This has been bugging me for the last 19 years and it's occurred to me that you fine people might just be able to finally solve this movie mystery.

Back in the mid to late 80s (For non-UK residents, here's a chance to learn some old English culture from yester-year) Sunday afternoons on BBC1 were a traditional affair. Eastenders omnibus, The Disney Club, a film and usually a programme about blokes in jumpers singing jolly songs in the countyside.

Anyway, one Sunday afternoon in early 1986 the afternoon film was a ghost story. I was sat in front of the telly playing with my Bumbles House set and Mini-Mobile Supermarket while watching the film. The film was set in the 18th Century and in a big house and nearby cave. There was a lot of dancing and it didn't really make a lot of sense. The striking thing about the film, though, was that the people turned into skeletons but carried on dancing. They still had their wigs and costumes on but they went from young people smiling and laughing to these silver-greyish skeleton ghosts, while the music and laughter echoed eerily. As I was only 6 years old it shitted me up big time and I hid my face behind the roof of the Bumbles House and only peeping out if I thought it was safe. When it finished I remember my mum saying 'That was a bit scary for this time of day,' noting my mini terrified state for the rest of the afternoon.

The thing is, I've always remembered it but have never seen the film since. I never caught the title and I'd really like to see it again now. Anyone know what this film might be? I think it was made in the 60s or early 70s. I think it was British, but I'm not sure. It really has been bugging me for the last 19 years so any help would be great.

Wife Of Rolex

I have no idea,sounds scary, though.


Have you tried asking about this on IMDB? Plenty of knows-all on there.

I stand with the gloating knowledge that I wasn't even born 19 years ago.

I was... but I wasnt

Heehee... wicked...

No idea what you're talking about, though. Sorry.

Beatoswald - O great film guru - can you help? Sounds a bit Hammerish to me, but they would never put that on in the afternoon, would they?

Write to SFX. They have a special section for those who have half formed memories of terrors and suchlike that our present day minds cannot remember.

Marty Of Rolex

I don't have the foggiest. It does sound Hammerish though or perhaps a similar British horror studio like Tigon.

I'll hazard a guess. Was it The Amazing Mr Blunden? I don't recall dancing skeletons but it was defninitely on telly a few times at around that time of day.

Sadly no, that's not the one. I've seen The Amazing Mr Blunden a few times growing up and it never scared me.

I had a bit of a search earlier on a site about British horror films (Shaun's there in all it's glory and highly praised) and the nearest I could get to skeletons was Madhouse with Vincent Price but I don't think that was it.

The search continues...

Wife Of Rolex

Got any more information that could narrow the search? Or was it just the dancing skeletons in wigs that stuck in your mind.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. But it's really stuck with me all these years cos I've got photographic memory. I can see the people dancing in a great hall and then one by one turning into ghostly skeletons. I think that's why I really need to see it again, to clear my mind of the childhood memory and see it as an adult.

Although it could have the opposite affect and scare the shit out me again!

Wife Of Rolex

Was it in colour or black and white?

Mr Blunden came instantly to mind as well. So did, Masque Of The Red Death, but I think thats wrong too

It was colour. I just remembered there being a double sided white staircase and the main male and female characters walking up either side to the top. The skeletons had this strange bluey-silver-grey appearence.

Wife Of Rolex

That is one of my childhood favourites. I found it cheap on DVD recently and it was just as good as I remember. No skeletons though

It's on DVD!!!!!

Lionel Jeffries...what an underrrated director - Railway Children, Amazing Mr Blunden..ermm...Wombling Free has kitsch value. Less said about Water Babies the better. Well 2 out of 4 ain't bad.

Based on the description f the house I'd like to say The Watcher in the Woods but I think that was set in a more modern time... I can't remember.

It was...starring Bette Davis and skating protoge Lyn Holly Johnson. One of the few things I remember about it were motorbikes! So probably not 18th Century

Not only is it on DVD but you can get it really cheap in either Virgin or HMV, I can't remember which. It's tenner on play (voila).

And I, erm, have the Waterbabies on DVD too. It's a childhood thing! I know it's crap but I love it, even if there's no Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby.

Thanks Whixie...another purchase I have to make

Mrs Rolex... try this

http://www.datafriend.com/timc/findh.html

or these people:
http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forum/index.php

You' re description sounds like the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney.

Be honest..did you do what I did and Google "ballroom", "dance" and "skeletons"

Actually no. The image was soooo in my head after her description, then I realized what it was. Then I googled Haunted mansion ballroom.

I did..and got exactly the same result


Could the film actually have been one of those BBC productions they used to churn out all the time. I remember they did one of The Canterville Ghost which has stuck in my mind

Would you Adam and Eve it, I think I've just found my mystery film!

I was just flicking through the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine when I chanced upon a review and picture for Roman Polanski's 'The Fearless Vampire Hunters' from 1967. I've just looked it up on Google and came across this...

http://www.vampiremovies.co.uk/reviews/fearless.htm

The decription fits exactly, the year is about right and it's on TCM this Friday at 11.55pm. However, I don't have TCM so if anyone does and would be kind enough to tell me if it looks to be the film I'll be very grateful.

Weird, though, that should come across that by chance just as I'm on the hunt for it.

Wife Of Rolex

I reckon i've seen the fearless vampire hunters, the credits were made up of a really crappy dripping blood effect, that's my most distinct memory o fit

Goodness! I was going to suggest this, but why didn't I? I knew the images sounded familiar. Excellent movie btw.