Mildred Pierce)

Starring:Joan Crawford, John Garfield, Oscar Levant, J. Carrol Naish, Joan Chandler, Tom D'Andrea, Peggy Knudsen, Ruth Nelson, Craig Stevens, Paul Cavanagh, Richard Gaines, John Abbott, Robert Blake, Tommy Cook, Don McGuire, Fritz Leiber, Peg La Centra, Nestor Paiva, Patricia Barry, Harlan Briggs
Director: Jean Negulesco, Curtis Bernhardt, Vincent Sherman
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The Joan Crawford Collection brings together a potent group of films from Crawford's career renaissance: her Warner Bros. run of the late 1940s, beginning with Mildred Pierce. Four of the titles are from that heated, noirish streak, including Crawford's 1945 Oscar-winning turn in Mildred, a great Hollywood example of an actress's persona meeting the zeitgeist moment. In this adaptation of the James M. Cain novel, Crawford plays a sacrificing mother perfectly willing to claw her way to success for the sake of her ingrate daughter. Michael Curtiz directed, snapping Crawford out of a long career slide.

Humoresque (1946) was promptly given the top-drawer treatment, and it's a truly epic melodrama about a restless society woman who takes up the cause of a young violinist (John Garfield) from the slums. Possessed (1947) gave Crawford a thorough workout as a woman in complete obsessive breakdown from various romantic traumas. What Crawford lacks in subtlety she makes up for in sheer will, which suits the character well (and brought another best actress Oscar nomination). The Damned Don't Cry (1950) is a film noir smash-up, with Crawford as a low-rent dame who brazens her way into becoming a fur-lined mobster's moll (it was loosely inspired by the Bugsy Siegel-Virginia Hill story). It's overripe but entertaining.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-05-13

Excellent excellent excellent....i just think before every episode it should tell you what episode it is...but except for that it is wonderful!

darkshadows.......2007-04-11

man,this is good stuff!i can't say enough about this series.anyone that has ever seen this show knows what i mean.buy it!!!

First installment of a unique soap opera.......2007-03-27

I didn't even see Dark Shadows on TV until it began running as reruns back in 1976. Even though these episodes were ten years old at the time, I was instantly hooked. I had never seen anything like it - a gothic soap opera with a vampire as both heartthrob and sympathetic villain. The 1976 reruns did the same thing this first DVD collection did. It ignored the fact that the first 210 episodes ever existed and started with the appearance of Barnabus Collins in Collinsport, Maine, and the simultaneous disappearance of Willie Loomis, the Collins' handyman. I've never seen the first 210 episodes, but I've read their descriptions. Apparently they revolved around a series of love triangles and mysteries that just weren't that interesting to viewers, and so the storyline was radically changed and TV history was made as a result.

Jonathan Frid was really born to play the part of Barnabus. He is not a good looking guy in the classical sense, but he's got style, dignity, and class and was extremely magnetic in the role. Barnabus is a vampire in the mold of Lugosi's Dracula. However, rather than looking to expand an ever-growing harem as Dracula did, Barnabus is a romantic intent on reclaiming only one lost love. That is the emphasis of these 40 episodes. Even with the magnetic Barnabus, you'll notice these first 40 episodes move at a snail's pace compared to later episodes. However, what you are seeing is pretty much the way most soap operas progressed up through the early 1970's. The formula for most soap operas in those days was that there was one dynastic and wealthy family, and lots of middle class families with ordinary problems. Problems generally had to do with affairs of the heart with the occasional crime mystery thrown in, and resolution was very slow. Not until 1975 or so did you see everyone in town being CEO of their own company with fashion models as the cast. So have patience with the 40 episodes in collection one, because the pace definitely picks up in the second collection.

A Great TV Classic.......2007-02-11

I've watched this show for years it was a awesome show. My favorite character being Angelique (Lara Parker). It turly is a classic and hopfuly will live on being a classic. I Recommend this show if you want something good to watch. So grab a sherry, shut of the lights and watch Dark Shadows.

down Under in Australia. .......2007-01-26

Dark Shadowds b/w soap opera t.v show - takes me back to my child hood racing home to watch,at 12 yrs of age it put chills up my spine.. today its out dated its a comedy,but still holds some magic. its fun, i am enjoying the jorney..

The Joan Crawford Collection (Humoresque / Possessed (1947) / The Damned Don't Cry / The Women / Mildred Pierce)

Average customer rating:

you don't need any wire hangers to enjoy this set!
WHERE'S THE SECOND BOX SET??????
Fabulous as always
Gothic Diversion
FInally Joan gets the treatment she deserves!!!

The Joan Crawford Collection (Humoresque / Possessed (1947) / The Damned Don't Cry / The Women / Mildred Pierce)
Starring: Joan Crawford , John Garfield , Oscar Levant , J. Carrol Naish , and Joan Chandler
Director: Jean Negulesco , Curtis Bernhardt , and Vincent Sherman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 2 (Marked Woman / Jezebel / The Man Who Came to Dinner / Old Acquaintance / What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Two-Disc Special Edition)
Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Queen Bee
The Little Foxes

ASIN: B0008ENID4
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

The Joan Crawford Collection brings together a potent group of films from Crawford's career renaissance: her Warner Bros. run of the late 1940s, beginning with Mildred Pierce. Four of the titles are from that heated, noirish streak, including Crawford's 1945 Oscar-winning turn in Mildred, a great Hollywood example of an actress's persona meeting the zeitgeist moment. In this adaptation of the James M. Cain novel, Crawford plays a sacrificing mother perfectly willing to claw her way to success for the sake of her ingrate daughter. Michael Curtiz directed, snapping Crawford out of a long career slide.

Humoresque (1946) was promptly given the top-drawer treatment, and it's a truly epic melodrama about a restless society woman who takes up the cause of a young violinist (John Garfield) from the slums. Possessed (1947) gave Crawford a thorough workout as a woman in complete obsessive breakdown from various romantic traumas. What Crawford lacks in subtlety she makes up for in sheer will, which suits the character well (and brought another best actress Oscar nomination). The Damned Don't Cry (1950) is a film noir smash-up, with Crawford as a low-rent dame who brazens her way into becoming a fur-lined mobster's moll (it was loosely inspired by the Bugsy Siegel-Virginia Hill story). It's overripe but entertaining.

1939's The Women, an MGM picture, doesn't fit the mood of the collection, although it has its fans. George Cukor directed this catty version of the Clare Booth Luce play, which has an all-female ensemble cast; Crawford is in very good form as a bad girl. The movie's reputation is somewhat beyond its actual witchy charm. (Packaging gaffe: the photo on the back cover is from Seven Women.) DVD extras tend toward smallish documentaries, save the absorbing 90-minute career profile The Ultimate Movie Star on the Mildred Pierce disc, an even-handed study that includes frank revelations from director-lover Vincent Sherman and the "wire hangers" story from adopted daughter Christina. Sherman contributes a commentary on The Damned Don't Cry. --Robert Horton

Description

The Joan Crawford Collection features classics from the star whose career spanned more than 40 years. "I never go out unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door." - Joan Crawford

Customer Reviews:

you don't need any wire hangers to enjoy this set!.......2007-06-29

Fans of the divine Joan Crawford are sure to enjoy this great-value DVD set from Warners which packages five of Crawford's best films.

