Christmas Ghost Story

[bobbydazzler]

Hi all,

Real difficult one this....I remember watching a tv show in what I think was the late 1960's. It was a Christmas ghost story and frightened the bejesus outta me!

It was about two children who had recently gone to live with their uncle or grandfather. He wasn't a nice man and had done something nasty to two previous children who had gone to live with him. I remember a scene where the living youngsters, upon hearing a noise from outside, looked out of their bedroom window and saw the ghosts (?) of the other two walking across a snowy courtyard below. The spooky part was their hugely long fingernails!!.....the show ended with the demise of the evil uncle/grandfather along with a close up of his heart burning on a (coal?) fire.

Anyone know what this was called??

[Ethel]

Was it one of the Tales of the Unexpected?

[novalis]

I remember the show but, unfortunately, not its title. Two points though:

it's a pity that there is no longer a ghost story on TV over Christmas. I always used to look forward to it.

A ghost story also involving two children and well worth reading is the classic "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James.

Hope you find the title you're looking for.

[bobbydazzler]

Thanks you two... I found it!

It was from a story by M R James and was entitled 'Lost Hearts'.

There's a bit of info here...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296728/

....can sleep now (or can I? ;))

[juliacornwal]

I have a double cassette tape called 'More Ghost Stories' by M.R. James, read by Michael Hordern in which this story is included - and believe me, it's a very spooky story, even when you're only listening to it! M.R. James wrote some fabulous stuff he really did.