DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '06 II => Topic started by: Gothick on July 18, 2006, 02:38:34 PM
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(For those who don't get the reference, the title of this topic is inspired by an old Saturday Night Live skit, "Coffee Talk," featuring Michael Myers as talk maven Linda Richman "filling in for my dear friend Paul Baldwin, who is STILL in Boca Raton with shpilkis in his genechtigezoink." In this skit, Linda and two of her dear friends, played by Madonna and Rosanne Barr, were discussing "Barbra Joan Streisand" and the movie "Prince of Tides," which they kept saying was "like BUTTAH." Madonna said "It's better than HEROIN, not that I would ever know what heroin is like!")
In honor of the imminent publication of "Grayson Hall: a Hard Act to Follow," by R. J. Jamison, the new full-length biography of our very own Dr. Julia Hoffman, I am starting this thread to discuss favorite scenes by the Divine One on our show. Her own favorite role on the series was that of Magda--after 1969 she mentioned in several magazine interviews that Magda was "still alive" and hinted that she would enjoy playing her again. One of my favorite Magda moments was featured in the board slide show a couple of days ago: [spoiler]after Sandor's death, Magda tells Barnabas to bite her, so she can know what Sandor went through during his last months of life. Even better, perhaps, is the scene where Magda takes an axe (at the end of this show) and chops the Hand of Count Petofi in two--I just love the look on her face in this scene![/spoiler]
This highlights how so many of Grayson's great moments on the show were entirely (or almost entirely) non-verbal. I loved the scene (used by Claude North in one of his videos available on You Tube) where Julia comes to the Old House in the 1967 storyline and [spoiler]informs Barnabas that she's wiped Maggie's memory through hypnosis--and Barnabas is now going to have accept that Dr. Hoffman is in charge. While she makes this statement, she lights her cigarette off of one of Barn's cherished candelabras, inserts it into a long holder, and casually blows smoke around the room, while he glares at her in outrageous. It's a FABULOUS moment.[/spoiler]
I do think that in some ways, Grayson's finest acting was as Hoffman, the housekeeper in Parallel Time 1970. You get to see her toning things way down and working with a degree of restraint not seen in her other work on DS. I love how subtly she intimidates and condescends to Maggie in the initial days of the storyline. One of my favorite moments is when she is talking about Quentin and says (clearly thinking of his sexual relationship with late wife Angelique, whom Hoffman idolized) "He had EVERYTHING." The way she says the line makes it clear, with devastating finality, that in Hoffman's eyes, Quentin deserved NONE of what he had. And then there's the great moment when Hoffman comes into the drawing room and [spoiler]sees Alexis for the first time, believing her to be Angelique back from the dead. Her reaction is beautifully played and very realistic.[/spoiler]
I encourage other fans to share their favorite Grayson moments in this thread.
Can't wait to see the new book! Big congratulations to RJ!
Best, G.
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It's true Gothick that a lot of Grayson's acting was done by her facial expressions and reactions to things other ppl said or did. It's hard for me to pick my favorite scene/s, but I'll try. ;)
Well, EVERYTHING she did as Magda, that's a no-brainer! From the costume, to the wig, to the make-up, to the ACCENT, were hands down fabulous! I truly love the way [spoiler]she didn't cower to Barnabas, she was openly flippant and disrespectful to him, that took BALLS! Like the scene where he goes to her and orders her to get Sandor, go to the secret room of the mauseleum and remove his coffin and bring it to the Old House. She's just pushing all his buttons as he gives her these instructions and he finally explodes and says, "Get your coat and GO!" and instead of fleeing in fright, she sarcastically retorts, "Oh, so kind and conseederate, worrrrying about ME in the cold!" ;)[/spoiler]
She was subdued as Hoffman and that was a nice change from the 'heart on her sleeve' Julia. Natalie was just a HOOT! Love the scene where [spoiler]Vickie meets her and says she looks like someone she knew once. Natalie very petulantly says, "Oh I HATE to be told that! It makes me feel so ORDINARY!" Or how about when she drinks champaign BEFORE the wedding of Josette & Barnabas, she scoffs at the minister's shocked reaction to her drinking BEFORE the ceremony. I also like the scene, and it's a little sketchy because it's been a while, but she's talking to someone (Joshua?) and says "Think of me as a large child!" [/spoiler]Classic!
