Happy 50th Anniversary, Night of Dark Shadows

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of how Scene 234 is scripted:

Picking up Scene 234 where we left off:

234    CONTD                                      CONTD  234        Quentin is out cold, as the girls work on him.        Alex stands to face Carlotta.

And that's when today's first quote -

Page 109/Scene 234 - Alex (calling to her): 'Let go of her, Carlotta! You have no right to hold her back.'

comes up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 109/Scene 234 - Carlotta: 'No! -- no!'

coming up.

And Grayson has yet more notes for this and upcoming moments in the scene, but I'm going to wait until tomorrow's quotes to get into them.

And interestingly enough, the only way I could get something from the seance to use of Alex for today's first graphic -

- was to pull a frame from one of the trailers and crop it for the graphic (and unfortunately it's from a camera zoom - and to make things worse, he's turning his head - so that's why his face isn't completely clear). I'm not saying they don't exist, but I've never seen even one still of Alex from the seance sequence, whereas I have several featuring Quentin, Tracy, Carlotta, and/or Claire...

   And so far as "today's" quotes go, they were July 19th this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And revisiting this graphic:

And when I'd put together this graphic -

...

- I used a crop of this -

(Click here for a 1435X932 version)
NoDS Restoration Web site caption: "(Above) Carlotta interrupts the seance in the
restored climax of NIGHT OF DARK
SHADOWS, a moody gothic set-piece unseen
by audiences until the future release of the
restoration."
Video Watchdog caption: "Grayson Hall interrupts a seance in newly recovered footage from NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS (1971).

- rare still, which Darren shared on his NoDS Restoration Web site, and which appeared as part of an article Darren wrote for Video Watchdog No. 60 from June of 2000...

It's both fun and depressing to read the VW article because reading of the recovery of the missing NoDS footage brings back how exciting it was, but at the same time there was actually optimism back then that a restored version of NoDS could be released as soon as the film's 30th Anniversary in 2001...

...

...

   And as far as "this graphic" goes, it was the second one for July 19th.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Three comment posts worth revisiting:

"The girls work on" Quentin...

I'm just imagining the stampede here if somehow Dan Curtis were to appear and bark, "OK, ladies, I need a coupla girls to WORK ON Quentin Collins.  Anyone up for that?"

Curtis might not even have time to put his cigarillo down before the mob trampled him...

I just love this thread!!

G.

"The girls work on" Quentin...

I'm just imagining the stampede here if somehow Dan Curtis were to appear and bark, "OK, ladies, I need a coupla girls to WORK ON Quentin Collins.  Anyone up for that?"

Curtis might not even have time to put his cigarillo down before the mob trampled him...

I just love this thread!!

It's almost on a par with Barnabas telling Angelique to make Quentin rise!

"The girls work on" Quentin...

I'm just imagining the stampede here if somehow Dan Curtis were to appear and bark, "OK, ladies, I need a coupla girls to WORK ON Quentin Collins.  Anyone up for that?"

Curtis might not even have time to put his cigarillo down before the mob trampled him...

I just love this thread!!

G.

Ha!

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

An early publicity piece definitely worth revisiting:

A seance related article from the film's Press Packet, not to be confused with its Pressbook.

And that particular version was obviously released early on while the film was still Curse of Dark Shadows. And interestingly enough some of the articles for the film used passages from that article, particularly how unexplained raps ruined several takes (check out the NoDS article from Famous Monsters of Filmland attached in Reply #132)...

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And interesting discussion regarding the production of the seance sequence that's worth revisiting:

I know that it's been said that Hanz Holzer had minimal involvement with the seance sequence. Was he ever on the set? I don't think that I've ever seen any pictures of him there. Nor do I recall any stories from the cast.

