Dear Anne,

I believe you are confusing the pentagram/pentacle (a 5 pointed star--yes, just like the ones on the US flag, I have an interesting article about the symbolism of the flag and its relationship to the ancient worship of the Great Goddess) with the "Star of David" which has 6 points and is made by placing a triangle with 2 points down (representing outer activity) and one with 2 points up (representing inner reflection) overtop one another.

Technically a Pentagram is a plain 5 pointed star.  When enclosed in a circle, it is called a Pentacle.  There are many symbolic explications of the 5 points--one is humanity plus the 4 Great elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, surrounded by a Circle, representing the Unity of all creation.

The 5 pointed star is mentioned in writings of certain ancient Greek philosophers, and has been used in meditation exercises across many traditions.  The image appears repeatedly in Nature.  Look at a morning glory tomorrow, or cut open an apple to see it.

The association between the 5 pointed star and "Satanism" in the mass media is unfortunate, and hardly accurate as a portrayal of a powerful symbolic archetype that has been used across millennia around the world.

Gothick

Delightfully also known as Professor T. Eliot Stokes.  I think Sam Hall is on record somewhere as saying that that was his and Gordon's little salute to T. S. Eliot (whose Waste Land could be a description of Collinwood on acid--think of it, Magda as Madam Sosostris, etc.)

Gothick

Hi Julia,

It is implied in the earlier part of this story that Barnabas is the only one who can really handle Adam, emotionally at least.

At this point, though, Nicholas fancies himself in complete control of da big lug, so I have not a clue why Barnabas' presence is considered essential  at this stage of the game ... apart from the fact that in 1968 the ratings for individual episodes were supposed to be higher whenever he appeared!

Gothick

It's interesting to read these posts about Possession.  I'm hoping to find time to see the film this week.  I did enjoy the book but it was so long ago that all I have left from it is a glimmering memory of brilliance.  I personally love Jennifer Ehle who plays Lamotte--I fell in love with her in Pride and Prejudice, and she was wonderful in Bedrooms and Hallways, which I recommend if you enjoy gay British sex farces.  I've seen Northam in a couple of films and he seems very solid.  Gwyneth Paltrow makes me cringe and the American chap sounds like strictly eye candy so will help to make her scenes bearable, I suppose.

As for books adapted as films, I agree with RP that it is seldom a good idea.  However, there are some books out there that have become BRILLIANT movies--The Haunting (original version, PLEASE) is one that comes to mind.

Although not entirely successful, I highly enjoyed Angels and Insects, which was adapted from another novella by Antonia Byatt, author of Possession.  It has been released in brilliant color and accurate screen ratio in the seemingly inescapable DVD medium that tickles all of you so much.  I watched a few moments of it at a friend's home recently.  I believe the print released to disc looked better than the film in the theatre did!

Gothick

Grayson Hall in Satan in High Heels definitely tops my list.  She was like buttah in that film!  And rather sexy, too, which is something else that makes it stand out from the rest of her oeuvre.

Thayer David in the original Nero Wolfe pilot film of the Seventies is another treat.  Thayer David is always fabulous to watch, but this gave him some wonderful lines and situations to play, plus he was at the center of the action, where I always felt he belonged. It's a shame that this movie has never been released on video.

I'd love to see Joan Bennett in the Reckless Moment, but have yet to track it down.  

Haven't seen very much of Lara Parker's other work, but of what I have seen, her guest role on Kolchak: the Night Stalker is a lot of fun.  Apparently it was less than fun for her to do because of some tension between herself and the show's star, Darren McGavin.  Lara played a young, powerful witch moonlighting as a fashion model.  Nina Foch was in the episode, too, in a role somewhat reminiscent of Susan Hayward in Valley of the Dolls.

Even though it was a non speaking role for him, I love watching Jonathan Frid in the early 70s TV film with Shelley Winters, The Devil's Daughter.  He projected a great deal of emotion without speaking a word, plus the movie had a great cast.

At a Dark Shadows Festival many years ago I saw a wonderful clip of Clarice Blackburn appearing in a courtroom drama of the 1950s.  I looked up the movie on IMDB.  The name eludes me and I've never been able to track down a print, but it was a wonderful moment.  I wish MPI would release stuff like this as part of their DS collection.

Two of my "holy grails" are Grayson Hall's first movie appearance, in a very low budget film shot on location in Greenwich Village in 1957, Run across the river.  Interestingly it was also Jerry Stiller's movie debut.  And the other one is a 1965 one hour featurette she did with Jack Hawkins and Shelley Winters, Back to Back, shown in the Bob Hope Chrysler Theatre series.  It's proven frustratingly elusive.

Gothick

How's this for a rationalization of cheap production values?

I read years ago (gods, it's decades now) that gentlemen of the upper classes tended to sleep sitting up in a chair right up until the 1880s or 90s, rather than retiring to bed.

It was so they didn't muss their hair, apparently.

Just goes to show you how arbitrary assigned gender appropriate behaviors are from culture to culture.

Gothick

Hi Doombuggy,

Just curious, do any of your copies of the original ABC episode broadcasts from 1970-71 contain Grayson Hall's Playtex commercial? I know it used to be run sometimes as a commercial for DS (which is a real hoot, when you think about it).  I saw the tape of episodes with original commercials released as the final tape of the original MPI collectors series, and I wish they would issue more of these.  They are a real blast for those of us old enough to remember watching the show during the original broadcast.

Best,

Gothick

Hi John,

Well, thanks for thinking of me!  I'm afraid I've never heard of Trading Spaces.  Is TLC the Learning Channel? I really haven't had much time to watch ANYTHING this Summer.  I recently checked the first episode of The Prisoner out of the library as I had never seen it--it took 4 separate occasions for me to get through the 52 minute tape!  Pitiful, I know.  It's just been a busy summer--fun, but busy.  Thankfully, I'm about to take my annual week of going to stay on a farm way upstate NY where I don't do much except lounge around in a state of undress and paddle in a pond.  Oh, and cooking, of course--chopping veggies is terribly therapeutic for me.

The one show I have been watching regularly (albeit on tape) is Sonya the Pet Psychic on Animal Planet.  It's sort of like a remake of Dr. Dolittle with Patsy Stone from Ab Fab in the title role.  It's a hoot, and of course some of the cuddly critters get me all lachrymose and sentimental.

Gothick