As Julia my favorite scenes I think are all the ones where she [spoiler]looks moony-eyed at Barnabas and you can just see how much she loves him and how it hurts her that he doesn't feel the same way. And of course there's the bitch-slap mentioned in another thread. My fave scene I guess, or one anyway, is at the beginning of 1995 where Barnabas is lamenting that 'his Roxanne' is lost to him forever blah-blah, and she says something like, "We can all learn to live w/out love, if we HAVE to!" and then gives him that LOOK and quickly looks away when he makes eye contact w/her.[/spoiler]
Lastly, PT Julia was, like Hoffman, a nice change from what we were used to seeing from her.
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A few weeks ago, I caught her Oscar-nominated performance in "Night of the Iguana." She was amazing - as was everyone else in the cast (Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner etc.). However, I was surprised to see that she did have one of those awful hysterical crying scenes for which she became so famous (or infamous) on DS. It was one the one bad moment in an otherwise fabulous performance.
My favorite Grayson Hall scene was the one in which she went to confront Nicholas Blair at his house over something or other. The way she sat there and pulled off her gloves while cutting him down to size was classic. You could tell old Devilman himself had finally met his match.
And Magda, of course, was brilliant!
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Grayson, dahling!
Your scream was to die for!
Oy vey, I can't go on, I'm all faklempt!
David
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Grayson, dahling!
Your scream was to die for!
Agreed, it was like BUTTAH! :D
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It's STILL got us "tawking amongst ourselves!"
Petofi
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I enjoyed all Grayson's roles on the show, but my favorite was Magda. You could just tell she was having a complete blast playing that part. I can see why that was her favorite, because it's such fun to play a part like that.
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I never underestimate the brilliance of Grayson Hall on "Dark Shadows" - she truly was the glue that held together the outrageous premise that Barnabas was a 175 year-old bloodsucker. He'd done so many heinous things (especially to her!) that by the time we, the viewers, realized Julia was in love with him, we couldn't help but love him too. Jonathan Frid, naturally, deserves much of the credit for his portrayal of Barnabas, but Grayson's Julia Hoffman was so identifiable.
After all, haven't we all loved and adored someone who didn't love us back as much, yet we remained faithful, dedicated, and hopeful that said person was worthy of our affection?!
My favorite Grayson scenes (as Magda, Julia, PT Hoffman, Natalie, etc.) were when she just talked turkey - commenting on the ludicrous goings-on at Collinwood, but in such a way that you believed this stuff could actually be happening - like when Elizabeth realized the children were possessed by ghosts, and Julia wryly quipped, "Mrs. Stoddard, if I had told you there were spirits roaming the house, would you have believed me?!" And Liz solemnly answered, "I do now."
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To use that cliche, if Grayson had merely read aloud from the phone book, I would have loved it...
A favorite Grayson moment of mine is from one of her earliest appearances. She and Dave Woodard are discussing Maggie and Julia is being deliciously unforthcoming. The scene climaxes with Julia's declaration (and forgive me if I'm misquoting), "All I have to say...is that I have nothing more to say." I love watching her infuriate the other characters during those early scenes, as well as her early scenes of cat and mouse with Jonathan Frid. It adds so much to the storyline, having an 18th century man deal with a very modern 20th century woman. That storyline would not have been nearly as compelling if the character had been "Julius Hoffman."
Another great moment is the famous blooper (mistakenly left in some syndicated tapes and preserved on the MPI "Bloopers" tape) in which the director yells, "Cut!" during a scene. Grayson turns to him and says in her "force to be reckoned with" way, "WHY."
There is a great moment during Dream Curse that I am convinced was ad-libbed by dear GH. Eric Lang tells Julia that she appeared in his dream but said nothing. Grayson smiles and replies, "Well, that proves it was a dream." Such a nice glimpse of Grayson's lighter side.
