Fairytale about Capturing Death

odyssey06

Can anyone remember seeing an episode of a series on RTE in the mid-1980s about a man who captures Death? He thinks it's a a good idea, but then people beg him to release Death because they are too old, or because they have horrific injuries but are held to life?

I think it's based on a Russian folk tale, and my memory is a bit hazy but I think it was a live-action rather than animated series.

At first I thought it was the episode "Soldier Jack" from a series called "The Storyteller", but while Jack captures Death it's only a small party of the story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Storyteller

Then I checked out another similar series called "Long Ago and Far Away" but that doesn't seem to be it either:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Ago_and_Far_Away_(TV_series)

I realise it's a long shot but thought I'd give it a chance

transylman

You sure its not this one from the storyteller?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLzNA4YSDHY

odyssey06

Unfortunately not

That Storyteller episode is quite enjoyable though, I'd recommend it. The central character, played by Bob Peck, is very good and the narration is witty.

The one I'm thinking of was much darker in tone, but it was obviously based on the Death part of the Soldier Jack story.

evolving_doors

Hmm could be from storybook international episode 36 or 53 maybe(could be a different one too!)
you can scroll doen through each episode synopsis (click to highlight and drag)
http://www.starmaker2.com/storybookinternational/SI-Guide.html

Easier to read here.. http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/bookstore/storybookinternational.html

Listen to the intro song...real blast from the past..