From the outer box artwork to the extra features, a lot of care and attention has clearly been spent on this set, and we are certainly lucky in having it so beautifully presented. The emphasis is very much on Joan's years as a film noir femme fatale, with The Damned Don't Cry, Possessed and Humoresque all from Crawford's glory days at Warner Brothers. Mildred Pierce (Keepcase), her first Oscar-winning role; plus her catty turn in The Women (Keepcase) are also here. Each disc is housed in it's own sturdy plastic Amaray case.

THE DAMNED DON'T CRY - Joan Crawford plays a gangster's moll who climbs up from the gutter only to discover that life at the top can be twice as dangerous. Extra features include the new featurette "The Crawford Formula: Real and Reel", audio commentary with director Vincent Sherman, and the trailer.

POSSESSED - Love takes a deadly turn in this noir drama co-starring Van Heflin and Raymond Massey. Crawford plays Louise Howell, a woman driven to desperate measures when her boyfriend marries another woman. Extra features include audio commentary by Dr. Drew Casper, featurette "The Quintessential Film Noir", and the trailer.

HUMORESQUE - Crawford gives one of her most nuanced performances as jaded socialite Helen Wright, whose love affair with an up-and-coming violin virtuoso sends her to the brink of madness. Extra features include featurette "The Music of Humoresque", and the trailer.

MILDRED PIERCE - From James M. Cain's novel comes the legendary potboiler about a devoted mother (Crawford) and her ungrateful, hellion of a daughter (Ann Blyth). Extra features include the movie-length TCM documentary "The Ultimate Movie Star", and a trailer gallery.

THE WOMEN - In director George Cukor's screen version of the Claire Booth Luce comedy, Joan Crawford plays a hard-boiled mantrap who moves in on Norma Shearer's husband. Fabulous comic turns from Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, and Paulette Goddard. Extra features include alternate B&W fashion show sequence, and trailers.

Even at it's full list-price, buying this box set is cheaper than getting each DVD individually. If you love Joan Crawford, this will be a mandatory addition to your movie collection.

WHERE'S THE SECOND BOX SET??????.......2007-06-27

They can release Trog and Reunion in France, but not A Woman's Face, Possessed (1931), Sadie McKee, Torch Song, Our Dancing Daughters and Flamingo Road? Come on, Warner Brothers! Release another box set of Joan!

Fabulous as always.......2007-01-11

Wonderful collection of some of Joan's movies. Hours of pleasure watching them. Highly recommended.

Gothic Diversion.......2007-01-03

Put this collection on during a stormy day, but keep at least one light on and lock the tranquilizers in the medicine cabinet. Joan's performances are riveting and her face was made for monochrome. Watch "Humoresque" first. The director used the pounding piano and searing violin to propel the film but employed Oscar Levant as the comic foil so the film doesn't collapse under its own weight. In "Possessed", you'll see Joan on the verge of campiness, although she apparently visited insane asylum inmates in order to verify her facial expressions. "The Women" is a fast, furious "Sex and the City"-like farce. Buy this.

FInally Joan gets the treatment she deserves!!!.......2006-12-11

I am SO glad Joan gets her own box set, although I am miffed that Bette has a second one while poor Joan still only has one!
I would Love to see a second box set and even a third. Joan made some fun, campy films, but she always rose above the material.
I'd love to see Johnny Guitar, Flamingo Road, Torch Song and A Woman's Face in a set. And another with Female on the Beach, Autumn Leaves, Susuan and God and When Ladies Meet.
This set has The Women, which is the campiest and most quoted film. The "clever" plot involves a story devoid of men, but it is ALL the women talk about. Norma Sheaer, who deserves her OWN box set, is WONDEFUL in this film. Joan has a supporting role and she chews every inch of scenery she is in! Humoresque is my least favorite role. Joan falls for John Garfield and throws her life away for him. So NOT our Joanie! Possessed is OK. The role was written for Bette Davis and it is interesting to see Joan do the role while imaginging how Bette would OVERPLAY it while Joan does it more subtley. Now, The Damned Don't Cry is PURE CRAWFORD!! Woman claws her way to the top and uses every trick in the book to stay there. This should have been in a box set iwth Torch Song, Female on the Beach and Johnny Guitar. TOUGH "Don't F with me fellas!!!" Crawford! PLEASE release the second box set in early 2007!!!!!

The Alec Guinness Collection (Kind Hearts and Coronets / The Lavender Hill Mob / The Ladykillers / The Man in the White Suit / The Captain's Paradise)

Average customer rating:

Anyone who appreciates great comedy will treasure these.
Simply Superb.
bad news for Spanish viewers?
Great films, great value
A remarkable collection.

The Alec Guinness Collection (Kind Hearts and Coronets / The Lavender Hill Mob / The Ladykillers / The Man in the White Suit / The Captain's Paradise)
Starring: Alec Guinness , Joan Greenwood , Cecil Parker , Michael Gough , and Ernest Thesiger
Director: Alexander Mackendrick , and Charles Crichton
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Ealing Studios Comedy Collection (The Maggie / A Run for Your Money / Titfield Thunderbolt / Whisky Galore! / Passport to Pimlico)
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Preston Sturges - The Filmmaker Collection (Sullivan's Travels/The Lady Eve/The Palm Beach Story/Hail the Conquering Hero/The Great McGinty/Christmas in July/The Great Moment)
British War Collection (The Cruel Sea/The Ship That Died of Shame/Went the Day Well?/The Dam Busters/The Colditz Story)

ASIN: B00006FMAX
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Amazon.com

Five of the British film industry's best-loved comedies in one boxed set makes The Alec Guinness Collection absolutely essential for anyone who has any passion at all for movies. It contains Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Man in the White Suit (1951), The Captain's Paradise (1953) (only available in this set), and The Ladykillers (1955). The Ealing Studio's greatest comedies captured the essence of post-war Britain, both in their evocation of a land once blighted by war but now rising doggedly and optimistically again from the ashes, and in their mordant yet graceful humor. They portray a country with an antiquated class system whose crumbling conventions are being undermined by a new spirit of individual opportunism. In the delightfully wicked Kind Hearts and Coronets, a serial killer politely murders his way into the peerage; in The Lavender Hill Mob a put-upon bank clerk schemes to rob his employers; The Man in the White Suit is a harshly satirical depiction of idealism crushed by the status quo; in The Captain's Paradise, a ferryboat captain complements his proper British wife with a fiery Spanish wife; while The Ladykillers mocks both the criminals and the authorities with its unlikely octogenarian heroine Mrs. "lop-sided" Wilberforce. Many factors contribute to these films' success--including fine music scores from composers such as Benjamin Frankel (Man in the White Suit), Malcolm Arnold (Captain's Paradise), and Tristram Cary (The Ladykillers); positively symphonic sound effects (White Suit); marvelously evocative locations (the environs of King's Cross in Ladykillers, for example); and writing that always displays Ealing's unique perspective on British social mores ("All the exuberance of Chaucer without, happily, any of the concomitant crudities of his period")--yet arguably their greatest asset is Alec Guinness, whose multifaceted performances are the keystone upon which Ealing built its biting, often macabre, yet always elegant comedy. --Mark Walker

Product Description

He was, quite simply, one of the greatest actors of all time. And while Sir Alec Guinness may be best known for his legendary dramatic roles, his true genius lay in his incomparable comedy performances. THE ALEC GUINNESS COLLECTION presents four of this screen legend s magnificent Ealing Studios comedies as well as the classic THE CAPTAIN S PARADISE, available exclusively in this collection.

