In the lead-up to Halloween, NETWORK has looked to TV schedules of years gone by, specifically Grenada – a wing of what would go on to be the ITV family. TV series and TV movies have been collected into a series of releases that are being put out under the moniker, Spooky Tales. As part of this run, there is 1969’s Owl Service, which went on to be hugely influential on 1970s children’s TV. From 1970, a rarely-seen anthology drama series featuring stories full of menace and black humour, Tales of Unease. 1978’s Come Back Lucy, a stand-out production in a decade where drama series pushed boundaries and set new standards for what was acceptable on children’s television. And finally, the subject of today’s review, The Intruder – an unsettling and atmospheric mystery series that won the prestigious Harlequin award at 1973’s BAFTAs.
Arnold Haithwaite, a sand pilot (a lifeguard for a coastline or stretch of sand) lives his life in comfort with his father who runs a small hotel on the Cumbrian coast. His solitary life patrolling the shores of Skerlston is interrupted – nay intruded – one day by a strange figure demanding to be taken ashore, claiming to be the real Arnold Haithwaite. What follows is a tale of mystery and intrigue as our hero wonders what this stranger really wants and how far he’ll go to get it!
Based on the novel by John Rowe Townsend, this eight-part television show first aired in 1972 by Granada Television and is indicative of the offbeat and overly dark children’s shows of the era. Strange flute music is set against very British acting in an unfortunately slow and unexciting plot which comes to an all too abrupt ending without a satisfying payoff. That’s not to say The Intruder is not without its charm. Our mysterious antagonist Sonny played by Milton Johns gives a wonderful performance, slipping between the slippery charm of Leonard Rossiter’s Rigsby and the stiff upper lip of an admiral in The Galactic Empire, a role he goes on to fulfil in The Empire Strikes Back some ten years later. The hammy acting from the rest of the principal cast does benefit The Intruder as does the series’ sometimes comical choices of wardrobe (tiny denim shorts and a denim jacket with sandals anyone?) which left my fashion historian partner quite perplexed.
All in all, The Intruder is a strange slice of 1970’s nostalgia which maybe doesn’t quite measure up to the standards of today’s wealth of mystery television.
THE INTRUDER (1972) IS PART OF NETWORK’S FOUR SPOOKY TALES SEASON OF BLU-RAY RELEASES
CLICK THE BOXART BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE INTRUDER
I was 12 years old when I first saw The Intruder in January 1972.
I was instantly drawn by the location of (fictional) Skirlston, which was filmed mainly in Ravenglass, Cumbria. It took me a while to find out where Skirlston was – no Internet then – and it was with the help of Granada TV through my letters that helped.
I have visited Ravenglass from the age of 16 every year as a pilgrimage to the eight-part series. I have also visited Aberffraw in Anglesey which was the location of the sea church.
But back to Granada TV, who supplied me with unseen photos of the cast and crew, together with copies of scripts and numerous other items. I took the opportunity to contact cast and crew by letter and recieve lovely response with photos of their own. These items are now in a devoted folder with a treasure trove of The Intruder memorabilia.
I can honestly say that the series really did open my (local) universe.. Amongst lots of other things, I have published two books about Ravenglass which have reference to The Intruder.
This is a gem of a series, unique I would say. It has been a 51 years wait, but we’ll worth it.
Thank you for sharing this lovely story.