DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '25 I => Current Talk '03 I => Topic started by: Philippe Cordier on March 07, 2003, 03:39:31 AM
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I started this thread as a new post under Birdie's Random Thoughts, but as I began typing away, it seemed that my random thoughts seemed to diverge quite a bit, so I thought they merited a separate thread ...
These are just random thoughts that I've had accumulating over the last couple of weeks -- the ones I still remember, anyway!
First ... Istvan! Wasn't able to post anything when he was on, but I didn't want to let his appearance go by unnoticed. I think it's really sad that the actor was never credited, I imagine because it wasn't a speaking role. Rather ironic since he actually had as much to do as many other principal performances on the show. I saw this actor in another movie once where he also played the "heavy." If my name weren't already Vlad, I might have changed it to "Istvan." (We have the exact same build, too!) :D
This may be the time to mention "The Picture of Dorian Gray." There may be new viewers or forum members who haven't known -- the portrait of Quentin was inspired by this fantastic short novel by Oscar Wilde. Dan Curtis directed a production of this in the 1970s that's available on video from MPI.
The Rectory -- ah, one of my favorite sets, or at least it will be once we see more of it. I'm glad to be back at this point of 1987 where Barnabas and Julia (and soon, Angelique) will have their base of operations in this parsonage. One thing I can't understand is why they never showed an exterior for this building. Surely they could have come up with a delightfully Gothic exterior slide! It's also puzzling that they never explained anything about it other than the mention that it's "old" and located on Pine Road. But then they didn't provide an exterior or background for Petofi's base either, the "abandoned mill."
Speaking of the devil, Barnabas told Julia that Count Petofi had threatened to destroy the entire Collins family. Am I just not remembering this? When did Petofi make such a threat? Incidentally, there seemed to me more mangled and non-sensical lines in that scene in the rectory between Quentin, Julia (in shock on the bed), and Barnabas ...
David's "resurrection" ... in addition to the interesting theme of resurrection in these past few episodes ... it's lucky that they hadn't embalmed David ... :D
About those light fixtures on the wall .. sconces, aren't they? Are those actually functional, or is the flame/light artificial? Are they gas lights/lamps?
Last but not least ... Quentin's room. This time round, I've been noticing a lot more of Quentin's room. In fact I'm so entranced with it that I fantasize the possibility of recreating such a room some day when I'm rich, own a house, have a lot of time, etc. (I'm sure that day is just on the horizon :D ).
Anyway, do any of you set decorators out there have any helpful descriptions or comments about Quentin's room, its furnishings, or its accessories? The wallpaper, of course, looks authentically Victorian, as I assume the scattered chairs and tables also are.
But that post that appeared in the center of the floor -- did that serve any function other than as something for Quentin to be manacled to? I rather doubt we'll be seeing that hitchin' post again ...
One thing I've been noticing is all the "black" sculptures -- they seem to be multiplying on all the sets. First Quentin had the handsome buck on the mantle of his fireplace, now there seems to be a racoon or some other animal made of the same material on a small table in the center of the room, and similar-appearing sculptures in the Rectory and elsewhere ... Does anyone know if these are real or what they're made of?
Has anyone stopped to wonder where Quentin's bed is located in his room? How many rooms does he have ... I have the feeling that this is a "suite" especially now that we're seeing more of the antechamber outside its room, which is handsomely appointed with its own fireplace, bookshelves, paintings, etc.
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Hey Vlad - interesting observations!
I too was disappointed that Istvan didn't get any credit. And he was disposed of so ignominiously by Barnabas - who should've at least tried to get him to disable King Johnny or go after Petofi. Funny...my hubby is built just like Istvan, too - or so he thinks! ::)
An aside - the other day my husband was watching DS with me and, upon seeing Petofi, said "He looks like a werewolf on crack!" After thinking about it for a second I admitted "well, that's pretty much what the character is!" :D
What's with the Rectory? I feel like I've seen the set somewhere before, and I don't mean the first time I watched these eps. Does anyone know if it's a rebuild of some other set we have seen before, like Nicholas Blair's house or something? Love the set though! It's very eerie and totally perfect. Trying to imagine what it looks like from the outside is fun - I keep picturing a smaller version of Dr. Lang's place.
Maybe it's just me, but I didn't catch Petofi vowing to destroy all the Collins family either. Though one could certainly infer this from what he's done since he arrived in Collinsport. He's had a field day with Edward, Jamison, and Barnabas, and is fixin' (as they say here in the South) to do Quentin some serious mischief.
[90d1]
It is puzzling that they haven't shown Quentin's bed, 'specially since it's where he does all his best work![coolbrows] Was also wondering if this was the suite of rooms he shared with Jenny, or if they stayed in another part of the house.
