The mysterious case of the bell tower and the cross

Part of our Sound Photography project - find out more at www.citiesandmemory.com/sound-photography.

By Mark Taylor:

"Straightaway this darkly atmospheric picture with its powerful religious imagery said “Murder Mystery TV Detective”. The sort of story that combines creepy deaths with light-hearted comic characters and bizarre, totally unbelievable scenarios!

"Think Miss Marple, Father Brown, Murder She Wrote, Columbo, Alfred Hitchcock Presents!

"The opening scene fades from black as the camera slowly sweeps across the cemetery towards the tolling bell. Choir boys singing inside the church. A slowly evolving, warped choir drone adds a subtle, rising edge of tension.

"The camera pans back out towards the Cross as disturbing vocal lines weave around each other accompanied by dissonant string runs. The music reaches its peak just as the camera focuses on the dead body of the local priest, hidden behind the cross.

"Cut to the opening credits and the main theme for the programme – hopefully conveying mystery, suspense, adventure and a healthy dollop of cheesy humour!

"Finally, a brief hint of the opening Agnus Dei from the Choir boys leads into the first scene via a dramatic close up of a second body hanging in the Bell Tower!"