Discuss: '91 Series - Pilot - Part 2

[michael c]

quel scandale!

you mean the clothes from that store were knock-offs?

i always thought they were fresh off the runway at the paris haute couture...

what a let down.

[Watching Project 2]

Previews:

[video]

<a href="http://www.dsboards.com/1991/Previews_1.swf" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.dsboards.com/1991/Previews_1.swf</a>

(To control the play of the video, right-click on it and use the controls.)

[/video]

(Pay attention because one of the scenes in the preview will not show up in either Ep #2 or Ep #3 - but it will show up later on...)

[Taeylor Collins]

Thanks MB!!   Another great view! Can't wait for tommorrow! I hope your feeling better!  BTW..I was reading about a 60 minutes episode that was watched by 42 million people when the war broke out. I think it aired on Sunday Jan. 20!   It didn't air against DS, however it shows us that episodic TV wasn't on everyones mind.  I mean no disrespect to the horrible horrible things were happening at the time.  However, even since I was a kid I never preferred the news as it made me depressed.  I have probably watched more this year than ever because I am ashamed to admit it but it's my first time voting and I am trying to educate myself! 

Sorry to get to so off topic.  I thought the ratings for 60 minutes kind of showed what the world was in thralled with at the time!

[Gothick]

I agree with Cassandra Blair that Julia's braid always, to me, gives her that certain dominatrix air right from the get-go.  Too bad Barbara wasn't allowed to stalk through Collinwood in leather catsuits and stiletto boots for a special West Hollywood look *cheeky grin*.

I'm laughing out of my ... uh, face, at the notion of Julia being "right onto Barnabas like frosting on a cupcake."  Thanks, MSC.

It's too bad they didn't pursue defining Carolyn as a predatory bisexual minx.  After all, Amanda Donohoe had done her fabulous thing on LA Law just a year or two before this.

G.

[michael c]

true gothick...

i'm on the fence about much of this series but am becoming quite appreciative of the "minxy" barbara blackburns' take on carolyn stoddard.

[Gothick]

My roommate's view was that Carolyn had already had an illustrious career working the street out in WeHo before she "welcomed" Miss Winters to Collinwood.  He almost literally fell out of his chair and rolled around the floor laughing at some of the fashions Miss Stoddard sports in later episodes.

G.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

One of the biggest shames to me about the '91 series is that the last scene Vicki and Carolyn share (except for when they're in a group) takes place in this second half of the pilot when Carolyn drops Vicki off at the stables. TPTB certainly seemed to be setting them up to be good friends (sexual innuendos aside  ), but apparently in the "cut and cut and cut again" there was just no time to develop the relationship on screen. But then, as we'll see, their two paths do go off in very different directions...

The attraction between Barnabas and Vicki is unmistakable - and the best part of it is that it is indeed mutual. When they're in the same room, they can't resist checking each other out, and once they're alone together, they can't resist touching each other. Their chemistry is off the charts. (One can only hope the chemistry between Barnabas and whomever will be as palpable in the Depp/DS film.)

Purely from a production standpoint, and as someone who has a pretty good idea of what the inside of Greystone looks like from having seen several different shows/movies featuring it, I find it fascinating to see how they shoot doorways, stairways and rooms to make it appear as if they're seamlessly connected when in fact the production is running all over the house and utilizing totally different locations, often in completely different wings of the house.

Carolyn is sex on legs. That's all I have to say on that subject. 

I do find it fascinating that Josette's room was sealed off from the rest of the house. It gives the audience the definite impression that there is so much more to her story than at first meets the eye, and one can't help but wonder what would possess anyone to go to such lengths to try to forget her room ever existed.

Say what you will about the violence of Barnabas beating of Willie - and there is absolutely no denying its ferocious violence - but I really like how that scene is immediately juxtaposed with a deeply anguished Barnabas rushing into Josette's room to proclaim that she has come back to him. It shows two decidedly different and seemingly incongruous sides to Barnabas' personality and certainly clues the audience into the fact that Barnabas is a hugely complicated man.

