Happy 50th Anniversary, Night of Dark Shadows

[Mysterious Benefactor]

A video that I'd like to think is worth revisiting:

The other day while I was looking up something completely different, I was reminded by this -

...

- which leads me to mention that in DC's script he's added:

178A   SHOTS OF A IN THE TOWER LOOKING DOWN        SUPER EYE SHOTS

...

- which prompted me to want to make an entirely new video because how would it have been possible for the audience to definitely know that Angelique was looking down on the Master Bedroom from the Tower Room if there was no establishing shot to indicate that? Plus, as I'd said, I'd wanted to length the time the stills were on view, so making a new video killed two birds with one stone, as it were. And I added two other stills to the mix to establish the dream.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

When it comes to Scene 179:

The following is a list of scenes that are still lost and which are not present in the 129 min version recovered in 1999.

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INT.RUINED SWIMMING POOL. Quentin & Angelique make love.(Around ten seconds of this scene exists on the theatrical trailer, but the rest of the shots in the sequence are lost.)

I'm not so sure if Scene 180 is still lost or not. Scene 180 does not appear on the lost list - but that's the case with a few scenes that still may be lost. And the thing is when it comes to the Blu-ray it does seem as if there might be a cut in the background music at the point where the existing sequence in the 94 minute version of the film switches from Tracy tossing in bed (Scene 178) to her approaching the pool house (Scene 182). But that seeming cut can also be heard when it comes to the VHS, and as we've seen, most of the time that sort of thing was rescored to correct any jumpiness in the background music, but it's not when it comes to the VHS. So, maybe the way the background music plays at that transition was intentional and not due to cut footage. And once again, I don't recall if Darren ever showed a version of the sequence that included Scene 180. So who knows?

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Before we move on to Scene 181, I have to get into a new discovery I've made completely without any sort of idea that I was going to make it. Just for the fun of it I'd wanted to check to see how different the color of Angelique's attack on Alex in Scene 176 may be in the trailers versus the actual film because quite often that is the case with certain footage in trailers (for example, certain footage in the 2 minute NoDS trailer often has a red tint that it most certainly doesn't have in the film). And I was expecting color of the trailer footage to be closest to the VHS/Laser release. And that pretty much is the case. But imagine my shock when I played the attack footage from the 2 minute trailer and suddenly I realized that the effect of Angelique attacking Alex is different in the trailer from how it is in the film! After closer investigation I then learned that the end of the footage in the 1 minute trailer goes on several frames longer than what's shown in the 2 minute trailer. Plus, when it comes to both versions of the trailer, the attack lasts longer in the trailers than it does in the film.

But anyway, I'm not going to post the attack footage from the 2 minute trailer because as I said it's red tinted, and it doesn't show as much of the attack as the 1 minute trailer does.

But here is the footage from the 1 minute trailer -

- and I'll be breaking down a lot of the differences in it versus the film in a future post...

(And as a side note, after I broke it down into frames I learned that a green tinted version of the 1 minute trailer that I'd come across of YouTube is not only green tinted but there isn't a transition frame in it from the attack footage to the footage of Angelique's hanging. Who knows where that version came from? But that's not what this topic is about.)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the trailer attack footage versus the film attack footage for Scene 176:

TRAILER	FILM
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)

It's interesting how the effect starts out fairly similarly in each, but it soon diverges.

More to come...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Continuing with the side-by-side comparison of the trailer attack footage versus the film attack footage for Scene 176:

TRAILER	FILM
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)
(Click here for a 620X465 version)	(Click here for a 620X465 version)

The effect ends after 3 more frames in the film, but it continues for 30 more frames in the 1 minute trailer - and here's a showing of that which also jumps 10 frames at a time:

And just for the fun of it, here's how that last frame shows in that green tinted trailer:

Why it took me so long to notice the differences between the attack in the film and in the trailers is anyone's guess. But it would seem as though I can take solace in the fact that I'm probably not alone because I've never seen/heard anyone else comment about it.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how the start of Scene 181 is scripted:

Finally the beginning of the current scene:

CUT TO: 181    INT - COTTAGE - NIGHT                              181        It is later now as Alex, still numb   from his experi-        ence, sits staring into his drink.  An agitated Claire        stands watching him.

And that's when yesterday's quote -

Page 84/Scene 181 - Claire: 'It was the most frightening thing I've ever seen.'

- comes up, followed by today's first quote -

Page 84/Scene 181 - Alex: 'Claire...I want you to take the car and get out of here now.'

 - coming up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 84/Scene 181 - Claire: 'No -- I won't leave you!'

- coming up.

And as far as any differences go, apparently we'll never know what they might have been or even if there were any because this scene doesn't appear in any version of the film...

   And so far as "yesterday's quote" goes, it was from May 14th this time around, and so far as "today's" quotes go, they were from May 15th.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting and wrapping up how Scene 181 is scripted:

Continuing Scene 181, beginning with Alex' reaction to Claire saying she won't leave:

He looks up, about to object.

