Hey gang,
I happened to watch the 1945 film, "The Enchanted Cottage," on Turner Classic Movie recently. In the film, the lovely Dorothy McGuire (uncharacteristically) plays a rather plain young woman named Laura Pennington, a woman who comes to work in a home located in New England. In fact, the name of the town (or estate) in which she is employed is called "Eastwood" (sort of like Dark Shadows' own Collinwood).
Laura's employer is a stern, practical woman named Mrs. Minnet (sp?), who, as portrayed by veteran character actress Mildred Natwick, looks and sounds a heck of a lot like Mrs. Johnson.
In the film, young Laura falls in love with a returning wounded war veteran, portrayed by Robert Young. As I saw Ms. McGuire and Mr. Young walking along the rocky shoreline of that unnamed New England state (possibly Maine), I could not not help but think that
that scene reminded me of seeing Barnabas and Vicki walking along the rocky cliff at Widow's Hill.
I wonder if Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis may have been inspired to create the great Gothic soap opera after seeing Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young in this almost ethereal romantic film classic?
Anyway, Merry Christmamas and Happy Hanukkah to all of my fellow cousins across the vast and wide super information highway!
Bob the Bartender