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Messages - Gothick

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5341
Bit more history here... They went to Parallel Time after 1840 because Frid's contract was coming up for a renewal towards the end of 1970.  Somebody on here mentioned that he walked off the set one day and refused to return until he was assured that he would get to play another character besides Barnabas.  Lara Parker had also long expressed a desire to play a "good" character.  The only way they could think of meeting Frid's demand was by constructing the 1841 storyline, with its obvious roots in Wuthering Heights.  Also, Director (and at this time, Producer) Lela Swift believed that the largest contingent of the audience wanted to see Frid and Parker's characters in a happy romantic story, which is why 1840 took the turn of a framework for [spoiler]Barnabas realizing he had "always really loved" Angelique for the final weeks of that story.[/spoiler]  I believe that these ingredients led to the creation of the PT1841 storyline.

I believe that local network affiliates dropping DS are as much an explanation for the decline in the ratings as anything else.  However, I have read that the ratings began to rise again in January-Feb. 1971.  Apparently, when the announcement was made at the March '71 ABC board meeting that DS was going to get the axe, there was genuine concern that such a popular show was being dumped.

My theory for several years now has been that if it was the network's idea to cancel DS, Dan Curtis was more than happy to meet them halfway.  I still think that the timing of the cancellation had more to do with the need to go into production for NoDS than it did any other factor.  Since JF reportedly refused to "do the fanging thing" any longer, and also refused to do the sequel film (which had been originally constructed around him), DC probably felt it was more than time to move on.  Sam Hall's notes for the final storyline, published in that TV Guide article, were all about Barnabas' final cure from vampirism; they couldn't really have played that story if the actor did not want to portray a vampire any longer.

G.

5342
Current Talk '05 I / Re: "Potential new DS movie"
« on: May 06, 2005, 02:19:51 PM »
We have heard nothing here, so far as I am aware.  I, for one, have learnt to take what is printed in those announcement brochures with a couple good shakes of salt.

Vengeance at Collinwood sounds like it'll be fun.  I wonder whether Jamison Selby is doing the script?

G.

5343
As always, reading your notes is as much a pleasure as watching the actual episodes.  I see that the Festival are publishing a limited run book on 1966--I have to say they have a VERY tough act to follow, having read your work, which I regard as near-definitive--a little tidying and research and it would BE definitive.  Maybe one of these days, we could publish your notes as a limited-run thing--I would love to have a slim volume from you to put on my DS shelf.

I agree with you about Burke and David. They're obviously setting up the idea that Burke may be David's true Father.  I haven't read the Art Wallace bible thingie so do not know whether he intended it to be revealed that Burke really was David's Dad, especially since his original plan was for Roger to literally go round the twist and off the cliff.

Thank you for your comment comparing Liz's beehive with Mrs Meers.  The idea of Liz spouting mock-Cantonese while pushing a squeaky laundry-cart was enough to keep me in smiles for much of the day.

G.

5344
Polls Archive / Re: Favorite Aired Season
« on: May 05, 2005, 06:37:22 PM »
Very cool!  I'd quibble over a couple of those, but overall, that's a great way of schematizing the series.

I had never thought of graphing DS along the "season" model, but I do note that several of the storylines begin in early Spring and end in late Fall.

G.

5345
Polls Archive / Re: Favorite Aired Season
« on: May 05, 2005, 02:35:17 PM »
Hmmm... that's a good start, Ian.  This is how I divide up the series:

1966: June-Dec.  (includes to the end of the Matthew Morgan story)
Laura Collins (mid Dec '66--March 1967)
Jason MacGuire/The Introduction of Barnabas (March-November 1967)
1795 (Nov. 1967-April 1968)
1968 (April 1968-November 1968)
The Haunting of Collinwood/Introduction of Quentin (December 1968-March 1969)
1897 (March-November 1969)
Leviathan (November 1969-March 1970)
Parallel Time 1970 (March-July 1970)
1995/The Summer of 1970 (Introduction of Daphne and Gerard) July-October 1970
1840 October 1970-Jan. 1971
Parallel Time 1841 Jan-April 1971

Further refinements can be made, and I would make them if I were discussing this at greater length--The Intro of Barnabas, 1968, and 1897 storylines are all normally divided into two parts, for example.

G.

5346
Polls Archive / Re: Favorite Aired Season
« on: May 04, 2005, 09:52:01 PM »
How bizarre about what that site says.  1897 began in March of 1969 and wrapped in November of the same year.  (which is why dear Count Petofi was endlessly trying to get to the year 1969.)

