Sunday 22 July 2018

Children of the Stones.



Everyone knows Stonehenge is for wimps and that Avebury's where it's at, a stone circle so big there's an entire village inside it.

And we all know it's where it's at because of one thing; Children of the Stones, the 1976 originated children's TV show that put it on the map for an entire generation and taught us never to trust anything vertical that's made of rock.

In the spirit of nostalgia and because the current heatwave has got everyone talking about the legendary one of 1976, I've just been rewatching the first episode, in order to regain that summer of '76 vibe - and what an episode it is, quickly introducing us to a village populated by strange people who stand in front of speeding cars for no good reason, stare in through your windows, watch you with telescopes and invite you to accompany them on bike rides when you've never met them before.

Not only that but it has a school filled with children who're far too cheerful and far too good at complex equations, everyone greets you by saying, "Happy day," and your new landlord's in the habit of appearing from thin air, in the middle of your living room.

Admittedly, I suspect that last thing is down to clumsy editing rather than him actually having the power to teleport but, still, it all adds to the sense that something isn't right.

What's going on is that astrophysicist Adam Brake and his son Matthew arrive in a village that's clearly Avebury (although it's never admitted that it is) and things immediately start to get weird, thanks to strange locals and a sinister painting of the stone circle. As Adam sets out to research the standing stones, Matthew finds himself in the local school and being one of only three children there who could be called normal. The episode ends with Adam touching one of the stones and instantly discovering why that's not a good idea.

It's hard to write a drama about stone circles that isn't good and this episode is as irresistible now as it was back then. It's a little heavy-handed when it comes to its sense of weirdness and mystery; it's not hinted from the start that something's wrong in the village, every single exchange between every single character in every single scene tells us there is.

But who cares? If God had wanted us to do subtlety, he wouldn't have given us stone circles in the first place. The story's compelling, the mystery's engineered to suck you in, the music's unforgettable and, most of all, the standing stones are suitably enigmatic. You have to credit our primitive ancestors. They might not have known much about television but they knew how to design a backdrop for it.

Many much-loved children's TV shows from our past don't stand up to later scrutiny. This one does and I can, thus, give it the highly-coveted Steve Does Comics seal of approval which all shows with any sense crave.

25 comments:

Timothy Field said...

The actual reality of the 70s was one of poor editing and a heavy-handed sense of weirdness. I suspect the show just managed to reflect the times more accurately than most.

dangermash aka The Artistic Actuary said...

Very vague memories are coming back.

Somebody hiding in the hay while someone searches the hay with a pitchfork and comes very close to skewering them? That gave me nightmares.

And something to do with overhead electric wires?

I could be completely wrong.

This is really hoovering out the corners of my memory. And that's what's great about Steve Does Comics.

Steve W. said...

Timothy, Children of the Stones is definitely a product of its times.

Dangermash, I have a feeling the pitchfork thing might be from a Pertwee era episode of Doctor Who. Possibly The Silurians?

I suspect the overhead electric wires are from The Changes.

Timothy Field said...

You want real terror? Try some of the 70s Public Information Films. Apatches was a particular delight.

Steve W. said...

Apatches?

dangermash aka The Artistic Actuary said...

The Changes rings a bell Steve. That may well have the pitchfork as well as the electric wires.

Anonymous said...

I watched the entire series on YouTube about three years ago. Not as scary as I remembered but I still enjoyed seeing it again. ITV made some great drama serials for kids in the '70s - honourable mentions include: Sky, The Boy Dominic, The Georgian House and King Of The Castle.

As for public information films you couldn't get much scarier than "Protect And Survive" informing us what to do in the event of a nuclear holocaust. They seem absurd now (whitewash your windows and hide behind a mattress propped against the wall) but they were chilling at the time.

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Colin was the quality good for YouTube? I may take a look-see!

Talk about nuclear scared... about a year ago I watched The Day After on YouTube. It is still the most-watched TV movie of all time from 1983. Watching all the nukes launch from bum-faq Missouri still rattled me! (USA did /does have a line of nuke silos running through Missouri countryside.)

Anonymous said...