And I always loved the way she walked around with her hands on her back when she played Magda. A great physical choice that lends much to her portrayal of Magda.
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I love watching ....her early scenes of cat and mouse with Jonathan Frid.
Claude, you made me remember another scene I love between Barnabas and Julia. It's right after [spoiler]Vickie comes back from 1795 and Julia has gotten a haircut. Barnabas is trying to schmooze her to get info about "what Vickie learned about him in the past" and comments on her hair, I think he said he liked it or something, basically, he COMPLIMENTED her. She does this little school-girl thing where she smiles, touches her hair and thanks him. Then it's down to business and he asks her if they can't be friends again and work together to figure out what Vickie knows. She tells him she's trying to learn what Vickie knows and he then asks her if she does learn what Vickie knows, will she use the information to help or hurt him. She very seriously and dryly tells him, "That depends entirely on you Barnabas!" and then walks away, victorious! ;)[/spoiler]
Classic! ;D
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A small personal favorite: Julia has had the cursed dream, and is pacing the drawing room at Collinwood. As she passes the sofa, she touches each of the knobs on the back of it in succession. As I watched her doing that, I think I actually said out loud: "That's me!" I had never noticed those knobs before, but if I lived at Collinwood (if only!) I would be touching them all the time.
This scene is also memorable, later on, for what surely must have been Vicky's most jaw-droppingly clueless remark. Spoken to Julia: "I didn't know you smoked."
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Grayson Hall had guts to play a lesbian in 1964 (and 1962, remember Satan in High Heels?)
She should have won that Oscar!
DISCUSS!!!!!
David
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David, did you see her portray a lush Mrs. Parks in Gargoyles....i always thought she could play anything at anytime....including the eccentric Carlotta Drake in NODS
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Your blue letters are impossible to read on my screen.
I can't respond, sorry!
Please repost.
David
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Hi, David!
That color doesn't show up well against certain backgrounds, so I made the blue lighter. If it's still problematic, you could try highlighting the post (does Ctrl + A work on your system?) or clicking Quote in the original post to make the text show up as black & white in a response window.
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Thanks, Midnite.
Which reminds me, I have a Lara Parker tape to send you!
Gargoyles, I recall watching it in '72. I have the disc of it, and I need to sit down and watch it again. This thread may inspire me to do that.
Grayson's superb Night Gallery episode, Certain SHADOWS on the Wall, can be found on the box set Night Gallery Season One. She and Rachel Roberts made a creepy pair!
Anyone see Grayson's sexy~~yes. sexy~~turn in the 1970 film End of the Road? She appears TOPLESS in a scene with Stacy Keach!
David
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{squeal}
I couldn't let a thread like this go by without adding my odd three cents... ;)
To use that cliche, if Grayson had merely read aloud from the phone book, I would have loved it...
Here, here!
I love watching her infuriate the other characters during those early scenes, as well as her early scenes of cat and mouse with Jonathan Frid. It adds so much to the storyline, having an 18th century man deal with a very modern 20th century woman. That storyline would not have been nearly as compelling if the character had been "Julius Hoffman."
Absolutely! There are SO many scenes I could talk about (I don't think there was a Julia or Magda scene I *didn't* like), but here's a few that come to mind (I'm going to try to name these in the order in which I first saw them): In relation to the "early" Julia episodes, the time when [spoiler]Julia "the historian" first arrives at Collinwood. The moment when Julia pulls out a cigarette holder and lights up via Barnabas' antique candellabra...love it. Sly minx. And then, after she discovers Barnabas is a vampire (liked how she used her compact to check his non-reflective properties in one scene - and then, how she climbs through the OH drawing room window to find him napping in the coffin, later.) The whole scene in her bedroom the following night, when Barnabas tried to kill her, but she so wisely placed a "dummy" in the bed. Instead she confronted the moody/violent soul, offering him a possible cure for his...condition. Lets just say that the quote "I've waited for you a long time, a VERY long time," will forever be a part of my DS vocabulary.[/spoiler]
Another great moment is the famous blooper (mistakenly left in some syndicated tapes and preserved on the MPI "Bloopers" tape) in which the director yells, "Cut!" during a scene. Grayson turns to him and says in her "force to be reckoned with" way, "WHY."