I personally find it too jarring to my worldview (and Hell, haven't you figured out that I'm the *sensitive* one here??) to analyse the show in terms of "seasons."  I've often thought it would have ran forever if they had given the cast and crew a three to four month hiatus, but it was a soap opera and it ran day in, day out for five years from June of '66 through April 2, 1971.

but please, don't let me spoil your fun...

5347
I have an interview with Grayson Hall in which she says that in the original script for the final episode, Bramwell was given the lines about "if I didn't know better... I'd say there was a vampire at Collinwood."

The scene was changed to what was aired at the personal request of Jonathan Frid during the taping on that day, according to Grayson.

I think that final scene was rather neat, myself.  I was watching back in April of 1971 so I haven't really interrogated it that way a fresh viewer would.  Back then, it seemed cool that, even though the show was going off the air, they were leaving the door open for at least the possibility of futher "mysteries."

G.

5348
Thanks, MB. I accessed the article without having to set up a subscription to the site.

I thought that picture showed Collinwood in Parallel Time?  (my little joke)

I once visited the mansion with a strongly psychic friend, and he's convinced that there are Presences in that house.

G.

5349
The scenes with Joshua and Naomi are such excellent, solid drama.  It was great to see Bennett and Edmonds being given something to DO again after being sidelined for so long after the end of the Jason storyline.

I really enjoyed seeing Trask and Abigail get lured to their fates.  Other than that, and a few other bagatelles (such as Angelique's courtroom appearance) the final weeks of 1795 is a real washout to me.  It's close to being the most lacklustre period of the series as far as I am concerned.

G.

5350
Current Talk '05 I / Re: The Best of Angelique/Lara Parker
« on: April 27, 2005, 06:24:00 PM »
My absolute favorite scenes in LP's work for the show come from the Cassandra storyline.  Some of her work there was actually fairly subtle, hinting at ways the character had changed from what we had seen in the preceding story.

I think the early weeks of 1795 would come in second.  For one thing, the character is given fairly straightforward motives.  She's actually given dialogue that shows that it's not just Barnabas, it's Josette's position and privileges that she covets.  Those scenes make me think that the man could have been almost anybody--it was the fact that he was Josette's man that made him something she could not live without.  Later, of course, they change that; but that's the original lay of the land, as I see it, and it makes sense.

In terms of LP as an actress, I love her work on PT 1970 because it's no holds barred, over the top scenery-chewing and she gives it everything she's got.  My least favorite work from her would have to be Catherine in 1841 PT--that character was so one-note and full of herself.  Really not very interesting to me personally.

I don't myself regard Angelique as being coldly calculating; she too often got distracted by her love of and involvement with her own emotions.  In this respect, I do think Nicholas pegged her accurately when he read her beads as an "incompetent" Witch.  The Dream Curse started out as a cool idea but the flaws in her technique became more and more apparent as it went on, particularly once Stokes got wise to her.  The one really cold thing she did, and made an impressive if bloodcurdling job of, was her hex on Sarah and how she manoeuvred Barn into agreeing to marry her when she "cured" the little girl.  Those scenes had me wondering whether Ang spent her free time capturing flies and moths so she could watch their death agonies after pulling their wings off.  It was very disturbing television, particularly for the Sixties.

G.

5351
Your description of Joan's aggressive beehive had me grinning.  Thanks.

I agree with your comments upon the whole Vicki/Roger thing.  Major squick.  The really creepy stuff with Roger is still yet to come, of course.

Wonderful writing from you, as always.

G.

5352
Current Talk '05 I / Re: 38 years ago, April 1967
« on: April 27, 2005, 02:09:48 PM »
Adrian, your Cassandra collage is a real treat!  Many thanks!  You really captured those unique qualities that made Cassandra... quite a lady.

As for the other, words fail me.  But if I really struggle, "uncanny" comes to mind.  brrrr.

G.

5353
Current Talk '05 I / Re: Character Epitaphs
« on: April 27, 2005, 02:05:46 PM »
Connie dear, you ARE a romantic!

sighing at the rhapsodic lyricism of it all (while taking inner wicked delight at the "painterly" crenellations of a nude Quentin Collins),

Steve

5354
David (talking to John Karlen o/s):  "Johnny, I TOLD you, THREE's a CROWD!!"

5355
Tom: I SAID... KISS ME... you FOOL!

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