I'm lucky enough to have seen this film a couple of times and I give it the very highest possible recommendation, particularly for Thayer David fans.  The actor who plays Archie is very good as well... just a wonderful gem and a superb showcase for the incredible talent that was Thayer David.

G.

I just read a couple of those articles.  The one that teases about spoilers actually provides none at all beyond the fact that there will be "100 reveals in the last ten minutes."  (Exaggerate much, Orlando?  lol.  He's such a funny one.)

I haven't been keeping up with the series (although five words could change that:  Tom Mison full frontal nudity and the next words that go with that concept are "in your f***in dreams Gothick) but I may watch the finale via iTunes.

cheers, G.

A 1960s descendant of one of the old Salem families used to tell her students, "the real Witches were never accused in Salem--because they were sleeping with the judges."  That lore was published in a small press book a few years ago.  The inspiration for this series seems more to do with the current fad for supernatural shows but it does sound as if they are trying to use some of the actual historical events at least in part--that alone would make it more interesting than most.

G.

Very cool images MB.  It's strange how remote "the Eighties" feels today...

G.

This really is a fascinating thread.  (Back from my Caribbean cruise--a surreal and yet strangely uneventful experience.)

Given how good Alec Newman was as Barnabas, I think this had the potential to be the most intriguing re-casting of Dark Shadows ever, and I would include the 1970s feature films in that--so long as we're talking about a re-casting of the original material; I think NoDS stands in its own category as a sort of meditation upon the themes of DS.

As I look back over what has been shared this past week--and my fervent thanks to MB for his literate, erudite annotations to the material--I'm more excited than ever to view the unfolding of this thread over 2014.  I'm also feeling deeper pangs of regret not to be able to review the finished film, as well as regret over certain decisions that were made about the physicalization of certain sequences and how certain story events ultimately played out.  But I'll save those reflections for a more appropriate time.

Best wishes,

Gothick

there is one word for Tom Mison and it is GORGEOUS.

sigh.

G.

Good images of a 2009 Harvard class ring here:

http://www.cluehq.com/blog/2008/05/06/harvard-one-ring-unboxing/

I don't know whether the designs used in the 1940s were as elaborate as this--may have been more plain.

I don't believe Thayer actually graduated but I could be wrong about that...

G.