I've always been curious how today's first episode was shot.  Did they do it all on one day, or did they need to take a break--either of some hours or a day--while the second phase of makeup was added to Lara Parker?

I've read how the "withered claws" effect from yesterday's episode was accomplished, but have never seen any discussion of how the 2 phases of Cassandra's makeup were applied.  It's possible that the long scene between Tony and Carolyn was scripted to give the makeup man time to apply layer #2 to Ms. Parker.  I simply wonder whether it was something that could have been accomplished that quickly.

Gothick

... not sure I am using the term "smackdown" correctly in that title ... but I know that some folks would get their knickers in a twist if I titled this post "Julia's B*tchslap Fest."

From studying today's Montage, I take it that the episode where Julia has to SLAP Mrs. Johnson out of her hysteria aired.  I should study her technique; I witnessed an individual yesterday who was literally screaming and throwing things, and I was thinking what a salutary effect a crisp, clean "Juliaslap" would have had on him.

Let's collect ALL of Julia's slaps.  As of today, she has slapped ONCE.  I'll attempt to keep a running total.

Gothick

Hi Arashi,

Welcome back!  I always enjoy your posts.

Willie is the one who gets the big stuffed wolf with the VERY canned growling.  Johnny Karlen rips up the scenery like nobody's business in that one!

Another GREAT swathe of videotape in DS history!

Gothick

I just have to share the perhaps unwelcome observation that Dr. Julia Hoffman's Dream Curse sequence may be one of the most brilliant bits of videotape in the history of American television.

I have also seen the fan version but the original is SO much better.  My two favorite moments are when Mrs. Johnson is silently beckoning Julia to the door and Julia is hysterically asking her, "Why are you doing this to me???" and it looks as if Mrs. J is about to grab Julia's breast!  I can imagine "Sister Wendy"'s comment on that!  "The religouth thignificanth of Dr Julia Hoffman's BREATHT"  THEN the climactic scream as the Death Bride is revealed is so transfigurative, transcendental and, well, just a HOOT to witness.

I really wish there was video of Grayson and Clarice discussing that scene after taping. I'm sure both ladies had some hilarious comments to make about shooting it!

As far as I am concerned, moments like this are DS at its most inspired.  I know others do not agree, but I had to just TELL THE DREAM.  Now I can rest ...

But no, cigarettes do NOT calm my nerves,

Gothick

Julia darling,

It's been a couple of years since my last viewing of this episode, but my memory of those lines was that Lang was wide-eyed-ly telling Julia:  "I saw you ... I saw you, but you didn't SPEAK!" and then Grayson says:  "That's how you KNOW it must have been a dream!"  It's a cute line because the way she said it made it seem like something she could have said in real life.  Remembering how on the restaurant tape she commented:  "Everyone knows my voice CARRIES!"

xo  Steve

I'm afraid I can't promise you anything, RP.  Ever see Willie's Dream Curse episode? Or his "we're gonna get Cousin Barnabas" routine as Carl in 1897?

And then, there's all the wonderful Jeff/Peter freakout scenes coming up in the next weeks.

Dark Shadows is like the little girl with the little curl.  Nuff said.

Gothick

Hi Kuanyin,

If you get this book called Dark Shadows Memories (I think that is the title of it), it gives you the taping date and the broadcast date for each show.  The shows were frequently taped out of order, though in some cases the numbering was consecutive for a period.  So this is one reason why the actors today don't have a clue about the storylines unless they have taken the time to watch the old tapes.  In some cases, the taping schedule had to be adjusted because some of the actors, such as Thayer David, had other commitments.  Some of them were doing plays at the same time as the show was running ... Don Briscoe did Boys in the Band, Virginia Vestoff did 1776, and David Selby and Lara Parker both did plays that didn't run very long in 1969 or 1970.

When the schedule for taping the episodes was adjusted, the actors called it "re-ranking the shows."

Given this situation, it's amazing that ANYBODY had any degree of continuity at all on DS!  but this is why in some instances they re-do a scene from the previous day's show with completely different costumes, or sets!

Best,

Gothick