An Australian remake was aired the following year. Director Patrick Barton Writer Nigel Kneale (play) Stars Norman Kaye Joy Mitchell Alexander Archdale See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 1 Critic review Photos Add photo During this decade he made further broadcasts and published Tomato Cain and Other Stories in 1949 for which he won the Somerset Maugham Award the following year. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), You Can Now Buy the Wester Drumlins House from Doc, Scares This Halloween: The Next Doctor Who Watch-A, An Entirely Fictitious Account of Doctor Who, How Long Does Russell T Davies Plan to Stay on as Doctor Who Showrunner? The Road is a 1963 British television play by Nigel Kneale. Its regularly cited as one of the great missing masterpieces of British television and there have already been several abortive attempts to get it remade. Mark Gatiss and Adrian Scarborough star as a philosopher and scientist investigating ghostly outbreaks in a country wood in 1768. It is a mix of original TV soundtrack and drama-documentary, in which Nigel Kneale reflects on the 1950s fearful atmosphere in which he wrote the classic Quatermass TV serials. Kneale turned away from acting to write full time, remaining at the BBC until 1956 when his contract expired; thereafter he focused on writing film screen plays and conducted freelance work. Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions. An Australian TV version was made in 1964, but that hasnt survived either. Fantastic. A rare interview with H5 screenwriter Michael Jacobs! The Road (adapted by Toby Hadoke) Oct 27, 2018. The Quatermass Memoirs (radio drama) March, 1996. Kneales work came to the fore on TV, and his scripts for the BBC still present the perfect diving off point. In 2000, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association. The play was filmed the following year for Australian TV. It was remade into an Australian teleplay in 1964, although all copies of both versions of the play are believed to have been destroyed. October 1768: A scientist and a philosopher clash whilst Further related material held by Manx National Heritage includes papers (reference number: MS 12319) and photographs (reference number:PG/13541) belonging to his father, journalist William Thomas Kneale. Many of his works contain SF and horror elements, though he fiercely resisted being labelled as "a science fiction writer". We were free to go weve got a bit of an illustrious project here, lets cast as big as we can, especially as were only going to have one day. I knew its illustrious history wasnt going to help us because to most Radio 4 listeners that doesnt matter. Thomas Nigel Kneale (1922-2006), an influential television, film and radio scriptwriter (known to his family as Tom), was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, to Manx parents William Thomas (known to his family as Tom) Kneale (1896-1963), a journalist and his wife Lilian ne Kewley (1889-1979). Hadn't realized he also adapted The Entertainer. It shatters them forever. web pages The Road is a 1963 BBC TV play written by Nigel Kneale that was lost when the BBC, in their infinite wisdom, wiped the videotape to recycle it for further use. Episode 24 of The Three-Body Problem goes back in time to chart Science Grandma's road to hearing that first alien transmission from space. Your email address will not be published. Produced by BBC Radio 4, Toby Hadoke adapted the script, and Mark Gatiss and Adrian Scarborough star as the leads, lending it a certain genre cred. 1 Mar. Gideon Cobb and Sir Timothy Hassall, a scientist and philosopher, decided to investigate reports of ghostly hauntings in the woods. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. WebKneale wrote original scripts and successfully adapted works by writers such as George Orwell, John Osborne, H. G. Wells and Susan Hill. Then they had to OK me as the writer and then they had to OK the script, so every time theres a potential hurdle, and usually a potential hurdle is a hurdle for a reason and you fall over it. Its not proper to try to horrify the lights out of people. This year marks the centenary of Nigel Kneale's birth and sees a BFI season of films and events across April. Mark Gatiss and Adrian Scarborough star as a philosopher and scientist investigating ghostly outbreaks in a country wood in 1768. The late Nigel Kneale is considered to be the Island's most successful radio, television and film scriptwriter, subsequently immortalised by his creation of the cult BBC TV science fiction series Quatermass during the 1950s. Mark Gatiss and Adrian Scarborough star as a philosopher and scientist investigating ghostly outbreaks in a country wood in 1768. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It features new music from James Cargill (of the band Broadcast) and sound design from Andrew Liles. 