Happy 50th Anniversary, Night of Dark Shadows

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of how Scene 115 is scripted:

Continuing Scene 115 with today's quote, Quentin's reason for not using the tower -

Page 54/Scene 115 - Quentin: 'This room seems better to me. Would you mind moving down my easel and paints tonight?'

- coming up.

And when it comes to differences in the dialogue, what Quentin actually says is "This room seems better to me. Would you mind having my easel and paints moved down tonight?"

And when it comes to any differences in the directions and descriptions, there aren't any in this section of the scene.

   And as far as "today's quote" goes, it is indeed today's, February 13th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Some more posts to revisit:

I do love the scene where Carlotta tells Tracy that it would perhaps be best for her to leave HER OWN HOME... "... IF you can!"  LOL.

Maybe it's time to finally order the DVD...

One further comment that I personally find it very unlikely that an artist--professional or otherwise--would allow anyone else to haul around his own easel and materials, etc.  I would have expected Quentin to simply do this himself rather than asking Carlotta to do it, particularly since in all likelihood she would just pass the order along to Gerard.

For someone who was interested in antiques and the arts, Sam Hall sometimes seems to have been strangely uninformed (and at times, just plain dense) about the specifics of art conservation and related art logistics.  Remember the storyline where we were told that a painting was going to be "transferred to another canvas" so that what was painted under it could be seen?  It wasn't until I watched that story again as an adult that I realized just how absurd those lines sounded.

  Quite often a version of DS comes up with situations that require they be taken with a giant grain of salt (hello, someone being able to be hanged 1) for a crime they didn't commit, 2) where there isn't a shred of real evidence to connect them to the crime, and 3) and the real kicker, in a state without the death penalty!). But we go with the flow as much as we can. 

I do love the scene where Carlotta tells Tracy that it would perhaps be best for her to leave HER OWN HOME...

Yes! That is one of my all-time favorite scenes in any version of DS. Grayson and Kate play it to perfection and I can't even imagine NoDS without it. And to think that fool James Aubrey thought all of Grayson's scenes should have been cut!! "Fool" isn't even a strong enough word for him!! 

Wasn't he known as The Smiling Cobra? 😈😈😈😈

Maybe it's time to finally order the DVD...

Oh, heavens, are you kidding me?  Get thee to the dealer NOW!   

One further comment that I personally find it very unlikely that an artist--professional or otherwise--would allow anyone else to haul around his own easel and materials, etc.  I would have expected Quentin to simply do this himself rather than asking Carlotta to do it, particularly since in all likelihood she would just pass the order along to Gerard.

Yeah, I always thought that was odd, too.

Also, I'm not sure why, but for some reason watching the scene where Grayson is hauling the giant framed portrait of Angelique around just always gave me a sad feeling...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

(Click here for a 914X1226 version)

(Note the date of the ad.)

More to come...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of how Scene 115 is scripted:

Continuing Scene 115 with ... today's quote -

Page 54/Scene 115 - Carlotta: 'If you're sure, I'll start now.'

- coming up.

And when it comes to differences in the dialogue, ... what Carlotta actually replies is "If you're sure, I'll start right now" - and again there's a note in Grayson's script that Carlotta is aiming that at Tracy more so than Quentin - and while that can be detected during Carlotta's delivery, immediately afterward at the outset of the long shot -

- Carlotta's expression and direct gaze really brings it home. It's a wonder that Tracy doesn't burst into flames from the fire Carlotta's eyes aim at her.

And when it comes to any differences in the directions and descriptions, there aren't any in this section of the scene.

   And so far as "today's quote" goes, it is indeed today's, February 14th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Even more posts to revisit:

Another fab Carlotta capture today!

Anyone paying attention AT ALL should have realized that that tightly pursed pout means ALL HELL is gonna break loose!

  Yes, the patented Grayson Hall pout!

Anytime one of her characters sports that pout, it's best for everyone to run for the hills as fast as they can!! 

