Clarice and Barn's last scene is absolutely delectable!

Yes, I always wondered about Monsier and la comtesse du Pres. Maybe he had an older brother or a cousin or something who was the count, but as you say, it's much more fun to just sit back and let the fur fly! 

I love Barn's moment of sheer fury at Aristede, very nicely done by JF (he roars very well). Then Barn realizes that he has to check on Julia, whether he wants to or not. Another nice shot when we see that the bullet has shattered the chair back without harming Julia.

Petofi makes Angelique an offer she can easily refuse, and does. It's fun to see Petofi in the wrong for a change, when he completely mistakes Angelique's motive for marrying Quentin, and it's also fun to see how she leads him along.

For some reason, we get a shot of a beautiful detail of the stained-glass window at the old rectory. I gues the director really wants us to know where we are.This makes twice in just a couple of days that Barn has to look after his "dear friend," this time settling her in a chair and giving her a cup of tea. Julia is recovered enough to discuss why she didn't die from being fatally shot. Julia says, I have only one explanation that makes sense. She provides it while gazing into a full-length, cobweb-streaked mirror: When you came back to the past, your physical body remained in the future. The same thing must have happened to me (even though we saw Julia’s physical body make the trip only five episodes ago!). That doesn’t account for the fact that you went unharmed tonight, Barnabas points out. I’m still vulnerable--why aren’t you? Because _you_ existed in this time before, Julia explains. You had a host body here to receive your essence--I didn’t (thus making him the only American to sleep through the Civil War). My physical being is still in the present, Julia finishes. Incredible! Barnabas exclaims. But now they have to make sure that Petofi never learns that he can't harm her. Meanwhile, Julia is irritated that Angelique has turned up--no doubt she remembers all the grief that Cassandra caused.

It is surprising that Petofi somehow assumes that Julia is still alive. BUT I suppose he arrives at that conclusion in light of the absence of blood that a very corporeal Julia would have shed. I guess because Petofi didn't find any bloodstains, he assumes that somehow Barnabas figured out Aristede's trap and defused it somehow, rescuing a live Julia. How Aristede could have kidnapped the incorporeal Julia, let alone tie her to a chair and gag her, the writers do not vouchsafe to explain. I guess they really do think they can have it both ways.

Apparently, Julia's note inviting Angelique to the old rectory must have given no hint of its sender, because for once Angelique is totally taken aback when Julia opens the door. Julia enjoys Angelique’s surprise and assures her matter-of-factly, I am who you think I am. But things degenerate from there, with Angelique warning Julia, Let me give you one word of advice, Dr. Hoffman. The pursuit of Barnabas Collins can lead to nothing but misery. He is a cold, harsh, unresponsive man. Who made him that way? Julia parries instantly, her voice sharp as a knife blade. Angelique has the grace to pause and look away. But she is amused when Julia says that Barn needs her help to conclude his by now very nebulous mission.

Eventually, Julia and Angelique have actually become frenemies in an indeclared temporary truce. Angelique allows that Julia's plan to help Barn is very clever. In the end the eternally vain Angelique uses the mirror to give Julia a hint of how she plans to help. And Julia is very well pleased. But the next thing we know, it's nightfall. Barn returns and says the plan (which Julia must have explained to him before dawn) has to be speeded up.

As if poor Amanda isn't tormented enough already by the knowledge that she is an artificial construct, Charles just has to prove it to her by drawing a man who then appears right before her eyes!


The director gives us another view of Petofi's beautiful music stand at the old mill. Naturally CDT's little tale of "experimentation" (in a nice, nonblustery turn by RD) takes place in--where else but that den of iniquity, Greenwich Village!  Apparently Charles was quite a wild man before meeting Petofi.


Barnabas has departed for his day's rest. Apparently J

The WH book is very good, Magnus. But the ending of the Laurence Olivier movie always makes me laugh now. There are other later versions--I'm thinking of one with Ralph Fiennes.

