Happy 50th Anniversary, Night of Dark Shadows

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Video definitely worth revisiting:

unlike what the script itself indicates and how DC's notes indicate that after Carlotta asks her question and before Quentin responds, the camera switches to a 2 shot of Carlotta and Quentin in profile, the shot actually continues to slowly truck in closer and closer on Carlotta

And I have to say I love the slow truck:

I think it's much more effective than a 2 shot could have ever been because the focus should be 100% on Carlotta as she delivers key info to the plot...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And two more posts worth revisiting:

My personal take on all this has always been that most, if not ALL, of those notes in Grayson's script represented her own thoughts on how she was going to play this out.

Grayson was a great believer in something called sub-text.  In a theatrical context, this means information that an actor brings to a given scenario or action.  Ordinarily, this would be augmented or perhaps changed outright by the director's notes.  DC was still fairly green at this time, though, so I don't know how much he contributed to all of this.  I know he was into things such as tracking shots and whip-pans.  LOL.

I do remember the story of him yelling at Thayer David to hit the stake HARDER in a certain scene in hoDS.  Frankly, that seems about DC's speed during this period of his life as a director.

Of course he went on to win an Emmy... which was invariably prominently displayed in every video interview he did, in later life.  I always had the feeling he worked his butt off getting that thing.

Wonderful captures, MB!  And wonderful job of annotating all this for us.

I do remember the story of him yelling at Thayer David to hit the stake HARDER in a certain scene in hoDS.  Frankly, that seems about DC's speed during this period of his life as a director.

Entirely likely!! As we've often lamented, early director DC was far more concerned with blood and gore than he was with character elements. I don't believe there's even one notation in DC's entire NoDS script (or hoDS script) that could even remotely be considered character oriented or particularly subtextural.   

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting yet even more of how Scene 117 is scripted:

After today's quote from Scene 117 -

Page 57/Scene 117 - Carlotta: 'No...you saw Sarah Castle. She lived in this house over one hundred and fifty years ago.'

- comes up, it's followed in the script by:

QUENTIN                  But that's impossible!                              CARLOTTA                  You've heard of reincarnation,                  haven't you? 117    CONTD (2)                             (2) CONTD    117                              QUENTIN                  Of course I have.  But that doesn't                  mean I believe it.

And as far as differences in the dialogue go, what Carlotta actually says in the film at the start of today's quote is "That little girl was Sarah Castle", with the rest being delivered exactly as scripted - but Quentin's "But that's impossible!" is dropped in the film and it's also crossed out in both DC's and Grayson's scripts - and while Carlotta's question about reincarnation isn't crossed out in either script, it is dropped in the film -and Quentin's scripted reply to that question is also crossed out, and what's interesting is that in Grayson's script it's replaced with a simple "Yes" and in DC's script it's replaced with "What about it?", but no doubt because Carlotta's question was dropped, so was Quentin's various replies. And those aren't the only lines from this scene that were dropped in the film. But more on that when tomorrow's quotes come up...

And as far as differences in the directions and the descriptions go, once again there aren't any of either in the script for this section so obviously there can't be any differences in them in the film. However, when it comes to Grayson's script, she has a notation that reads "Just hear me out" next to her question about reincarnation. And in DC's script he has a notation that after Carlotta mentions Sarah, the camera moves in to a close up of Quentin, but as can be seen in today's capture -

- the camera actually remains on a close-up of Carlotta for her entire lines. And when it comes to the dropped portions dealt with in this post, DC has notations that once Quentin's close-up had been reached as Carlotta reveals how Sarah lived at Collinwood over 150 years ago, the camera switches to a close-up of Carlotta when she asks him about reincarnation, but obviously we don't see any of that.

   And as far as "today's quote" goes, it is indeed today's, March 3rd's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting a post related to Scene 117 and which needs no explanation because it explains itself:

...

... the original slideshow for NoDS included this dropped line -

NoDS: Scene #117 - Quentin: 'But that's impossible!'

- because it was quoted in the Fest's 1999 Movie Calendar, upon which the original slideshow is based.

That line originally appeared as October 13th's installment.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And there's more to revisit regarding how Scene 117 is scripted:

With respect to having heard about reincarnation, picking up Scene 117 after Quentin's scripted "Of course I have. But that doesn't mean I believe it", or Grayson's script's replacement for Quentin, "Yes", or DC's script's replacement for him, "What about it?", today's first quote -

Page 58/Scene 117 - Carlotta: 'Then what is your explanation?'