Features:
Kind Hearts And Coronets

Full-Frame Presentation

Theatrical Trailer

Alec Guinness Bio

The Ladykillers

Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs

Theatrical Trailer

Alec Guinness Bio

Languages: English; French

The Lavender Hill Mob

Full-Frame Presentation

Theatrical Trailer

Alec Guinness Bio

The Man In The White Suit

Full-Frame Presentation

Theatrical Trailer

Alec Guinness Bio

The Captain's Paradise

Full-Frame Presentation

Theatrical Trailer

Alec Guinness Bio

System Requirements:
Running Time: 451 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Anyone who appreciates great comedy will treasure these........2007-01-11

No vulgarity, no nudity, just some of the cleverest stories with fine performances from all concerned.

The remakes never work. Hard to improve on perfection.

Simply Superb........2006-07-13

The best British comedy and satire. No slapstick or foul language or artistic nudity. Just great acting and great stories. Comedy mysteries with twisty endings. Example: the very ending of "The Captain's Paradise"; you would never guess.

bad news for Spanish viewers?.......2005-04-15

I know all these films and agree they are wonderful. But, is it possible that this edition have an audio track in French and no Spanish subtitles?

Great films, great value.......2004-07-16

As other reviewers have noted, these superb comedies from the golden age of British cinema showcase Alec Guinness' considerable skills, proving him to be as great an actor in his own way as the late Marlon Brando. And as others have pointed out, the DVD transfers are incredibly good for British films of this vintage. I've never seen Man in the White Suit looking better. Please note that poor sound recording equipment was a particular problem for British filmmakers of this era, so the sound can occasionally seem muted. This is a problem with the source, not the transfer.

The extras are a little disappointing compared to other Anchor Bay releases. (Yes, their Guinness filmography is incomplete.) But the value of this collection can't be beat. It's one of the best buys out there, so do yourself a favor and pick up the whole collection before Anchor Bay lets it go out of print, as other British titles in their catalogue have done.

Random comments to address other reviews:

All the films are presented in their proper aspect ratios. The Ladykillers is the only widescreen film here. (All the others were filmed before 1952, hence before the days of widescreen.)

Captain's Paradise is NOT an Ealing Studios film; it was produced at London International (the same place that oversaw production of The Third Man, so its credentials are good).

In Britain, this collection was partnered with another collection of Ealing comedies (via another distributor). Since Anchor Bay has also released Ealing's horror anthology Dead of Night (also recommended), they may be persuaded to distribute those films too if this collection sells well. Those films (Whiskey Galore, Passport to Pimlico, etc.) are equally superb, so let's keep our fingers crossed!

A remarkable collection........2003-02-19

I am 24 years old so one would not expect me to be a huge fan of these "older" films. On the contrary I am not just a fan I love them. One of my bosses turned me on to them a few years ago and I was always a huge Peter Sellers fan (mostly for his Pink Panther series) but after picking up this collection I found it to be a wonderful addition to my film library. Yesterday during the blizzard I watched four of the five disks. I found Kind Hearts and Coronets to be not only an interesting story but also darkly satiical. Many scenes were so well crafted I could not help to laugh. Alec was remarkable in this film as he played 8 different characters. Quite a feat for that time and a role Mike Meyers would love. Ladykillers was the only film I had seen previous to buying this set and I must say that not only is it an outstanding caper film but the DVD transfer was superb. The image quality really has brightened up fromt he onld VHS I saw. This film also shows some of Sir Alec's truly great acting and was brutally histerical. Peter Sellers yelling at a parrot was funny to see considering he went on to many more scenes involving fowl later on in life. The Lavender Hill Mob was probably the most intriguing of the 4 I have seen. Another crime caper flick Sir Alec really starred and the story was very solid. Also there was a car chase scene in this film that was extremely well done considering the time. The last film I managed to watch was the Man in the White Suit. While this film shows Alec again at his best I found it to be a little weaker than the other three. It was funny at times and an interesting enough plot just not as good if watched in succesion with the others. The final film is the Captain's Paradise but I have yet to view that one and will not review it. All the films look great on DVD and if you are young (like me)and have never seen any of these films you are really missing out on some of the masterpieces of the film industry. The only collection I could possibly recomend more to anyone is the Peter Sellers set. Better yet, buy them both like I did.

Average customer rating:

Are you afraid of the dark now?
And it just keeps getting better!
DARK SHADOWS - DVD COLLECTION 2
Episode 289 is a Kinescope
EERILY ADDICTIVE. . .

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 2
Starring: Joan Bennett , Louis Edmonds , Kathryn Leigh Scott , Nancy Barrett , and Clarice Blackburn
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 1
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ASIN: B000060MVO
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Customer Reviews:

Are you afraid of the dark now?.......2007-02-14

Thank you for the quick shipping of this DVD. It was a gift for a very good friend.

And it just keeps getting better!.......2007-01-06

The first season was good - but the second season is even better. The storyline is more involved and the introduction of Grayson Hall as Dr. Julia Hoffman is a major plus. She is a classic actress and plays the role of Maggie's mysterious doctor brilliantly. Though Maggie Evans is still a key player in the second season, the show doesn't revolve around her as much, (which is good as her screaming and whining get a bit irritating), and the other characters' roles are better defined. And of course Jonathan Frid is always perfect in the role of Barnabas Collins. I can't wait to start watching the third collection.

DARK SHADOWS - DVD COLLECTION 2.......2006-11-21

The chills continue! Dark Shadows DVD Collection 2 is great and you can feel the momentum and the suspense building as you watch it.Maggie Evans escapes from the Old House basement where Barnabas as her kidnapped, with the help of his younger sister Sarah.Dr.Julia Hoffman is introduced as Maggie's physician and quickly figures out the secret of Barnabas Collins.Jason McGuire meets his demise when Barnabas hand reaches out from the coffin and grabs his throat! Also,Barnabas as his eyes on Victoria Winters becoming his new Josette!
In this collection some old storylines came to an end thereby giving way to the momentum for the next stories to build up suspensfully.The best episodes in this collection are #260-where Maggie escapes from Barnabas, #271-when Elizabeth reveals what happened at Collinwood 18 years ago,#281-where Victoria relieves the death of Josette and #290-where Barnabas comes to Julia's room to strangle her and surprisedly finds Julia waiting for him.These episodes are all frightfully scary!
MPI should have done some restoration work on these or cleaned them up a bit,but the episodes are in good condition considering the time(1967) and the age of the prints,as well as the audio.There are also bonus interviews with Dan Curtis(Creator & executive Producer),Nancy Barrett(Carolyn Stoddard),Dennis Patrick(Jason McGuire) and Alexandra Moltke(Victoria Winters).The voice-over-"My name is Victoria Winters..." is heard for the last time in this collection.
The disappointment here is there are no English subtitles and the episodes are not close-captioned.
Jonathan Frid is superb as Barnabas Collins,as always;and casting Grayson Hall as Dr.Julia Hoffman was a stroke of genius! The rest of the cast are great in their respective roles.
I will always have memories from my childhood of running home when school was out to sit in front of a black and white television set to watch DARK SHADOWS!