The thing that I like about the idea that a real vampire is responsible for the attacks is that it isn't fully given credence by anyone until after Julia hypnotizes Daphne and she describes her assailant's teeth and red eyes. Up to that point the theory is still that the attacker is some human lunatic - but it's Daphne's own words that give it a different spin. It's not merely anyone jumping to the conclusion on their own based on what the evidence might appear to indicate - they're provided with first hand evidence to go on. Though even at that, no one at this point is willing to give voice to even the suspicion that the attacker is indeed a real vampire.

And finally - as was the case with the first half of the pilot, there were several scenes or parts of scenes that were shot but not included in the final edit. But I'll leave an explanation of them for another post.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

The cut or clipped scenes from the second half of the pilot:

We've already mentioned the scene between Vicki and Carolyn when Carolyn drives Vicki to the stables.

Victoria and David are discussing Sara in his room ... David knows she's humoring him - "You're just pretending. You don't really believe she's real." Victoria tells him, if Sara is real for him, that's what counts. "I know that when I was a little girl your age, I had a small friend by the name of Amy, and no one believed me either. But she was real, David... real to me." David, "What did you used to do with this Amy?" "I talked to her, we told each other things, we played games together." "Do you still see her?" "I stopped seeing her a long time ago." "Why?" "Oh, when I was eleven or twelve." "Then she wasn't real. I'm never gonna stop seeing Sara." "That's the way I felt too, but you'll see. There'll come a time when you won't need her anymore." She's certain they'll be good friends. She leaves.

Barnabas is happy to discover Victoria at the Old House... Noticing Willie is still hanging around, Barnabas raises his voice: "Thank you, Willie. If I need you, I'll call." Willie finally leaves. Barnabas laughs softly, "I believe you've made a conquest, Victoria. Willie seems quite smitten with you." Victoria, becoming slightly nervous, says, "Willie's not so bad," and adds she must be going, but Barnabas persuades her to stay. Victoria, "You've done so much here in such a short time." They start up toward camera. Barnabas, "Do you like it?" Victoria, "It's beautiful." Barnabas, "Yes... All great works are... The work of writers, of painters, the great buildings of Europe, the pyramids..." "But I see happiness here. The pyramids were designed to be tombs." "Of course, you are right... But this house was never meant to be a tomb."
Interior. Upstairs Corridor. Pan With Them as they walk By Camera, start along the upstairs corridor.
Barnabas, "My ancestors designed it to represent a marriage between the elegance of Europe and the promise of a new world." They continue along the hallway. Barnabas reveals his discovery - a room that clearly once was boarded up.
(Part of this sequence appears on MPI's DS Resurrected VHS.)

...the scene continues... Victoria is enthralled and chilled by the story (of Josette's death). Becoming ueasy, she decides she must return to Collinwood. Barnabas apologizes - "How unthinking of me" - and escorts her out.
Interior. Foyer as they come down the stairs.
Victoria, "I still can't get over how much that portrait looks like me." Barnabas, "Perhaps the next time you are here, I can tell you more of the family history." "I'd like that. I'd especially like to hear more about Josette." They stop by the front door. he smiles at her, this is exactly what he wanted to hear. Reluctantly he opens the door, holds her gaze. Victoria, "Goodnight, Barnabas." Barnabas, "Goodnight, Victoria." He watches her intently as she goes. Then, slowly closing the door, he turns, glares up the stairs. Barnabas shouts savagely for Willie, who races on to the landing.

Barnabas and Victoria are discussing Josette's music box... Victoria, "The greatest gifts are always those given with love... no matter what they might be." Barnabas, "Yes... no matter what they might be." He takes her hand. He looks deeply into her eyes. "Have you ever been in love, Victoria? Truly in love?" Victoria, "Once... and you?" "Yes... once." Their eyes hold a beat, then the tune comes to an end. Victoria closes the box. Victoria reveals she haunted by the image of Josette - "It's almost as if in some strange way we're connected... Across time and the centuries..."

...the scene continues... The clock chimes, reminding Victoria of the hour. "It's late. I should be going and you've hardly touched your plate." Barnabas, "The pleasure of your company, Victoria, is more than enough for me." Barnabas calls to Willie and informs him he's taking Victoria to Collinwood.

[Taeylor Collins]

Thank a lot MB.   Do you have the original scripts or something.  IF I am being nosy just say so!  So much character development murdered!! GRR