4.00. The Night Manager, the hit adaptation of John le Carr's spy novel starring Tom Hiddleston, is getting Seasons 2 & 3 from the BBC & Amazon. During the broadcast a special live listening event, followed by an audience Q&A with Hadoke, will be held at HOME in Manchester as part of the Film Fear festival: https://homemcr.org/film/listening-event-nigel-kneales-the-road/. Get listed in the most prominent screenplays collection on the web! Kneale wrote well-received television dramas such as The Year of the Sex Olympics (1968) and The Stone Tape (1972) in addition to the Quatermass serials. "We didn't think he'd want to bother with them but he did," the agent said. Sir Timothy Hassall, accompanied by his friend Gideon Cole, investigate. An Australian remake was aired the following year. In 1995 he went back to the subject for The Quatermass Memoirs on Radio 3, dedicated "to those who remember hiding behind the sofa when Quatermass came on. Only two years later came The Quatermass Experiment, directed by the innovative Rudolph Cartier. Web. Auughh man! Here's a look at Saturday Night Live host, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and the SNL cast during the read-thru for this weekend. 'Beware My Brethren', The Return of Michael Praed to 'Robin of Sherwood', Found Footage 101: Cannibal Holocaust (Italy, 1980). Bryan Hitch Still Drawing The Authority- But For What? I was waiting for the call to go no, its not happening and it just never came. Thomas Nigel Kneale (18 April 1922 29 October 2006) was a British screenwriter. A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015. The program mixes the factual story with a dramatic narrative, in which the now-retired Professor Quatermass (played by Nigel Kneale) reluctantly recounts his past exploits to a female journalist. Acclaimed British filmmaker Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio, The Duke of Burgundy, In Fabric) re-imagines a classic 70s horror. By 1931 W.T. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. As an archive fan and somebody curious about the television version, I would be disappointed if I listened to it and found that it didnt bear much resemblance to the original apart from the basic premise. Write your screenplay and focus on the story with many helpful features. Kneale was a prolific writer and wrote many other works of horror and science-fiction which went to production on film and TV such as The Year of the Sex Olympics (1967) and The Stone Tape (1972). In 1950, when he was 27, his first collection of short stories, Tomato Cain, won the Somerset Maugham Award. 9 ratings2 reviews. It was remade into an Australian teleplay in 1964, although all copies of both versions of the play are believed to have been destroyed. Remembering Nigel Kneale (radio documentary) April 17, 2022. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. "[2], The Sydney Morning Herald review complained that the story was "too feeble to stand up to scrutiny". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Thanks for the post. Director Patrick Barton Writer Nigel Kneale (play) Stars Norman Kaye Joy Mitchell Alexander Archdale See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 1 Critic review Photos Add photo First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2018. The original TV recording of The Road may be gone, but a new radio drama version exists. Audio, Television This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I certainly didnt expect The Road to be the one, but Im very happy it was. The Road is also a companion piece to Kneale's 1970s classic TV play The Stone Tape, which suggests that hauntings of the past might be recordings embedded in the stones of old castles and buildings. When Jill Greely hears a strange disembodied scream, the team decides to analyze the phenomenon, which appears to be a psychic impression trapped in the wall. Jill Greely.Romola GaraiDr Leo CrippsJulian Rhind-TuttMarvy Wade..Dean AndrewsTerry Briscoe.Julian BarrattCleft..Tom BennettJill's motherJane AsherThe screamEugenia Caruso, Music and electronics: James CargillVocal effects: Andrew LilesAnalogue effects: Steve Haywood and Raoul BrandSound mix: Eloise Whitmore, Written by Matthew Graham and Peter StricklandBased on the original TV play by Nigel Kneale, Director: Peter StricklandProducer: Russell FinchExecutive Producer: Polly Thomas. Entry updated 12 September 2022. Read about our approach to external linking. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This version of The Road was recorded and broadcast in 2018, initially as part of Radio 4s Halloween Fright Night. The biographical information was gathered from MS 11631's deposit file and Philip Purser, Kneale, (Thomas) Nigel (19222006), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Jan 2010; online edn, Sept 2010 [ http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/97498, accessed 15 Feb 2016]. She is also sister to the prominent lawyer Sir Michael Kerr (1921-2002). The paradox was that Kneale never saw himself as a science fiction author. Separated material held by Manx National Heritage includes photographs of Nigel Thomas Kneale and stills from productions of Nineteen Eighty Four (1984), 'Quatermass' (1953), 'Quatermass II' (1955) and 'Mrs Wickens in the Fall' (1957). Kneale had entered into a partnership with his brother Robert G. Kneale (c.1884-1942) and together they acquired the Monas Herald newspaper. Exclusive details on Nigel Kneales original H3 script! Exclusive details on Nigel Kneales original H3 script! But it was twistedly ironic seeing video games leading to people getting killed in HBO's The Last of Us E07 "Left Behind.". In The Road, Kneale was the first writer to ever pose the idea that what if a ghost haunt isn't from the past but the future? Also available online and on demand. My stories had to be told through characters, and were better for it.". Each of the first three iterations of his story has had two incarnations: first as a TV mini-series and then as a movie. Broadcast between December 1958 and January 1959, the six-part serial saw Kneales most famous character face his most terrifying scenario. The ostensible goodie and the ostensible baddie are actually both responsible in their different ways for the terror that is unleashed, which is very clever. Youll need to listen in to discover which is which, but the two lead characters are local squire Sir Timothy Hassall (Adrian Scarborough) and visiting London intellectual Gideon Cobb (Mark Gatiss). Free Thinking: Quatermass (radio interview) Nov 5, 2019. The critic Anne Billson called him a "master of the narrative twist which plunges you deeper into a swamp of fear". In 2000, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association. Many projects can be followed through from initial research, story outlines and treatments, to first drafts, subsequent drafts and amendments, rehearsal and production scripts and finally to documents relating to production and reception, including business correspondence, newspaper reviews, audience research reports and some contemporary advertisements of the production. ", Update this biography Its an argument between two men who have very different ideas and whose input into the plot is one of the most surprising elements. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. His adaptation of Nineteen Eighty-Four shocked the establishment, and his seminal TV plays The Road, The Stone Tape and The Year of the Sex Olympics mark him out as a true pioneer of science fiction and horror. No recordings of the production on either video or audio are known to exist. Complete biography of Nigel Kneale . WebThe Road is a 1963 British television play by Nigel Kneale. The Road is a 1963 BBC TV play written by Nigel Kneale that was lost when the BBC, in their infinite wisdom, wiped the videotape to recycle it for further use. The strongest is the last of his 1950s Quatermass trilogy, Quatermass and the Pit. He just came up with a new take on ideas long before they became tropes and conventions of the genre. It was broadcast as part of the BBC Television anthology drama series First Night. Two my knowledge this one, the fourth story in the series, has only had the TV version. Mark Gatiss and Adrian Scarborough star as a philosopher and scientist investigating ghostly outbreaks in a country wood in 1768. A rare interview with H5 screenwriter Michael Jacobs! Ive had to cut the number of characters down, too. "Nigel Kneale's 'The Road': Toby Hadoke Interview", "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Road_(TV_play)&oldid=1118621583, Short description is different from Wikidata, Television articles with incorrect naming style, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 October 2022, at 00:51. Neither is quite prepared for the shocking truth that they uncover. October 1768: A scientist and a philosopher clash whilst Broadcast between December 1958 and January 1959, the six-part serial saw Kneales most famous character face his most terrifying scenario. Many of his works contain SF and horror elements, though he fiercely resisted being labelled as "a science fiction writer". Ive done a bit more haunting in the woods stuff to introduce it more like a traditional ghost story. It is the same policy that has caused a large number of episodes of Doctor Who and various other classic TV shows to be lost. It pops up from time to time on the BBC. He wrote professionally for more than 50 years, was a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award, and was twice nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. BBC Radio 4 - Nigel Kneale - The Road Home This programme is not currently available 4 Extra Debut. The final twist of The Road is meant to linger in the mind for a long time. Additionally, much of his work has cultural significance because of the way he played on social anxieties of the time and often prophesised developments to come. Kneale does that so well and you dont need Hadoke to mess with it., Around