Yes! I have that on on tape...one of those moments where I kept hitting the rewind button when I first saw it... lol
Anyway - back to Julia. In the earlier episodes, I also got a kick out of when we were first introduced to her trusty medallion...[spoiler]"find the center" has also become a permanent part of my DS vocabulary. I was on pins and needles watching how she tried to help yet outwit the vampire during those tense times. And then, when it all culminated in the scene where the big bad Barnabas attempts to strangle her to death, and Sarah shows up at just the right moment - one of the most poignant moments on the series.[/spoiler]
The Dave and Julia scenes were fun to watch too...another siuation which has made me wonder about Julia's mysterious past, how she got where she was, etc.
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Natalie was great. I think the "Countess" Natalie Dupre thought so too...lol. She isn't always brought up, but she had some fun scenes...
[spoiler]When she made her grand entrance at the OH; how she donned that theatrical ensemble, accidentally smacking Baranabas with her fluffy accessories. Loved that. She had some interesting/nice outfits in 1795, and of course she played the role of the concerned aunt quite well. Wish I could have her read my cards (no goofy pun intended)...lol[/spoiler]
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Lets see...Of course I can't forget the moment when Julia got her "haircut." One of the best scenes, hands down.
[spoiler]The 1968-69 episodes will always be a favorite of mine...loved seeing how the rocky relationship between the doctor and the former vampire evolved before the viewers eyes (I'm one of those odd ones who prefers Barnabas when he's not a vampire...I'm also an unapologetic B&J nut, but...I digress.)[/spoiler]
And of course, how can i forget the TOMMMMM Jennings episodes...[spoiler]the moment when Julia meets Mr. suave vampire in the woods, dying for a little love bite, and then later, does a little scarf strip-tease for him...wow.
I appreciated how Barnabas helped his "dear friend" at the climax of that scenerio - his worring, the way he revealed how he cared for her more than he led on (after Willie kept asking him about it), and then when Barnabas carried her back to the Old House from the cold crypt where Tom had left her. Also liked the moment when Julia, covered up by one of the infamous afgans, received a few visitors when she was still recovering from her ordeal...she was a trooper. Everyone was at her bedside. Liz, Roger, Barnabas, even Nicholas...[/spoiler]
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Well, this is turning into a tome, but what the hell...
How about some of the scenes between Julia and Chris? ;) [spoiler]Can't forget the episode when Julia goes down to the cottage in nothing but her nightgown and robe. I for one still wonder what was going on, behind the closed bedroom door, when she had to treat Chris after he consumed that poisoned whisky. And then when little Amy showed up, the morning after, to see her brother, and Julia opened the door...
[/spoiler]
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Magda. What can i say? Every scene was a treasure...even down to her outfit. Being a detailed oriented artsy nut, I always loved her colorful clothes, and the jewelry. As rich as her earthy mannerisms and dialogue. [spoiler](although, I must admit that I wish Magda would've been allowed to don another unique outfit, now and then...surely Mr. Barnabas could've pitched in for that. ::) I mean, even Magda herself hinted at that in one scene, between her and Laura Collins (when she was "hired" by Quentin to help Laura, when Laura popped up at Collinwood in 1897. While Magda is helping the firery woman unpack, she holds up a bright dress and says something to the effect of: "so, when you get tired/rid of this, will you give it to Magda?")
Poor woman never got a break. First her Sandor was taken away from her, and then...
Well okay, she put the curse on the Q. man, but in the end, Magda was very loyal to those she loved, and was a good person at heart. The second she learned of Quentin's kids, she did everything she could think of to get rid of the curse, however futile it was...
