Customer Reviews

Dark Shadows - DVD Collection 1

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

... Basically, this first DVD set is VHS Volumes 1-4; in other words, 8 actual weeks of the programme, 2 weeks on each disc. The quality is better than the VHS tapes, but not greatly, as Dark Shadows was a very low budget soap opera, and through the years some of the original prints were lost, damaged, etc., and alternative prints were utilised in their stead; but it is a definite improvement over the quality of the VHS tapes. The programmes on this DVD collection begin at the same point in the series as the VHS videos begin: a synopsis of the earlier episodes and characters followed by the introduction of Barnabas Collins the Vampyre. As far as extras, there are three interviews approximately 5 minutes long each: Jonathan Frid (Barnabas), Kathryn Leigh-Scott (Maggie, Josette), and John Karlen (Willie, Kendrick), each interviewed several years ago. What really should be noted about the DVD collection(s) that differs from the VHS tapes is that ALL THE EPISODES ARE COMPLETE AND UNEDITED. The VHS tapes are actually edited. I didn't really notice this at first, until I realised I was seeing episodes and parts of episodes that weren't shown in the VHS volumes. (A clue to this being my former statement that the DVD collection, consisiting of 8 weeks, equals that of the VHS Volumes, 1-4; and as the VHS volumes only consist of approximately one week each, the math is incorrect.) By seeing the complete episodes, the viewer will find (after having watched the VHS tapes) the story to be fleshed out more, focusing more on all the characters and situations.

If you're new to Dark Shadows and are curious about this show and want a good starter sampler, this DVD collection is perhaps the best and least expensive way to start. For to begin with less than these 40 episodes will not give one a good idea of the scope of this programme. Quite frankly, even 40 episodes isn't enough to give anyone the idea of the scope of this show as there were so many changes in events and characters throughout the series. Keep in mind this is/was a five day a week soap opera (even if it is gothic), that it was on for approximately four to five years, that, as with all soap operas, it is mainly dialogue-based and moves at a snail's pace, and that, as such, can be very boring and tedious at times! And do expect low budget effects, bouts of melodramatic acting, and loads and loads of flubs and mistakes that made it onto film (due to the fact that the show was more often than not taped live and editing wasn't an option). However despite the many drawbacks, Dark Shadows is charming, addicting, imaginative, romantic, and eerie. And no matter how much one likes or dislikes a particular episode, one simply MUST see the next episode...and the next...and the next...and so on.

In a nutshell, Dark Shadows, with all its faults (probably more than any other show that ever aired on television), is pleasing because of the suspense and intrigue, and the imagination that propells it; because of the continuing story and the characters involved (who are portrayed by some very talented actors); and because of the romantic, supernatural escapism that draws us in. Watching Dark Shadows is very much like watching a play on a stage; and if one views it that way (no pun intended) all the mistakes, flubs, etc. will simply not matter.

...

Go on, you know you'd still run home from school to watch it if you could. Now you can rediscover the rush of ghoulish kitsch with the daytime Gothic soap that, decades after its cancellation, remains a cult phenom.

Here it comes again -- that night train carrying governess Victoria Winters to mythical Collinsport and the start of an enthralling TV saga. There's that handsome stranger (who will eventually time-travel to the alternate dimension of "Dharma & Greg" as Greg's well-oiled father) who ladles on ironic foreshadowing by way of introduction: "Welcome to the end of the world." Miss Vicki tosses off a response that would prove more ironic than even the show's production team realized at the time: "I'm afraid I'm not going that far. Only to a house called Collinwood." Oh, my dear, you're going much farther than the end of the world as you know it.

Creepy ol' Collinsport has never looked more inviting, thanks to the savvy folks at MPI Home Video who know how to serve up irresistible fan-fare in stylish boxed sets sprinkled with nifty extras. Collection 1 includes interviews with series stars Jonathan Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, and John Karlen, all of whom recall their DS experiences with fondness and appreciation for the unique opportunities the show provided. Not to mention the unexpected fanaticism it sparked.

The fan loyalty endures, despite the fact that, as Frid points out, "Dark Shadows" was one of the shortest-lived daytime soaps (airing on ABC from 1966-71). "We ran out of gas," is how he sums up the limitations of the show's specific material. "There are only a handful of classic horror stories, and we did them once and twice over." Why stop at once or twice? Now you can enjoy eternally crisp rewatchability in doses of 40 episodes per box.

After seeing the first season of Dark Shadows at my local video store at the price of 93$ I figured that amazon.ca had a great price. It was shipped sooner then expected. Would buy from this site, or from this buyer again!

