The subtly crafted, atmospheric "Eye of the Devil" with Deborah Kerr, David Niven, Donald Pleasance, and Sharon Tate will air again on TCM on Saturday, DECEMBER 13.

Check your listings for time.  TCM also shows that it will be airing (at the same time) the behind-the-scenes feature on the making of the film, showcasing Sharon Tate.

I was thrilled to discover this movie on my own, never having heard of it previously, which I prefer to both "The Haunting" and "The Wicker Man."

Interestingly, it was only after looking up information on the movie that I discovered that the director, J. Lee Thompson, also directed one of my other very favorite movies, the hard-to-find "Return from the Ashes."  And he directed them back-to-back.

Sadly, neither of these rather edgy films is available on VHS or DVD.

I was very surprised when I got home last night and began watching my tape, to see that "The Head" was introduced so early into the 1840 storyline.

Several people have been talking about 1840 being a retread of 1897.  Although I don't think that's the case at all, I think I was being subtly influenced enough to think that "The Head" came up much later in the storyline, as an afterthough or extension to the original story, similar to the Hand of Petofi in 1897.

The fact that the Head appears within the first few episodes of 1840 seems to answer a question in the Ben and Daniel thread.  Raholt wonders if the idea of Judah Zachary's malevolent influence came about much later than the original plan for the storyline.  Since the Head was introduced so early, though, it would seem that the Head was part of the original story concept.  The significance of its role is only gradually revealed, but the writers/concept people must have known who it was and what role it was to play in the story.  It's too prominent in the story already for the reasons behind it to have been developed later, IMO.

This is another reason for my admiration for this storyline -- the idea of Judah Zachary as the true power behind events affecting 1995, 1970, 1840, and late 1600s, certainly distinguishes this storyline as highly original and distinctly unique.  I have trouble seeing how some can dismiss 1840 as a retread of 1897.  Yes, there are variations on some familiar themes (ghosts that haunt children) and characters (another Trask), but these are variations like in a symphony, not blatant rehashes of old plots.  Looked at superficially, one could say that Jane Austen kept re-writing the same novel.  Examined more closely, one sees familiar themes and character roles, but with unique and individual characteristics that make everything new.  It's the same way with DS's many storylines -- just as a movement in a symphony makes variations on the theme from a previous movement but in a different key or developing it into something new.

Here's my take on the Head.  It's first appearance was creepy, skin-crawling.  Unless I'm inordinantly squeamish, I'm sure many viewers have the same reaction.  For children, it would hold a macabre fascination, I imagine.  A decapitated head is the stuff of nightmares.  And a head that proves to be alive is one of those horrors that I think live deep within our subconscious, similar to ancient fears that the dead could be reanimated and rise from their coffins at night.

I suggest that's the case because decapitated heads that are able to speak or have some power are found in various world mythologies.  For example, the Norse god Mimir was killed by decapitation but the great Odin recited a magic spell that restored the head to life and consulted it for occult secrets.  Decapitation for magical rites is thought to have occurred in ancient Scandinavia (e.g., decapitated heads found in bogs) and throughout the ancient world, including India and Greece.  In Celtic myth, the decaptiated head of Bran had magical powers.  Again, there is archaeological evidence for a cult of the head throughout the ancient Celtic realm.

I'm not familiar with Oriental mythology but would be interested to know if similar myths appear there, which might explain why Desmond was said to have bought the head in the Orient.

My thought is not that the DS writers necessarily had steeped themselves in Nordic or Ancient British mythology, although some one among them might well have read a book on the subject.  The other possibility as I see it is that the concept of a head that lives is an archetype residing in the unconscious that the writers may have tapped into.

Another example of why the 1840 storyline has such an impact and resonance for me.

-Vlad

contains some vague spoilers

That destruction of Collinwood scene has to be one of the silliest scenes DS ever staged ... It's difficult to take seriously, but I just sat there grinning and bearing it, since it's what propels Julia into the Stairway through Time and into the fascinating world of 1840 ...

I'd forgotten what rich characterizations 1840 has.  The elderly Ben Stokes is a poignant figure, embracing dignity and respect within this class-driven early Victorian society, and there are some well-done scenes up ahead between Thayer David and Jonathan Frid.  So far Samantha and Gabriel are very interesting, and from what I'm beginning to remember, most of the characters in this storyline are, including Gerard Stiles and Quentin.

In another thread Arashi mentioned especially liking John Karlen in this storyline, and if I had to choose I would say that Desmond Collins is my favorite among his many well-defined and individualized characters ... each one of them different -- thank goodness the powers that be recognized his talent and kept him throughout the majority of the series.  Flora Collins is also one of my favorite of Joan Bennett's roles and I'm looking forward to her appearance.

My least favorite character in this storyline in terms of effectiveness in its portrayal is probably the Joanna character -- a stronger actress was needed.  Another actor appears who so far seems to have played every character exactly the same way, but I think his role here is brief and less painful than some of the others.  And I wish they had chosen a different head for a certain head that will pop up along the way ... although its powerful voice (Keene Curtis) is all-to-briefly effective.

The sets (e.g., Rose Cottage interiors), lighting, and costumes of this period are all very evocative of the period, enhancing the dark theme ...

This storyline is so dark ... the overriding evil goes far beyond Gerard, who, as we shall see, is only an instrument of something greater and stretching even further back into the past ...

The 1840 storyline invites comparison with 1897 with its 19th century setting and the mystery of the ghosts who haunt the present-day children, but 1840 really is completely different and entirely unique.  The story concept as it plays out is highly original.  Although 1897 has some of my favorite moments of DS, in the final analysis I prefer 1840 largely because it holds together better and seems to have basically followed the original story arc that was mapped out for it.

