The Return of Yet Another New Slideshow (Sort of) [** Now featuring unshot Julia material - see reply #194**]

[Mysterious Benefactor]

You may have already noticed and have been asking yourself why the slideshow for the '91 DS has returned to the BoardIndex page. Well, it's not quite the slideshow for the entire series because this year we're going to be focusing on the pilot script for the series because, for one, 2015 is the 25th anniversary of the shooting of that pilot (which began shooting on March 19, 1990). And for two, just as was the case with the script for the '04 pilot, the script for the '91 series' pilot contains dropped lines, extended bits of scenes, completely dropped scenes (meaning not even restored for the MPI VHS tape), scenes in a different order in the script, scenes that were never even shot, and scenes that were shot for the pilot but held for subsequent eps of the series.

And considering that the forum didn't exist back in '90 (hell, there wasn't even such a thing as a Web page or a way to display images on the Internet back then - plus Midnite, dom, and I weren't even on the Internet back then (I didn't first log on until '94)), we'll also be sharing press releases and articles detailing with the buildup to the series. In fact, even though the deal for the pilot was made in October of 1989, news of it didn't leak until December, making for a great Christmas gift.

So, enjoy the ride. It should definitely be fun...

[DarkLady]

Thanks, MB. Looking forward to it!

[Uncle Roger]

That sounds absolutely fascinating!!

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Here's how the script details the initial set up:

DARK SHADOWS Show 1

FADE IN: 1   EXT. RAILROAD TRACKS - DUSK     It’s a cold, grey October day. An old Amtrak diesel looms out     of the fog.     As it roars by CAMERA, its lonely whistle ECHOING, PAN WITH IT,     revealing in its wake, the rock-bound, unforgiving New England     coastline. 2   INT. TRAIN - PASSENGER CAR - MOVING     VICTORIA WINTERS, a beautiful, dark-haired woman of twenty-five,     sits quietly by the rain-spattered window, staring out at the     stormy Atlantic.     A beat, and then the SOUND of her VOICE begins to FILTER IN:

And that's where today's quote -

Page 1/Scene 2 - Vicki (V.O.): 'My name is Victoria Winters ... My journey is just beginning ... A journey that I am hoping will somehow begin to reveal the mysteries of my past ...'

- comes in.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

I forgot to mention yesterday that until I first read the script I had no idea that Vicki was supposed to arrive in Collinsport in October (I don't believe there's any indication of it in the actual pilot) - and then I completely forgot about it until I reread the script for this topic. But I wonder if that's where the '04 pilot and the Depp/DS film got the same idea?

Also, it's interesting that along with Steve Feke and Dan Curtis, Hall Powell and Bill Taub get credit for the script in the credits of the pilot, though Powell and Taub don't get credit on the actual script itself - not even for the rewritten parts (which we'll point out as they come up).

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Today we're sharing the first wire release:

'Dark Shadows' returns

Burbank, Calif.-"Dark Shadows," the super-
natural daytime serial that appeared with more
than 1,000 episodes on ABC from 1966 to 1971,
will re-emerge on rival NBC in the form of a two-
hour made-for-TV movie. Slated for production in March, the movie
will serve as a pilot for a possible prime-time series and marks the
return of the original "Dark Shadows" producer Dan Curtis to the effort.

                 Electronic Media 12-25-89

Future press releases and articles will be shared on the date they were issued/published...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

The script instructs that -

CAMERA BEGINS A LONG, SLOW TIGHTEN to her.

- before today's quote -

Page 1/Scene 2 - Vicki (V.O.) (CONT'D): 'It is a journey that will bring me to a strange and dark place ... to a house high atop a stormy cliff at the edge of the sea ... a house called Collinwood'

- and then continues with:

CAMERA CONTINUES in:

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Before we deal with today's quote, there's info on some preface pages in the script that I want to share - and some of the info will certainly give some clues to scenes that do not appear in the pilot (and will also point to the fact that Daphne was intended to be a Stoddard - and not a Collins - and how that production design person screwed up):

Revised 2/28/90 ================================================ DARK SHADOWS Episode #1 CAST LIST