The greatest show ever made for TV, is exactly how I would Rate Dark Shadows. The Characters are Amazing and the effects (though Cheesy) are great. Its Not perfect by anymeans but it is so exiting to watch over and over again. This is the Beginning of Barnabas Collins storyline, Unfortunately they Haven't released the first 209 episodes but Dark Shadows really does begin here at episode 210 when the 200 year old Vampire Barnabas Collins is released from his Coffin and begins to sink his teeth in the always Dramatic lives of the Collins Family. Definitly a must for everyone Dark Shadows allures you into the world of Supernatural and Fantasy with every episode as it Haunts you with every scene and still embraces you to love every character either good or bad.

I just bought the DVD collection from here, the episodes are great. In this set, Barnabas is free from the coffin thanks to Willie. He kidnaps Maggie Evans and tries to make her be his Josette. Elizabeth has a secret in the basement. Carolyn and Roger want to know what it is because Jason McGuire is blackmailing her into marrying him. This is a must have for Dark Shadows fans. The show gets even better from here.

Go on, you know you'd still run home from school to watch it if you could. Now you can rediscover the rush of ghoulish kitsch with the daytime Gothic soap that, decades after its cancellation, remains a cult phenom.
Here it comes again -- that night train carrying governess Victoria Winters to mythical Collinsport and the start of an enthralling TV saga. There's that handsome stranger (who will eventually time-travel to the alternate dimension of "Dharma & Greg" as Greg's well-oiled father) who ladles on ironic foreshadowing by way of introduction: "Welcome to the end of the world." Miss Vicki tosses off a response that would prove more ironic than even the show's production team realized at the time: "I'm afraid I'm not going that far. Only to a house called Collinwood." Oh, my dear, you're going much farther than the end of the world as you know it.
Creepy ol' Collinsport has never looked more inviting, thanks to the savvy folks at MPI Home Video who know how to serve up irresistible fan-fare in stylish boxed sets sprinkled with nifty extras. Collection 1 includes interviews with series stars Jonathan Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, and John Karlen, all of whom recall their DS experiences with fondness and appreciation for the unique opportunities the show provided. Not to mention the unexpected fanaticism it sparked.
The fan loyalty endures, despite the fact that, as Frid points out, "Dark Shadows" was one of the shortest-lived daytime soaps (airing on ABC from 1966-71). "We ran out of gas," is how he sums up the limitations of the show's specific material. "There are only a handful of classic horror stories, and we did them once and twice over." Why stop at once or twice? Now you can enjoy eternally crisp rewatchability in doses of 40 episodes per box.

A big thanks to MPI Home Video for releasing Dark Shadows on the DVD format. But I think the picture quality would have been even better if MPI would have put less episodes per DVD. The picture quality is good since these episodes were video taped 35 years ago. I highly recommned these DVD Box Sets to any fan of Dark Shadows.

My mom was/is a huge fan of the show. As much as she loves Collection 1, she is bewildered as to what ever happend to the first 209 episodes. She was so looking forward to a complete series.

Someone once told me that he didn't like black and white movies because they "didn't seem real". He had decided long ago that he would rather watch a mediocre color movie than a classic (even "Casablanca") in black and white.
By contrast, I began watching "Dark Shadows" on the Sci-Fi channel, seeing the last year of the series in all its campy glory (think about the 1970s, and how popular avocado-colored refrigerators were during that period - that gives you an idea of the color scheme). I had a hard time understanding the passion people had for Jonathon Frid or how any TV show could justify the position of "governess" in a modern drama.

But then I began watching the first year of "DS", compiled here on DVD for the first time, shining in its original black and white photography. Rather than taking away from the viewing experience, the B&W adds to the gloomy charm, and frames the story in a timeless place where ghost stories can come true. The stately manor of Collinswood and Eagle Hill cemetary don't look so much like stage sets here, but like something sketched out of a dream, with dark corners and cobwebs.

One of the other reviewers here compared DS to a theater play, which gives you an idea of what troopers these actors are. For some reason, ordinary people consider soap players to be the dregs of the acting world - when in reality, playing in a soap is possibly the hardest job an actor can take. There are daily shoots and rewrites, and on DS, actors often had to rely on a teleprompter to help them with their lines. (And this is not shameful - Marilyn Monroe supposedly had to have her lines pasted inside of a drawer she was using as a prop in a Billy Wilder flick. Even the President gets help from a prompter.)

Joan Bennett, that great classic film star, stumbles a few times with her lines, but never loses her cool or her grace. Disc 2 is a real standout here, as Maggie Collins, played wonderfully (without a hint of camp) by Katheryn Leigh Scott, is slowly seduced by Barnabas Collins, vagabond vampire. As handsome as Joel Crothers is (and that's a lot of handsome), as Maggie's boyfriend Joe -- middle-aged Jonathan Frid's turn as Barnabas is all charm, with only a gleam of menace. It's not hard to see *here* why so many women viewers became obsessed with Frid, fantasizing that he'd crawl into their bedroom window.

