Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) (TV)

Director:

John Newland

Writer:

Nigel McKeand (written by)

Release Date:

10 October 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Can you see them, Sally ... hiding in the shadows. They're alive, Sally. They want you to be one of them when the lights go out.

Plot:

A young couple inherits an old mansion inhabited by small demon-like creatures who are determined to make the wife one of their own.

Plot Keywords:

Demon | Fireplace | Locked Room | Couple | Rope

Cast

Kim Darby	...	Sally Farnham
Jim Hutton	...	Alex Farnham
Barbara Anderson	...	Joan Kahn
William Demarest	...	Mr. Harris
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Francisco Perez (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
Lesley Woods	...	Ethyl
Robert Cleaves	...	Doctor
Sterling Swanson	...	Policeman
Joel Lawrence	...	George Kahn (as J.H. Lawrence)
William Sylvester	...	Tom Henderson
Don Mallon	...	Bob
Celia Kaye	...	Anne
Elizabeth St. Clair	...	Party Guest
Monika Henreid	...	Party Guest (as Monica Henreid)
Robert Priest	...	Party Guest
Ted Swanson	...	Bartender
Felix Silla	...	Creature
Tamara De Treaux	...	Creature (as Tamara DeTreaux)
Patty Maloney	...	Creature
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nigel McKeand	...	Demon (voice)

Directed by
John Newland

Writing credits
Nigel McKeand		(written by)

Produced by
Allen S. Epstein	....	producer
Neil T. Maffeo	....	associate producer
Lee Rich	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg

Cinematography by
Andrew Jackson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael McCroskey

Casting by
Hoyt Bowers

Production Design by
Ed Graves

Set Decoration by
James Cane

Makeup Department
Michael Hancock	....	makeup artist (as Mike Hancock)
Bruce Jossen	....	hair stylist (as Jossen)

Production Management
Neil T. Maffeo	....	executive production manager
Ted Swanson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nathan Haggard	....	second assistant director
Ted Swanson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Horst Grandt	....	property master

Sound Department
Victor Guarnier	....	sound effects editor
Charles T. Knight	....	production sound mixer (as Charles Knight)
Jack Wheeler	....	sound effects editor
Bill Wistrom	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
John L. Black	....	key grip (as John Black)
Tom Hayes	....	electrical gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Norris	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Gene Fowler Jr.	....	editorial supervisor

Music Department
Joe Tuley	....	music editor

Other crew
Julie Waxman	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Lorimar Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• USA Home Video (II) (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• BijouFlix Releasing (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R) (special edition)

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The (photographic effects) (as Howard A. Anderson Co.)

Other Companies

• Chrysler Corporation  automobiles furnished by
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles (as Howard A. Anderson Co.)

Also Known As:

"Nightmare" - Europe (English title) (video box title)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:15 (video premiere) | USA:Unrated | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Piru Mansion - 829 & 837 Park Road, Piru, California, USA

Company:

Lorimar Productions

Trivia:

Nigel McKeand stated that the creatures seen are more 'lumbering' than he intended in the script; his version of the creatures were quick, thin, and more demonic.

Quotes:

Creatures:[closing lines] When will they come? When will they come? When will they come and set us free?
Sally Farnham:Of course they will come. You know they will.
Creatures:But when? When? When?
Sally Farnham:Soon. Very soon. We've lots of time. Lots of time. All the time in the world.
Creatures:All the time in the world . Time. Time. Time to set us free again.
Sally Farnham:All the time in the world.
Creatures:To set us free. Set us free. Set us free in the world. Free. Free. Free in the world. Set us free!
[Maniacal laughter]

Movie Connections:

Remade as Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

Are you afraid?

Seen when I was very young, this "made for TV" movie became the vehicle which drove all my fears. These fears, once irrational, were validated one unforgettable night. Before that night, during bedtime, it was only instinct that asked my mom to leave the hall light on. After seeing this movie, I had a reason, an image, and the creepiest soundtrack to plead with her not to turn it off again! This movie plays right into those dark corners of legend. Why we don't just reach under the bed without looking first. Why, as we lay awake, closet doors need to be constantly observed... just in case! I was eight years old, and truly ripe for the scare of my life!

The movie begins with a cats meow and haunting music. The score of this movie is absolutely penetrating and perfect. This is not an overstatement. I can think of very few I would call it's equal. This music accompanies Sally (Kim Darby from True Grit) as she unwittingly, and unknowingly, sets free demons from a bricked up fireplace. They set about, slipping through the dark corners (and there's plenty of them), searching to get Sally's soul. As frightening events start to mount up, and with no support from her workaholic husband, Sally begins to doubt her sanity.

Darby has a quiet demeanor that lends itself to her rising panic. When the "creatures" do finally appear, they seem to have come straight from a casting call from hell. That...or a jar of raisins. The ending is absolutely unforgettable. "Dark" made quite an impact for it's time.

I am now 40. Don't like to have ANY lights on when I sleep. Can watch this film, or any other horror flick without strategically placing a body part to obscure the view. However, a few slight noises.....a scratch or a whisper, and my defenses still go up. The blanket is always on the ready. All because of a few film makers decided to take "TV movies" seriously. I thank them....I think.