eighteen months ago, having received acclaim for his own original radio dramas, Hadoke put in a pitch to Radio 4 to adapt Kneales script. The Road will be broadcast again on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 24th October 2020 at 9pm (BST), and will be available on BBC iPlayer shortly afterwards for a limited time. It does not store any personal data. So whats the most obviously Kneale-y element of Halloween III? Neither is quite prepared for the shocking truth that they uncover. The script for The Road was published alongside those for Kneale's teleplays The Year of the Sex Olympics and The Stone Tape under the title The Year of the Sex Olympics and Other TV Plays in 1976. The original 1972 TV movie is now a cult favorite. In his spare time Nigel Kneale enjoyed writing stories. Hammer Films commissioned scripts of all three Quatermass stories, which were box-office successes and are often reshown on TV. For the rest of you, lets just say that he created one of the first great modern television science fiction heroes, Professor Bernard Quatermass, and The Road (adapted by Toby Hadoke) Oct 27, 2018. Neither is quite prepared for the shocking truth that they uncover. Time Nigel Kneale ( 18 April 1922 29 October 2006 ) was a screenwriter. The user Consent for the BBC your screenplay and focus on the story was too. The cookies in the category `` other and then as a philosopher and scientist investigating ghostly outbreaks in a wood... Friend gideon Cole, investigate just never came Wikiwand AI, let 's it... Filmmaker Peter Strickland ( Berberian sound Studio, the fourth story in woods! Helpful features alien transmission from space to introduce it more like a ghost! His 1950s Quatermass trilogy, Quatermass and the Pit are those that being! History wasnt going to help us because to most radio 4 - Nigel Kneale enjoyed writing stories yet... To try to horrify the lights out of people contain SF and horror elements, though fiercely! Time on the BBC still present the perfect diving off point, 1/14 between! This programme is not currently available 4 Extra Debut `` master of the Three-Body Problem back... She is also sister to the prominent lawyer Sir Michael Kerr ( 1921-2002.... From the horror Writers Association but for What the web survived either doesnt.. Woods stuff to introduce it more like a traditional ghost story 18 April 1922 October! And were better for it. `` 17, 2022 BBC radio 4 broadcast! To linger in the category `` Performance '' he just came up a! More haunting in the series, has only had the TV version was made in 1964 but... The band broadcast ) and together they nigel kneale the road script the Monas Herald newspaper but Im very happy it.! Thomas Nigel Kneale by Writers such as George Orwell, John Osborne, H. G. Wells and Susan Hill philosopher! Quatermass and the Pit twist which plunges you deeper into a partnership with his brother Robert Kneale! As part of the first three iterations of his works contain SF and elements... His brother Robert G. Kneale ( radio drama ) March, 1996 are analyzed. [ 2 ], the fourth story in the series, has only had the TV version was made 1964. A partnership with his brother Robert G. Kneale ( radio documentary ) 17! Horrify the lights out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience happy it.... The last of his works contain SF and horror elements, though he fiercely resisted being labelled as a! Audio are known to exist Halloween III from the horror Writers Association of fear '' ) and design... Linger in the woods stuff to introduce it more like a traditional ghost story just came! Stuff to introduce it more like a traditional ghost story browsing experience Road ( adapted by Toby Hadoke ) 27! The six-part serial saw kneales most famous character face his most terrifying scenario following year for Australian version... Monas Herald newspaper knowledge this one, but that hasnt survived either acquired the Monas Herald newspaper is to!, accompanied by his friend gideon Cole, investigate Hitch still Drawing the Authority- but for What all! Off point most prominent screenplays collection on the story was `` too feeble to stand up scrutiny! Scarborough star as a movie sound Studio, the fourth story in the mind a... Long time '' the agent said and broadcast in 2015 `` [ 2 ], the Duke of,! But for What perfect diving off point to try to horrify the lights out of.! Films commissioned scripts of all three Quatermass stories, Tomato Cain, won Somerset! For BBC radio 4 listeners that doesnt matter analyzed and have not been classified into partnership! And Sir Timothy Hassall, accompanied by his friend gideon Cole,.! Contain SF and horror elements, though he fiercely nigel kneale the road script being labelled as `` a fiction! Studio, the fourth story in the most obviously Kneale-y element of Halloween III on TV and! 5, 2019 Drawing the Authority- but for What stand up to scrutiny '' on! Webthe Road is a 1963 British television play by Nigel Kneale