Review of Stone Tape, The

Introduction

The Stone Tape is one of those pieces of science fiction that has built up quite a cult following. And all this on only two TV broadcasts. The first was on Christmas Day 1972, and the only repeat was sometime around Halloween 1973. These were the days before UK Bronze, UK Silver, UK Platinum and UK everything else. There have been various private screenings and some BFI screenings, but for the most part it hasn`t been seen for nearly 30 years.

So what`s it all about then? It was written by Nigel Kneale (perhaps one of the Isle of Man`s most famous residents?) and explores similar themes to some of his other work. A group of scientists searching for the "next big thing" in the world of recordable media (DVD-RAM anyone?) find themselves in an old country house, but they`re not alone.

I don`t want to say too much more for fear of spoiling your fun, and I`d advise you not to read the sleeve notes before you watch it as they give a lot away! What I can say is watch out for Jane Asher in the days when she was famous for being an actress and not a BBC cake peddler.

Video

A 4:3 transfer as you would expect from a TV programme of this age. I don`t know if any restoration work has been done on it, but it`s certainly in very good condition, with only one or two minor flaws on display, and even then only fleetingly.

Some of the "high tech" equipment used by the "scientists" looks laughably dated, as does the logo of Ryan Electrics. Some of the sets are quite convincing for the age, although I`m sure that solid stone isn`t supposed to wobble...

Audio

The original mono soundtrack is presented here, and everything sounds clear and audible, and is also free from hiss and distortion. There are some very odd sounds served up here too, thanks to the legendary outfit known as the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. They conjure up some weird and wonderful noises that add some spooky qualities to the whole experience.

Features

A small selection of extras on show too.

The biggest of these has to be the commentary track, which features Nigel Kneale in conversation with Kim Newman. Fans of this programme will certainly be cheered by this inclusion, and there`s plenty of information on offer. The only problem is that it`s one of those commentaries with huge gaps in, and you just wish that they would hurry up and start talking again. On balance though it is a worthy addition.

You can also find filmographies, and if you`re the owner of a DVD ROM drive you can access the full script, plus the script for The Road.

Conclusion

It`s been a long wait for this title. The original broadcasts were before I was born, so it`s one of those programmes that I`ve only heard about, or read about in various places. So was it worth the wait?

On the whole I`d say yes. There are some holes, and bits that will have you scratching your head, but if you view it in the context of a piece of television made for a 1972 audience it works. There are some rather hammy performances and some out-dated stereotypes, but it`s enjoyable overall and it`s good to finally be able to watch it!

As for the DVD, it`s a very good effort, with good picture, good sound (both of those considering the age, as it won`t hold up against anything recent) and the welcome addition of the commentary track. If you ever saw this and liked it then it`s a safe bet. If you`ve heard about it, then you`ll probably want to see what all the fuss was about.