And the scene when Magda/Grayson sheds a few tears...omg, it always chokes me up... :'([/spoiler]
Speaking of 1897 - when Julia [spoiler]arrives via the I-Ching, loved how Barnabas and Julia seemed to communicate over time and space (not just the moment when Jules finds his letter in the secretary, but later, when Barnabas heard her voice as her life force entered that time. Although he was mystified who it was at first...go figure.). And then, later on, when Julia was treating him, administering injections to get rid of his vampirism...loved the scene when Barnabas starts going off about Kitty, how he is changing their plans all of a sudden. Gawd, he can be blind as a bat sometimes. I chortle hearilty at Julia's reaction, how she gets a bit rough with him when she administers the injection that night...grrowl.
Oh - I also liked the moment when Julia and Angie are talking one night in 1897, about their favorite subject: the B man. As much as Angie infuriates me at times, I really thought it a nice change of pace to have Angelique and Jules talking instead of fueding, working together, a little heart to heart of sorts...[/spoiler]
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Hmm...what haven't I mentioned yet? lol
I adore Julia's character during the Leviathan episodes. [spoiler]She was the glue that kept things together, IMHO...helping Quentin, Barnabas, Chris, and trying to figure out what in the hell was going on with the faceless terror at the same time.
During one episode, Barnabas acts regretful that his friend has to be involved in the mess around them, and she replies something to the effect of that whatever she's done she's done willingly, wants to help, etc...
Julia went through a lot, and she was no saint, but I really have to admire the evolution of her character during the series.[/spoiler]
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PT Hoffman - what a deliciously complex character. [spoiler]And then when RT Julia arrives, and kills her counterpart in order to protect Barnabas....wow. Another moment when I wore out the rewind button...
And then when Julia decided to pose as Hoffman, Grayson played that character within a character very well, IMO (got a kick outta the moment when she admitted to Will that she cared for Barnabas, and that's one reason she was doing what she was doing.) Who can forget when PT Angie locked Julia in one of the basement's secret rooms, and Julia was trapped for days - oy, the tension![/spoiler]
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Julia had a few great scenes in 1840, of course. [spoiler]A few of her costumes were nice, IMO...especially a certain burnt orange dress that complemented her hair, and then the grey one of course.
I enjoyed the few scenes between Julia and Ben, when she first arrived in that time. And then when she was possessed by the head of Judah (no pun intended).
Oh - I can't forget the moment when she almost blurts out how much she cares for Mr. collins, right after Angie cures him. The look on both of their faces in that scene...another "pause and rewind" moment overload. ;)
I also found it particularly poignant when Barnabas rescues Julia from the vampire Roxanne (the way Julia was calling for Barnabas, she was so close to death - he made it just in time), and of course the look on Jules face after Barnabas "admits" [cough] he "loved" Angie, near the end...
But B&J (and Stokes) end up returning to the present together (and it was left rather open-ended how things would have turned out for Julia and company) so...that's all that really matters, to me. {evil cackle}[/spoiler]
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1841 PT Julia was intriguing...her outfits, too. LOL [spoiler]I really enjoyed the scenes between Julia and Kendrick, and Julia and Melanie.
The short lived Constance was a riot in her own way...especially that pratfall on the bed.[/spoiler]
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Well, that's all I could think of, for now {whew}...sorry if I went off on a tangent there. {chortle}. :-
Kudos to RJ and the upcoming bio... :-*
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Gargoyles, I recall watching it in '72. I have the disc of it, and I need to sit down and watch it again. This thread may inspire me to do that.
The Grayson moments are great in that one...then again I think that about almost everything I have seen her in... ::) ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/dsbabe/gar45.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/dsbabe/gar1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/dsbabe/gar9.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/dsbabe/gar27.jpg)
...gotta love the outfit. ;)
Anyone see Grayson's sexy~~yes. sexy~~turn in the 1970 film End of the Road?
She appears TOPLESS in a scene with Stacy Keach!
I was never the same after i saw that movie...
I was warned, but I didn't listen... :-X ;D
The dialogue in that particular scene is priceless. And it inspired me to do an off-the-wall illustration, so...that was good. ^-^
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May we see this illustration, thanks!