Episode 289 is a Kinescope.......2006-10-23

Episode 289 on this DVD is the kiescope vershion insted of English Kinescope audio merged with the video from a located Spanish dubbed videdo vershion which was used on the MPI VHS volume 12. I am not sure why MPI did this. This Epsode is not discribed as a kiascope in the DVD booklet.

EERILY ADDICTIVE. . . .......2006-08-21

I enjoyed Collection 2 much more than Collection 1. The pace picks up a bit and the story becomes much more interesting. Jonathan Frid is superb as Barnabas Collins. Mr. Frid plays the guilt-ridden vampire with grace, romanticism and passion. John Karlen does a splendid job playing Willie Lumis as he always seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Grayson Hall is great in portraying the smart and courageous Dr. Hoffman. I love the rooms in the old house as they are beautifully done. The candles and the music go hand in hand and effectively transport the viewer to an earlier and gentler time adding an eerie but desirable touch. The show is just as addictive now as it was when it first came out in the 60's. It leaves the viewer wanting more. Looking forward to Collection 3.

Average customer rating:

TRAVEL BACK TO 1795. . .
Another solid set of episodes, this time spanning the centuries
The "Origin of Barnabas" story begins -- after several other significant developments
Great show, poor quality DVD
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 4

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 4
Starring: Joan Bennett , Louis Edmonds , Kathryn Leigh Scott , Nancy Barrett , and Clarice Blackburn
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Dark Shadows DVD Collection 3
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 5
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 2
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 6
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 7

ASIN: B00007G1WQ
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Description

With its alluring tales of Gothic mystery and supernatural intrigue, Dark Shadows became one of the most popular daytime series of all time. Since first airing on ABC-TV from 1966-71, Dark Shadows has earned the reputation as being one of the most unusual and enduring programs in television history. The character of Barnabas Collins, a guilt-ridden 175 year-old vampire, brought the show tremendous success.

Barnabas' secret is threatened by David Collins' curiosity. Anxious to become human again, Barnabas orders Dr. Julia Hoffman to accelerate her treatments to cure him, but the experiment backfires, causing Barnabas to age rapidly and assume the appearance of a 200-year-old man. During a seance at Collinwood to contact the spirit of Barnabas' young sister Sarah, Victoria Winters mysteriously disappears and finds that she has traveled back in time to the year 1795.

Bonuses: Exclusive interviews with series producer Robert Costello, writer Sam Hall, special make-up artist Dick Smith and actress Lara Parker.

Starring: Joan Bennett, Jonathan Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, David Henesy, Clarice Blackburn, Anthony George, Grayson Hall, Joel Crothers, David Ford, Robert Gerringer, Jerry Lacy, Lara Parker, Sharon Smyth, Peter Turgeon, Vince O' Brien, Angus Cairns, Peter Murphy, William Shust, Dorrie Kavanaugh and Alexandra Moltke

Customer Reviews:

TRAVEL BACK TO 1795. . ........2006-12-05

Collection 4 offers more twists and turns to the viewer. Barnabas' secret is threatened by David Collins'suspicion. Dr. Julia Hoffman gets more tangled up as she tries to help Barnabas. The best part of this collection is when Victoria Winters accidentally goes back in time to the year 1795 during a seance to contact Sarah. The viewer is also transported back in time along with Ms. Winters. It's so interesting to see the characters in 1795 come alive after hearing about them from their descendants in the present time. The interviews must also be noted. I especially enjoyed listening to the talented make up artist Dick Smith and to Lara Parker, the actress who effectively played the bewitchingly Anjelique.

Another solid set of episodes, this time spanning the centuries.......2006-02-28

Dark Shadows Collection 4 delivers forty more episodes of involving, effective gothic melodrama, made more potent by the inclusion of a couple of especially dramatic developments: Barnabas moving beyond his frequent empty threats of violence and actually killing someone to keep the truth of his existence a secret, and, later in the set, a sudden and unexpected trip to the past to show us the origin of the undead Barnabas. All great stuff.

But first, a playful, minor quibble. It's actually kind of cheesy that when we shift to the past, members of the 18th century Collins family are played by the same actors who perform in the present-day storylines. In actuality, only Jonathan Frid as Barnabas should have appeared in both time frames, due to the fact that he's playing the same (ultimately immortal) character in both storylines! But I guess budget limitations prevented the use of a fresh batch of actors for the earlier sequences. At least Victoria Winters, after she goes back in time, DOES think it is curious that everyone looks the same as their 20th century descendents, but then no further explanation is given as to why they look the same. Oh, well.

In any event, viewers quickly get caught up in the colonial-era proceedings as we meet a much more innocent and likable Barnabas and the love of his life, Josette. We also see the memorable introduction of Angelique, a servant of Josette's who Barnabas briefly had a dalliance with in the past but who isn't interested in just quietly stepping aside now that he's involved with the much more "proper" Josette. So, we learn that the pre-vampiric Barnabas wasn't COMPLETELY innocent, as we actually feel a little bad for the jilted Angelique, even though she turns out to be truly diabolical in her revenge.

The lion's share of episodes in this batch takes place in the present (well, the 1960's "present", but you know what I mean), with a small handful of episodes toward the end of the set shifting to the earlier era story, which will play out through all the discs of Collection 5 and a bit beyond.

Like the earlier sets, each disc in this collection concludes with an engaging interview, usually about 3-to-5 minutes in length, with a member of the cast or behind-the-scenes person.

I remained thoroughly involved in this offbeat series and look forward to soon reporting on Collection 5!

The "Origin of Barnabas" story begins -- after several other significant developments.......2006-01-22

DARK SHADOWS is the only daytime soap opera in TV GUIDE's "25 Top Cult Shows Ever." (1) DS made it into that list because of the 175-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins, played by Shakespearean actor Jonathan Frid, introduced a year into DS to save it from cancellation.

The first fifteen episodes in this set eliminate all traces of DS's original plan -- abandoned partly to satisfy the viewers -- to destroy Barnabas. For me, the most effective part of this segment is the murder of Dr. Woodard, in which DS's modern-day, female Van Helsing, Julia Hoffman, is forced to assist. This puts Dr. Hoffman in the position Barnabas has been in since he became a vampire -- that of needing to suppress one's conscience in order to do what's necessary to survive.

In contrast, I'm unimpressed by Burke Devlin's offscreen demise. I question whether a vampire could cause a plane crash -- a warlock, yes, but a vampire? -- and I feel Burke's an important enough character to deserve a nice shocking onscreen death. To be fair, though, Burke was significant in the pre-Barnabas episodes, which many viewers probably hadn't seen.

I'm ambivalent about Barnabas's discrediting of young David Collins. I'm glad Barnabas decides against killing David, and I feel David's growing horror, desperation, and frustration is effective. But I have trouble believing Barnabas could make his coffin disappear and sabotage the door to the secret room, especially on such short notice. Furthermore, the deliberate avoidance of the word "vampire" seems contrived in episode #335. I agree overall that avoiding the word adds verisimilitude and prevents campiness. However, I feel it would have come up in David's session with Dr. Fisher.

Dr. Hoffman's unrequited love for Barnabas -- the other reason for keeping Barnabas alive (2) -- descends into jealousy as she attempts to undermine his relationship with Victoria Winters. And IMHO her using the EXACT same ploy to hypnotize Victoria THREE TIMES IN A ROW verges on unintentional silliness. What saves it is the acting. Everyone on DS takes it very seriously and plays it with depth and sincerity.