- comes up in the script, followed in the script by today's second quote -

Page 58/Scene 117 - Quentin: 'I don't have any. But there has to be a better one than that.'

- coming up.

But as far as differences in that dialogue might go, there's not likely to have been any in the film because each quote is crossed out in both Grayson's and DC's scripts and there's nothing written in either script to replace them. And as we'll see as the scene progresses, there's yet more dialogue that was completely crossed out/dropped...

And as far as differences in the directions and the descriptions go, once again there aren't any of either in the script for this section so obviously there can't be any differences in them in the film. And there also aren't any notations in either Grayson's or DC's scripts.

   And so far as "today's" quotes go, they are indeed today's, March 4th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

More thoughts worth revisiting:

Now that we're getting to the scenes with Sarah Castle, I suppose that this is as good a time as any to inquire about Monica Rich. I've heard stories over the years that DC was unsatisfied with her performance and cut out or simply did not film a lot of her scenes. The script, as published by KLS, doesn't really give Sarah a significantly larger part. Rich's imdb page doesn't list any credits other than NODS. Did Sarah have a larger part in an earlier script? And just how bad an actor did you have to be for DC to edit your part down?

Grayson's script is earlier than DC's and Sarah's part is the same in both. The interesting thing so far as cuts go is that in the scripts Sarah has more to do in Scene 56 (Angelique's funeral) but none of it is in the film. Also interestingly is that scene is a somewhat rewritten version in DC's script yet Sarah's part is still the same. And even more interestingly is that Scene 56 was the first one shot for the film so one might presume that not having worked with her yet, DC would have shot Monica Rich/Sarah's part - but if he did and it wasn't that he just didn't bother to shoot it (he could have deemed it an unnecessary character moment, which would have certainly been in keeping with how he operated), it ended up on the cutting room floor. And as we'll see in the upcoming Scenes 118 through 131 (1810 flashback), there are several instances where Sarah material is not in the film, not even the 129 minute version. In fact, there's one entire scene that is not in any version of the film...

As for how bad an actor someone had to be to have their part edited down, I never thought Monica gave a bad performance in any of her surviving material in the film, so I question how bad she could have been if what's missing really was shot. I agree with what Gothick had to say back in 2016:

I can't understand DC's problems with Monica Rich.  I thought she was very effective in what we do see.  Her closeups were incredibly intense and poignant.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Picking up revisiting how Scene 117 is scripted, Carlotta continues her explanation with today's quote -

Page 58/Scene 117 - Carlotta: 'What you've been seeing are actually memories of a previous life.'

- coming up, followed in the script by:

QUENTIN                  How can you be so positive about                  all of this?

...

And as far as any differences in the dialogue go, ... Quentin's line is completely dropped in the film and crossed out in both Grayson's and DC's scripts. ...

...

And as far the notations in DC's script go, even though one indicates that from the point that Carlotta mentions that Sarah lived at Collinwood over 150 years ago, the camera has been tightening on Quentin, that doesn't actually begin until after Carlotta mentions that what he's been seeing are actually memories of a previous life ...

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of how Scene 117 is scripted:

... the first part of today's quote -

Page 58/Scene 117 - Carlotta: 'Because I'm the living proof of it. That little girl was me -- I am the reincarnation of Sarah Castle. I was part of everything you are now remembering.'

- comes up, followed in the script by:

Quentin is speechless.

And that's when the second part of today's quote -

Page 58/Scene 117 - Carlotta: 'We are rare people, you and I -- for not only have we lived before, but we are fortunate enough to remember.'

- comes up.

And as far as any differences in the dialogue go, aside from switching things up by actually saying "I am the living proof of it. I am the reincarnation of Sarah Castle. That little girl was me. I was part of everything you're now remembering", Carlotta's other dialogue, except for turning some words into contractions, breaking apart contractions, and dropping a preposition here and there, is basically delivered as scripted - ... Grayson's and DC's scripts. And speaking of their scripts, the word "Because" is also crossed out at the beginning of today's first quote and it's replaced with "Yes...", but that's also dropped in the film.

And as far as any differences in the directions and the descriptions go, Quentin is definitely speechless in this section of the scene, particularly because so much of his dialogue was dropped. 

And as far the notations in DC's script go, even though one indicates ... the tightening of the camera is supposed to reach the point of being an extreme close-up of Quentin, as can be seen in the following capture -

- things never get that close - and while the camera is supposed to remain extremely tight on Quentin as Carlotta mentions what rare people they are, as today's capture clearly shows -

- the camera actually switches back to a tight close-up of Carlotta for those lines.

