DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '08 I => Topic started by: buzz on April 15, 2008, 07:10:20 PM
-
I've been watching the pre-Barnabas episodes of DS and enjoying them quite a bit. There were some very good characters in those beginning episodes, one in particular was Bill Malloy, the manager of the Cannery. The actor who played him was very good and likable. Unfortunately, when one discovers secrets at Colinwood you know the character is not long for the world. The early Roger Collins was a horrible person, filled with sarcasm for just about everyone and pure hatred for his son David. David was pretty nasty himself, although not without motivation. I also enjoyed the outdoor scenery and the kitchen. They sure could eat back then, we rarely saw a morsel of food once Barnabas arrived. And they drank a ton of Coffee! It would have nice to have seen Mrs. Johnson or Willie serving a meal on occasion. It was also nice to see Roger and Joe in their offices. Do they all disappear later because of space reasons?
I alos enjoyed the early versions of Sam Evans and Matthew Morgan. The actors were very good, although I can't complain about replacements David Ford and Thayer David. Mitchell Ryan was another fine actorc who held the show together in those early episodes, and Vicky was a spunky character that was much bette then the dope she turned into later on.
Nick C.
-
I myself have found myself enjoying the first year of DS a lot more than I had before.
I enjoyed the outdoor scenery, too, and wished Dan had kept them on through out the show. Of course, he might have felt they were too expensive to keep doing them on the show, and we all know how he was with the show's budget.
I enjoyed Mitchell Ryan as Burke too and was sorry to see him go. Burke lost a lot of his edge once Anthony George took over the part. One can't help but wonder how much different the show would have been if Mitch had stayed on the show.
And yes Vicki was definitely a more sharp cookie in these episodes than later on. I always liked Vicki throughout her run on the show, but yes, the writers did dumb her down way too much after Barnabas' arrival.
-
I keep going back to these episodes mainly for the location shooting.
I love Bill Malloy. Wish theyda kept him on the show.
-
Just recently bought the first of the "DS Beginnings" dvd sets - and am loving it! It's so much more in depth characterwise than the later plot driven vamp storylines - though I love those too.
Elizabeth is just the best early in the series, IMHO - I'm so into her character right now - there's just so many layers to her, and Joan Bennett is an amazing actress - she does so much with her face and her body language. You can really feel the pain and repression that dear Liz was living with. I seem to remember Alexandra Moltke saying in some interview that it was wonderful working with JB and that she learned a lot watching her. That must've been especially rewarding for AM in those early days when the Liz character was so much more fully fleshed.
And Vicki, well, she's like a different person to how she was later on. She's way more spunky and smart, and isn't really afraid to speak her mind; she's scared of Roger, but she'll stand up to him - something she didn't really do with, say Abigail later on in the show. And early days Vicki actually can figure out what's going happening, she's way more perceptive. You can see her putting two and two together and actually getting four, rather than just sitting around saying "I don't understand" all the time. Why oh why did the writers make her such a dumb*ss later? It can't have been just to make her a more conventional heroine - they must've needed to have a character that was so dense that she'd never figure out what Barnabas was.
In these early episodes there's also a warmth to Vicki that I don't get from her later on, except for rarely, like with Sarah, or when she tried to save Barnabas from the dream curse.
-
Another character I enjoyed was Maggie in the early episodes. No, it wasn't that dumb blonde wig that fortunately was dumped after only the first episode or so. What I liked was her spunk, too. Once Barnabas came on the scene, Maggie also lost all her spirit. Despite her attempts at escape and her holding on to who she was, after that, she was never the same.
-
it wasn't just vicki who was "dense" about barnabas.
no one except julia and dr.woodard ever figured out what barnabas was.it was an integral part of the plot that everyone else think he's normal.
even characters like maggie and carolyn who wre bitten by barnabas conveniently "forget" it when it the plot necessitates it.
-
Its odd that everyone was suspicious of Laura from near the beginning, but soon as Barnabas arrived, they all seemed to lose their senses!
-
Well, they knew Laura, so they knew what she was capable of. No one knew Barnabas, so it was much easier to accept him as the gracious, well-mannered cousin from England. [ghost_wink]
-
Drinking coffee was a staple of early soaps that DS used. It was a way to get characters together to talk about storyline points to fill in the audience in the days before VCR's
I really am enjoying the early shows as I started watching the show when Nicholas brought Angelique out of the coffin as a vampire in it's orignial run. I'm looking forward to the Laura storyline having only seen the ending on videotape.