However, we can't blame Dr. Hoffman for what goes wrong with her attempt to cure Barnabas medically. It's because Barnabas insists on accelerating the pace that the treatments backfire, causing him to age. Dick Smith's old-age makeup is quite convincing, especially when combined with Jonathan Frid's acting. I agree with those who say the television version is more believable than the HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS version. The bonus interview with Dick Smith includes a fully illustrated presentation on how the makeup was done.

Another significant event is the long-awaited confrontation of Barnabas by the ghost of his little sister, Sarah. We have learned that Barnabas's love for Sarah is one of the few positive emotions competing with his bitterness over his fate. Barnabas knows that Sarah has appeared to others and has implored her to appear to him. But he dreads her appearance, because he's certain she's angry with him for his evil behavior. He is quite correct, and in fact, Sarah only appears to him to stop him from killing Dr. Hoffman. Sarah tells Barnabas that she'll never appear to him again until and unless he learns to stop being evil.

Alas, although child actress Sharon Smyth does a good job of LOOKING angry, she fails, on the whole, to pull it off. Her performance is just too flat and wooden for this extremely emotional and significant moment. Fortunately, Jonathan Frid and Grayson Hall's performances menage to sell the scene after the fact.

The question of whether Barnabas reforms is almost immediately put on hold because of what may be the most significant milestone in the series -- the "Origin of Barnabas" story. DS fans had kept Barnabas alive, but now they wanted the whole story of Barnabas's past. To comply, DS sends Victoria Winters, via a seance, back to 1795. Once there, we see the story of the entire Collins family of that time -- focusing on the human Barnabas and the events that led to his present-day condition.

A promo for the 1795 sequence is included, but placed between episodes 336 and 337 -- way ahead of where it belongs, given that it promises the sequence to begin "this Friday."

As the 1795 story unfolds, continuing through set 7, you'll see it's inconsistent with the accounts we've gotten from the present-day Barnabas, particularly in episode 345. I'm told this is because Anthony George left the show, forcing a reworking of the storyline.

This trip back in time seems a risky move because it breaks, to some extent, one of the cardinal rules of soap operas -- thou shalt not disorient viewers who miss episodes. If you missed 365, wherein occurs the seance that sends Vicki back to 1795, you're never going to completely understand how everything "went down," despite the verbal account that opens every 1795 episode.

And now, we meet Angelique, the witch who will be Barnabas's most significant adversary during the remainder of DS. We also learn that Barnabas isn't a completely innocent victim. In episodes 368 and 369, we learn Barnabas had an affair with Angelique, who is the maid of the woman he's now going to marry, Josette. The most charitable view is that Barnabas acted in a moment of weakness and wants to be let off the hook. If you're not feeling so generous, you might say that Barnabas decided the hot little servant was fine to have a fling with, but only her high-class mistress was worthy of a serious commitment. Either way, Angelique's anger is understandable --

-- although it certainly doesn't justify the pain and destruction Angelique will bring to the Collins family in general and Barnabas in particular. To find out more, you'll have to watch set #5.

(1) May 30-June 5, 2004 issue.

(2) In Sam Hall's interview, he says that Grayson Hall liked the unrequited love angle.

Great show, poor quality DVD.......2005-10-02

And I am not referring to the quality of the video picture-they were dealing with videotape and black and white kinescope to do the transfer. But I have had a devil of a time getting these discs to play. None of the four discs will play on my computer DVD drive. After about a dozen tries, I managed to get disc one to play on another DVD player, but it froze in the middle of the scene in the sixth episode and after that I could not get it to play again. I had to resort to my son's Playstation II to finally get disc 4 to play, and could never get disc 2 or 3 to play on any these three systems! I am heartily disappointed and disgusted, and am going to try to return my set for money or a set of discs that actually works!

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 4.......2005-08-21

This collection is a must for loyal Dark Shadows fan.

Average customer rating:

darkshadows
Murder, kidnapping and seances!
THE DARK SAGA CONTINUES. . .
DARK SHADOWS RULES!..."Barnabas is Back for thrill seekers"
A female Van Helsing and a change of plan

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 3
Starring: Joan Bennett , Louis Edmonds , Kathryn Leigh Scott , Nancy Barrett , and Clarice Blackburn
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Dark Shadows DVD Collection 4
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ASIN: B00006FDB3
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Description

Dr. Julia Hoffman promises Barnabas that his secret is safe if he will allow her to conduct experiments to cure him of his vampirism. Jealous of Victoria Winters' engagement to Burke Devlin, Barnabas plans revenge against Burke, who becomes suspicious of Barnabas and begins to investigate him. While trying to hide from Barnabas, David Collins becomes trapped in the secret room of the Collins Mausoleum. The frightened boy pleads with the ghost of Sarah Collins to rescue him. Barnabas realizes that David may hold the key to finding his late sister's spirit.

Customer Reviews:

darkshadows.......2007-04-11

i'm a dark shadows fan from way back...i'm talking about when it was new.i loved it as a kid,and the passion hasn't faded.

Murder, kidnapping and seances!.......2007-03-25

After watching Collection 1 I found Collection 2 a lot more entertaining. Forgetting the nostalgia aspect I found the stories to be strong, well paced and not self-indulgent compared to Collection 1. The characters really come to life (or death!) and the writing has improved tremendously. Even though some cameo roles seemed cariatures they were contemporaneous and allowed the main characters to shine.

The best aspect of this Collection is that the viewer gets drawn into the stories up to the razor's edge of each climactic ending and the development and continuation of other stories is cleverly delivered.

I only concern is that being British I found the Customs Duty very steep but that is only a warning for UK-based fans.

Yours most gracious - Steve B

THE DARK SAGA CONTINUES. . ........2006-10-15

I found Collection 3 not to be as good or as full of twists and turns as Collection 2. But in order to follow this unique series, I recommend you get through this collection. As with any series, there are ups and downs in the writing. Each episode lasts approximately 20 minutes (since there's no commercials). You get so wrapped up in the story that before you know it, you have watched a few episodes one after the other - and it leaves you wanting more! I find the interviews of the cast members at the end of each disk very interesting and informative. Hang in there, Dark Shadows only gets better!

DARK SHADOWS RULES!..."Barnabas is Back for thrill seekers".......2006-02-28

Dr Julia Hoffman promises that Barnabas' secret is safe if he will allow her to do some experiments on him to find a cure for his vampirism. Jealous of the recent engagement of Victoria to Burke Devlin, Barnabas voes revenge against him. Burke Devlin begins to be suspicious of Barnabas and begins to investigate him. David Collins became frightened of Barnabas and tries to escape from the old house, he eventually does and hides in the near by Collins Mausoleum in the secret room. The frightened boy pleads for help from the ghost of sara collins. Barnabas finds out and believes he holds the key of contacting the spirit his lost sister
Its a Must Have fo rthe Dark shadows collector

A female Van Helsing and a change of plan.......2005-11-11

DARK SHADOWS is probably the only daytime soap opera to have ever achieved the cult classic status of shows such as STAR TREK and THE PRISONER. By this point in the story, the makers of DS knew 175-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins (played by Shakespearean actor Jonathan Frid) was too interesting and sympathetic a character to kill off as originally planned -- a villain people could relate to. As director Lela Swift puts it in the bonus interview, Barnabas was treated as a human being with a problem. Furthermore, DS's modern-day Van Helsing had become a woman. A typo turned Dr. Hoffman from either Julian or Julius (1) into Julia. This created new possibilities that both DS's makers and Dr. Hoffman's portrayer, Grayson Hall, wanted to explore.