BARNABAS COLLINS VICTORIA WINTERS ELIZABETH COLLINS STODDARD ROGER COLLINS JULIA HOFFMAN CAROLYN STODDARD WILLIE LOOMIS JOE HASKELL DAVID COLLINS PROFESSOR MICHAEL WOODARD MRS. JOHNSON SHERIFF PATTERSON DR. HYRAM FISHER MAGGIE EVANS SAM EVANS SARAH COLLINS DAPHNE STODDARD PARAMEDIC #1 PARAMEDIC #2 MUSCLES

(MORE)

Revised 2/28/90 ================================================ DARK SHADOWS Episode #1 SET LIST

COLLINWOOD          STUDY          KITCHEN          DRAWING ROOM          DINING ROOM          GREAT HALL          FOYER          SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY          VICKI'S BEDROOM          VICKI'S BATHROOM          DAVID'S BEDROOM          SCHOOL ROOM          DAPHNE’ S BEDROOM          THIRD FLOOR HALLWAY          STUDIO ROOM          JULIA'S LAB STABLE          WILLIE'S GARRET ROOM          STAIRS          STALLS

(MORE)

Revised 2/28/90 ================================================ SET LIST (Cont'd)

FAMILY CEMETARY          MAUSOLEUM          CRYPT          SECRET ROOM OLD HOUSE          FOYER          DRAWING ROOM          BASEMENT          UPSTAIRS CORRIDOR          JOSETTE'S ROOM COLLINS PORT HOSPITAL          DAPHNE'S ROOM          CORRIDOR          SEROLOGY LAB STOKES' COTTAGE          STUDY BLUE WHALE NYU          SEROLOGY LAB          HALLWAY          JULIA’S OFFICE COLLINS PORT INN          JULIA’S ROOM WILLIE'S PICKUP

(MORE)

Revised 2/28/90 ================================================ SET LIST (Cont'd)

JOE'S CAR CAROLYN'S CAR ROADHOUSE TRAIN PASSENGER CAR EXTERIORS COLLINWOOD          GROUNDS          MAIN HOUSE          FRONT DOOR          WOODS          STABLES          DRIVE          COURTYARD FAMILY CEMETARY          MAUSOLEUM OLD HOUSE COLLINSPORT          HELICOPTER SHOT          STREET WIDOW’S HILL          ROCKY COVE BLUE WHALE ROTOLO'S GAS STATION WOODARD'S COTTAGE

(MORE)

Revised 2/28/90 ================================================ SET LIST (Cont'd)

TRAIN STATION          PLATFORM RAILROAD TRACKS ROADHOUSE          PARKING LOT COLLINSPORT INN

[Mysterious Benefactor]

After today's quote -

Page 1/Scene 2 - Vicki (V.O.) (CONT'D): 'To a world I've never known, with people I've never met people, who tonight, are still only vague shadows in my mind, but who will soon fill all the days and nights of my tomorrows.'

- the script instructs -

And as HER EYES FILL THE SCREEN, we HOLD a beat, and . . .

- however, the interesting thing about the conclusion of Vicki's voiceover is that in the script it's completely contained within Scene 2, but in the pilot, though it begins in Scene 2, it actually plays completely over Scene 3 and into Scene 4. And here's how the script describes those two scenes:

3   EXT. COLLINWOOD - NIGHT     An isolated English Manor House, atop a rocky coastal cliff     known as “Widow’s Hill”, overlooking the dark Atlantic and the     small Maine fishing village of Collinsport.     A STORM is brewing. The WIND HOWLS, rushing up the rocks off     the sea to MOAN LIKE A BANSHEE between the Manor’s many gothic     turrets and spires.     A large stone structure, built in the 1700s, the house is three     stories in height, with dark, deserted wings extending in both     directions ... Mostly closed-off now, it is overrun with vines     and leaves -- shrouded with tall, dark, forbidding trees.     The sole remaining members of the Collins family ... walk like     ghosts through its dark corridors. 4   INT. COLLINWOOD — SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY - NIGHT     As MRS. JOHNSON, the family housekeeper of forty years, early     60s, high-necked long black dress (“Rebecca’s” Mrs. Danvers)     walks TOWARD CAMERA carrying a pile of fresh towels.     In the b.g., a tall GRANDFATHER CLOCK CHIMES the hour. 8:00p.m.     HOLD as she turns into an open doorway by CAMERA.

Though as anyone who has actually seen the pilot knows, the camera does not go in far enough for Vicki's eyes to fill the screen, nor is there a clock in the hallway at Collinwood that strikes the hour of 8:00p.m.

[Patti Feinberg]

Okay....okay....I can't catch my breath....

