House of Dark Shadows (1970)

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers:

Sam Hall (screenplay) and
Gordon Russell (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 March 1971 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Romance

Tagline:

Barnabas Collins, vampire, takes a bride in a bizarre act of ultimate lust.

Plot:

Vampire Barnabas Collins is released from his prison and searches for a cure to his affliction, so he can marry the incarnation of his lost love.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Cure | Love | Blood | Reincarnation

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jonathan Frid	...	Barnabas Collins
Grayson Hall	...	Dr. Julia Hoffman
Kathryn Leigh Scott	...	Maggie Evans
Roger Davis	...	Jeff Clark
Nancy Barrett	...	Carolyn Stoddard
John Karlen	...	Willie Loomis
Thayer David	...	Professor T. Eliot Stokes
Louis Edmonds	...	Roger Collins
Don Briscoe	...	Todd Blake (as Donald Briscoe)
David Henesy	...	David Collins
Dennis Patrick	...	Sheriff George Patterson
Lisa Blake Richards	...	Daphne Budd (as Lisa Richards)
Jerry Lacy	...	Minister
Barbara Cason	...	Mrs. Johnson
Paul Michael	...	Old Man
Humbert Allen Astredo	...	Dr. Forbes (as Humbert Astredo)
Terrayne Crawford	...	Todd's Nurse (as Terry Crawford)
Michael Stroka	...	Pallbearer
Joan Bennett	...	Elizabeth Collins Stoddard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Camila Ashland	...	Collinwood Party Guest (uncredited)
Chip Coffey	...	Collinwood Party Guest (uncredited)
Robert Costello	...	Collinwood Party Guest (uncredited)
George DiCenzo	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Philip Larson	...	Deputy (uncredited)

Directed by
Dan Curtis

Writing credits
Sam Hall		(screenplay) and
Gordon Russell		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dan Curtis	....	producer
Trevor Williams	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bob Cobert		(as Robert Cobert)

Cinematography by
Arthur J. Ornitz		(as Arthur Ornitz)

Film Editing by
Arline Garson

Casting by
Linda Otto

Production Design by
Trevor Williams

Set Decoration by
Kenneth Fitzpatrick		(as Ken Fitzpatrick)

Costume Design by
Ramsey Mostoller		(as Ramsee Mostoller)

Makeup Department
Verne Caruso	....	hair stylist
Robert Layden	....	makeup artist
Dick Smith	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Hal Schaffel	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William C. Gerrity	....	assistant director (as William Gerrity Jr.)
Dwight Williams	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bob Fine	....	sound mixer
Jack C. Jacobsen	....	sound
Christopher Newman	....	sound (as Chris Newman)

Stunts
Alex Stevens	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator

Music Department
Bob Cobert	....	conductor

Other crew
George DiCenzo	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)

Other Companies

• F. Hillsberg  titles

Also Known As:

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1971) | Norway:16 (1971) | UK:18 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | Australia:PG | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion - 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

This film was shot concurrently with the original "Dark Shadows" (1966) series. During the time of filming, the television program was in the middle of its 1970 parallel time story-arc. Major characters appearing in the film were written out of the TV series so that they would be available to shoot the movie.

Quotes:

Carolyn Stoddard:I'm beginning to wonder, cousin Barnabas, if I shall ever know you at all. There's so much about you... that I'm dying to know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Vampy AND Campy!

"House of Dark Shadows", the first feature based on the fondly remembered Gothic soap opera is both exciting and schlocky - sometimes concurrently. Director Dan Curtis (on a very low budget) took what on television was an extremely lengthy introduction and history of the Barnabas Collins character and crammed all he could of it into a 96 minute film. Most of the television cast are here to recreate their parts, chief among them Jonathan Frid as everyone's favorite Vampire. When surly caretaker Willie Loomis (John Karlen) foolishly frees him from his coffin where he has been sleeping for almost 200 years, Barnabas heads for the Collins family mansion and introduces himself as a cousin from England. Both the matriarch of the family, Elizabeth Stoddard (Joan Bennett) and her brother Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) welcome him and immediately install him in the "old house" which, in fact, is Barnabas' original home. Though the plot has a few twists not seen in the series, the story is still pretty familiar.Sure enough, Barnabas soon has his way with Elizabeth's daughter Carolyn (Nancy Barrett)and she becomes one of his first victims. Although such familiar characters as Professor Stokes (Thayer David) Jeff Clark (Roger Davis) young David Collins (David Henesy) and Todd Jennings (Donald Briscoe) appear, their functions are relatively brief. The two chief supporting females upon whom the plot really turns are Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) the beautiful governess who bears a striking resemblance to Josette Du Pres, Barnabas' first love, and Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) an old family friend writing a history of the Collins family. For seemingly different reasons, both are attracted to Barnabas, and both get more than they bargained for when they become involved with him. The film is fast-paced, predictably gory, and occasionally unintentionally humorous, with loopholes big enough to drive a hearse through. Fans of the show will have a definite edge over new viewers because little is done to introduce the uninitiated to the characters (most of whom quickly go under the tooth anyway) and background of the story.It's also a shame that the still-beautiful Bennett has little to do. Still, it's sincerely acted by all, boasts a superior score by Robert Cobert (much of it recycled from the series),and some beautiful photography. "House of Dark Shadows" is one place you'll want to explore.