DARK SHADOWS FORUMS

Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '06 I => Topic started by: Philippe Cordier on January 14, 2006, 11:53:05 PM

Title: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Philippe Cordier on January 14, 2006, 11:53:05 PM
Has Jonathan Frid ever talked about working with Shelley Winters, who sadly has passed away today?

I wish "The Devil's Daughter" would be released on DVD - I've never seen it.

Shelley Winters did some great scary, possibly Gothic, parts back in the early '70s, "The Devil's Daughter," "Revenge," "Whoever Slew Auntie Roo," etc.





Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: michael c on January 15, 2006, 01:15:30 AM
she also had a small role in roman polanski's incredibly creepy film "the tenent".

this is the first i've heard of ms.winters' passing. :-[
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Philippe Cordier on January 16, 2006, 08:57:59 AM
she also had a small role in roman polanski's incredibly creepy film "the tenent".

I have the DVD of The Tenant but I've never watched it.  I didn't even know Shelly Winters was in it!



Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Janet the Wicked on January 16, 2006, 01:04:14 PM
One of my fave films in which Shelley Winter's appears is "Night of the Hunter" starring Robert Mitchum. Plenty spooky. She was a fine actress and will be missed.

Janet
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Annie on January 16, 2006, 02:07:42 PM
Hi all i saw Shelley Winters in a movie long ago called " Patch Of Blue"
Quite a movie.              Love Anne   ( she shall be missed)
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: adamsgirl on January 16, 2006, 04:47:14 PM
Hi all i saw Shelley Winters in a movie long ago called " Patch Of Blue"
Quite a movie.

That was a wonderful movie. Over the years, I saw her in loads of stuff, and I always marveled at her versatility. She will be missed.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on January 16, 2006, 07:17:25 PM
Just a quick reminder to please keep in mind that this topic is on a DS discussion forum and it is about whether or not Frid ever discussed his experience of working with Ms. Winters. As sad as her passing is, and as talented as she was, both of those subjects in and of themselves are way OT for the forum and are best discussed elsewhere where they would be more appropriate.

Thanks.  :)
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Misa on January 16, 2006, 08:28:54 PM
What were Shelly Winters and Jonathan Frid in? Was it a play?

Misa
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Connie on January 16, 2006, 10:33:06 PM
What were Shelly Winters and Jonathan Frid in? Was it a play?

They were in a TV movie - The Devil's Daughter.  I remember watching some of it when it was first aired -- all excited that Frid was in it.  I was quickly disappointed.  All he had was a brief walk-on as a mute butler or something.  Don't know why he bothered.  I remember turning off the TV in disgust.  Don't know if he ever showed up later in the movie.

Did he?

PS  Last thing I remember seeing Ms. Winters in was her role as Nana Mary on Roseanne.  Woooo hoooo!  Yes!  [thumb]

I've also fantasized that the afghan on Roseanne's couch is one of the ones from Dark Shadows that the ABC prop department dug up.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Nancy on January 16, 2006, 11:01:16 PM
What were Shelly Winters and Jonathan Frid in? Was it a play?

It was a TV movie called DEVIL'S DAUGHTER and JF played a mute butler to one of the gatekeepers of this satanic group (mute because his more humane aspects cost him the physical removal of his tongue, if I remember correctly).  Bet that brought a halt to his Bronx cheer days!

Since most people enjoy JF's voice, initially the film is disappointing because he doesn't speak but throughout the movie his use of mime and facial expressions (exceptionally in the last frame of the film) is quite memorable, IMO.  I remember seeing it on TV for the first time and while I enjoyed his performance, I wish there had been more of him.  Frid talked about initially being told there would be more to the role than their ultimately was but he made the best of it.  For a popular soap actor to even get a visible role in a prime time movie back in those days was not at all common so he did better than most!

JF hasn't discussed working with Shelly Winters publicly very much.  I dont recall an instance when he did but he might have.  His tendency is not to talk about co-workers not just in a negative way but in general.

Nancy
http://www.nancykersey.blogspot.com
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Jackie on January 16, 2006, 11:31:26 PM
What were Shelly Winters and Jonathan Frid in? Was it a play?

The Devil's Daughter.  I saw the entire movie recently and liked it.  No, JF didn't talk but his mime was superb!!  It was worth it to see him in the movie.  The storyline was ok, the main actors worked well together but my main interest was seeing JF in something other than Dark Shadows.  It was disappointing that JF didn't say anything but he did very well with his facial expressions and emotions.  His part was a major one but he has several scenes that adds spice to the story.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Nancy on January 17, 2006, 01:15:45 AM
Jackie, do you have any of your great screen captures from DD available to post here?

Nancy

I saw the entire movie recently and liked it.  No, JF didn't talk but his mime was superb!!  It was worth it to see him in the movie.  The storyline was ok, the main actors worked well together but my main interest was seeing JF in something other than Dark Shadows.  It was disappointing that JF didn't say anything but he did very well with his facial expressions and emotions.  His part was a major one but he has several scenes that adds spice to the story.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Philippe Cordier on January 17, 2006, 08:59:35 AM
This was the most detailed description I've heard about Frid's role in the movie.  I had heard it was brief, and mute, but that was about it.

Probably if I had seen it at the time, I would have been disappointed, as Connie was, had I been watching it in anticipation of seeing "Barnabas."  But now as an adult, with greater knowledge of what's involved in acting, I'm sure I'd find it fascinating to watch.


Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Nancy on January 18, 2006, 04:32:56 AM
Vlad,

I have not seen the movie in some years but since I enjoy seeing Frid act, my only disappointment was not seeing more of him in the movie.  Frid's role as the butler to Shelly Winters' "Yes, Mr. Satan-I-will-find-your-daughter-and-introduce-her to you-so-she can-fulfill-her destiny" role.  Belinda Montgomery was the daughter born of a mortal mother and her father was Satan.   Shelly Winters was some sort of den-mother type - I don't remember exactly and Belinda's character wound up sharing a house.  Robert Fox (I think that is his name - was last married to Elizabeth Montgomery) played a boyfriend or something.  Anyway, Frid's butler was like the Willie of Barnabas to Shelly Winters' character.  He wanted to protect, and seemingly prevent, the young woman from getting caught in the snares of Satan's family, wordly and otherwise.  At the end of the film when it looks as if all is lost for the young woman, Frid's character is seen with a tear coming down his face.

After Dark Shadows, I was quite excited to see anything Frid was in that was different than playing Barnabas so I was not set up to be disappointed in that way.

Nancy
This was the most detailed description I've heard about Frid's role in the movie.  I had heard it was brief, and mute, but that was about it.

Probably if I had seen it at the time, I would have been disappointed, as Connie was, had I been watching it in anticipation of seeing "Barnabas."  But now as an adult, with greater knowledge of what's involved in acting, I'm sure I'd find it fascinating to watch.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Jackie on January 18, 2006, 08:10:27 AM
Quote
Jackie, do you have any of your great screen captures from DD available to post here?

Nancy,

I do have my screen capture [saved to CD] of The Devil's Daughter.  I could upload as attachments if that's ok with the moderators.  Would they have to be a certain size to use as attachments?  Any rules like on the Caption This Forum?  You know I like to share my screen captures with others.  ;D
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Nancy on January 18, 2006, 09:05:23 AM
Jackie,you will probably have to resize whatever photos you choose to share.

When you go to upload the photo from the posting place, you will told what size will work.

nancy

I do have my screen capture [saved to CD] of The Devil's Daughter.  I could upload as attachments if that's ok with the moderators.  Would they have to be a certain size to use as attachments?  Any rules like on the Caption This Forum?  You know I like to share my screen captures with others.  ;D
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Midnite on January 18, 2006, 05:09:49 PM
Thanks, Nancy.  I'd love to see them, Jackie.

The allowed file types, max size, and per post limit that you see when you attach images on Caption This! applies everywhere else.  The maximum attachment size that the system will accept is 100 KB.  As always, use the preview feature before attaching the image.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Gothick on January 18, 2006, 06:03:04 PM
Well, I personally am a huge fan of the movie The Devil's Daughter.  I'd seen it back in the day and didn't remember much about it, apart from Winters' over the top performance.  About 12 years ago I was able to tape it when it was on around 2 a.m. on a local station and a friend recently made a DVD-R for me from my old tape, which looks pretty darn good!

The movie is well worth seeing, I'd say.  Frid's role is more than a walk-on; he plays an important part in the Belinda Montgomery character's gradual understanding of what's happening to her.    As another fan commented, his final scene in the movie packs a poignant punch.

Winters is a hoot, and if memory serves, Abe Vigoda plays one of the cultists.  I think the movie was directed by Jeannot Szwarc who worked a great deal on Rod Serling's Night Gallery series, and Joseph Cotten has a nifty little role in it.  The Belinda Montgomery character is somewhat reminiscent of Vickie Winters in her "I don't understand" mode--I mean, if you walked into somebody's living room and there was a giant picture of Satan over their fireplace, wouldn't you think they were more than just "eccentric"?  There are also these priceless two white-gloved garden-hat-wearing ladies who live next door, played by two character actresses whose names escape me.  Their scenes add a disturbing note (because of how they're played) to the otherwise rather campy goings-on.

Some of those Seventies TV movies are surprisingly well done.  Anybody remember Crowhaven Farm, with Hope Lange battling seventeenth century Witches in New England?  Or Soimething Evil, with Patty Duke, where she has to paint a fullblown 9 foot magic circle on her floor to protect her family?

G.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid in The Devil's Daughter
Post by: Jackie on January 18, 2006, 06:16:09 PM
Here is a sequence in TDD where JF's character is trying to protect the girl.  She just discovered an album with photos of the cult's members but she doesn't understand it yet.  The butler comes in and tries to warn her to be careful and leave the album alone.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid in The Devil's Daughter
Post by: Jackie on January 18, 2006, 06:19:52 PM
Here are some more photos of JF in "TDD"  and the photo Nancy referred to where the tear comes to the butler's eye at the end of the movie.


Title: Re: Jonathan Frid in The Devil's Daughter
Post by: Jackie on January 18, 2006, 06:23:40 PM
And one last photo of the cult members.  It is the photo in the album Belinda Montgomery's character finds. You can see the butler was a member so he knows full well what the daughter will be getting into.

Sorry if it's too small to see the faces; the quality of the copy I have isn't great.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Gothick on January 18, 2006, 06:50:31 PM
Jackie those are great captures!  they show up beautifully for me.

For those who are interested, the two "sisters" I mentioned are on the (viewer's) far right in the photo. Abe Vigoda is next to them, ie third from the right.

G.
Title: Re: Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters
Post by: Jackie on January 19, 2006, 03:36:29 AM
Jackie those are great captures!  they show up beautifully for me.

For those who are interested, the two "sisters" I mentioned are on the (viewer's) far right in the photo. Abe Vigoda is next to them, ie third from the right.

After all this talk about TDD, I think I want to see it again.  LOL  :o