1st, MB....how/where did you get actual script(s) for '90/'91??

VICKI'S BATHROOM.....BATHROOM PEOPLE...DID YOU READ THAT!!!???

Also, on the cast, it's a Dr. (Male Name), and also, Julia Hoffman; when I saw the rooms, I see Julia has a lab.

Why would Julia Hoffman, and not Dr. (Male Name) have a lab?

A BATHROOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!

MB.....you have to give MAJOR MAJOR WARNINGS for anyone here over the age of 40!!!!

.....ick.....'Daphne'........ick

So, in this version, Barn is introduced right away???

Was the first airing a 2-hour tv movie, or (2) 1-hour eps?

Patti

[Gothick]

I was thinking about bathrooms at Collinwood for some reason today and I realized that in hoDS, there is a scene where Carolyn has just come out of a bathroom, presumably one equipped with a shower, if I recall correctly.

Granted, the bathroom wasn't actually SHOWN.

G.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

1st, MB....how/where did you get actual script(s) for '90/'91??

Mysterious benefactors have their ways. 

Also, on the cast, it's a Dr. (Male Name), and also, Julia Hoffman; when I saw the rooms, I see Julia has a lab.

Why would Julia Hoffman, and not Dr. (Male Name) have a lab?

He does have a lab - it's just that his is at the hospital. But if you notice, Julia has two labs...

MB.....you have to give MAJOR MAJOR WARNINGS for anyone here over the age of 40!!!!

I'll try to remember that. 

So, in this version, Barn is introduced right away???

Well, at least part of him is seen fairly quickly.

Was the first airing a 2-hour tv movie, or (2) 1-hour eps?

A 2-hour movie.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Before we get to today's quote, the script continues with Scene 5 and the start of Scene 6:

5   INT. BEDROOM     As she enters TO REVEAL ... ELIZABETH COLLINS STODDARD, the     mistress of Collinwood ... arranging a vase of fresh cut     flowers.     Middle 60s, still attractive, with a proud aristocratic bearing,     Elizabeth is a woman of great strength and determination     yet one can see a fleeting echo of pain etched in the sharp     lines around her mouth.                         MRS. JOHNSON               I've done everything I can to make               it comfortable.     She crosses into the bathroom to put the towels on a shelf.                         LIZ               Those Turkish pillows in the               storage room. Perhaps a few of               them on the sofa --     Mrs. Johnson crosses back into the room, looks it over.                                             (CONTINUED)     Revised 2/28/90 5   CONTINUED:                         MRS. JOHNSON               I hope she likes it ... a young               woman from New York.     Elizabeth sets down the vase on the dresser.                         LIZ               It will feel odd having a stranger               in the house.                         MRS. JOHNSON               Forgive me for saying so, Mrs.               Collins, but I’m sure you made               the right decision.                         CAROLYN (O.S.)               You can say that again. 6   ANOTHER ANGLE     TO REVEAL CAROLYN STODDARD, Elizabeth's young (18), pretty,     blonde daughter entering the room.

Though,again, as anyone who has seen the pilot knows, Mrs. Johnson doesn't go into the bathroom - she puts the towels down on a chair. Also, Carolyn doesn't deliver her first line from off screen - that bit moves to Scene 6 as we see Carolyn entering the room, which brings us to today's quote -

Page 3/Scene 6 - Carolyn: 'I can't wait for this lady to get here. Because if I have to chase after David one more time, I'm gonna lock the twerp in a cage and nuke the keys.

- which is not what Carolyn actually says in the pilot. She says "I hope she brings a whip and a chair... that's the only thing I haven't tried with David."

[Mysterious Benefactor]

After Liz is scripted to respond with -

LIZ Oh Carolyn, you don't really mean it.

- though she actually says "Carolyn, you don't really mean that", today's quote comes up -

Page 3/Scene 6 - Carolyn: (a beat) 'You're right. Wasting the keys doesn't solve anything. It'd be just as easy to blast the little fruit-loop into never-never land cage and all.'

- however, what Carolyn says in the pilot is "You're right, Mother ... I haven't tried ... wringing his neck."

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Today we're sharing a blurb:

    # NBC had ordered a two-hour movie
based on "Dark Shadows," the 1970s cult
soap opera with a gothic horror theme. No
word yet on whether or not any of the original cast
will return.

        The Tampa Tribune 1-5-90