DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '11 I => Topic started by: Watching Project on June 27, 2011, 04:34:33 PM
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Robservations #1
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Episode 1 of a shiny new series, although of course everything looks old. Elizabeth's earrings sparkled, though.
Vicky doesn't impress me much. She drops everything to go off to a job in the middle of nowhere, sight unseen. In her shoes, I'd be sort of nervous about it even before Burke Devlin and Maggie Evans started talking. And then she talks too much to Burke Devlin, a complete stranger, and gets into a car with him, too.
When the old lady on the train (Jane Rose was wonderful) asked what Vicky would do for fun, I remembered my grandmother telling about how she arrived in a new town to teach English and Latin in 1920 and looked around for some fun by going to church. The first Sunday she went to Church A and they said, "You can teach Sunday School!" and that didn't sound like fun, so the next Sunday she went to Church B and they had something else she could do to help them that she didn't care to do, so the next Sunday she went to Church C, and so on. But with the way the old lady on the train was talking, there may not be all that many churches in Collinsport for Vicky to try.
I kept thinking, as Roger held his brandy glass, "Did they have to use a glass that was so obviously plastic?" And then Roger crushed it in his hand, and I understood why the glass was plastic. We should be impressed by the tension that enables him to break glass in his bare hand (ouch!) but what if it really is a plastic glass? In my family we have tons of lovely old dishes that have come down through the generations, but very few glasses, because those were more likely to get broken. Maybe the Collinses have broken all their old glasses and don't care to spend much money on more.
Did "jerk" ever mean what Maggie apparently intends it to mean? I think she meant "fool".
If I were watching this episode as a new show today, knowing nothing more about it than what I saw today, I think I wouldn't be terribly tempted to watch tomorrow's episode. There's the misuse of "jerk", there's Vicky being not terribly bright, and there's that plastic brandy glass. But I do know more about it than what I saw today, and I enjoyed seeing the beginning of what turned into something wonderful.
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My goodness, Lydia, you've already jumped in with both feet! [ghost_smiley]
To paraphrase Vicki, "Our journey is just beginning." When episode 1 aired, I wonder if anyone--DC included--could have imagined what that journey would be like and the places it would take us.
I've always been struck by Joan Bennett's beauty and the regal dignity she brought to the role of Elizabeth from the very beginning--I never could think of her as Liz. Everything about her sparkes as far as I'm concerned.
Vicki is very immature and naive, even for 1966. I was a teenager myself at the time and was totally absorbed with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, etc.--in other words, the larger world. The orphanage is supposed to be in New York, but it must have been quite a cloistered community. Even Mrs. Mitchell (yes, Jane Rose was terrific) seemed more worldly wise, and she must have spent most of her life near Collinwood. I hope that nowadays the writers wouldn't have Vicki get into the car with a complete stranger. And in those days, "jerk" was used to mean "fool" or "idiot." Love Maggie's brassy blond wig!
I suspect there was only one church in Collinsport and that the Collinses did not attend it, although I'm sure the front couple of pews were reserved for them and paid up. I also suspect Roger has had enough practice that he's figured out a way to crush glass glasses without severing an artery. [ghost_wink]
I love those last shots, when Vicki arrives at the Great House. She can see only Elizabeth's silhouette, but Elizabeth has a clear view of Vicki as she stands in the brighly lit foyer and gazes about her, looking very small indeed.
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Yes, that actually is an old meaning for "jerk": someone who allows himself to be taken advantage of.
"Yes I'm here, what do you want me to do? I can't see the slate..." Words of announcer beforehand. This is take three. I just watched "Scarlet Street" again, and I cannot imagine Liz saying, "Jeepers I love you, Johnny!" Are they making a special stop at Collinsport for Victoria and Burke? The biddy (I don't intend to be disrespectful; I think she was hired to be a "biddy") said the train hasn't stopped at Collinsport in five years. Wait, five years?! But then, I'm getting ahead of myself....
The biddy was a regular on the short-lived "Phyllis" TV series starring Cloris Leachman, an MTM spinoff. She tended to say off-color things one wouldn't expect to come from the mouth of a biddy, hence the comedy.
Sorry Lydia, while I was bored by VW as a child, now she strikes me as a very grounded and intelligent character. It seemed completely natural to me to feel Burke out by volunteering information and seeing how he responded, but then a lot of people over the years have probably thought that I'm too open with people.
