomparable, and I am positive Dickens would approve.