I read about this a couple of months ago.  I saw one of those public domain VHS versions in the early 90s and am doubtful whether anything could improve this film... Barbara is lovely in her scenes of course (as is Ian Ogilvy), and from an historical point of view it's interesting as an early salvo from the director of WITCHFINDER GENERAL.

2009 really seems set to be The Year of Barbara Steele.  I wonder what other surprises we have in store?

Thanx Restev!

G.

Why, Midnite, you're right!  Which means that not only is my brain gone, but my eyes are no longer functioning either.

Oh well...

cheers, G.

There's a 1968 episode from late in the "Vampilique" storyline that has weird music and other sounds (I think muted, garbled dialogue) in one or two scenes.  I remember asking about this years ago and I was told that the distortion had happened on the master tape and with the tech then available could not be removed.  It may still not be able to be removed.

An explanation that occurs to me is that the master tape that was used on the taping dates concerned had been reused and for some reason, the previous content had not been completely wiped off the tape when it was used to record the episode.

From various threads here about the failure of many soap operas from the 1960s to survive, it seems as if the networks did re-use videotape a fair amount back in the day.

G.

Happy Belated Birthday to the most glam Witch *I* know!

cheers,

Gothick

This is wonderful news, Darren!

The latest relay of media buzz around Depp Shadows has been having me feel more optimistic about the restoration project than has been the case in some time.

Tally Ho!

Best, Steve

Hey MSC, I would say go back and re-watch Laura '66-'67. 

Having read quite a few of your posts over the years, I think Laura will provide the needed visual comfort food.  Plus, Vicki has some really great scenes throughout!

cheers, G.

That's nice to see that Jerry Lacy did one of these.  I don't go out to the West Coast DS functions so have never had the chance to meet him, but I admire his work enormously.

G.

Midnite, thanks so much for sharing Jerry's story about that scene.  It is indeed one of the most intense--and artistically successful--moments in the series.

I've really been enjoying the new captures MB has been sharing.  The one of Grayson from the other day having a Julia moment was simply ravishing!

Originally my favorite Clarice performance was as Minerva--such a marvelous mixture of venom, complacency, and self-righteousness (and you know that Minerva's scene with Laura still has the ability to make me scream)--but when I saw the original introduction of Mrs Johnson episodes from 1966, that trumped everything else.  I'm really sorry that the character lost some of her vinegar over the years, although I recently watched a marvelous episode from the Nicholas Blair storyline in 1968 where she was castigating Harry.  Nobody could deliver a tongue-lashing quite like Clarice!

G.