-
I agree with everybody here! I LOVE the Beginning!!!!! I recently reached a stumbling block in my fan fic concerning my portrayal of Roger and so marathoned the first 200 episodes--a ton of which I had never seen before. The characterizations were GREAT!!! I found the answers to my problem (Thanks, Adamsgirl!) and had a blast besides!
As much as I loved the Dark Shadows I knew--1968 on, I discovered this GREAT, FUN, SPOOKY soap that was completely fangless!!!! The Trials and Tribulations of Angelique and Barnabas will always be my favorite, and Catherine and Bramwell are in the running too, but right up there near the top is the Beginning!!!! [cheer]
The one thing I didn't like about the Beginning episodes (though I have seen many here disagree) was the Laura storyline. I don't know why. I guess partly maybe the inconsistency thing? She had been successful with David Radcliffe. Is that why she moved on to another family in the same area? And now she keeps coming back until she gets to carve a Collins notch in her Presto-log?
And I forget now (not owning the episodes, just borrowed them), was it 1867 when she was successful with Daniel Radcliffe? Because that would establish the 'return every hundred years and marry Louis Edmonds' thing? But then she showed up in 1897??? But she wasn't in 1797 (Of course, we weren't either to begin with. We got 1795. But didn't Barn recognize her? Because she was married to Cousin Uncle Jeremiah?
Let's see...179something...1867...1897...1967...um...every 100 years...
OK. I'm getting one of my continuity headaches again.... [bnghd]
Anyway, I digress. Yes. The EARLY DAYS of COLLINWOOD. Been there. LOVED THEM!!!! GOT TO HAVE THEM!!!!!
Judy
[9366]
-
I too am a big fan of the early years. The fighting and sniping between Liz and Roger was so good and of course the acting superb! Bill Malloy was a well written character and I think a man like him, a tried and true employee who would sacrifice everything for the Collinses was needed in the later storylines. I for one loved the Laura storyline and it's up there at the top of the favorites list for me. I have to say that the actor, Mark Allen, who played Sam was excellent. I loved it when he would get all philosophical and stubborn and cantankerous. He was so much like I would expect a down on out artist who is hiding a terrible secret to be...a little disheveled and unkempt..trying to find a way to escape.. and licking his lips while looking for that next drink.
-
I really like David Ford and Thayer David as Sam and Matthew respectively, but I'm curious as to why Mark Allen and the original Matthew (forgot his name) were replaced.
Does anyone know?
-
I love the moody, oppressive atmosphere of those first few weeks. Bill Malloy should have been kept as a character because he really made you feel that they were in MAINE, not some vacation town in Massachusetts. And unlike Matthew, Bill wasn't crazy. But he was very devoted to Liz and their scenes together allowed us to see another facet of Liz, one I would have enjoyed seeing more of.
Also, even though we never saw a ghost (until episode 70), there was a lot of talk of ghosts and a definite feeling that Collinwood was haunted.
G.
-
AngeliqueWins...I believe the Phoenix was every 70ish years, not 100.
Also, Barn (in 1897) remembers her from his youth (circa 1775??).
Hoping that this isn't just DSFMS
Also, Miss_Winthrop, I love when Liz & Roger (well, only Liz does it) defends each other.
Gothick, I hadn't thought of it, but you're right; Malloy seems like a 'local Mainer', who belongs there!
I love David Ford.....
Patti
-
As for 70 years or 100 years on the phoenix...do we know that the Ancient Egyptians used base 10?
-
I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts and am glad to see so many enthused over those early episodes. Most of the acting in these episodes are top notch, something that did not always occur later on in the series. I notice how many of the characters were later softened, ie Roger and David. Relationships changed, as Carolyn grew more "fond" of her cousin. Carolyn was always a little spoiled, but very manipulative in this period, especially with Joe.
The episode where the Old House was introduced was very good. The outdoor scenes of David and Vikki going through the woods and approaching the huge, imposiing house were moody. It's too bad we didn't have a few of these filmed outdoor scenes when Barnabas arrived. It would have added considerably to the atmosphere. The "Who killed Bill Malloy" plot is a little slow going at times, but it was nice to see Mrs. johnson arrive, not a friend of the family, and devoted to Bill Malloy. Clarice Blackburn was a fine actress. I also liked George PAtterson, although again, I missed the original sherrrif.
And we had our first ghost, but not our last, with the introduction of Josette. I guess this was the turning point, when Dan Curtis said something had to be done to stir things up....
Nick C.