Dr. Hoffman, has been called in to treat Maggie Evans, who Barnabas had tried to transform into a reincarnation of his lost love, Josette. As this installment begins, Dr. Hoffman confronts Barnabas, proposing to try and cure his condition using medical science. Although we later see signs of Dr. Hoffman's romantic interest in Barnabas, she appears at this point to regard him purely as a guinea pig ripe for blackmailing. Maggie is an inmate at Dr. Hoffman's Windcliff sanitarium, and is suffering from "temporary" amnesia. How temporary depends on Barnabas. This tactic puts Barnabas in a double role as villain and victim.

It also makes me want to report Dr. Hoffman to the A.M.A. She's preventing Maggie's recovery and forcing Barnabas into an experiment she knows may harm or destroy him. IMHO, "first do no harm" covers everyone, including vampires. Furthermore, she's abusing her authority as a doctor and head of Windcliff. The implication that authority can't be trusted strikes me as some 60s sentiment that got into DS despite the show's success in remaining immune to the turmoil of that period.

Actually, the blurring of the distinction between villain and victim, apparent in both Barnabas and Dr. Hoffman, anticipates the cynicism of much 70s cinema.

Maggie escapes Windcliff, assisted by Sarah, the mysterious little girl who helped Maggie escape Barnabas. During this installment, Sarah is identified as the ghost of Barnabas's little sister. Sarah helps Maggie escape from Windcliff, then escorts her back to Collinsport --

And I find Maggie's trip home hard to swallow. Granted, supernatural forces could transport Maggie 100 miles in the short time depicted, but I needed to see more detail -- Maggie and Sarah fading out at Windcliff and back in at the entrance to the Blue Whale, perhaps. Having Maggie just show up at the Blue Whale seems too convenient and contrived -- as if they were more interested in saving work for the special effects guys than in plausibility.

But to be fair, this is where DS switches to color. Maggie's arrival at The Blue Whale occurs at the end of the last b&w episode, #294, and is reprised at the beginning of the first color episode, #295. There were probably enough technical problems involved in this transition that it would have been a bad time to mess with special effects.

Everyone is looking for Sarah, believing (correctly) that she knows who kidnapped Maggie. Sarah spends the most time with young David Collins, even revealing the secret room in which Barnabas was first found. Although Sarah won't appear to Barnabas, she gives him signs that she's around, and times them to thwart his attempts to kill Maggie and David. We know a confrontation is coming at some point.

Unfortunately, Sharon Smyth's wooden performance as Sarah and anachronistic Philadelphia accent interfere with the mood. The bonus interview with Smyth confirms she was from Philadelphia and reveals that, because she wasn't good at memorizing, she was parroting lines fed to her by her mother.

There are several developments that suggest Barnabas's demise was still under consideration, First, although Barnabas remains mostly above suspicion, having passed himself off as a cousin from England, there are several important exceptions. David has seen the secret room with the coffin in it, and has nightmares about Barnabas. Burke Devlin actively investigates Barnabas and finds that things don't add up. Dr. Woodard, who referred Maggie to Dr. Hoffman, decides Dr. Hoffman isn't on the level and takes Maggie out of her care. Second, an new plot line is emerging, concerning Burke Devlin's engagement to Victoria Winters, and their attempts to buy an unused house on the Collins estate.

Additional points about specific episodes:

#291 features one of those flies that appeared from time to time. This one lands right on Barnabas's face, which seems oddly appropriate, given that he's technically dead.

The bonus interview on Disc 1 features Jonathan Frid talking about one of the few times an episode was edited to cover a mistake.

In #304, when Willie tells Burke that "Neither one of us ever did anything to you," he's apparently forgotten that he threatened Burke with a knife in pre-Barnabas episode #207.

When Sarah shows David the secret room in the mausoleum in #305, the plaque for Sarah Collins is right in front of his face. One would think he would see it and make a connection.

#313 includes Roger's famous "incestors" blooper. I've heard someone speculate that it may have been faked because he recovers so quickly.

#320 includes a more subtle technical blooper during David's nightmare. When new background music starts, you hear a needle dropped onto a phonograph record, which was how the music was recorded in those days.

#330 is the last episode with announcer Bob Lloyd saying "DARK SHADOWS is a Dan Curtis production," (2) and the first episode with the bat, created by puppeteer Bill Baird, and superimposed on the picture by means of chromakey. It ain't exactly Industrial Light and Magic, but it's still effective, especially because of David Henesy's acting.

(1) DARK SHADOWS COMPANION and DARK SHADOWS ALMANAC differ on this point.

(2) DARK SHADOWS ALMANAC claims his last appearance in #328, but I know what I heard.

Average customer rating:

Reverend Trask gets "POE-etic" justice, later plays BOGEY
More "Dark Shadows" creepy goodness
What do you have to loose?
Charlotte C
The curse starts to have its full effect; Victoria goes on trial

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 6
Starring: Joan Bennett , Louis Edmonds , Kathryn Leigh Scott , Nancy Barrett , and Clarice Blackburn
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007G1X1
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Description

In 1795, Barnabas Collins has risen as a vampire and begs family servant Ben Stokes to drive a stake through his heart. Using her supernatural powers, Angelique tricks Josette Collins into going to Widows' Hill, where Josette sees a horrifying vision of her future should she become Barnabas' bride. Naomi Collins attempts to prevent the unscrupulous Nathan Forbes from reconciling with Millicent Collins. Reverend Trask persuades Nathan to testify against Victoria Winters, who is on trial for witchcraft. Barnabas vows revenge against Trask.

Bonuses: Includes exclusive interviews with series creator/executive producer Dan Curtis and actors Lara Parker, Nancy Barrett and Alexandra Moltke.

Starring Jonathan Frid, Joan Bennett, Louis Edmonds, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Nancy Barrett, Thayer David, Lara Parker, Joel Crothers, Grayson Hall, Roger Davis, Clarice Blackburn, Jerry Lacy, David Henesy, Sharon Smyth, Craig Slocum, Jane Draper, Leslie Barrett, Anita Bolster, Dan Morgan, Vala Clifton, Elaine Hyman and Alexandra Moltke

Customer Reviews:

Reverend Trask gets "POE-etic" justice, later plays BOGEY.......2006-10-16

In one of the most truly errie coincidences in Television, Jerry Lacey was hired to play the role of a Detective/Investigator/Lawyer type in his initial stunt for Dark Shadows. He looked like Sam Spade played by Humphrey Bogart in the old 40's movies and eventually ironically was hired by Woody Allen to play Bogart's ghost in "Play it Again SAM". He did so well in the role of REVEREND TRASK for the 1795 shoot that he became perhaps the second most interesting character up to that point opposite the ever popular Vampire, Barnabas Collins. He continued to get more air time as the audience loved the portrayal by Lacey of a VERY RADICAL SELF- ORDAINED REVEREND/WITCH HUNTER in "Trask". Cleverly the story writers chimed his activities in with the Salem Witch Trials and became the basis for the reputation of Trask for the role he played. Needless to say, he finally encounters some real evil and falls for all the tricks that are employed against him. In his efforts to persecute, he arrests the wrong suspect, gets clobbered by Barnabas's magic and beat up by Angelique. He is led to his death by deception in a dream sequence, not remembering his Bible to "Test the spirits to see if they are from God". Instead he convinces himself through the influence of the dream that he will find the answers at the Old House of Collinwood. It is here that Barnabas has arranged his revenge in one of the most memorable sequences of the entire 1795 run. One cannot help but feel sorry in the end for the overmatched Trask. Walled into an unknown grave while still alive ala' a bit of "POE-etic" justice. This and the work performed by Ben Stokes make this a very memorable DVD set in one of the highlights of the era of Dark Shadows that tied up all the loose ends from the beginning of the series. Fascinating, interesting and very clever!