An interesting question. I reread the stuff that Darren Gross has written about the film and strangely enough, especially considering it's one of his favorite sequences in the longer version of the film, he hasn't really written about its production. And I checked out a couple of the publicity articles that mention how Holzer was involved as a technical adviser. Famous Monsters of Filmland, for example, says, "The seance scene promises to be one of the most nearly authentic ever seen on the screen as it was supervised by a world-famous authority on psychic phenomena." And that press release about the seance scene (that I shared most recently in Reply #1015) says, "Expert Hanz Holser, who has authored many books on psychic phenomena, was called in to supervise, and every detail is exactly as it would be if an authentic medium were running the show." Given they say "supervised," that would seem to imply he was present during the shooting - but it is interesting that for one, none of the actors involved in the sequence seem to have talked about him, and for two, a photo of him on set doesn't seem to have surfaced. But who knows?

...

   And obviously the most recent sharing of the press release in question is actually in Reply #2013.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 234 wraps up as scripted:

Wrapping up Scene 234, beginning with today's first quote -

Page 109/Scene 234 - Alex: 'You must let her go!'

coming up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 109/Scene 234 - Carlotta: 'Never! I will never let her go!'

coming up, followed in the script by:

Suddenly Carlotta runs from the balcony as Alex, looking at the girls, makes his decision and runs after Carlotta.

End of scene.

And when it comes to Grayson's notes, I'm not sure exactly what she was thinking, but encapsulating the dialogue from Alex telling Carlotta to let Angelique go because she has no right to hold her back through Carlotta saying she never will, Grayson writes "Proof it's got to be both ways" - and she also writes that Carlotta is looking for Angelique and must find her because she can't lose her - and it's not clear, but it could easily be interpreted that Grayson adds calling out to Angelique twice to the end of Carlotta's dialogue as she runs from the balcony.

   And as far as "today's" quotes go, they were July 20th this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And finally, here are the graphis made from the other trailer clip:

...



- today's graphic -

- and an upcoming graphic -

- I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I used screen captures from this -

- which appear in one of the NoDS trailers.

And here's a version of the clip slowed down to 25% of the speed -

- to get a better look at it...

...

   Variations of the first graphic were for July 12/14/15th, the second graphic was for July 18th, and the third graphic was for July 19/20th this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Another discussion worth revisiting:

...

And when it comes to Grayson's notes, I'm not sure exactly what she was thinking, but encapsulating the dialogue from Alex telling Carlotta to let Angelique go because she has no right to hold her back through Carlotta saying she never will, Grayson writes "Proof it's got to be both ways" ...

I haven't looked at my own photocopy of Grayson's script in a long time, but my memory of her notation for this sequence is that she interpreted Carlotta's action as "proving" that only if both Quentin AND Carlotta released, or let go of the spirit of Angelique, would the latter truly fade away into eternal rest (or whatever awaits a soul after death).

I thought she wrote "Proof that it's got to be both ways," but again, I haven't pulled out my photocopy to check--maybe Darren will have something to contribute.  If I find it, I will update here.

I thought she wrote "Proof that it's got to be both ways,"

She did - but I accidentally left out the word. It's there now, though. And the word "both" within the simple context of what Grayson highlighted is what I found the slightest bit confusing. But your explanation makes a good deal of sense within the whole context of what's happening...

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And once again -

...

I also forgot to mention that for the original NoDS slideshow, I used a different graphic for the following lines:

NoDS: Scene #234 - Alex: 'Let go of her, Carlotta! You have no right
to hold her back.'

I figured it was just as valid to show Claire and Tracy reacting to Alex and Carlotta as it was showing Alex because at least in part it's that way in the film as well. Plus, as I said, I don't have any stills of Alex...

It's also worth noting that unlike how the script says Quentin "topples" from his chair, it appears that he simply passes out in his chair...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scenes 235 & 236 are scripted:

And before we move on to the next installment in the slideshow, we need to deal with a few scenes in the script:

235    INT - SECOND FLOOR - CORRIDOR - NIGHT             235        as Alex EXITS the gallery and runs TOWARD CAMERA.        PAN WITH HIM as he takes the stairs three at a time. 236    INT - THIRD FLOOR CORRIDOR - NIGHT                236        as Alex bounds up the stairs and looks about, he        notices the tower door open.  PAN WITH HIM as he        runs up the stairs.

