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Messages - CyrusL

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106
Polls Archive / Re: Films that have plots that influenced Dark Shadows
« on: November 07, 2006, 04:28:13 PM »
In reference to The Undead, I do wish to mention it IS the one thing I hate when said about Dark Shadows, which is...campy. That said I like The Undead. It is pre-Poe films Corman, so it has some very tongue in cheek humor, a Satan character somewhat in the Nicholas Blair melieu, and Billy Barty as an evil dwarf. It does have some nice sets on a budget, and a classic poster. I just wanted to make note of this so no one who hasn't seen it get expectations for it being something other than what it is, a low budget horror with comic touches. I had never made the connection until about 2 years ago I read an article in a old issue of Castle of Frankensetein when then writer now director Joe Dante noted the connection.
      I do want to say "The Reurn of Dracula" with Frances Lederer i feel is worth searching out. It was one of the last B&W "B-films" of Dracula just prior to the Hammer reinvention.  (I say B&W, but there is a little surprise is restored prints.)  I might say its the most underrated on the list.
      Nice arguement for Vertigo being on the list Charles.  [hall2_cheesy]

Michael  [Bat]

107
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: OT-Wally Wingert and the Groovie Goolies
« on: October 31, 2006, 09:10:54 PM »
Quote from: BuzzH on October 31, 2006, 07:20:33 PM
I remember the Groovy Ghoulies!!!  I loved them!!  Where'd you find it and how much?
Although the official release was last Tuesday, I didn't find one until yesterday. At Best Buy it cost me only $19.99. I think the list price is $29.99, but I'd say $19.99 to $24.99 should be average.

Michael  [hall_grin] 

108
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / OT-Wally Wingert and the Groovie Goolies
« on: October 31, 2006, 07:08:38 PM »
I picked up the Groovie Goolies DVD box yesterday. For those of you who may or may not remember, this was a Saturday morning cartoon spun-off from the Filmation studios Archie and Sabrina series which ran in the last '60, the Goolies debuting in 1970. The series was a sort of Laugh-In with the lead characters being reinventions of Dracula, Frankenstein, and a hippy Wolfman, along with various other spookies.  [frankie] [Wolfie] [vampy]

Aside from very corny jokes, it also had two songs each show in the tradition of the aforementioned Archies cartoon, one of which was later a top 40 hit when remade under the name Daddy Dewdrop, which was the novelty song "Chick-A-Boom (Don't cha just love it)." Like many Saturday morning shows, it had an afterlife in various forms in syndication.
          Well, aside from the monster themes, what also may be of interest to the boards is that the set was produced and hosted by the Dark Shadows Halloween show's contest winner, Wally Wingert. Wally, incredibly knowledgeable about this show, hosts two commentary tracks and a "docu'comedymentay" on the show. I did lean some great stories about some of the Saturday am voice artists such as Howard Morris and Larry Storch (all staples of '50 and '60s sitcoms.) among others. (Larry also appeared in Arsenic and Old Lace with Jonathan Frid)  Its nice to hear Dal McKennon can still do Archie's voice, and has done show at fan events.
       Anyway, it goes without saying this is a great piece of nostalgia for us "late boomers" and, well, it goes great with a bowl of your favorite monster cereal.
   
        Michael  [hall2_grin]

109
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: A Dark Shadows' Halloween Greeting / merged w/ HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL
« on: October 31, 2006, 06:14:50 PM »
All the best to everyone on the board on perhaps my favorite day of the year!!! [hall2_grin] [hall_grin]
    I took today off and figured while I was home I would have the plumbers over for a minor repair. On their way out, they looked at the bookcase, and commented on the complete set of Dark Shadows VHS tapes. I stated as the show was on almost 5 years, all the episodes cover over 250 tapes. They asked, "Have you watched them all?" My reply was of course, yes, all of them.
    I bought the 75th Anniversay special DVD of Frankenstein at Costco last night, and the cashiers sparked a conversation. "Oh, look at this (she turned to mthe other register) You ever seen this? That Boris Karloff was a great actor! This here's a classic. I love all them. Vincent Price, Barnabas Collins. Those are the classics."
       Dark Shadows is always with us. Let's keep a little Halloween spirit all year long.
       Have the best of all Hauntings today!
       Michael  [skull_winks]
   

110
Polls Archive / Films that have plots that influenced Dark Shadows
« on: October 30, 2006, 10:38:57 PM »
Which of these films that influenced Dark Shadows storylines do you enjoy the most?