And that's when today's first quote -

Page 84/Scene 181 - Claire: 'No -- I don't care what you say, I won't leave you here alone.'

 - comes up, followed in the script by:

She goes into his arms and he kisses her.

And that's when today's second quote -

Page 84/Scene 181 - Alex (resigned to it): 'O.K....'

- comes up.

And as far as any differences go, there's nothing to get into because this scene doesn't appear in any version of the film. And DC's script doesn't even have any notes about it. But given there's at least one still from it, obviously we know it was shot.

   And as far as "today's" quotes go, they were from May 16th this time around.

Wrapping up Scene 181, beginning with today's first quote -

Page 84/Scene 181 - Claire: 'What are we going to do? We can't fight her -- She has so much power -- Alex, maybe we should go to Quentin now.'

 - coming up, followed in the script by:

181    CONTD                                      CONTD   181

And that's when today's second quote -

Page 85/Scene 181 - Alex: 'I don't know. Let me think.'

- comes up.

End of scene.

And when it comes to possible differences, we can't get into anything because this scene doesn't appear in any version of the film...

   And as far as "today's" quotes go, they were from May 17th.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting a couple graphics and a still from Scene 181:

Graphics appearing in the slideshow recently -

- and continuing through Tuesday the 17th have been made using different crops of this -

(Click here for a 800X527 version)

- which was shared in the 1992 LA Halloween Fest Program...

This time around graphics made from that still lasted through Friday the 17th...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting another entry on Darren's "still lost" scenes:

When it comes to Scene 181:

The following is a list of scenes that are still lost and which are not present in the 129 min version recovered in 1999.

...

INT.COTTAGE. Alex and Claire recover and plan.

Normally I would say it's a shame that a scene involving Claire wasn't included in the film (or not even filmed, as in the cases of Scenes 81, 82 & 83), but in this case it's probably a good thing because including Scene 181 would have slowed down/interrupted the suspense/momentum between Tracy in the master bedroom and her appearance outside the pool house...

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Backtracking a bit -

... as I alluded to in the above post, Darren included this on his Restoration site:

Sadly, when it comes to Scenes 171, 171A, 171B & 171C:

The following is a list of scenes that are still lost and which are not present in the 129 min version recovered in 1999.

...

INT.2ND FLOOR CORRIDOR. Quentin runs from the bedroom. INT.FIRST FLOOR STAIRWAY. Carlotta comes upstairs, notices Quentin.

INT.FIRST FLOOR CORRIDOR. Carlotta nods to Gerard who exits.

Though I may be misinterpreting that Scene 171B is lost because the first two scenes listed above are Scenes 171 & 171A, but the third listed is Scene 171C. Did Darren simply forget to include Scene 171B on the lost list? Possibly. Though one thing that is known is that Scene 171B is not on the recovered list. So who knows?

...

It would be quite nice IF Scene 171B is in the 129 minute version of the film, but given that, as I said, it's not on the recovered list, I have my doubts.

...

- while searching old posts to make sure no one had already posted about the similarities between DS and the Blacula films, I came across this '04 comment from Gothick -

Just a short note to say that of the programming at the Festival, by far the highlight for me was Darren's presentation of the footage he has recovered from the missing half hour (plus) of Night of Dark Shadows.

...

Among the missings scenes, I enjoyed ... another cat-and-mouse scene between Carlotta and Tracy, and, for us Grayson fans, another scene between her and Quentin as well.

...

- and it would seem to indicated that Scene 171B is indeed in the 129 minute version of NoDS because it's pert of the only sequence in the script between Carlotta and Quentin that isn't in the film - though why it isn't on the recovered footage list is anyone's guess - and it's funny that I don't remember seeing it at all - but then there were so many recovered scenes presented that day...

(And BTW, the recovered "cat-and-mouse" is what transpires in Scenes 47 through 50.)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scenes 182 & 183 and the beginning of Scene 184 are scripted:

And now working up to today's scene:

CUT TO: 182    EXT - WOODS - NIGHT                                182        as Tracy walks, trance-like, TOWARD CAMERA.                                               DISSOLVE TO: 183    EXT - SWIMMING POOL - NIGHT                        183        as Tracy ENTERS the building. 184    INT - SWIMMING POOL - NIGHT - HIGH ANGLE           184        Tracy is a small figure as she ENTERS the darkened        building.  Then, still trance-like, she walks along        the edge of the murky water toward the back of the        pool.        TRACY - LOW ANGLE        as she walks TO CAMERA, then stops.  SLOWLY TRUCK        IN ON HER as she begins to realize where she is.        Then shaking her head as if to clear her mind, she        begins to look around.

And that's when today's quote -

Page 85/Scene 184 - Tracy (frightened): 'What am I doing here?... What?...'

- comes up.