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If Barnabas' new digs is a rectory, it means it was part of a Church property.....in which case I hope someone deconsecrated it before he moved in!! ::)
A church old enough in 1897 to no longer be in use probably would have been constructed before Victorian High Gothic came into vogue. Especially in Maine, I'd expect it to be the classic white, tall-steepled church ubiquitous to all of New England...and the rectory would look similar.
I can think of one reason they might never have shown Quentin ON his bed......if I'm not mistaken, they never showed a bed larger than a twin size on this show, did they? And wouldn't a man as tall as David Selby look ridiculous draped over a twin size bed?
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I just took it for granted that Quentin's room was just a much larger suite, and his bed was in a room just beyond the middle room.
As for the rectory, and Barnabas' ability to enter it (since I don't think vampires can enter consecrated buildings), something I saw in Polanski's classic comedy from the 60's, The Fearless Vampire Killers (in England, its original title being Dance of the Vampires, and also being, I believe Sharon Tate's last movie). One of the early victims of the vampiric count was a Jewish peasant. When he enters the room of a nubile young girl, crawling in through the window, she holds out a cross to ward the creature of the dark off. The vampire says: "Oy! Have you got the wrong vampire!" and proceeds to nibble on her neck.
Gerard
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If Barnabas' new digs is a rectory, it means it was part of a Church property.....in which case I hope someone deconsecrated it before he moved in!! ::)
A church old enough in 1897 to no longer be in use probably would have been constructed before Victorian High Gothic came into vogue. Especially in Maine, I'd expect it to be the classic white, tall-steepled church ubiquitous to all of New England...and the rectory would look similar.
I have to agree with Raineypark. Tiny little clapboard churches are all over the Maine landscape. They are very drafty and plain.
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....And wouldn't a man as tall as David Selby look ridiculous draped over a twin size bed?
Hmm....well, I would think Quentin would look just fine draped over just about anything -- a short bed, a long bed, a chair, the bannister, my lap....whatever.
Humbly,
-CLC
;D
Sorry for the interruption. As you were, folks. ::)
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First ... Istvan! Wasn't able to post anything when he was on, but I didn't want to let his appearance go by unnoticed. I think it's really sad that the actor was never credited, I imagine because it wasn't a speaking role. Rather ironic since he actually had as much to do as many other principal performances on the show. I saw this actor in another movie once where he also played the "heavy." If my name weren't already Vlad, I might have changed it to "Istvan." (We have the exact same build, too!) :D
LOL! I don't think Tate's creation (Alexander Cort) got credited for any of his eps either, probably for the same reason.
Speaking of the devil, Barnabas told Julia that Count Petofi had threatened to destroy the entire Collins family. Am I just not remembering this? When did Petofi make such a threat?
Do you remember the scene in which Petofi let Barnabas out of the coffin and demanded his help to get to the future? He said he studied the Collins family history, rattled off some names, and Aristede arrived with flaming torches (you HAVE to remember the flaming torches!) to illustrate Petofi's threat to burn down Collinwood, and he added that Jamison's death would mean the entire Collins line would be destroyed. Unfortunately for him, Barnabas countered that if the Collins family was destroyed, Petofi wouldn't have a way to the future. I'm sure Robin describes it better in her summary for ep #821, but I think this is what Barnabas referred to.
Incidentally, there seemed to me more mangled and non-sensical lines in that scene in the rectory between Quentin, Julia (in shock on the bed), and Barnabas ...
I think much of the current storyline is nonsensical. It sorta goes along with something Petofi said today after Beth's I-Ching trip-- "I am puzzled by the meaning of shadows." Uh huh, we can relate. ;)
And wouldn't a man as tall as David Selby look ridiculous draped over a twin size bed?
There's a photo of him in which he's draped on a brass bed in the 30th Anniversay Alamanac. Mmmm. I'm sorry... what were we talking about? :)
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A church old enough in 1897 to no longer be in use probably would have been constructed before Victorian High Gothic came into vogue. Especially in Maine, I'd expect it to be the classic white, tall-steepled church ubiquitous to all of New England...and the rectory would look similar.
I have to agree with Raineypark. Tiny little clapboard churches are all over the Maine landscape. They are very drafty and plain.
Sorry folks, didn't know this as have never been to New England. The only rectories (sp) I've seen were here in the South and back in the Midwest, where I'm from originally. :-
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Hmm....well, I would think Quentin would look just fine draped over just about anything -- a short bed, a long bed, a chair, the bannister, my lap....whatever.