My qualification for this list was for films other than those horror standards, most especially literary adaptions. Instead, I wanted to look at those where a particular unique plot point was "borrowed" or otherwise had a big influence on Dark Shadows. Therefore, no straightforward adaptions of Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Turn of the Screw etc. For similar reasons, I did not include films made from short stories, such as by Poe or Lovecraft. I did chose films where a significant plot twist was introduced, not in the original story. (This on the two Dracula movies) I also eliminated The Wolfman, because while it had a big influence on Dark Shadows, it was harder to pin the specific plot point, unlike Werewolf of London . Feel free of course to discuss any films I may have missed. I was rather inspired by the recent discussion of Lugosi's Return of the Vampire of late, and how the mausoleum used was so similar to the Collins mausoleum.

Most of all, HAVE FUN!  [dancing_bones]   [dancing_bones]   [dancing_bones]

For those unfamiliar with any of these films, here's some briefs on how they influenced DS:

House of Dracula (1945) : Count Dracula seeks out a scientist who can treat vampirism as a blood disease.

Return of Dracula (1958) : A vampire arrives from  and insinuates himself on the family as a lost relative from Europe.

The Mummy (1932) : Risen from the grave, a walking corpse of a man obsesses on a woman who is the reincarnation of his great lost love.

The Thing That Could Not Die (1958):  A powerful warlock's head is found in a box and it takes possession of the living to help him find his lost body.

The Undead (1957) : A woman makes a mysterious journey into the past where she is framed for black magic by a jealous witch. After returning to the present, no one believes her.

The Uninvited (1944) : A brother and sister live in a great mansion on a cliffside by the sea. They are haunted by  mysterious and sad female ghost who's presence is felt by the scent of lilacs.

Werewolf of London (1935) : A werewolf hopes to find a cure by seeking the mysterious moon poppy.


Happy Halloween!!!!   [candle_in_skull_2]

Michael  [hall_wink]

111
Caption This! - Blackmailing Liz-Intro to Barnabas-Kidnapping Maggie-Intro to Julia / Re: Episode #0210
« on: October 30, 2006, 09:04:54 PM »
Liz: Certs IS a breath mint!
(off camera) carolyn: Motherrrrrrrr, Certs is a candy mint!

112
Caption This! - Vicki/Jeff-Cassandra/The Dream Curse-Adam/Eve/Nicholas / Re: Episode #0503
« on: October 29, 2006, 04:31:07 AM »
Willie: I just realized I accidentally switched my jacket at the diner with Hank Kimble, the county agent from Hooterville. Mine's got my diary and my Arby's discount coupons in it. Barnabas is gonna kill me for losing both of those!

113
Caption This! - 1970 Parallel Time / Re: Episode #1016
« on: October 29, 2006, 04:23:11 AM »
"...because that was the biggest zucchini he had ever seen growing out of Quentin's neck, and he was damned if he was going to make zucchini bread out of it!" [hall2_tongue]

114
Caption This! - Vicki/Jeff-Cassandra/The Dream Curse-Adam/Eve/Nicholas / Re: Episode #0506
« on: October 29, 2006, 04:19:02 AM »
Willie: I swear to you Barnabas, its the Goodrich blimp!
Barnabas: Willie, Goodrich doesn't have a blimp. 