...

And DC has a note in his script that Scene 235 would be shot from a high angle.

...

And with regard to Scenes 230 through 236, Darren Gross posted on his Restoration Web site -

A selection of scenes cut from the 129-minute version that have been recovered:

...

Quentin summons up Angelique's spirit during a séance in the gallery. As Angelique's spirit begins to fade away, Carlotta (who has been watching from the music balcony) interrupts the séance, causing Quentin to fall unconscious. Alex confronts the furious and hysterical Carlotta telling her to release her hold on Angelique's spirit. Carlotta runs from the balcony and Alex races up the stairs after her.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 237 and the start of Scene 238 are scripted:

...

237    INT - TOWER ROOM - NIGHT                          237        as Alex ENTERS, he sees the room is empty.  But        looking up, he notices that the door to the parapet        is wide open.  He starts for the roof.

...

And with Scene 237 we finally return to material that's actually in the film as it currently stands. Though as I alluded to earlier, not exactly where it was supposed to appear. But more on that in a future post...

Moving on to the current scene:

238    EXT - TOWER PARAPET - NIGHT                       238        as Alex emerges from the door, he sees Carlotta        standing there.  The fear and hatred in Carlotta's        eyes are now one and the same.  As Alex moves toward        her, Carlotta backs up to where she now stands on        the low wall that rims the parapet.

And that's when today's first quote -

Page 109/Scene 238 - Carlotta: 'Stay away from me! Don't touch me!'

comes up, followed in the script by:

238    CONTD                                      CONTD  238

And that's when today's second quote -

Page 110/Scene 238 - Alex: 'We don't want to hurt you, Carlotta.'

comes up.

And as far as the descriptions and directions go, upon first seeing Alex, Carlotta doesn't actually back up to get up to stand on the wall that rims the parapet because in fact she backs in the opposite direction to stand against the corner of the wall -

- and then just before Alex is about to say he doesn't want to hurt her is when Carlotta backs up to -

- stand up on the wall. (And there's a behind the scenes still of DC and John Karlen from the filming of Scene 238 on page 141 of the 30th Anniversary Almanac.)

And as far as the dialogue goes, Carlotta's quote doesn't appear in the film as it currently stands - and Alex actually says "Carlotta, I don't want to hurt you."

   And as far as "today's" quotes go, they were July 21st this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Two of several stills associated with Scene 238 that are definitely worth revisiting:

The Lobby Card that I shared back in Reply #78:

...

(Click here for a 930X738 version)

...

And an alternate B&W version -

(Click here for a 700X540 version)

More to come...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Another still related to Scene 238 that worth revisiting:

...

... (And there's a behind the scenes still of DC and John Karlen from the filming of Scene 238 on page 141 of the 30th Anniversary Almanac.)

...

...

... Plus, I also discovered a better version of the DC/Karlen behind the scenes still:

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Two more stills associated with Scene 238 that are worth revisiting:

(Click here for a 700X462 version)

And another version -

Daytime TV caption: "Beliving that Angelique's spirit has been
exorcised, Carlotta prepares to take her own life."
(Though that's not entirely true because, as we know, Carlotta sees a beckoning Angelique on the ground below the tower.)

 - which was published as part of the Daytime TV article I've been sharing several rare shots from, and which is the only place I've ever seen that shot of Carlotta. Also note, as I mentioned previously, the material from that article is credited to MGM, New York. It's quite interesting how so much of what they shared with Daytime TV doesn't seem to have been shared anywhere else...

More to come...

 

[Uncle Roger]

I remember at one of the events at Lyndhurst, a particularly loud and rather obnoxious fan didn't feel that a fall from there could kill a person. Many of us encouraged him to go up there and try it for himself.