More "Dark Shadows" creepy goodness.......2006-10-04

There's not much to add to the other enthusiastic comments here, so I'll only say that this sixth collection of "Dark Shadows" episodes continues the addictive fun of the first five sets. This particular set is notable for a minimum of dialogue and production flubs, allowing you to just sit back and enjoy- with hardly any chuckle-inducing distractions- the gothic, creepy proceedings. And creepy they are, as these 40 episodes, all set in 1795, show Barnabas Collins' tragically accepting his new fate as one of the undead. All kinds of other interesting things happen, too, both in the supernatural and non-supernatural realms. Interestingly, some of the non-supernatural stuff is just as scary as the supernatural happenings... witness the final fate of Reverend Trask, for example. Anyway, if you enjoyed the previous sets of this series, there's no reason to hesitate in getting this set. Myself, I've already moved onward to the seventh collection!

What do you have to loose?.......2006-08-19

OK, this is not the best movie ever made, but it's really not that bad. I really liked the locations and the soundtrack. Check this one out if you're a Christina Applegate fan or if you've ever been to Tybee Island.

Charlotte C.......2006-05-19

I love Dark Shadows...and I love this DVD.
I wish I could rate Amazon-- in their description they call Barnabas Collins... Barnabas Cole. Now who the HELL is Barnabas Cole. Amazon's own reviewers don't know what they are writing about.

The curse starts to have its full effect; Victoria goes on trial.......2006-05-19

The 175-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins (Shakespearean actor Jonathan Frid) who turned the soap opera DARK SHADOWS from forgettable to famous was originally supposed to be dealt with and disposed of entirely in the present day. The events of 1795 that made Barnabas a vampire and took away his true love Josette were to serve only as a back story. But Barnabas's popularity changed the plan. He was spared the hammer-and-stake treatment, viewers were transported to 1795, and that back story became the main plot.

This installment continues the 1795 sequence from a point shortly after Barnabas becomes a vampire. Angelique's curse starts having its intended effect as those who love Barnabas die. and at long last, we see Josette's suicide -- the big event we've been hearing about for so long. After all the buildup, this could have been a disappointment, but in my opinion, it wasn't.

What DIDN'T work for me was the "Monkey's Paw" variation involving Josette's ghost. It's a nice little shocker but with three problems. First, anyone familiar with the original W.W. Jacobs short story will see that DS missed the point -- that what's imagined is much more terrifying than what's actually seen. Jacobs never shows the THING behind the door, but when Josette lifts her veil, we see her mangled face in all its gory glory. Second, this sequence doesn't go anywhere. Barnabas realizes he goofed, sends Josette back to her grave, and that's that. Third, after we've seen EVERYTHING up to this point, it's frustrating to have Barnabas send Josette back off-screen.

One person who escapes Angelique's curse is Barmabas's father, Joshua Collins -- ironically, because of a flaw in his character. Joshua is a hardened, cold-hearted man who is incapable of loving anyone, including his own son. The curse said that anyone who loved Barnabas would die. Because Joshua can't love Barnabas, the curse can't touch him.

I find Joshua's reaction to Barnabas interesting because it's so much a product of his character. Joshua believes it's his right to be in charge and in control, and can't stand having that right violated. So, when confronted with the incomprehensible and unspeakable horror of his son being a vampire (in #447), Joshua HAS to take charge. He pretty much blackmails Barnabas into letting himself be locked in the tower room at Collinwood. (And I feel there's a plausibility problem here. Would it be possible to drag that coffin all the way up to the tower room?)

I was also interested to see the non-supernatural storyline involving Suki Forbes, Nathan's not-quite-ex-wife, who shows up to blackmail him. To some extent, this sequence, along with all the subsequent nastiness between Nathan and Millicent, recalls the pre-Barnabas portion of DS, which was more about mystery and intrigue than horror.

The other major storyline is the witch trial of Victoria Winters, our involuntary time traveler. Her prosecutor is the self-ordained, fanatical witch hunter, Reverend Trask. Her defender is a young prison employee and aspiring lawyer named Peter Bradford, who is fast becoming the new love of her life.

Trask blackmails Nathan Forbes into giving false testimony, and I've heard this cited as evidence that Trask's motives are not quite so pure as he would have everyone believe. I would argue, however, that those who are convinced they're on the side of righteousness can justify any action in the name of righteousness. And rather than maligning Christians, this incident shows Trask as a miserable excuse for one because of his ego. The true Christian would ask God to let the truth be revealed, even if that meant losing the case.

Angelique, the real witch, discredits Ben Stokes on the witness stand. The other eyewitnesses to the truth is Barnabas, who cares for Victoria, but apparently not quite enough to reveal himself. Granted, he doesn't want to dishonor his family and traumatize his mother, but I still see a large portion of self-preservation in the mix.

Yes, Barnabas does torture and murder Trask for persecuting Victoria -- and I feel the "Cask of Amontillado" variation is more effective than the "Monkey's Paw" variation -- but this seems like an attempt to compensate for what should have been done. Furthermore, murdering Trask is foolish because there's then no way to substantiate his written statement that Victoria is innocent.

We discover how dangerous Angelique is when "good witch" Bathia Mapes is destroyed while trying to lift the curse. It's a powerful moment dramatically, but I'm sorry to say I find the special effect less than convincing because it looks suspiciously like a close-up of a welder's torch. It would have been more convincing if Anita Bolster had actually sounded like she was in agony instead of like she'd seen a mouse.

The bonus interview with Lara Parker is the most entertaining one in this set, being practically a one-woman show -- complete with candles and red tablecloth -- wherein she waxes poetic about the vampire myth.

The Sy Tomashoff interview is the most interesting from an informational standpoint. Tomashoff discusses the sets for DS and how they were constructed to much higher standards than other television sets of the time.

Roger Davis rubbed me the wrong way by talking about his pranks on other actors. He seemed rather pleased with himself, but if I'd been one of those actors, I wouldn't have been amused. The interview with Louis Edmonds depressed me because he appeared to be in such bad shape. I'm guessing this was one of the last things he did before he passed away.

In the next installment, Barnabas's arch enemy follows him to the present, and the modern-day version of another famous horror story begins.

