THE BIRTHRIGHT
[SHORT-STORY]
Short story by Hilda Hughes, dramatized for Felix Felton’s Macabre series on the BBC.
“The mood changes from the sentimental in the first story to humour (in Saki), and to sheer
terror in the third.”
[BBC Title Cards] “Martin is a clairvoyant. Father strongly disapproves—dies leaving everything
to other son Michael. Martin tells story of nightmare in which father has told him to look in family
Bible—a will is found bequeathing equally to Michael and Martin. Martin dies after nightmare in
which the ghost of his father accuses him of forgery.”
PERSONNEL: Eric Anderson (narrator), Felix Felton (producer).
CAST: Ruth Anderson, Charles Mason, Lewis Shaw, Norman Shelley.
[CHRONOLOGY]
MACABRE (NATIONAL PROGRAMME, LONDON—BBC)
[Saturday—10:00-10:45 PM]
February 9, 1935 “Mansions” / “The Open Window” / “The Birthright”
[“…three uncanny stories overheard at the fireside… The third story is
said to be terrifying, grim and sinister…”]
MACABRE (REGIONAL PROGRAMME, LONDON)
[Saturday—8:35-9:20 PM]
October 26, 1935 “Mansions” / “The Open Window” / “The Birthright”