One more addition to your reading list: For the 1970 PT story, you definitely will want to get (re)acquainted with Daphne Du Maurier's peerless Rebecca, which Du Maurier herself described as a "study in jealousy."

Oh, and the Leviathans are rather broadly inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's Chthulu Mythos stories. There are some characters milling in there called Leviathans, but I haven't read the stories.

You guys just crack me up!  Just what I need on this rainy, gloomy day!

My notes say that Terry Crawford did the VO.

If only the Room of Doors looked this good or had such fine actor visitors, the whole Dream Curse would almost have been interesting. (Although of course, Stokes made the best visitor.)

I've always wondered about that fine Hungarian (I assume) men's chorus--they are really swell. They and TD's portrayal got this whole thing across. Who needs a whole lot of extras for a gypsy tribunal anyway?

Love Aristede's sheer enjoyment as he sets the trap for Barn. His materials consist of a pistol, a roll of wire, and a spool of what looks like clothesline. Julia can’t help staring in terror as Aristede starts to unroll the line. Why, Doctor, he laughs, you may die of curiosity before I even get to you. This idea seems to entertain him, but Julia gasps in dismay as she begins to guess his plan.

Barnabas is waiting in the same spot in the woods when Beth runs to him. Julia _is_ at the mill, she gasps. He’s--he’s going to kill her! she says, still catching her breath. You must go as quickly as you can! What about Petofi? Barnabas asks, and Beth reports, He isn’t there. Fervently Barnabas says, Beth, thank you. I am very grateful to you. He hurries away.

Aristede has finished setting up his apparatus: The pistol has been tied to the back of another chair facing Julia. Aristede cocks the hammer and lines up the chair so the pistol is aimed right at Julia, who is trembling in her chair. Would you like me to explain exactly how this device works to you now, Doctor? Aristede asks. I can see how anxious you are. He fastens the line to the trigger of the pistol and explains: Well, the device is quite simple. One end of the string is attached to the trigger. The other end is attached to the door. He opens the door and continues: When the door is opened, it pulls the string, which fires the pistol--and you die. Even though her voice is shaking, Julia fights for her life till the last possible moment. She taunts him, I thought that Petofi said that your imagination was great and creative. Not at all insulted, Aristede leans on the other chair to look her in the eye. Yes, he agrees, but the creative part comes along later, after I am gone. His Excellency suspects that someone will try to rescue you. I am hoping that that someone will be Barnabas Collins. You know, it would only be fitting if he should be your executioner. He crams his red handkerchief into Julia’s mouth despite her efforts to prevent him. Goodbye, Dr. Hoffman, he says with a big grin. Laughing, he unrolls the line back to the door, leaves the room, closes the door, and wraps the line around the outside knob. He starts to leave, then hears someone coming. Barnabas charges down the stairs, shouting, Where is she? Neither surprised nor frightened, Aristede says politely, My dear Mr. Collins. Tell me where she is or I will kill you! Barnabas shouts. I don’t know who you’re talking about, Aristede says calmly. Still gagged, Julia listens helplessly to the rest of the conversation. Julia Hoffman, Barnabas insists--you have her here! There must be some mistake--I’m here alone, Aristede says blandly. What about that room? Barnabas asks as he starts toward the door of the inner room. There’s no one in there, Aristede tells him. Then you won’t mind if I look inside? Barnabas says. Aristede rolls his eyes, feigning boredom, as he replies, There is no reason to look. Barnabas smiles as he makes for the door, but Aristede starts to hurry off. Once more we see Julia waiting helplessly. Barnabas opens the door--the gun fires! The broken string dangles below the gun. Barnabas is horrified to see that Julia is slumped over in the chair. Has he killed her?......

MT, I know I saw almost all the Avengers episodes and I adored Emma Peel, but I don't remember this one. Thanks for telling us about it!

PENNIES??!! That just doesn't cut it. No way.

I want a big hexagram on my front door...

I hope it's one of the really good hexagrams!   

With the arrival of Lady Kitty, you might add a whole series of books to your list: John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga. The TV series based on them was all the rage at the time, at least for me and my bffs.