Average customer rating:

Vintage TV , Daytime Gothic drama
Good storyline but doesn't feel enough like DS
1897 Saga Continues

Dark Shadows: DVD Collection 14
Starring: Joan Bennett , Louis Edmonds , Kathryn Leigh Scott , Nancy Barrett , and Clarice Blackburn
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Dark Shadows: DVD Collection 15
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Dark Shadows: DVD Collection 17

ASIN: B0002HODDQ
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Description

In 1897, Quentin Collins and Magda the gypsy, discover the mysterious urn which contains the flames of life for Laura Collins, an immortal Phoenix. Jenny Collins, Quentin's insane wife, escapes from her basement cell at Collinwood and attempts to kill Quentin. Magda, Jenny's sister, places a curse on Quentin, which causes him to turn into a werewolf during a full moon. Jamison Collins finds Barnabas' coffin in the Old House basement and reveals the discovery to his father Edward. Carl Collins returns from Atlantic City with a showgirl and mentalist named Pansy Faye. She uses her psychic abilities during a s ance to help determine the fate of servant Dirk Wilkins, who rises as a vampire after being attacked by Barnabas. Bonuses: Includes exclusive interviews with actors David Selby, John Karlen, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Terry Crawford. Starring: Jonathan Frid, Joan Bennett, David Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, David Henesy, Lara Parker, John Karlen, Grayson Hall, Jerry Lacy, Diana Millay, Roger Davis, Marie Wallace, Humbert Allen Astredo, Clarice Blackburn, Don Briscoe, Terry Crawford. Color.

Customer Reviews:

Vintage TV , Daytime Gothic drama.......2007-01-10

Storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait to get to the next episode. There are some bloopers you catch sometimes, but that's live TV for you. All in all, wonderful acting, exciting characters and really brings back a lot of wonderful memories of watching it as a young teenager.

Good storyline but doesn't feel enough like DS.......2004-11-12

DS started off about being about Victoria Winters and her attempt to find her roots in Collinsport, Maine. Later it became about a vampire named Barnabas who is romantically fascinated with Victoria. By the 1897 storyline Vicki's gone.

1897 Saga Continues.......2004-10-12

There is a lot going at ol' Collinwood in this DVD set! Laura Collins wants her children, Barnabus is determined to find Laura's secret, Quentin becomes a werewolf, and a rogue vampire gives Barnabus some competition! Grayson Hall has a blast playing Magda and Roger Davis gets to go nuts (instead of the boring good guy). There are so many sub-plots in this one it's hard to keep track and some characters (like Angelique) get squeezed out. But the story line moves quickly, and I finished watching the set much sooner than I usually do. NOW I have to wait until Thanksgiving for the next set. It's always worth the wait!

Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo)

Average customer rating:

Gable's other work...
My favorite Golden Age actor gets the DVD set he deserves
great star, great collection,
Clark Gable The Signature Collection
The King finally gets his own

Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo)
Starring: Joan Crawford , Clark Gable , Franchot Tone , May Robson , and Winnie Lightner
Director: Robert Z. Leonard , Tay Garnett , and W.S. Van Dyke
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 2 (Marked Woman / Jezebel / The Man Who Came to Dinner / Old Acquaintance / What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Two-Disc Special Edition)
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ASIN: B000F7CMRC
Release Date: 2006-06-20

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Clark Gable was "The King" of Hollywood in his heyday, and why not? He carried himself in his movies as though entitled by royal birthright, erect and cocky, not especially curious about the rest of the world because he already owned it. Sure, Gable's characters frequently had to be humbled, but that's not what you remember about him; what you remember is the utter self-confidence, the brash American energy, and--sure--the jug ears. Clark Gable: The Signature Collection is not just a topnotch collection of the King in his court, it's also a look at just how good the Hollywood studio system (in this case, MGM) was in its glory years.

Except for late entry Mogambo from 1953, these titles are from Gable's peak run--1933 to 1940. First up chronologically is Dancing Lady, which pairs Gable with Joan Crawford; he's a gruff Broadway director, she's a plucky young dancer who moves up from burlesque to the legit theater thanks to wealthy suitor Franchot Tone. It's not a great movie, but the formula is pleasing, and there's a young fellow named Fred Astaire (his film debut) in a couple of scenes. Some surreal comedy is provided by Ted Healy and His Stooges (whose names happen to be Moe, Larry and Curly).

Tay Garnett's China Seas, from 1935, was a reunion with Jean Harlow, with whom Gable had struck gold in Red Dust. The script by James Kevin McGuinness and the gifted Jules Furthman might have a preposterous plot--cribbed from Red Dust--but the dialogue is deliciously vulgar and the actors perfectly cast. Gable is the captain of a boat on the Hong Kong-Singapore run, carrying secret gold and fending off pirates and a typhoon. His real problem, however is that the classy woman (Rosalind Russell) he has long pined for has come aboard at the exact moment his bawdy mistress (Harlow) has also tagged along. Clarence Brown's Wife vs. Secretary (1936) brings Harlow back, this time as the executive assistant to Gable's wealthy tycoon. Their relationship is strictly professional, although wife Myrna Loy eventually has suspicions. Gable and Loy are cute together, and the film is a reminder of how playful he could be outside the manly-man world of many of his films.

The blockbuster San Francisco, also 1936, gives a pretty good blueprint of what audiences craved at the time. Gable is the rakish owner of a wild Barbary Coast club, Jeannette MacDonald the opera-ready songbird who performs for him, Spencer Tracy the no-nonsense priest and childhood friend who would love to reform Gable. Director W.S. Van Dyke keeps it all cracking along (well, except when MacDonald sings and Cultcha comes in) and the special effects for the San Francisco earthquake are really rather awesome. Boom Town (1940) was another box-office smash, with Gable and Tracy as Texas oil wildcatters who team up, split, team up, split, etc. Claudette Colbert is the woman loved by both, although the male bonding is the most engaging thing about this entertaining spectacle.

Mogambo is an official remake of Red Dust, with Gable returning, this time as an African safari leader. Even with gray hair, his masculinity is enough to entice good-time girl Ava Gardner and ladylike Grace Kelly. John Ford directed, which means the location exteriors and studio interiors alike are alive with Ford's expressive compositional eye. Included on the San Francisco disc is a TNT documentary profile of Gable. But these titles give a pretty good profile all by themselves. --Robert Horton

Description

Named as the seventh greatest actor on AFI's List of "50 Greatest Screen Legends," Clark Gable reigned supreme as a screen icon during the 1930's and 40's. Six of Gables 75 feature films are remastered and now available on DVD in the new Clark Gable: The Signature Collection.

Customer Reviews:

Gable's other work..........2006-08-20

All good films, some new to DVD ("San Francisco", "Wife Vs. Secretary", etc.), from Warner's MGM library. They all feature the usual great film transfers we've all come to expect from Warner Bros. However, "Wife Vs. Secretary" was transferred from a very poor print which was unfortunate because I found the film has an unusually good performance from Jean Harlow and has a great little story. The release of "San Francisco" is timely because of the 100th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake and fire. This has always been a favorite of mine. This collection is a good cross section of Gable's work and definitely deserves a first or second look!

My favorite Golden Age actor gets the DVD set he deserves.......2006-07-28

Clark Gable is my favorite actor of all time, so the DVD boxed set, CLARK GABLE: THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION, from Warner Home Video is destined to be an often-played favorite. Gable made his first movie in 1931 and his last in 1961; this boxed set goes from 1933-1953. Included are six movie treasures: DANCING LADY (1933), CHINA SEAS (1935), WIFE VS. SECRETARY and SAN FRANCISCO (both 1936), BOOM TOWN (1940), and MOGAMBO (1953).