115
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Monsterfest 2006! A Horror Host Summit!
« on: October 29, 2006, 04:11:51 AM »
Two more from Monsterfest...
The Horror Host panel with (l-r) Garou, Dr Sarcofiguy (sp?), the legendary Count Gore Devol, Penny Dreadful, the Bowman Body, and Dr. Madblood. I must say Garou was a big hit with everyone, both he and Bowman really got the crowd laughing. So did the Count. Penny's table was very busy after the talk and I bet she got lots of new fans.  [hall_grin]

The second is Bowman playing the ukelele. There is already a clip of this on YouTube. I will post a link below too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCD9lZWPsXo

Michael  [hall2_cool]

116
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Monsterfest 2006! A Horror Host Summit!
« on: October 29, 2006, 03:58:32 AM »
Some photos from Monsterfest... [hall_grin]
The first is our own Penny Dreadful and Garou with Mr. Body.
Second is Diane and I with my boyhood hero, The Bowman Body, and also with Dr. Madblood from Tidewater, who came on TV is my early teen years. His show was also great and the movies her did greatly supplemented Bowman's.

Michael  [hall2_grin]
 

117
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: Happy B'Day to murph & Barnabas'sBride!
« on: October 27, 2006, 09:32:24 PM »
Happy Bithday to both of you, Murph and Barnabas's Bride
Have a special weekend, EAT, DRINK and BE SCARY!!!!
 [dancing_bones]      [dancing_skeletons]    [dancing_skeletons]     [dancing_skeletons]  [dancing_bones]  
 [band]     [banana2]     [thewave]      [banana2]

Michael  [hall_cheesy]

118
Caption This! - The Werewolf-Quentin's Ghost / Re: Episode #0676
« on: October 27, 2006, 08:39:01 PM »
Chris: You know Mr. Collins, my brother was the real handyman, not me. I dunno, some plate  glass, yeah, maybe, maybe we can make a coffee table outta this. Gonna be big...

119
Calendar Events / Announcements '06 II / Re: vista theatre halloween party
« on: October 27, 2006, 08:15:19 PM »
I have to ask, did Barbara Steele sign any autographs? (He doth ask with baited breath...)

Michael  [hall_rolleyes]

PS: Can Jim invite her to another DS festival, canhe,canhe,canhe....!!!!

120
Polls Archive / Re: Halloween poll: Dark Shadows scariest moments
« on: October 27, 2006, 07:18:35 PM »
  Sometimes, basically, Dark Shadows isn't scary to our contemporary senses. We are in the post Night of the Living Dead/Halloween/Texas Chainsaw era. Its kind of like the classic Universal stuff or even the Hammer films. I don't find I watch them to be scared, I just LOVE stories with supernatural themes and atmosphere. Dark Shadows was very rich in these. I've probably said this before, but I've often described Dark Shadows as being the TV show equivalent of a top notch wax museum experience.
      I rarely get really scared watching movies, although the aforementioned Texas Chainsaw did scare me in the theatre, but more in a exhausting sense in some ways, of , when will this be over and how much can we take?
With due respect for TV and movies, I find gong through the Halloween haunted house generally much more of a full shock or frightening experience. [Skull2]
      With that said, I will say i think DS had some great scary or rich supernatural moments. Maybe  chilling or spooky are better words. I knew kids growing up that were stopped from watching it when they got nightmares, but I never had a bad  DS dream.  [8371]
        Anyway, with all that said, some of my favorites scary moments would include those with Jeremiah's ghost, Quentin or Gerard's ghosts, Judah Zachery's head in the box, the discovery of Rev Trask's skeleton, and the Widow's ghosts confronting Matthew Morgan at the old house. The DS ghosts were always especially effective in B & W.
         I always loved that eerie whistling music that was played in ghosts scenes, such as the Widow's Hill scenes. The lighting, sets, music, costumes and sound are so inseparable as part of that magic DS atmosphere. [Ghost00] [gramophone]

Michael  [candle_in_skull]

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