And as far as notations about Carlotta's actions and performance go, DC's script indicates that Carlotta is supposed to be holding her locket as she explains that she's Sarah's reincarnation, but if that is happening, we don't actually see it in the film because the camera is so close on Carlotta - and for that same section of dialogue, Grayson has a notation that reads "Don't lose eye contact", which she certainly doesn't - but Grayson has another notation that says "Get book from somewhere", which she doesn't do (though what would have been the importance of the book will be revealed in a notation we'll deal with next time...).

   And as far as "today's quote" goes, it is indeed today's, March 6th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of the subtitles/closed captioning for Scene 117:

In Scene 117, when Carlotta reveals to Quentin, "I am the reincarnation of Sarah Castle. That little girl was me. I was part of everything you're now remembering," the subtitles acknowledge that perfectly - however, for some odd reason, the closed captioning changes "reincarnation" to -

- and "incarnation" and reincarnation" are not interchangeable, so what's done in the closed captioning is actually very odd...

...

(ADMIN: Edited to replace TV video screen capture)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Wrapping up revisiting how Scene 117 is scripted:

... beginning with today's first quote -

Page 58/Scene 117 - Quentin: 'But I didn't remember anything 'til I came here. Why is it happening now?'

coming up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 58/Scene 117 - Carlotta: 'Because she loves us, Mr. Collins. She always has -- she always will. I still remember that last day --'

- coming up.

End of scene - but certainly not the end of the sequence...

And as far as any differences in the dialogue go, we have no way of knowing if there might have been any differences in Quentin's scripted dialogue because it was dropped in the film as well as crossed out in both DC's and Grayson's scripts. However, DC's script has the words "But" and "this", as in "But why is this happening now?", substituted in the last part of Quentin's lines, so apparently it wasn't always the intent that it would be dropped. And what Carlotta actually says is "Angelique loves us. She always has and she always will. I'll always remember that last day --", and "Because she" is crossed out in both DC's and Grayson's scripts with "Angelique" substituted for it in both, and "Mr. Collins" is also crossed out in both.

And as far as any differences in the directions and the descriptions go, once again there aren't any of either in the script for this section so obviously there can't be any differences in them in the film. However, when it comes to notations, both DC's and Grayson's scripts have notes that Carlotta would open her locket as she mentions about remembering the last day, but while Carlotta does clutch the locket, she doesn't actually open it in the film - and Grayson's script also has a notation that further references the book that was brought up as part of yesterday's notes and indicates that Carlotta would open the book and take out a lock of hair, but quite obviously that doesn't actually happen either.

And before I wrap up this post, I do have to say that I absolutely love the expressions on Carlotta's and Quentin's faces as the scene draws to a close. Carlotta is radiant -

- as she tells Quentin that Angelique loves them, whereas, with so much hard to accept information being thrown at him, Quentin looks like -

- his entire world is being shaken to its foundation - and the final shot of the two of them, as can be seen in today's second capture -

- is nothing if not a study in contrasts...

   And when it comes to "today's" quotes, they are indeed today's, March 7th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And another still to revisit:

And here's the last still I'm sharing that's associated with Scene 117 -

- and so far as I'm aware it's never been officially published anywhere. And even though it's taken straight on and not from below, it may be the still that comes closest to how the scene -

- was actually shot, as we can see when compared to the screen shot above.

Look forward to several stills associated with upcoming Scene 119...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 118 and the start of Scene 199 are scripted:

Kicking off the next scenes in the sequence:

DISSOLVE TO: 118    INT - CORRIDOR - DAY - 1800                        118        Although the following sequences will have their own        distinctive style.  They will be different from the        MEMORY CUTS.  Carlotta's voice will continue over the        scene. 118    CONTD                                      CONTD   118

And that's where the first of today's three quotes comes up opposite its direction and description:

It is a rainy afternoon. The ten-year-old Sarah, having nothing to do, skips TOWARD THE CAMERA playing one of her little private games.

Page 59/Scene 118 - Carlotta's Voice: 'It was a dark, rainy afternoon. All week long strange tensions had been building in the house...'