Wasn't he known as The Smiling Cobra? 😈😈😈😈

I don't think I'd ever heard that before, but sure enough when I looked up his Wikipedia page it says:

Despite his successes in television, Aubrey's abrasive personality and oversized ego – "Picture Machiavelli and Karl Rove at a University of Colorado football recruiting party" wrote Variety in 2004 – led to his firing from CBS amid charges of improprieties. "The circumstances rivaled the best of CBS adventure or mystery shows," declared The New York Times in its front-page story on his firing, which came on "the sunniest Sunday in February" 1965. He earned the nickname "Smiling Cobra" for his brutal decision-making ways. Aubrey governed CBS with a firm grip, and it did not go unnoticed. He was suddenly dismissed in February 1965. Aubrey offered no explanation following his dismissal, nor did CBS President Frank Stanton or Board Chairman William Paley. After four years as an independent producer, Aubrey was hired by financier Kirk Kerkorian in 1969 to preside over Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's near-total shutdown, during which he slashed the budget and alienated producers and directors but brought profits to a company that had suffered huge losses. In 1973, Aubrey resigned from MGM, declaring his job was done, and then vanished into almost total obscurity for the last two decades of his life.

He sounds even worse than we've been led to believe. Who knew that the way he acted with DC was apparently the way he acted with practically everyone (by comparison, the details of how Aubrey operated as laid out on his Wikipedia page make DC seem positively like the gentlest of kittens!!). It's awful to say, but after reading all about his antics, I have little sympathy for the supposed fact that at the time of his death he had been largely forgotten. But NoDS fans will never forget what he did to the film, largely because we're still dealing with the consequences to this day. If only he'd resigned from MGM before he'd ever heard of NoDS. But alas... Well, unless one of us can figure out how to go back to '71 to change history.    Where are those I Ching wands...

I remember Grayson made very effective use of The Pout in a memorable scene in 1897.  Angelique is berating Julia, telling her that she's wasting her time with Barnabas because he is a COLD, UNRESPONSIVE man.

Julia offers her The Pout, The Freeze, and DEMANDS to know, with an icily arched eyebrow: "WHO made him that way?"

It's one of the few times I've ever seen Angelique look taken aback...

I don't think I'd ever heard that before, but sure enough when I looked up his Wikipedia page it says:

<snip>After four years as an independent producer, Aubrey was hired by financier Kirk Kerkorian in 1969 to preside over Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's near-total shutdown, during which he slashed the budget and alienated producers and directors but brought profits to a company that had suffered huge losses. <snip>

<snip> But NoDS fans will never forget what he did to the film, largely because we're still dealing with the consequences to this day. If only he'd resigned from MGM before he'd ever heard of NoDS. <snip>

And we're left to wonder:  If Aubrey hadn't ordered the mutilation of NODS, would what turned out to be a moderately successful film have perhaps become much more of a success for the studio?

The chief reason Aubrey would have wanted a shorter length is because theaters can run a 90-something long film more times in a given day than they can one that's over 2 hours - and studios are mostly looking at their bottom line. (And as has been made obvious through the years, Aubrey could have cared less if NODS was a better film at its original 129 minute length.  )  In studios' eyes, longer length can mean smaller profit...

Grayson Hall, GODDESS.

No wonder Danny Horn once proclaimed Grayson Hall the Greatest Actress who Ever Walked the Earth!

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Having completely forgotten when NoDS opened in Italy, I asked Google, and it indicated that the film opened there on December 23, 1971. Now, that might be quite right or it might not. And the reason I say it might not be because to check the legitimacy of the Italy answer I then asked Google when NoDS opened in the US and it came back with August 13th, but we all know that is not the case because the film opened in the US on August 4th. But at least those dates are in the same month. I then fashioned the question in a few different ways just to see if I would get different answers, and when it came to one, boy, did I get a different answer because it said NoDS opened in the US in February of 1971. Huh?! God only knows where/how Google's AI got that idea?! But it just goes to show you that AI can be far from accurate!! So perhaps it's best to take answers AI provides with a huge grain of salt...