And when it comes to possible differences, so little of what's scripted above is seen in the film as it currently stands, so it's hard to know what might have been different. And an interesting thing is that what's missing from the film isn't on the list of unrecovered scenes - but given the way things play in the film, it's hard to imagine that much of what's missing could be in the 129 minute version. For example, after we see Tracy tossing and turning in bed with Angelique's eyes superimposed over her in Scene 178A, in the film things immediately cut to -

- the outside of the swimming pool with Angelique's eye superimposed over it - and soon a trance-like Tracy is seen -

-approaching - and as she begins -

- to ascend the stairs, she suddenly stops -

- and appears to regain her senses - after which she moves to go -

 - inside - whereupon things cut to the inside -

- but shot from a low angle - and soon Tracy -

- appears, shot from that same angle. There's no Scene 182 of Tracy walking trance-like in the woods and moving toward camera (however, there's a definite cut in the background music and a noticeable shift in Angelique's image when things transition from Tracy in bed to the outside of the swimming pool building, so Scene 182 may exist in the 129 minute version and it could be another case where it's possible that something was simply cut for time during the marathon editing) - and at no time is the interior of the swimming pool or Tracy shot from a high angle - nor is Tracy seen, still trance-like or otherwise, as she walks along the edge of the murky water toward the back of the pool - nor is there a slow truck in on her as she begins to realize where she is (especially considering that in the film she appears to have already realized where she is before she enters) - nor does she shake her head as if to clear her mind - nor does she ever deliver today's quote. In fact, tomorrow we'll begin to get into exactly what Tracy does actually do upon entering the building...

   And as far as "today's quote" goes, it was from May 18th.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of how Scene 174 is scripted:

And continuing with Scene 184 but using Grayson's version of the script because 1) DC's script doesn't change Samantha to Laura, and 2) for some very odd reason, his script is missing the last two lines on page 85 (The Curse Of PomPress strikes again!!):

Then suddenly remembering her dream, she calls out.

And that's when today's first quote -

Page 85/Scene 184 - Tracy: 'Quentin!...Quentin!...are you here?'

- comes up, followed in the script by:

As the ECHO OF HER VOICE DIES OUT, she stands there,        terrified, not knowing what to do.  There is a long        moment of silence and then from O.S., the SOUND OF        QUENTIN'S VOICE.

And that's when today's second quote -

Page 85/Scene 184 - Quentin: 'So you came to spy on us, Laura.'

- comes up - and that's where page 85 ends in DC's script - but in Grayson's script it continues with:

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POOL - TRACY'S P.O.V.        In complete   darkness, it is impossible to see where

And then both scripts pick up on page 86 with:

184    CONTD                                      CONTD   184        he is.  Then the SOUND OF HIS FOOTSTEPS can be heard.        Finally, Quentin emerges from the blackness into a        shaft of moonlight, his limp more marked than ever.        He moves toward her, his eyes burning with hatred.

End of scene - but certainly not end of sequence.

And when it comes to differences in the dialogue, after Tracy delivers today's first quote, which she actually says as "Quentin!...are you here?" with the second "Quentin!..." dropped, before too long she continues with an unscripted -

"Quentin!..."

- and another -

"Quentin!..."

- and we actually hear Quentin's voice ask "Did you come to spy on us, Laura?" - and after that, in more unscripted dialogue, Tracy calls out -

"Where are you?"

- as we see Quentin through the mists - followed by Tracy calling out -

"Quentin..."

- and then -

"Where are you?"

- again.

And when it comes to the differences in the descriptions and directions, after Tracy calls out asking if Quentin is there, unlike how the script indicates that she simply stands there, terrified, not knowing what to do, it's when she actually walks along the edge of the murky water, though, as mentioned in the previous post, she's herself and not at all trance-like - and then when she stops walking, she calls out to Quentin again (and I love how, as can be seen above, DC uses her reflection in the pool) - and when Quentin calls out, as can be seen in today's second capture, the camera shows Tracy and her reflection and some of the building -

- but then the camera zooms back to show -

- how huge and empty Tracy's surroundings are - and because we initially see Quentin through the mists when Tracy initially asks where Quentin is, we don't actually see her P.O.V. of the other side of the pool until after we hear the sound of his footsteps -

   And as far as "today's" quotes go, they were from May 19th this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the subtitles and the closed captioning for Scene 184:

Getting back to the subtitles and the closed captioning, when it comes to Scene 184, after Tracy enters the pool house, calls to Quentin, and asks if he's there, in a bit of unscripted dialogue, she calls out to Quentin two more times - and both the subtitles -

- and the closed captioning -

- reflect that.

It's interesting that sometimes the subtitles represent Tracy as calling to Quentin questioningly and others not, but the closed captioning always has Tracy calling to Quentin questioningly. I suppose it's a matter of interpretation...

And I have to say I've always loved the shot of Tracy reflected in the water.

To be continued...

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Continuing to revisit the subtitles and the closed captioning for Scene 184:

...

From out of nowhere Tracy hears Quentin's voice ask, "Did you come to spy on us, Laura?" - and she asks in more unscripted dialogue that's reflected in both the subtitles -

- and the closed captioning -

- and after she calls out in both the subtitles -

- and the closed captioning -

- and then in the last of these three bit of unscripted dialogue she asks again in both the subtitles -

- and the closed captioning -

To be continued...

...