Oooh, yes please! Or on my lap...or whatever, LOL! I'm willing to share if you are, Connie! ::)
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I have a feeling that if they HAD chosen to show the Rectory exterior, it would have looked more like YOUR idea of it than mine, Cassandra Blair. Nothing was ever TOO gothic for this show....and pretty little Puritan chapels aren't NEARLY spooky enough!! [ghost]
raineypark
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Oooh, yes please! Or on my lap...or whatever, LOL! I'm willing to share if you are, Connie! ::)
Yes! Of course. [thumb]
;D
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Hmm....well, I would think Quentin would look just fine draped over just about anything -- a short bed, a long bed, a chair, the bannister, my lap....whatever.
Im with you here all the way! [luv]
RaineyPark Wrote:I can think of one reason they might never have shown Quentin ON his bed......if I'm not mistaken, they never showed a bed larger than a twin size on this show, did they? And wouldn't a man as tall as David Selby look ridiculous draped over a twin size bed?
Hi Rainey, Most of the beds that I've seen on DS were larger than the twin size. Carolyn's for example was rather large, and Liz and Roger had larger size beds as well.
Gerard Wrote:I just took it for granted that Quentin's room was just a much larger suite, and his bed was in a room just beyond the middle room.
I think you're right Gerard. There was more than likely another room where Quentin's bedroom was kept.
I liked the character of Istvan also and thought they could have kept him on a little bit longer as well. But since King Johnny's character was short lived and Istvan was only there as his sidekick it was only logical that he go too. I believe that Istvan was also the only Black character to play on the show.
Also IMO the rectory room looks alot like a few rooms they used on the set such as Naomi and Joshua's bedroom at the old house, one of the room at Trask's school, and Evan Hanley's place. I imagine they re-used alot of the sets over and over again. Everytime I see Quentin's room I think Im also seeing the old house drawing room, they look so much alike.
Cassandra[/font]
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I liked the character of Istvan also and thought they could have kept him on a little bit longer as well. But since King Johnny's character was short lived and Istvan was only there as his sidekick it was only logical that he go too. I believe that Istvan was also the only Black character to play on the show.
Cassandra, wasn't there a Black nurse who refused Nicholas Blair entry to the room of a dying Tom Jennings while he was in the Collinsport Hospital? She was rather saucy as I remember, and appeared to be a good judge of character - she let Maggie Evans right in to see Tommy J.
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I can think of one reason they might never have shown Quentin ON his bed......if I'm not mistaken, they never showed a bed larger than a twin size on this show, did they? And wouldn't a man as tall as David Selby look ridiculous draped over a twin size bed?
Raineypark...I'm pretty sure Liz/Judith's bed is a full size.
Patti
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Also...don't we actually see Quentin's room when Amy & David break through the wall? If not, how would we know it's a BEDroom?
Patti
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I have a feeling that if they HAD chosen to show the Rectory exterior, it would have looked more like YOUR idea of it than mine, Cassandra Blair. Nothing was ever TOO gothic for this show....and pretty little Puritan chapels aren't NEARLY spooky enough!! [ghost]
raineypark
There is a little clapboard church on a road I take to Freeport. It is very spooky. It has a little graveyard next to it. It is a very tiny church that is not used anymore but is an historic landmark. During the day, the church looks lonely and sad but at night it looks creepy.
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Hmm....well, I would think Quentin would look just fine draped over just about anything -- a short bed, a long bed, a chair, the bannister, my lap....whatever.
Humbly,
-CLC
;D
Sorry for the interruption. As you were, folks. ::)
There's a photo of him in which he's draped on a brass bed in the 30th Anniversay Alamanac. Mmmm. I'm sorry... what were we talking about? :)
Oooh, yes please! Or on my lap...or whatever, LOL! I'm willing to share if you are, Connie! ::)
Apparently you three have forgotten how easily I am embarassed! [blshb] [blshy]
And can we pleeeze stop talking about the rectory - my wife is wondering what I am giggling about! [emblgh]
[jester] [smokn] [6283]
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The cast list I found shows Henry Baker as playing Istvan.
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Cassandra, wasn't there a Black nurse who refused Nicholas Blair entry to the room of a dying Tom Jennings while he was in the Collinsport Hospital? She was rather saucy as I remember, and appeared to be a good judge of character - she let Maggie Evans right in to see Tommy J.
Oh yes! You're right about that, I had forgotten all about the nurse. Yeah she was a smart cookie too not letting Mr Blair into the room but yet allowing Maggie in to see Tom. She saw right through Nickolas! ;)
Cassandra[/font]
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Apparently you three have forgotten how easily I am embarassed! [blshb] [blshy]
Well, ya know Ringo, images of Selby draped over things just pop into your head sometimes and you have no control over it.
(http://members.aol.com/clchalifoux/images/draped.jpg)
[gring]
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The cast list I found shows Henry Baker as playing Istvan.