I was going to say, not that much fun to be found in churches, but then again, Bramwell and Catherine had a nice experience at one. By the way, where's Bramwell, and what happened to all the color?
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I was going to say, not that much fun to be found in churches, but then again, Bramwell and Catherine had a nice experience at one. By the way, where's Bramwell, and what happened to all the color?
If I remember right, [spoiler]Bramwell made Catherine MISS going to church that day. I think we can also be pretty sure he wasn't on the way there himself either. [/spoiler]
And as for all that color, it kind of takes me back to see that glorious black and white!
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Sorry Lydia, while I was bored by VW as a child, now she strikes me as a very grounded and intelligent character.
Agreed. For quite a while Vicky knows the score in these early episodes. Unlike later in the series when she is completely clueless.
Here is the big intro to brother and sister. Already we are made fully aware just what an ass Roger is.
Here is bitter Burke at his very bitterest.
Maggie, the bewigged town gossip.
These are the episodes I have been wainting for. The location shooting... Yummy!
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Your wainting is over, Lydia!! Experience early DS in all its bewigged glory!! Forgive me please, I'm just trying anything available to entertain self....
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Your wainting is over, Lydia!! Experience early DS in all its bewigged glory!! Forgive me please, I'm just trying anything available to entertain self....
Is that why you called me Lydia?
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Is that why you called me Lydia?
I guess... or else, I had a brain fart of some kind. Sorry!
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I just love Maggie's line to Vicki about that lovely hair of yours turning "one glorious shade of grey" after her stay at the Great House.
What a wonderful start to the series! And if asked why we're still watching forty-five years later, we can all quote the Mistress of Collinwood: "Because I *choose* to do so!"
cheers, G.
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And in those days, "jerk" was used to mean "fool" or "idiot."
I think you'd have to go back further than 1966 for that to be the mainstream meaning of jerk. I still say the writers should have used another word.
Vicki is very immature and naive, even for 1966.
Oh, bless you, DarkLady!
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Are they making a special stop at Collinsport for Victoria and Burke? The biddy (I don't intend to be disrespectful; I think she was hired to be a "biddy") said the train hasn't stopped at Collinsport in five years. Wait, five years?!
Yes. And she said it hadn't made a regular stop there in maybe that long.
I not only had no problem with Vicki approaching Burke or getting into his car, I thought both were smart choices. With all the time Liz spent contemplating her arrival, did she ever once consider sending a car for her? (Anyone but Roger?) If Burke hadn't happened along, would the poor girl have been stranded on the platform all night, waiting and wondering if a taxi was going to show? How safe would that have been?
The actor playing the conductor returns in the 1897 story as a doctor tending to Barnabas. I'd totally forgotten that Bob O'Connell/Bob the bartender was in the first ep!
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I think Collinsport was what is called a "hatl" in English train parlance--in other words, you have to make a request (to the engineer or conductor?) for the train to stop there. I suppose now that Burke is so wealthy, he can stop the train wherever he darn well pleases.
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in 1897 amanda harris rather derogatorily calls collinsport a "whistle-stop town" meaning it was such a backwater the trains didn't stop there unless signaled to do so...
69 years later apparently it still was. so this begs the question when was collinport's "heyday" so to speak. when was it at it's peak? the eighteenth century?
it's clear that by 1966 it had seen better days as mrs.mitchell makes loud and clear.
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Did anyone see any characteristics of Eve Arden in episode 1's Maggie?
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kls said in one of the books that director lela swift told her to act like a wisecracking "young eve arden" in her earliest episodes(hence she has the sass to call her customer a "jerk").
but maggie really only ends up acting like that for a couple of episodes before she takes on the persona we know and love. and have i mentioned it here before that i LOVE early diner maggie evans? apple-cheeked gossip. spunky and cute.
b.t.w. this eve arden/anne southern type of wisecracking working girl with the proverbial heart of gold was very much a mid-century archetype. by 1966 that attitude was already becoming somewhat dated which is one of the reasons maggie's personality in this episode(to say nothing of the ash blond wig)is sort of jarring.
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I was surprised by how slowly Maggie talked. I've seen very little of Eve Arden, but I've always thought of her as fast-talking.
apple-cheeked
Yes, it's funny how much the wig changes the way Kathryn Leigh Scott looks.