As usual, I'm posting this comment a bit late, but I just wanted to comment on what I felt were a couple of very high quality dramatic episodes late last week -- Thursday, Friday I think.  These were the eps when Will Loomis fell (or did he leap?) to his death from the tower, which came as a shock and I truly felt sadness.  Then Carolyn's emotional reaction to it all, particularly Nancy Barrett's scenes with Frid, were superbly written* and acted.  Heavy hitting drama that was a notch above melodrama.  Carolyn's ambivalence toward Barnabas was realistic; her character in this storyline is well developed.

I'd forgotten much of this storyline from my first viewing, and am finding more to praise than I remembered.  While Leviathan was good "horror," like a Lovecraft story, 1970 PT is better with character development and human drama, plus the air of mystery that surrounds much of it.  Not to mention the incredibly macabre business with Roxanne that makes my skin crawl ...

_______________

*The were no final credits for a couple of these episodes, and I was compelled to check my Pomegranate program guide.  I wasn't surprised to see that the writer was Joe Caldwell.

Also, I earlier expressed my dismay that Caldwell, one of DS's finest writers IMO, didn't write for what I consider DS's greatest storyline, 1840.  However, as I was consulting my program guide the other day, I realized I was wrong -- Caldwell did have a hand in writing several eps of the 1840 storyline.

The movie "Vampire Journals" airs on SciFi at 2 a.m. CENTRAL time early Thursday morning (a.k.a. late night tonight, Wednesday).

One of the best modern, contemporary vampire movies I've happened to see.  I liked it far, far better than "The Hunger" and much better than "Embrace of the Vampire."

 

I've always been bemused the way no one in Collinsport ever seems to be embalmed -- at least, if Angelique had been, wouldn't she have been pretty well preserved for the short amount of time she's been dead?

Also thought of this when Elizabeth was thought to be dead and in her special tomb.

It would have been easy enough for the writers to work in an explanation:  "Her last wishes included that she did not want to be embalmed," etc.

 

I don't know if anyone gets the "FXM" network -- I know I don't.

If you do, you'll have the rare opportunity to view the 1961 classic "The Innocents" with Deborah Kerr.  For as long as I've had cable and learned about this movie via this forum, the movie has not aired on any station I get.  Fortunately, I purchased the video, but it is a pan and scan version which severely cuts off some of the scenes.  For example, in one scene, you see one person's nose on one side of the screen and the other person's nose on the other side of the screen.

If anyone watches the FXM showing, I would be interested to hear whether it was presented in wide-screen format.  If so, I envy you -- and advise you to tape it.  According to a multitude of comments on amazon and imdb.com, the widescreen version is practically mandatory for this movie.

Interesting that this should air just when a review of Dan Curtis's "The Turn of the Screw" has appeared on this forum (thanks, Midnite -- haven't had a chance to read it yet though).

"The Innocents" is a filmic "equivalent" of the Henry James ghost novella "The Turn of the Screw" which inspired a couple of the storylines on DS where the children are haunted by the ghosts of Quentin and Beth, for example (and I think a later storyline, too ... ).

I call the movie an "equivalent" or an interpretation since it follows the original rather loosely.  Much closer versions have been made that were also excellent, namely "The Haunting of Helen Walker" for NBC-TV and "The Turn of the Screw" for BBC - PBS.

The movie could be described, I think, as visual poetry with its wealth of nuance and visual symbolism.  The reading of the story is heavy on the psychological overtones but still leaves the essential ambiguity of the original novella.

Sadly, like "The Eye of the Devil" discussed recently, "The Innocents" is not available on DVD.

I think the description of this section of the board means that we can post off-topic things (like our favorite recipes, poetry, etc. ??  ) -- as long as we think they're of interest to people who like Dark Shadows ...

I'm so excited about a movie that airs tomorrow at noon (Central Time) on TCM, "Eye of the Devil."  I saw the last 45 minutes of it a few years ago and have been anxious to catch the entire movie ever since.  Taping it while I'm at work will mean I'll have to sacrifice taping DS tomorrow morning (since I want the movie on a separate tape, in SP) ...

I hope imdb.com won't mind my copying this summary:

"Vineyard owner marquis Philippe de Montfaucon is called back to his castle Bellenac because of another dry season. He asks his wife and children to remain in London, but they still come after him. His wife Catherine de Montfaucon soon discovers that her husband is acting mysteriously and that his employees are following old pagan rituals that call for the life of the marquis himself to save the crops." -- imdb.com  Summary of "Eye of the Devil"

This sounds a little bit like "The Wicker Man," which was discussed on this forum not long ago, and one commentator on imdb.com felt that the film must have influenced Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby."

I didn't know until I checked imdb.com just a few minutes ago that the director, J. Lee Thompson, also directed what may be my favorite movie from the 1960s:  "Return from the Ashes" (which I would kill to have on videotape -- it has never aired on cable since I got cable -- except on The Movie Channel, I think it is, which I don't get!  )

The cast includes Deborah Kerr ("The Innocents"); also, I was excited to see listed in the cast Flora Robson (the elderly Miss Pross in my favorite version of "A Tale of Two Cities," with Chris Sarandon, Peter Cushing, Billie Whitelaw), and also the playwright and actor Emlyn Williams ("Night Must Fall" -- which I taped only yesterday, sacrificing another day of DS! -- and which I've been waiting to see ever since my old theater days some years ago!).

Luciaphil says it's good, too.