Charlie, if you mean the quality of "Children Of The Stones" - yes, it was okay. But remember, we British commenters saw that serial as children so we are biased. Somebody who has no memory of it may be unimpressed.

The quality of the Protect & Survive films is fine too. "The Day After" was broadcast over here but the BBC also made a drama about nuclear war called "Threads" which was rather bleak as I recall and there was no happy ending.

Timothy Field said...

Bleak? Threads? Oh just a tad, I'm pretty sure teenage girls prostituting themselves for dead rats as a food source and giving birth to deformed mutant babies can comfortably be considered 'bleak'.
The only endings close to as downbeat in recent times are probably Requiem for A Dream and The Mist.

Killdumpster said...

Wow & Huzzah! You folks spouted out titles I've never seen, and that's quite an accomplishment. Looking forward to viewing Children of the Stones, the Mist and Threads.

Any movie that has prostitutes that sell out for rat meat can't be all bad. Lol.

Killdumpster said...

Hey Steve-

Looks like you're stirring the pot again.

Maybe a blog of everybody's favorite post-apocalyptic comics & movies?

Then again, the mayhem and destruction might not be able to be restrained.

Might have to call in Sue Storm for a force field. Lol.

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Hi Colin,

I was particularly wondering about the video quality. There is no decent quality "The Day After" that I can find on y-tube. I watched anyhow but not overly enjoyable but for the missile launches!

I can track it down through our library system but I have been satiated for another 35 years or until our Pres Bonespur gets really riled up and goes bat sh*t crazy and pushes the red buttons, LOL.

Killdumpster said...

Charlie H47-

Granted the man is helming the most powerful country on the planet, do we really want to infuse this site with political biases?

Then again, you accused me of being a communist because I liked Diet Riet soda over Tab.

Anonymous said...

Hey, we're all a little nervous over here, Killdumpster. Things are getting tense.

M.P.

Killdumpster said...

Personally, I received a pay raise and bonus because of the Don. Most of the issues he addresses affects us personally. I realize he's a loose cannon, but so was Regan in certain respects.

Better him than that screeching harpy.

Nuff said!!

Killdumpster said...

I don't believe he's totally insane, just wants the best deal possible. Your Brexit deal currently just won't work in US European economical possibilities.

Killdumpster said...

He knows he has the the clout to get what he wants done, and he will utilize it. I hope things eventually settle down for you guys on the island, hopefully your PM will figure something out.


Here in the states, we're virtually annoyed plus, at EVERYTHING! I joked we need a major terrorist attack or a full-out war to bring us together.

Think the politicians need to watch The Day After, or maybe Threads, which I am going to pursue.

We'll be alright, All of us. Never lose hope. I'm 80% British lineanage, so I know how to do "the stiff upper lip".

Eveything will be Ok. One way r the other. Lol.

Killdumpster said...

Steve-

Apperrently I "infused this site with political biases"

My apologies.

Charlie started it tho.

Steve W. said...

Charlie, the picture and sound quality for The Children of the Stones is fine on YouTube.

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Steve - Awesome sauce!

KD - In Army Cavalry school in 1984 they taught us the sure sign of a commie was someone who parted their hair down the middle and drank grape Nehi (or Crush). So, I hate to say it, but your soda habits are questionable. Big brother is keeping his eye on you, lol!

OK - Back on track in order to keep Steve from banning us!

Killdumpster said...

You got it,comrade. Lol.

Killdumpster said...

There was another film where vertical rocks was a major plot line. Here in the states it was called PSYCHOMANIA. British bike gang called the Living Dead that killed themselves but came back to life.

There were monoliths called "the 7 Witches". Witches that turned to stone after braking a bargain with the "devil".

George Sanders was in it, looking very bored. I think he committed suicide shortly after. Maybe because frogs were involved in the plot.

It's one of my favs.

Steve W. said...

It's called Psychomania in Britain too and it is indeed a very odd film.

Ant Master said...

An excellent series which holds up better than most especially if you approach it as a children program.

Worth looking out for Escape into night (rather English acting but scary as anything when I was a child), if only for the music over the end titles....

1.36 onwards from-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eiJ9cKS5Ac