David
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...gotta love the outfit. ;)
No joke, Grayson in JEANS!? Too much! ;)
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May we see this illustration, thanks!
The particular one I was referring to can be found here:
Yes, me again. ::) ;) I hesitated to post this, but what the hey; here's a couple illustrations I did recently....
I have others but I haven't gotten around to scanning them yet...
hugs,
Heather
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Heather, you are a GEM! I love coming here and seeing those snapshots from Gargoyles. Thank you so much for including the scene where she rushes into the sheriff's office, goes STRAIGHT for the drawer where he keeps the "emergency liquor supply," grabs the bottle and takes a few good strong slugs. I think as she's grabbing the bottle the deputy is about to say something like "Take it EASY, Mrs. Parks!" Great stuff.
Thank you for a bright spot of my week! Now, if only some good samaritan could add some snapshots of Hoffman at her most sinister and smug... I love the scene where, with gritted teeth, [spoiler]Hoffman complains to Angel/Exis, a propos of Maggie: "I HATE taking ORDERS from her!" ANY scene involving Hoffman in PT is truly better than Heroin![/spoiler]
A lifelong Hall-o-holic,
G.
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[spoiler]Can't forget the episode when Julia goes down to the cottage in nothing but her nightgown and robe. I for one still wonder what was going on, behind the closed bedroom door[/spoiler]
Really? I never would have picked up on that. [vryevl]
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I love Grayson in every scene she did but one of my favorites was when she told Ned Stuart she'd send him a bill. It just cracks me up every time I see it.
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wow too many scenes to think of but i love her as julia the most
when she meets quentin oh lala... scenes when she is with barnabas
helping him she was the best Magda is my second favorite she had the lines!
jennifer
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I was working on the video for the Fest yesterday and though I think I'll need a vat of smelling salts for folks (seriously i've seen 3 different 40 year old men scream as if St. Bernadette herself were being defiled) --the sex scene from End of the Road will be a part the montage.
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In addition to all the works quoted in this thread (most of which I have on tape or DVD), I've had the pleasure (??) of finding copies of Grayson's work in a couple of other rare films: "Qui Ļtes-vous, Polly Maggoo?" and "The Parisienne and the Prudes." Not much for her to do in "Prudes," (only one short scene), but she's quite fun in "Polly Maggoo" even though it's all in French.
Brian
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I think Polly Maggoo is great fun too...I've seen a version with subtitles (although the picture and sound are not great quality), and a much higher quality version that's all in french. As far as Grayson's role is concerned, her attitude, various hairstyles, makeup, and outfits are priceless. One highlight for me is when, [spoiler]after Miss. Maxwell looks over the layout of fashions, she emphatically states "Divine...DIVINE!" And of course when she says: "beep-beep!" to Polly near the end...[/spoiler]
I cracked up when i first saw that movie...(my initial reactions to Grayson's various roles were an interesting thing to behold... ::)) 8)
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I've seen End of the Road, and a lot of people are gonna raise a fuss over seeing her seduce Stacy Keach! Oooooweeee!
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I've seen End of the Road, and a lot of people are gonna raise a fuss over seeing her seduce Stacy Keach! Oooooweeee!
Like I said bring the smelling salts!
I decided to include it to show the range and versatility of her various performances and that she was a risk taker--
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I decided to include it to show the range and versatility of her various performances and that she was a risk taker--
One of many reasons why we luv her!
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Hey, Julia, I hope you include the dialogue when Peggy tells the Keach character that their meeting was "veddy Noel Coward."
After you get past the shock value of the rest of it, in some ways it's a brilliant moment. I also love the short scene where he finds her on the beach (I believe this was actually filmed in Great Barrington, Mass.).
Best, Steve
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Hey, Julia, I hope you include the dialogue when Peggy tells the Keach character that their meeting was "veddy Noel Coward."
After you get past the shock value of the rest of it, in some ways it's a brilliant moment. I also love the short scene where he finds her on the beach (I believe this was actually filmed in Great Barrington, Mass.).
Well Sage Dear .. you'll have to be there to find out. . . :o