Anne Rice's Louis - not to mention Nick Knight of "Forever Knight", "Vampire: the Masquerade" RPGers, and Joss Whedon's creation "Angel" - should be paying royalties to Frid and series creator Dan Curtis. Frid turned a two-week stint (maybe) as a supernatural baddie into five years as daytime drama's unlikeliest hero, permanently changing the face of horror. Quite honestly, even froth like "Teen Wolf" could never have been made in a world without dear, angst-ridden, grieving Barnabas and the rest of the DS clan.

The intro/menu screen has dramatic, creepy animation drifting through tangled trees, with each selected episode "zooming" into a bright window at Collinwood. Extras include short interviews with John Karlen, Leigh Scott and Frid, and a recap on Disc 1 bringing the series "up to date", prior to Barnabas showing up. Several hours of TV are boiled down to just 25 minutes, although it is a very well edited 25 minutes! This is the collection's main flaw.

The first hundred and fifty episodes of "DS" were unpopular, more like a tepid gothic romance - lots of mood, no major payoff. However, the show turned around with the introduction of spectre Josette Collins (a saintly ghost who plays an even bigger role later in the series), and literal phoenix Laura Collins, and none of those episodes are on this DVD set.

Yes, Barnabas Collins is the primary reason behind the success of DS, along with the later introduction of Angelique, his tormentor... and yes, the seduction of Maggie Collins is really the first great storyline. But like all great daytime and continuing drama, it's the slow build-up and day to day details that create classic moments of tension and release. We don't see how dreadful Willie Loomis is before his run-in with Barnabas - those episodes aren't here - so his subsequent turnaround, into a tongue-tied good samaritan, is less special. Without seeing more about Laura Collins, it's hard to understand how little David Collins can fudge up a car in an attempt at homicide. He just seems like a really rotten kid from the 25 minute "recap", so why should we sympathize with him about Josette Collins' missing portrait? (Hilarious fan editor Graeme Cree refers to David simply as "Devil Tot".)

Still, I wish I'd had the pleasure of seeing the show for the first time through these episodes, and this set is a terrific introduction and/or gift for a fan of gothic romance, gothic horror, and supernatural drama. The Sci-Fi channel has cancelled "Dark Shadows," meaning it will not be airing somewhere on TV for the first time in over 30 years - so this is it (unless SoapNet picks it up). This group of DVDs, 20 episodes per DVD, is much more cost-effective than buying similar VHS episodes.

Happy howling!

This collection of Dark Shadows episodes, the first in the ongoing reissues, has a special charm, not lost in the later episodes, but viewable here in its primal state. These episodes are very visual: perfectly choreographed images of Barnabas in the shadows, at the window of the Old House, that ironic smirk of his when he's said something with multiple meanings (lots of that going on), the painting of Barnabas, looks of fear and mystery and horrible nightmares, etc. The fact that this is all happening in black and white serves to intensify the gothic mood of horror, all of it building at a slow but powerful pace, creating the sense that the characters are all moving slowly but inescapibly towards some tragic destiny.

One highlight of this set (and collection 2) is the conflict between Elizabeth and Jason. This brought out the best acting in Joan Bennett, with many impassioned and electrifying exchanges ensuing between the two. Dennis Patrick's acting is always pleasant to watch. The Irish dialect and the irony present in his veiled threats are perfectly executed. (It's a shame to learn the actor died recently.) And Jonathan Frid is always at his eeriest best.

Another highlight is episode 233, Barnabas describing Josette's death. You may want to return briefly from the 1795 flashback (collection 6) to rewatch this. Unfortunately, you will have to wait until episode 264 (collection 2) for the powerful confrontation between Barnabas and Jason.

I started watching Dark Shadows the first time around in the late 60's and followed a rebroadcast in the early 80's of the episodes in this collection. But it unfortunately ended before the storyline with Maggie was resolved. I had to wait twenty years to finally find out what happened! By now I'm up to collection 7 and probably won't stop.

If you are going to purchase this set, be advised: you must eventually buy collections 2 and 3. In my opinion collection 3 ends at a good breaking point, wrapping up Willie Loomis' fate, and not yet establishing the new storylines. Special note for non-US buyers: all of my sets (1-6) have been in code 0, not code 1 ... I have had no problems viewing these on PCs or any European DVD players, assuming there's anyone in the world who hasn't yet gotten around the problem of the codes.