And further evidence of taking with a huge grain of salt the things Google's AI presents as facts, just for the fun of it yesterday I asked Google the same question. Did it still come back with December 23, 1971? Uh, no. It came up with September 24th, 1971, which is actually a date that makes a bit more sense to me for reasons that will be discussed before too long. But as odd that the AI has come up with two different dates, today, just to see which one of those might come up a second time, I asked again, and today it didn't come up with any specific date but simply said, '"Night of Dark Shadows" opened in Italy in 1971. It was released in the same year as its production, meaning it likely reached Italian theaters sometime in 1971.' So helpful. 

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting even more of how Scene 115 is scripted:

Moving on with the scene, beginning with Quentin's response to Carlotta asking if he's sure that he wants his painting materials moved from the tower:

115    CONTD                                     CONTD   115        He nods.  Frowning, Carlotta leaves the room, as        Tracy is in Quentin's arms.

And that's when today's quote -

Page 55/Scene 115 - Tracy: 'Oh, darling, I won't bother you here. I swear I won't. When you were in the tower, I always felt you were so far away.'

- comes up.

And when it comes to differences in the dialogue, what Tracy actually says is "Oh, Quentin, I won't bother you down here. I swear I won't. I always felt you were so far away when you were in the tower."

And when it comes to differences in the directions and descriptions, as Carlotta leaves the room, Quentin sighs and lowers his head like he can't believe the way Carlotta reacted - and Tracy isn't in Quentin's arms because, as can be seen in today's capture -

- she leans in closer to him, but they're still simply holding hands.

And both Grayson's and DC's scripts have notations for this section: Grayson's script reiterates that Carlotta has decided to get rid of Tracy - and DC's script has that the camera is supposed to pan with Tracy as she goes into Quentin's arms, which doesn't actually happen.

   And as far as "today's quote" goes, it is indeed today's, February 15th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting a third still related to Scene 115:

Unlike the previous two stills I've shared that are associated with Scene 115, this one -

(Click here for a 700X476 version)

- is rare as it hasn't been officially shared anywhere to my knowledge...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting a question I'm still wondering about. It came up tangentially in an earlier post, but this one deals with it more directly::

Something I've often wondered about Scene 115 is after Carlotta enters the Gallery she makes a beeline for the liquor on the sideboard, opens the ice bucket, takes out ice, and puts it in a glass before Quentin calls out her name and she turns to him, but just who is it that she's making that drink for?

One might presume it's for Quentin, but neither the film nor the script gives any indication who it's for. Not even the notes Grayson made in her script for the scene give a clue because regarding that section all she wrote is "Busy making a drink." But wouldn't it be a hoot if she's making that drink for herself?! Imagine if she really does just breeze into the Gallery, completely ignoring that her employers are in there, and starts to make a drink for herself with their liquor. But then Carlotta does often act as if she owns Collinwood. Tracy even makes a remark to that effect in Scene 33, part of the first sequence that takes place in the Gallery. When it comes to Carlotta the "help" definitely doesn't know their place!! 

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the ending of how Scene 115 is scripted:

Wrapping up Scene 115, beginning with today's first quote -

Page 55/Scene 115 - Quentin: 'Well, I won't be anymore. So I want you to stop worrying. Everything's going to be all right.'

- coming up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 55/Scene 115 - Tracy (with great hope): 'Now I know it will.'

- coming up, followed by the scene ending in the script with:

They kiss.

And so far as any differences in the dialogue, what Quentin actually says is "Well, I won't be anymore. So I want you to stop worrying about it. Everything's gonna be all right." - and what Tracy actually replies is "I know. Now it will."

And so far as any differences in the directions and descriptions, Quentin and Tracy don't actually kiss at the end because the scene ends right after Tracy's lines. Whether they do kiss in the 129 minute version remains to be seen...

