DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '25 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II => Topic started by: Gerard on November 11, 2006, 02:00:48 AM
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Has this been posted yet? Jack Palance, who played the lead in Dan Curtis' production of Dracula, has passed away. In honor of his Ukrainian ancestory, Vicnaja Pamjat (Veech-na-ya pam-yat; Eternal Memory).
Gerard
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Had'nt heard it. Sad news.
Jack Palance always scared the heck out of me when I was a kid. And get this. I remember waiting weeks to see his TV portrayal of Dracula only to be pre-empted by a speech by Nixon. EW!!!
I think it was that movie anyway. May have been "Night Stalker".
It's been many years...
Anyhow, I will toast Mr. Palance tonight accordingly. He was a fine actor. Made several spaghetti westerns.
Here's to you, Jack. Loved your portrayal of the bad guy in that silly Billy Crystal picture and even more-so - your push-ups on-stage at the Academy Awards some time ago.
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I used to watch Jack Palance when he was hosting Ripley's Believe it or Not as a kid, he gave me the shivers.
I also saw his push-ups at the Academy Awards, I remember being very impressed that a man his age could do something so active.
Rest in Peace, Jack.
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Here's to you Jack. He stole the show from everybody in 'Shane'. And doing those push-up during the Oscars, well that was almost as great as the guy streaking on the Oscars. Shake 'em up in Heaven. God Bless you. [hall2_cry]
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played the lead in Dan Curtis' production of Dracula,
Yes!, and his appearances unrelated to DS are off topic. Thanks!
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I was *really* surprised to hear this news, especially since I thought he died years ago! Don't know how I could have made that mistake! ::)
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Such sad news. With his soft, sinister voice, angular features and
wicked smirk Jack Palance was a great master of menace. Although
perhaps more closely associated with Westerns thanks to his turn in
"Shane," Jack also had many great horror roles to his credit. His
portrayal of Dr. Jeklyll and Mr. Hyde ranks as one of the absolute
best. His satyr-like Hyde was pure id. Palance's Hyde clearly
relished his own viciousness. He was a terrifying, and tragic,
Dracula as well, giving off a cold majestic presence in every scene he
was in. He played Jack the Ripper in "The Man in the Attic," was
featured in the horror anthology "The Torture Garden," and was the
memorably eccentric host of "Ripley's Believe It or Not" in the 1980s.
When the makers of "Batman" were having a hard time finding an actor
intimidating enough to play Jack Nicholson's boss, someone mentioned
Jack Palance - problem immediately solved.
Jack was a great performer with incredible presence. He will be missed.
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I saw Jack Palance as Dracula when I was a kid. I always thought all vampires did was drink blood but he played it so sensual that I was shocked. I can't understand how DC could be a part of making Dracula with Jack Palance with all that raw sensuality and make Mr. Frid play a complete monster in HODS.
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Wow I'm really sad to hear the news. I've got the DVD of DC's Dracula in which he starred (as well as Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde from which Quentin's theme sprang). I'll have to give it a watch this evening.
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sorry Janet,They warned us about DS as a kid how bad it was to watch but
i found Nixon far more scary than both Dracula and the show [hall2_shocked]
jennifer
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I don't think it's been posted here, but Jack Palance's characterization in Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde strongly influenced the whole Cyrus Longworth/John Yeagar scenario on DS in the Parallel Time 1970 storyline. Of course, Chris Pennock brought very much his own energy to the role, but I seem to recall the Yeagar makeup being a pretty clear variation upon the makeup Palance was given for Mr. Hyde in the 1968 video.
I believe,too, that besides Quentin's theme, one of Pansy Faye's theme songs was first heard in the soundtrack of Jekyll/Hyde.
Jack Palance did a fun film in England in the early 1970s called Craze. I think it was directed by Herman Cohen and was sort of a remake of Horrors in the Black Museum but with a voodoo twist--and there's a gay subtext, too. It's very over-the-top and really does not make any sense but it's a lot of fun for a rainy night. The immortal Diana Dors has a small role in it, too.
G.
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And it appears that Dark Shadows highly influenced Dan Curtis' version of Dracula, particularly the Barnabas-Josette concept. I remember when I saw the film on TV (delayed several months because of the Nixon speech), to me it felt like getting a "DS fix," a few years after our beloved show went off the air. Palance's portrayal was highly sympathetic.
Gerard