I'm not sure about sul ponticello--this is an eerie effect. The bow does move across the strings right across the bridge in sul ponticello. The volume is dramatically reduced and the tone sounds, well again, eerie. If you move your bow arm rapidly, it sounds like shivering bones--it's used for dramatic effect.

I'm wondering about the exact tone you heard, Geoff--it would have been good to have heard it--and, since I don't watch television, me hears no commericials!

Curioser and curioser,
WordinWonderland