Dark Shadows: DVD Collection 1 (1967)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Dan Curtis, Pennberry Jones, Dennis Kane, Henry Kaplan, John Sedwick, Jack Sullivan III, Sean Dhu Sullivan, Lela Swift, and John Weaver
Original Music by Bob Cobert
Starring Jonathan Frid, Joan Bennett, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Louis Edwards, Nancy Barrett, David Henesy, Clarice Blackburn, John Karlen, Mitchell Ryan, Dennis Patrick, Joel Crothers, David Ford, Dana Elcar, Robert Gerringer, and Alexandra Moltke

Features:

• Recap of episodes 1-209 (the pre-Barnabas first year)
  
• Interviews with Jonathan Frid, Kathryn Leigh Scott, and John Karlen
  

Rating: NR, probably safe for 8-12+

Anamorphic: N/A

My Advice: Buy it.

After airing only five years in all, from 1966-1971, Dark Shadows is still a daytime soap with a serious cult following, and from watching this set, it is easy to see why.

The set proper begins with the episode #210, the beginning of the season where Barnabas Collins appears. Preceding this is a solid overview of the story to date, and this will catch you up quite well if you are new to the series. The plot starting from episode #210 follows the exploits of handyman and petty crook Willie Loomis as he accidentally frees the vampire Barnabas and subsequently becomes his human servant. Viewers also follow the trials of Elizabeth Collins, as she struggles to maintain her grasp on her self-respect and good name in the face of blackmail, the adventures of young David Collins, who can see ghosts and sense things, and a host of other characters whose lives interweave with the powerful Collins family for good or for ill.

The acting is what you might expect from a daytime soap—melodramatic and filled with pregnant pauses. But it is truly a cut above; Jonathan Frid as the tormented vampire Barnabas Collins was one of the prototypes of the conflicted fiend, setting the stage for many subsequent versions of a multi-faceted, love-obsessed vampire to come later. The writing demands that Barnabas be by turns sensitive and menacing, and it is truly wonderfully acted by Frid. Joan Bennett as Barnabas’ descendant Elizabeth Collins is wonderful, as well. She manages to be strong while also being vulnerable, and smart while she makes mistakes or shows her human frailties. The secondary cast is also much more talented than you might expect, such as Alexandra Isles as Victoria Winters, the confused, but good-hearted governess, and the young David Henesy as David Collins, a child caught between darkness and light.

The audio quality is decent enough, especially considering the age of the original films from which these discs were copied. The video quality leaves something to be desired, but again, allowances should be made for the state of the original films. Digital restoration could only do so much anyway, and restoring this many black and white tapes would cost a small fortune and make the DVD sets prohibitively expensive for viewers to buy. So understand that some of the scenes are a bit muddy and extra shadowy; just see it as added gothic atmosphere. Besides, it is not as if you will miss anything—the characters are clear and plenty recognizable, as are the settings and details. It is all just a wee bit darker than it might once have been.

The features are wonderful. The featurette that introduces the Dark Shadows mythos is interesting and educational, but the interviews are splendid. Of course the real star of this collection is Jonathan Frid as Barnabas, and it is phenomenal to see him talk about what it was like to play the vampire and join the cast. Why other disc producers do not track down stars like this, I will never understand. I cannot wait to see who they talk to next.

Fans of the original series or of the lukewarm remake in the 1990s will need to have this set, as will anyone who enjoys engrossing, if sporadically campy, gothic tales. The set has a nice features list and is just such good fun that you will want to have this for those nights that demand popcorn, drama, and, well, dark shadows. Excellent fun!