And speaking of the 129 minute version, tomorrow's slideshow begins yet another scene that only appears in that longer version of the film...

   And so far as "today's" quotes go, they are indeed today's, February 16th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of the subtitles/closed captioning for Scene 115:

... after arrangements have been made for Quentin to move his painting from the Tower Room to the Gallery, and after a huffy Carlotta has left the room to start proceedings to do so, what Tracy actually says is "Oh, Quentin, I won't bother you down here. I swear I won't. I always felt you were so far away when you were in the tower." - and when it comes to her last sentence the subtitles have all but her use of "always" - but the closed captioning has -

- and to that Quentin actually replys "Well, I won't be anymore. So I want you to stop worrying about it. Everything's gonna be all right." - though when it comes to the first two sentences the subtitles have -

- and the closed captioning drops even more because it has -

- completely dropping "So I want you to stop worrying about it" and rephrasing "Everything's gonna be all right."

...

(ADMIN: Edited to replace TV video screen captures)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Two posts about a publicity still posted on another site that's definitely worth revisiting:

WickedNick posted this fab publicity photo of Carlotta on his site today:

http://shadowsonthewallzine.blogspot.com/2016/07/night-of-dark-shadows-carlotta-with.html

WickedNick posted this fab publicity photo of Carlotta on his site today:

Yes, that is a fantastic photo. And there are several promotional stills of Carlotta wearing that dress, including two great color ones (one in the 35th Anniversary DS Memories PomPress book, and one in the Return To Collinwood book.) If you've never seen them, I can post them.    But the funny thing is that I don't believe she ever wears it in the film as it currently stands. I wonder if she might wear it in any of her scenes in the recovered footage, though given the places those scene fit into the film, that seems as though it's unlikely. With our luck, she might have worn it in the unrecovered Scenes 171A-171C sequence[spoiler]in which Carlotta points out to Quentin he should get Tracy to leave Collinwood before the Jenkins return from their trip to NY.[/spoiler]Though even with those scenes I have doubts...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

By request:

From Return To Collinwood:

(Click here for a 538X820 version)

From 35th Anniversary DS Memories:

(Click here for a 920X1460 version)

And I'd forgotten all about how the following one appears on page 131 of the iMillennium Edition version of the Almanac:

(Click here for a 912X622 version)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how the start of Scene 116 is scripted:

Beginning the next scene:

116    INT - GALLERY - DAY                               116        It's the following morning.  Quentin is at easel,        relaxing, sipping a cup of coffee, as Tracy ENTERS.        Quentin stops, holds out his arms.  Tracy runs to        them.                              QUENTIN                  Good morning!                       (pointing outside)                  The world is ours, the gentleman                  said.                              TRACY                  Ours.  We'll celebrate.  I'll drive                  into Collinsport and get the biggest                  steak anyone has ever bought.  We'll                  charcoal it ourselves.                              QUENTIN                  And eat it ourselves.                              TRACY                  I'll make my famed Caesar salad...                  which is the only one I can make --                              QUENTIN                  And we shall open the best wine.        She turns, sees that Angelique's portrait is gone. 116    CONTD                                     CONTD    116/color]

And that's when today's quote -

Page 56/Scene 116 - Tracy: 'What happened to her?'

- comes up.

And when it comes to any differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions, at this point we can't compare the script to the film because this scene only appears in the 129 minute version of the film.

And DC's script doesn't have any notations for this scene.

   And so far as "today's quote" goes, it was actually yesterday's, February 17th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

... the original slideshow for NoDS included -

NoDS: Scene #116 - Tracy: 'I'll drive into Collinsport and
get the biggest steak anyone has ever bought.'


NoDS: Scene #116 - Quentin: 'And eat it ourselves.'


NoDS: Scene #116 - Tracy: 'I'll make my famed Caesar
salad...which is the only one I can make --'

- because those lines were quoted in the Fest's 1999 Movie Calendar, upon which the original slideshow is based.

...