[shockeyes] Goodness that Istvan is quite something! (Sorry all I'm about a week behind in my episodes since I'm borrowing them. Hence, the delayed reaction. lol!) All I can say is please bring him back as a ghost!
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I have a feeling that if they HAD chosen to show the Rectory exterior, it would have looked more like YOUR idea of it than mine, Cassandra Blair. Nothing was ever TOO gothic for this show....and pretty little Puritan chapels aren't NEARLY spooky enough!! [ghost]
raineypark
There is a little clapboard church on a road I take to Freeport. It is very spooky. It has a little graveyard next to it. It is a very tiny church that is not used anymore but is an historic landmark. During the day, the church looks lonely and sad but at night it looks creepy.
I remember watching on some TLC or Discovery or History Channel or somesuch, a program about hauntings. One of the "ghost experts" stated that one of the most haunted places happen to be churches. Boo!
Gerard
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I think the rectory set is the study set (which served as multiple sets for multiple plots) revamped, but I'll have to take another look.
The furnishings in the rooms got moved around so much that it's hard to tell what's supposed to be there after awhile. You see that ugly-as-sin pink lamp in one character's house and then it's gone and across town before you can snap your fingers.
A lot of the furniture is quasi-Eastlake which would be about the right time period for the plot.
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Hello, Connie and Cassandara I do love the
idea of The Q-man drapped over our laps!!!!!!
OH MY WHAT A FABLOUS THOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( ANNE WHO NOW NOW HOPES THAT THE
Q-MAN WILL BE HERE ORDERLY OR NURSE
TOMORROW FOR HAND SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( YUMMY)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-* :-* :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P
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Hello, Connie and Cassandara I do love the
idea of The Q-man drapped over our laps!!!!!!
OH MY WHAT A FABLOUS THOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( ANNE WHO NOW NOW HOPES THAT THE
Q-MAN WILL BE HERE ORDERLY OR NURSE
TOMORROW FOR HAND SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( YUMMY)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-* :-* :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P
now annie if we had nurses or aides that look
like Quentin how would us mere mortals get our work done at the hospital :-*
just have sweet dreams of The Q man and it'll be over soon :)
jennifer
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I'm trying to recall what Quentin's room looked like in the 1841 Parallel Time storyline, and I think we see another room to the suite then, to the right of where the roll top desk is now located. I think there's also a secret panel from that room going down to a hidden sepulcher or something.
Thanks for the interesting info on what the exterior of the rectory might have looked like (not how I would picture it at all).
Thanks for the refresher on Petofi's threat; comments on furnishings in Quentin's room, etc. Actually I'm not sure if Luciaphil was referring to furniture in Quentin's room or at the Rectory; I've never heard of Eastlake style.
SheilaMarch was interested in the DS sets and figured out what parts of earlier sets were used, and I think she said that the Rectory interior was mostly made up of Dr. Lang's place. Interesting that CassandraBlair would make such an intuitive connection by bringing up the gothic exterior of Lang's home. That's something of how I would picture the exterior of the Rectory too.
Like CassB., I wondered if Quentin's current room is the one he and Jenny lived in, but I rather think that he returned to his original room, not the rooms he shared with Jenny.
I hope we'll see more of that antechamber to Quentin's room that we saw briefly last week. That was really lovely.
I'm assuming now that the sculptures I mentioned are bronze. I don't know too much about metals, because I would think of bronze as looking somewhat like brass only darker or smokier, but the more I think of it, it seems that bronze is very dark.
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Eastlake was a person. I don't believe he actually designed/built furniture, but he was responsible for influencing a new style. He had some connection to William Morris too . . . so late Victorian/precursor to early Arts and Crafts.
Here are some visuals (not everything here is what I'd consider to be Eastlake so be warned):
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=eastlake+furniture&sa=N&tab=wi (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=eastlake+furniture&sa=N&tab=wi)
You've all probably seen the stuff before and just not known it. Eastlake believed in a return to hand crafts and moving away from machine crafted furniture (which of course is one of the premises of the Arts and Crafts movement)
However, what happened is that "Eastlake became a kind of catch-all term meaning different things to different people." For instance, I'm the proud owner of a cherry dresser with burled walnut inlays and a marble top. Some of the carving was machine turned and it's kind of elaborate. It's considered an Eastlake piece even though I doubt Eastlake would have liked it.
This site tells a little bit more about that:
http://ah.bfn.org/a/archsty/east/ (http://ah.bfn.org/a/archsty/east/)
Check out some of the links to architectural styles, while you're there.
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All of our living room furniture is Arts and Crafts ......but in the Mission style. I tell people it's all original and authentically hand crafted......because my husband designed and built it all himself. [lghy]
Your dresser sounds wonderful!
rainey