Huntingtower

What was the secret of the great deserted house overlooking the sea from the lonely peninsula on the Scottish coast? Why was the house so closely guarded by the silent men who would have no dealings with their neighbours' in the village below? In Judith Kerr's adaptation of John Buchan's most exciting novel Huntingtower you can see how chance brought together strange partners to solve the mystery. A retired grocer, a poet, and a band of tough, ragged Gorbals Boy Scouts combine forces to uncover the secret. Huntingtower by John Buchan was adapted as a six-part BBC Television Children's serial by Judith Kerr and first broadcast on the BBC-tv network on Sundays (5.35–6.05pm) from 16 June to 21 July 1957. It starred James Hayter and Richard Wordsworth.

Directed by John Buchan, Huntingtower leans on a strong ensemble — Frazer Hines, Roger Delgado, James Hayter — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1957.