Re: The Drawing Room

dollsandmagic · ‎10-13-2014

I could call this The Library, as I want to link to texts here, but You will soon figure why I chose to call it The Drawing Room. The old English teacher is coming out of me and DARK SHADOWS had the best writers stealing from the greatest gothic classics. I'm going to start with my favorite, even though it's long, and what some would say is what put DARK SHADOWS off air, since Jonathan wanted to play the Heathcliff character instead of a vampire.

Here is the full text of Wuthering Heights, one of my favorite books:

http://www.literature.org/authors/bronte-emily/wuthering-heights/index.html

Here is my favorite film version, and I've probably seen them all. A & E did this one, and I think it is truest to the book, the sets, mood, and cast are superb.

http://wn.com/wuthering_heights_movie

https://www.etsy.com/listing/127462495/cruel-heathcliff?ref=shop_home_active_8

Barnabas/Bramwell: http://youtu.be/lSxbFFG9G70

So, get the brandy, or the sedatives, and post books, literature, texts, scripts... in The Drawing Room...

dollsandmagic · ‎10-14-2014

We all know children can be evil, or at least creepy. That's just one of many things that I love about DARK SHADOWS. The Beaver was not loose on Collinwood. One of the first classics borrowed for the show was one of the better books that I had to read in high school: The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James. I especially like the psychological aspects of this ghost story. Is it a ghost story? Or is the governess frustrated and delusional? Where does the evil hide? Dan must've liked this book a lot, as when Quentin is first introduced as a ghost, it's, once again, a swipe at the Peter Quint ghost from Turn of the Screw.

http://youtu.be/L9zkmANRZss

Here is the link to the full text:

http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Turn-of-the-Screw-by-Henry-James1.html

After DARK SHADOWS left the air Dan directed his own version of the story, starring Lynn Redgrave; I have it, it's good. You can get it, here:

http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Screw-John-Barron/dp/B000060MVG/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=141329...

But, (and I think Dan would likely agree), this is my favorite film version. Truman Capote even worked on it. It's really creepy. It's a good film to watch when You've about had it with the brats...:

http://youtu.be/ktvn-UFNJkM

***

dollsandmagic · ‎10-15-2014

Yes, of course, DRACULA, was my first favorite book. I used to teach it, and the students loved it too. All of the different point-of-views keep it moving and exciting. Even if You've seen every different version of the films, it's still worth the read. Here is the link to the text:

http://www.literature.org/authors/stoker-bram/dracula/

Vlad Tepes is a Romanian film from 1978. Can You believe that I got this as a Valentine once? HA!* It proved to be good. It's now online too. Click the CC for the English subtitles. It's as historically accurate as we are likely to ever get, and, yes, the actor playing Vlad looks Way Too Much like my dad.

http://youtu.be/VqbagKqtbAQ

If that is too much for You, You might prefer The King of Halloween's DRACULA documentary:

http://youtu.be/_xXV9fKcn_o

Dan Curtis directed his own version in 1973, starring Jack Palance. I have it too; it's good. You can find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000060MVD/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=3482861714&ref=pd_sl_941bw9z0s5_b

https://www.etsy.com/listing/180361372/vlad?ref=shop_home_active_2

***

dollsandmagic · ‎11-10-2015

The following is from DARK SHADOWS ALMANAC, 1995 Pomegranate Press:

SHADOWS SOURCES

The following literary works inspired Dark Shadows storylines:

Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (Victoria Winters, 1966; Jenny Collins, Rachel Drummond, 1897)

Arthur Miller's The Crucible (Reverend Trask, Abigail Collins & Victoria, 1795)

Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado (Barnabas & Trask, 1795)

Author unknown The Dream Deceivers (The Dream Curse, 1968)

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Adam, 1968)

Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard,
1968)

Henry James' The Turn of the Screw (The Ghosts of Quentin Collins & Beth Chavez, 1968-69; The Ghosts of Gerard Stiles & Daphne Harridge, 1970)

Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell Tale Heart (Quentin and Edith Collins, 1897)

Charles Dickens Nicholas Nickleby; Dotheboys Hall (Worthington Hall, 1897)

Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit & The Pendulum (Aristede & Quentin, 1897)

Guy de Maupassant's The Monkey's Paw (Count Petofi's hand, 1897)

Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray (Quentin's Portrait, 1897)

H.P. Lovecraft's The Cthulhu Mythos (The Leviathans, 1969-70)

Greek Mythology: Orpheus In The Underworld (Quentin & Amanda, 1969-70)

Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca (1970 Parallel Time & Night of Dark Shadows)

Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Cyrus Longworth/John Yaeger, 1970 Parallel Time)

Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights (1841 Parallel Time)

Shirley Jackson's The Lottery (1841 Parallel Time)

When Roger Collin's is under the spell of Angelique's portrait in 1968, he recites to the painting from Matthew Arnold's poem Dover Beach.

The Dark Shadows writers didn't always remember everything they had established on previous episodes. For example, during the latter part of the series, the 1795 period was often erroneously referred to as 1797.

***

The only ones I haven't read are: The Dream Deceivers, Frankenstein, and Nicholas Nickleby. I used to teach The Crucible, Poe, and The Lottery. Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, and Jane Eyre are my favorites, but they are all good. Rebecca is a good place to start. She also wrote The Birds.

dollsandmagic · ‎05-28-2016

Manitowak:

http://www.dollsandmagic.com/apps/blog/show/44004515-manitowak

HauntedNostalgia · ‎06-04-2016

I love the literary references too Dana.

dollsandmagic · ‎01-21-2017

The Heiress of Collinwood, Lara Parker's latest DARK SHADOWS book concerning Victoria Winters, explains everything You've ever wondered about Victoria and so much more. It is beautifully written: full of symbolism and allusions to Jane Eyre and other poetry. It is just like watching old DARK SHADOWS again and a wonderful tribute to our favorite show. Some of You are going to have to get over your hatred of Angelique as You are missing out on this bewitching book...

***XOXO***

HauntedNostalgia · ‎01-21-2017

Ah I will never get over my dislike of Angelique- she is wicked and destroyed Barnabas's life, Josette and his family! I much prefer Julia and Barnabas fan fics like the ones Pakbrat wrote ( an Etsy seller). Yes, I am a Julia fan too!

Former_Member · ‎05-01-2018