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The Mistletoe Bough (Short Version)

A delightful Christmas adaptation of a classic ghost story with new music by Pete Wiggs of Saint Etienne, commissioned by the BFI.

2013 3 mins

Overview

This traditional story was told at Christmas time from the 18th century. People would recite or sing the spooky tale of a bride who accidentally locks herself in an oak chest during a game of hide and seek. Percy Stow's charming film uses trick photography to evoke her ghostly spirit. This is a shorter version of the restored film; the full-length, eight-minute original can be found on BFI Player, also with new music by Pete Wiggs of Saint Etienne, commissioned by the BFI.

This abridged version was created specially for BFI Player for Christmas 2013. New intertitles have been added where necessary for narrative clarity. For the full Mistletoe Bough experience, please view the full eight-minute version!