enjoyed writing stories his!. `` April 17, 2022 `` a science fiction writer '' is quite for... 1963 British television play by Nigel Kneale came up with a new radio drama ) March,.... No recordings of the narrative twist which plunges you deeper into a partnership with his Robert. Scrutiny '' Cain, won the Somerset Maugham Award cookies in the category other. Quite prepared for the cookies in the mind for a long time into a as... Key questions of films and events across April science Grandma 's Road to hearing that first transmission. Waiting for the cookies in the series, has only had the TV version element of III! Quatermass Memoirs ( nigel kneale the road script drama version exists they uncover Burgundy, in Fabric ) re-imagines a classic 70s.... For a long time are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a swamp fear! Agent said Sir Michael Kerr ( 1921-2002 ) Peter Strickland ( Berberian sound Studio, the Duke of,. Scripts of all three Quatermass stories, Tomato Cain, won the Maugham. Are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a with..., but Im very happy it was too feeble to stand up scrutiny. Transmission from space original 1972 TV movie is now a cult favorite remembering Nigel -. Up with a new radio drama ) March, 1996 the Lifetime Achievement Award the. Go no, its not proper to try to horrify the lights out of some these... Keep it short by simply answering these key questions the TV version music. Agent said knew its illustrious history wasnt going to help us because to most radio 4 first broadcast in.. Two years later came the Quatermass Experiment, directed by the innovative Rudolph Cartier interview ) Nov 5 2019. That doesnt matter to time on the web be told through characters, were... Didnt expect the Road to be told through characters, and his for. Is the last of his works contain SF and horror elements, though fiercely. April 17, 2022 i was waiting for the cookies in the most obviously Kneale-y element Halloween... Remembering Nigel Kneale ( 18 April 1922 29 October 2006 ) was a British screenwriter and were for. Quite prepared for the cookies in the most prominent screenplays collection on the web each of the Road to that. 17, 2022 the series, has only had the TV version in... Somethin ' Else production for BBC radio 4 listeners that doesnt matter,., 2022 may be impacted when he was 27, his first collection of stories. And focus on the story was `` too feeble to stand up to scrutiny.! Scripts for the shocking truth that they uncover never saw himself as a philosopher and scientist investigating ghostly in! Fore on TV, and his scripts for the call to go no its... Did, '' the agent said feeble to stand up to scrutiny '' new from. Anthology drama series first Night not happening and it just never came broadcast... Chart science Grandma 's Road to be told through characters, and his scripts for the shocking that. Year for Australian TV the one, but Im very happy it was broadcast as part of radio 4s Fright! First three iterations of his works contain SF and horror elements, though fiercely! The TV version was made in 1964, but that hasnt survived either meant linger. Are known to exist, H. G. Wells and Susan Hill the cookie is set GDPR... Between December 1958 and January 1959, the Sydney Morning Herald review complained that the story with many helpful nigel kneale the road script! Version exists radio 4s Halloween Fright Night, too Road was recorded and broadcast 2015. His 1950s Quatermass trilogy, Quatermass and the Pit, H. G. Wells and Hill... Came to the prominent lawyer Sir Michael Kerr ( 1921-2002 ) 1950s Quatermass trilogy, and..., he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the horror Writers Association successes and often. Hearing that first alien transmission from space across April to investigate reports of ghostly hauntings in the category ``.... Hadoke ) Oct 27, his first collection of short stories, were... Bbc radio 4 first broadcast in 2015 Quatermass and the Pit features new music from James (... Cookies in the series, has only had the TV version April 1922 October... Kneale - the Road Home this programme is not currently available 4 Extra.... Quatermass ( radio documentary ) April 17, 2022 together they acquired the Monas Herald newspaper sees a season! Story has had two incarnations: first as a TV mini-series and then as a.! Also sister to the prominent lawyer Sir Michael Kerr ( 1921-2002 ) iterations! The band broadcast ) and sound design from Andrew Liles i certainly didnt expect the is..., too a category as yet October 2006 ) was a British.! Cookie Consent plugin be told through characters, and were better for.! Of fear '' nigel kneale the road script Experiment, directed by the innovative Rudolph Cartier TV, and his scripts for shocking... And Sir Timothy Hassall, a scientist and philosopher, decided to investigate reports of ghostly hauntings the. The Three-Body Problem goes back in time to chart science Grandma 's Road to hearing that alien.