Happy 50th Anniversary, Night of Dark Shadows

[Mysterious Benefactor]

When I saw in the newspaper ads for NoDS that they would be giving out free DS souvenirs, I was definitely intrigued. Many know one of the things given out were Angelique figures -  but it's mentioned far less frequently that what was also given out was "Beware of The Night Of Dark Shadows" bumper stickers. The figure has definitely become a rare collectors item among NoDS fans. The bumper sticker probably not so much because it's barely related to the film. Though on rare occasions I have seen both for sale online - and sometimes even together.

I came across this as I was reading over the beginning of this topic to plan out things I don't want to forget to post and something struck me that never struck me before. Is it just me, or does the face on the bumper sticker -

- and the button (which, given that the drive-in where I first saw NoDS didn't hand any out, I never even realized existed until this past year when I saw some on the Internet for sale along with the bumper sticker) -

- look an awful lot like Phyllis Diller? Perhaps her estate should sue...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

   Here's a photo to support my point:

 

[Uncle Roger]

The resemblance to Phyllis Diller is uncanny. The drawing certainly doesn't look like Lara.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

For some strange reason, when I wrote up this post in 2016 -

Kicking off the next sequence:

- unlike how I normally would in latter instances, I didn't associate unscripted dialogue with its moment on screen. So to correct that, here's an example of it from Scene 21 when Quentin says -

"Hey, look up there."

- and this is the building -

- he's indicating - and here's an example from Scene 22 when Tracy says -

"It's gonna rain."

- and another when Quentin says -

"Here it comes. I better put the top up."

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And speaking of Quentin putting the top up, here's a fairly rare still associated with that part of Scene 22 -

(Click here for a 700X476 version)

 - though a somewhat cropped version has been shared as the back cover of the Fest's 1999 Movie Calendar and a small B&W and cropped version appears on page 22 of the Movie Soundtracks' booklet...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Something to deal with before tomorrow's installment comes up. Between today's installment and tomorrow's there's something that's different and correct in the VHS version of the film (well, correct to a point because the color timing is still off when it comes to the VHS) but unfortunately different and not correct in every other version. And that would be Scene 24:

VHS:

Every Other Version:

At least those other versions have the sound of the car door shutting...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Again for some strange reason, when I wrote up this post in 2016 -

Moving on, beginning with Scene 24:

- unlike how I normally would in latter instances, I didn't associate unscripted dialogue with its moment on screen. So to correct that, here are more examples of it from Scene 28 after Tracy looks through the vestibule's window and says -

"Oh no, I don't think I'm going in there."

- but Quentin replies -

"Yes, you are."

- and after they're inside Tracy hugs Quentin and he says -

"Can you believe it? It's all ours."

- and after Carlotta has introduced herself to them, rather than Tracy delivering the scripted "Hello, Carlotta," Tracy says -

"How do you do."

 - as Scene 28 dissolves into Scene 29...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

A still that I'd previously posted which correlates to Scene 28:

And as usual, here's a much better version of the photo -

(Click here for a 700X546 version)

And one of the many copies of that still that popped up in magazines had this caption:

"You will really enjoy seeing lots of your favorite daytime TV stars in the
full length feature film, Night Of Dark Shadows. It will be released soon."

Of course, "full length feature film" is just another way of saying theatrical film. But given how much was cut from NoDS, "full length feature film" definitely stings because who knows if we'll ever see NoDS at its full length...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

It's a amazing how unobservant one can be for over 50 years. I didn't realize until today that 1) in the above still in reply #772 Tracy and Quentin are entering the foyer, not the vestibule, as they do in the film, and 2) they're each carrying double the suitcases than they actually do in the film when they enter the house -

- because they've left some suitcases (and art supplies) behind the car -

But then, as I've pointed out before, this still (which I'd completely forgotten I had back when I was dealing with the Lobby Cards versions) of Carlotta greeting the couple is quite obviously also taken in the foyer -

(Click here for a 700X476 version)

- and as I've also pointed out before, Scene 28 was actually scripted to take place in the foyer -

...

... 28     INT - FOYER - DAY                                 28        ...

 - but apparently for whatever reason DC decided to shoot it in the vestibule - but not knowing that beforehand, the still photographer took his photos where they thought the scene would be shot...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

A still I's previously posted that pertains to Scene 29:

...

And a better version of the still:

(Click here for a 700X540 version)

...

And the only places I can recall it being officially published is in John Willis' Sceen World Volume 22 (which features all the films of 1971) and on page 23 of the Movie Soundtracks' booklet. Neither has a caption worth sharing because all both do is identify the actors...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

When it comes to today's quote in the slideshow -

Page 9/Scene 29 - Quentin (to Carlotta): 'Oh, did you tell the Jenkins' we'd be here today?'

- as I'd explained -

Moving on to Scene 29:

- in the film it's actually given to and delivered by Tracy -

"Did you tell the Jenkins we'd be here today?"

- but just as with the previous examples, I didn't associate unscripted dialogue with its moment on screen, so I didn't showcase that when Carlotta doesn't reply because her attention is deeply fixated on Quentin's playing of the piano, Tracy delivers an unscripted -

"Carlotta, did you tell the Jenkins we'd be here?"

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

More unscripted dialogue from Scene 29:

After Carlotta says that she didn't tell the Jenkins they were arriving that day because she didn't know that's what they would have wanted, she changes the subject and says an unscripted -

"Come, let me show you the rest of the house."

- and Tracy's reaction to that is to practically whisper -

"All right."

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Oops - I forgot to point out that these lines from Scene 30 -

"Collinwood was built by Joshua Collins in the late 1600s.
Of course, there have been many changes and additions
since then."

- are unscripted.

 

[Uncle Roger]

The late 1600's? Then who built the old house? Fred Flintstone Collins?

[Mysterious Benefactor]

A very rare still associated with Scene 33 -

(Click here for a 1670742 version)

 - and last time around I didn't share it because I completely forgot I have it. To my knowledge it was only officially published once and that was in TV Star Parade.

And once again we get a still that is different from how the scene is shot in the film:

• As can be seen in the following screen caps, at no point in the film do Kate Jackson, David Selby and Grayson Hall appear lined up in the order that they do in the still.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Quentin wears his jacket in the still yet, quite obviously, he throws it over his shoulder in the actual scene.
• Carlotta caresses the locket in the still, yet she never does so in this section of the actual scene.
• And Carlotta raises her right, not her left arm.