119    INT - GALLERY - DAY                                119

And that's where the second of today's three quotes comes up opposite its direction and description:

as Sarah walks into the room PAN WITH HER as she crosses to the windows.	Page 59/Scene 119 - Carlotta's Voice (Contd): 'tensions I did not understand...but feared. Everyone did not love my Angelique as I did.'
SARAH - CLOSE-UP

And that's where the third of today's three quotes comes up opposite its direction and description:

as she stares out at    the steady downpour.

Page 59/Scene 119 - Carlotta's Voice (Contd): 'I knew that something terrible was about to happen.'

And as far as the differences in the dialogue go, with the exception of adding the word "and", as in "a dark and rainy", all Carlotta's first two quotes are delivered as scripted - however, as has no doubt been figured out already given its graphic, her third quote is dropped in the film.

And as far as the differences in the directions and the descriptions go, the camera doesn't actually pan with Sarah as she makes her way to the windows - and while she does look out the side window, when she reaches the large window, she basically just looks down at the doll she's been carrying and, as can be seen in the following capture -

- then she seems to stare in a world all her own.

And as far as notations go, neither DC nor Grayson made any for this section of the script.

And as an aside that has nothing to do with the scenes covered here, but earlier today I happened to notice in the forum's Who's Online feature that a member was checking out an old NoDS topic, and feeling curious about what it was about, I came across this post while I was perusing it:

You can see the missing footage either at a festival panel that I might do next year or perhaps sometime in the next 10 years or so it will be restored and  released on a DVD.

As you can see, Darren made that post back in 2003, and obviously 2013 came and went with no restored NoDS to be seen.    But in 2016 we still try to remain optimistic that one day... So until then I suppose we just have to settle for Darren's occasional Fest presentations.

   And as far as "today's" quotes go, they are indeed today's, March 8th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revsiting the subtitles/close captioning for Scene 119:

Perhaps the strangest thing I find about the subtitles on the DVD/Blu-ray is that they're supposed to be SDH subtitles, which means by definition they're subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, which assumes the viewers using them can't only not hear the dialogue but also important non-dialogue information so they also highlight important sounds such as sound effects, music, etc., but the subtitles rarely if ever do that. On the other hand, the closed captioning often does. The most recent example of that was back in Reply #879 for Scene 109 when the closed captioning acknowledged the sound the Greenhouse's glass ceiling makes before it comes crashing down. And now when it comes to Scene 119 the closed captioning acknowledged the sound of approaching footsteps that soon prompt Sarah to hide under the table -

- but of course, the subtitles do not acknowledge that sound...

...

(ADMIN: Edited to replace TV video screen capture)

 

[Uncle Roger]

I do wonder how and why Monica Rich was cast. Aside from a 1967 appearance on NET Opera Theater, she has no acting credits either before of after NODS. She's okay in the movie. Just okay. But there were surely other actresses in that age group who could have given a stronger performance. Did her family have some sort of connection to DC? Or was she simply willing to work for the salary that was being offered?
I have heard stories over the years that DC was not satisfied with her performance. It's very telling that DC would allow the unprofessional behavior of Roger Davis but not for an unexperienced child.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting more of how Scene 119 is scripted:

Continuing with Scene 119 (and I'm going to use the way the scene appears in Grayson's script because DC didn't change the character names - and I have changed the names in all the quotes because it was just easier that way):

WIDEN as the SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS can be heard coming        down the hall.  Sarah, not wanting to be seen, runs        and hides in back of a chair.                               LAURA                              SAMANTHA (O.S.)                  We can talk in here.          LAURA                        STRACK        Samantha, Gabriel and the Rev. Trask ENTER THE HOST        and cross to the windows.

And that's when today's first quote -

Page 59/Scene 119 - Laura: 'You must make a decision, Gabriel.'

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

Page 59/Scene 119 - Gabriel: 'You've already made it for me. Why else would the good Reverend Strack be here?'

- coming up.

And when it comes to any differences in the dialogue, Laura switches things up a bit by actually saying "Gabriel, you must make a decision" - and Gabriel actually delivers his first sentence as "I think you've already made that for me." - and Laura actually sighs after Gabriel says that and before he surmises what other reason would Rev. Strack have for being there.

And when it comes to any differences in the directions and the descriptions, Sarah doesn't hide behind a chair because she actually hides under the table before the adults enter the Gallery - and the adults don't cross to the windows because they actually gather around the table, though, as can be seen in the following capture -

- at first we only see their legs as evidence of that because Sarah is the one who's on screen.

And still no notes in DC's script for this scene.

   And as far as "today's quotes go, they were March 9th's this time around.