The Author of Beltraffio was made for French TV and has not been seen in the UK for more than 40 years. But it will be shown in full at next month's BFI & Radio Times Television Festival
Doctor Who fans will be intrigued by a new gem unearthed by the BFI National Archive – a 1974 film called The Author of Beltraffio starring former Time Lord Tom Baker.
The actor, who occupied the Tardis between 1974 and 1981, appeared in the little-known film alongside actress Georgina Hale. But his British fans have never been able to watch it since it last aired in the UK in 1976. One of five Henry James stories made for French TV 40 years ago, you can see it in full at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival on Saturday 8th April.
In the film, Baker plays the celebrated author of the title who is visited by an American who admires him but finds Hale's exquisite wife rather hostile. Family secrets are soon unearthed centring on the author's sickly child Dolcino in a faithful adaptation of James's 1884 story.
The film was directed by the late Tony Scott whose brother Sir Ridley has filmed a 10-minute introduction to the lost gem which festival-goers will also get to see exclusively.
Though not mentioned in the same breath as his work on "Dr. Who", Baker played Rasputin in "Nicholas And Alexandra" available on D.V.D. and Blu ray from Twilight Time with the isolated score by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.
Cheers. I wonder if that crunched up white paper bag the Doctor carted them around in is still available as a prop - they're deadly, don't you know, concealed in their white paper bag!
