Possession
(ITC Movie title "Possession")
Original UK transmission: 21st April 1973
Original US transmission: 12th April 1973
WRITTEN BY: Brian Clemens
DIRECTED BY: John Cooper
PRODUCED BY: John Sichel
MAIN CAST: John Carson (Ray Burns), Joanna Dunham (Penny
Burns), Hilary Hardiman (Cecily Rafting), Athol Coats (Mr
Filson), James Cossins (Kellet), Richard Aylen (Inspector Miles)
Teaser
Sequence
The camera pans across a
stretch of countryside and closes in on a large house; inside a
radio is tuned to a broadcast concerning Eisenhower. A woman
scurries past, and a hand reaches for a carving knife on the
kitchen wall. Moments later, the same hand switches off the radio
and the woman's body is dragged down a flight of steps into the
basement. Whistling the tune of "Greensleeves", the
unknown figure gives a curious click of the fingers - upstairs, a
blood-spattered calendar reveals the year to be 1953.
Plot
Summary
Businessman Ray Burns finally
achieves a lifelong ambition and moves into a handsome house in
the country with his wife Penny. They have barely arrived however
when a series of strange disturbances make it appear that the
house might be haunted. Shortly after, the body of a woman who
had once owned the house is found buried in the cellar, and a
medium is called in to investigate. Believing that the spirit of
the murdered owner is still wandering the house, Penny becomes
increasingly concerned that it is taking over the mind of her
husband. However, both the house and the past hold secrets that
she cannot begin to imagine.
Comments
Well remembered by a lot of people, this first venture into the
supernatural may not be an absolute classic but definitely has
some chilling moments. The basic idea is ingenious and is kept
well-camouflaged until the very end, and there are several good
shocks along the way. Hilary Hardiman gives a convincing
performance as the medium Cecilia Rafting, and John Carson is
excellent in the lead role of Ray Burns (indeed, he would return
in Season Three's Come Out Come Wherever You Are). Well worth seeing.
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