IT was a chance find in a second-hand shop's bargain bin which ended up spending decades in an attic gathering dust.
But now a old reel of 16mm film purchased for just £5 has been revealed to be a long-lost and much sought after horror movie made by a major British studio of the 1940s and 50s.
Film fan Jeff Wells had no idea of the significance of the curio when he scooped it up for his collection, and eventually shoved it in a box which found its way to his loft.
Only when examining the find again last year with a view to selling it on the internet did he realise it was a lost short feature based on Edger Allan Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' made by Adelphi films in 1953.
Stanley Baker plays the lead role
The black-and-white motion picture is part of a catalogue of productions the studio has been searching for, and has now be restored and added to the British Film Institute's (BFI) archive.
READ MORE: The anatomy of a horror film - the perfect recipe for a great fright flick
Its discovery delighted Kate Lees, current head of Adelphi Films and granddaughter of company founder Arthur Dent, who made a 400 mile round trip from London to Mr Wells' home in Drummore, near Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, to pick up the treasured reel
Mr Wells, 65, happened upon the film in 1984 while looking through a bric-a-brac shop in England, where he was working as a nurse.
He said: "I bought the film in Brighton along with some others in a bargain box for £5. At the time it was a hobby of mine to have these 16mm films.
"I didn't know the significance of it when I bought it, I just picked it up randomly."
He later moved to Scotland and took the film with him as it was “particularly interesting”, but forgot about it, until October last year.
After researching the history of the one-reel print, he realised it was Adelphi Film's missing film and contacted them to confirm the significant find.
Jeff Wells with the film reel
Mr Wells said: "Everything from the [house] move just went in the loft and it wasn't until last year when I was clearing out some things I came across it again.
"I was going to try and sell it on eBay for £5 when I saw Adelphi Films was looking for it.
"And lucky I did because it would have been sad to lose or sell to someone else who didn't know the significance of it."
He added: "I was stunned when I saw it was the same one I had, I really couldn't believe it, I thought it can't possibly be the one I have they are looking for. Its discovery was a happy accident."
READ MORE: Netflix thriller dominates Scottish BAFTA shortlist
The Tell-Tale Heart stars the Welsh-born actor and producer Stanley Baker as Poe’s unnamed narrator in the film, which Ms described as "not for the squeamish".
Based on a ghoulish story penned by the American author in 1843, The Tell-Tale Heart recounts the murder of an old man by the narrator, and then dismembers him and hides his body parts beneath the floorboards of his house.
No reason for the murder is given , except that the narrator is afraid of the old man's 'filmy, vulture's eye', although the narrator insists they are sane.
When the police come calling later that night, after being alerted by a neighbour who heard screaming, the murderer reveals confesses all, saying they can hear the sound of the old man's beating heart coming from underneath the floor.
READ MORE: Carry On actress Fenella Fielding dies after suffering a stroke
Ms Lees, the third generation of her family to run Adelphi films, said: "We are very excited to have found this film after searching for it for so long and had almost given up hope.
"It is a really excellent film and Stanley Baker is terrific."
The 16mm print and a digital copy of the restoration has been donated to the BFI, and the film will be accessible via the BFI Player for two weeks.
Adelphi films were highly prolific in the mid-20th century, and produced a number of comedies, dramas and short films for cinemas.
Among the starts who worked for the studio were Diana Dors, Joan Sims, Prunella Scales and a young Ronnie Corbett, along with the comedians Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Seycombe shortly before the trio launched the Goon Show on BBC Radio.
Josephine Botting, BFI Curator said: "It’s always exciting when a missing film comes to light and an addition to both the catalogue of British producer Adelphi and the filmography of Edgar Allan Poe is a wonderful discovery.
"We’re delighted to be preserving the 16mm print and also to make the film available online to new audiences via BFI Player in time for Halloween."
The film can be watched here
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here