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I'm back! [ghost_wink] Isn't it neat how the 2011 calendar is the same as the 1966 calendar? It's even more special that the WP is watching the episodes EXACTLY 45 YEARS after they originally aired! [ghost_smiley]
So, here we are with the very first episode of Dark Shadows, shown in glorious black and white! [milestone] Even when it was broadcast in color, I was watching in black and white, because we had a black and white TV at home. The only times I got to watch DS in color was when I was visiting my sister and her family. But I digress...
I find Maggie's first appearance quite refreshing. It's too bad they had to change her character. DS could have used such a character during its run. She was still quite attractive, but looked much different with that blond wig.
I don't think it was strange for Vicki to get into that car with Burke. How else was she supposed to get to town? [ghost_rolleyes] I think Elizabeth should have arranged for transportation for Vicki.
When Roger broke that glass, it was the first time of many when a glass was going to be broken in such a fashion. [milestone] I understand that his hand wouldn't have been cut after breaking a plastic glass, but I don't recall ANYBODY'S hand being cut when breaking a GLASS glass on DS.
More digressions... I really enjoyed watching this episode with the original commercials. They were quite charming! I also love the slate at the beginning. Too bad they only showed the slate on these "Beginning" episodes! [ghost_nowink]
One last thing... The first time I watched this episode was at my first Dark Shadows Festival in 2003. [milestone] I originally didn't start watching DS until just before Barnabas came onto the show. I now have ALL the episodes on DVD and have seen the pre-Barnabas episodes a few times since then. [ghost_grin]
----- Sally -----
[snow_bigglass] [hippy2]
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Welcome back, Sally! [ghost_smiley]
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Thanks, Midnite! [ghost_cheesy]
----- Sally -----
[snow_bigglass] [hippy2]
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EmeraldRose, it's great to see you posting again!
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Thanks, Lydia! [ghost_cheesy]
----- Sally -----
[snow_bigglass] [hippy2]
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EmeraldRose, it's great to see you posting again!
Same here!
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Thanks, Magnus! (Also, to avoid having to post this response again, anyone in the future who welcomes me back here, I thank you, too!) [ghost_cheesy]
----- Sally -----
[snow_bigglass] [hippy2]
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"The little monster is asleep and I'm delighted." Roger in reference to his son. The pupil may be a handful. The train pushes relentlessly on though the night carrying the governess to her destination. It becomes obvious that there was no interview before either party agreed to the position. Would you really hire someone you had never met on some other person's word?
The train hasn't made a regular stop in about five years and yet one can hire a chauffered car in Collinsport or perhaps it came Bangor. Having seen Eve Arden in other roles, I can't believe that KLS had. The details of the sets are great. Salmon Steak 75 cents. This is heads above the General Hospital sets and no organ music.
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I hope you'll be reviewing more episodes, alwaysdavid! [ghost_smiley]
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I decided to start watching again. You can really see that these shows were cut and done like
a regular TV show. It was like they were trying to make a good impression. Joan is so regal, she
always bought class to the show.
You can see by the camera work, and lighting it is shot by a different angle than it will be in the
future. It is nice that they did all the exterior shots. It would have been great if they would have
continued it. But it would have been to expensive I imagine.
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With all the time Liz spent contemplating her arrival, did she ever once consider sending a car for her? (Anyone but Roger?) If Burke hadn't happened along, would the poor girl have been stranded on the platform all night, waiting and wondering if a taxi was going to show? How safe would that have been?
It does seem odd that they didn't have a car waiting for her, doesn't it? Reminds me of the 1991 series, when I was horrified by the idea that Roger was just sending the drunken Willie Loomis over in a pickup truck to drive Vicki from the Blue Whale. Surely they could have hired a professional driver (or have gone over themselves? Roger drives, doesn't he?--I don't think there was going to be a bleeder valve incident in '91--and Liz didn't seem to be a recluse).
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It certainly does seem odd, doesn't it. But I suppose they had to set up her meeting Maggie so that Maggie could warn her to turn around and go back to New York. Otherwise, we wouldn't have learned about the gloomy old house and all the "kooks" who live in it, about whom Maggie could have told tales that would have turned Vicki's hair gray.