-
Bill Malloy should have been kept as a character because he really made you feel that they were in MAINE, not some vacation town in Massachusetts.
Yeah, near as I can tell, only Bill Malloy and the original Matthew ever spoke with a Maine accent. I never heard any other characters utter the word "ayuh."
-
What might have happened if Dark Shadows first-year-character "Suzie-the-Silent-Waitress" had been working the night shift at the Collinsport Inn (instead of Maggie Evans) on the fateful occasion that Barnabas decided to drop by for a cup of coffee? Perhaps Suzie may have reminded Mr. B. of Maude Browning or one of the other "working girls" he used to encounter on the docks of Collinsport? (Could you envision Suzie, schlepping around the Old House, as the "Reincarnation of Ruby Tate"? ) [ghost_rolleyes]
-
Ah - but would "Suzie-the-Silent-Waitress" have been allowed to speak? Or would she have been the "Ever-Silent-Reincarnation-of-Ruby-Tate"? [ghost_wink] The latter would have been awfully dull. But one has to wonder if DC would have found room in his budget to pay her? [ghost_undecided]
Maybe he would have compromised and made her an under-fiver. [ghost_grin]
-
MB,
If "Silent" Suzie (or is it Susie?) had taken Maggie/Josette's place as Barnabas' new love interest, perhaps she could have taken a page out of either the great Dorothy McGuire's acting book in "The Spiral Staircase" or the great Jane Wyman's acting book in "Johnny Belinda" to have conveyed her emotions by artfully employing facial expressions, movements and hand gestures?
Bob the Bartender, President of the Demi Moore Fan Club, an actress of "unremitting" subtlety and also of stunning superficiality! [ghost_wink]
-
If "Silent" Suzie (or is it Susie?) had taken Maggie/Josette's place as Barnabas' new love interest, perhaps she could have ... conveyed her emotions by artfully employing facial expressions, movements and hand gestures?
Perfect!
Bob the Bartender, President of the Demi Moore Fan Club, an actress of "unremitting" subtlety and also of stunning superficiality! [ghost_wink]
Some critics might not even give her that much credit. [lghy] But we're often powerless over whom we become fans and presidents of the fan club. [b003]
-
If "Silent" Suzie (or is it Susie?) had taken Maggie/Josette's place as Barnabas' new love interest, perhaps she could have...conveyed her emotions by artfully employing facial expressions, movements and hand gestures?
I vote for interpretive dance or...my personal favorite, semaphore flags. [cheer] (Ok, not exactly semaphore flags, but you get my drift...)
And then, if she needed to go to Julia for therapy, she could have acted it all out with hand puppets.
Judy
[9366]
-
I think Bill Malloy, Mrs. Johnson and the original Matthew look llike locals. By the way, I have lived in Maine for 20 years and have only heard the word "ayuh" from two people. The 83 year old man who serviced my homes boiler would use the words "down cellah"(the basement) and "ayuh" (hello, I agree with you, or I have completed my work and I want to be paid, and goodbye). The other times it has been used often by comedian Tim Samples. Tim Samples has the real Maine accent. The rest of the time people imitating the Maine accent tend to sound lke the old Pepperidge Farm commercials.
Maine is dark, cold and damp except during the short summers and autumns. Foggy, cold and gloomy with a population that calls outsiders "people from away" is a perfect setting for Dark Shadows. They needed more Mrs. Johnson, Bill Malloy, and Matthew types.
-
I love it, Angelique Wins! [thumb] [stfl] I mean, I can just see someone like Willie trying to get anything at all out of Suzie/Josette's interpretive dancing. And the hand puppets - now that would have been priceless!
-
This thread is going in a weird and somewhat frightening direction. XP
I've watched all the Beginning collections out so far to non-MPI subscribers and am loving it. I can't get over the fact that Roger married his grandmother, but that's technically 1897's fault. But anyway, the show had a good deal of sharp wit in the original episodes that they sadly neglected to use later on, when the humor became mostly unintentional via lines like Adam's "I don't like it when men try to handle me" and Barnabas's "When your husband... disturbed me... he was looking for the family jewels..." (notable exception being one of my favorites, from the Leviathan arc, where Julia quite plainly asks Barnabas what else he's had besides a chat with Megan, but I'm going way off-topic here). Carolyn has so much more personality now than she did when she became "the rich girl with the heart of gold." Nutty David and snide, sarcastic Roger are also great. Maggie and Vicki seem mostly the same, but with a few IQ points added (or a few dozen, in Vicki's case). Elizabeth also got her best moments here.