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:

The total time of filming, including script approval by Lorimar, casting, special effects, voice-over and exterior shots were all completed in slightly over two weeks, one of the quickest made-for-television movies ever made; this was due mainly to a writers strike that had begun just before the script was completed.

Quotes:

Creatures:[opening lines] Will she come? Do you think she will come?
First Creature:She will. You know she will.
Second Creature:But when? When?
First Creature:Very soon. It's just a matter of time. Of waiting for a while. All we have to do is bide our time. Bide our time.
[laughs]
Creatures:But it's been so long. So many years. When will she come and set us free-set us free!
First Creature:Patience! Patience! We've all the time in the world.
[laughs]
Creatures:We've all the time in the world. In the world. In the world. To set us free! In the world!
[Maniacal laughter]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in They (2002)

Things that go bump in the night can be very scary!

I'll always remember when the first advertisement for this movie was shown. It was on the old ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (1973) and came right after the flick for that week ended with the announcer saying "Next on the ABC Wednesday movie of the Week". A clip of William Demarest telling Kim Darby "Some things are better off left alone" then a few other quick clips concluding with the announcer saying "Don't be Afraid of the Dark" as a lit Flashlight in pitch blackness is snatched up by something which the viewer is given only an eyeblink glimpse of. WOW! It was definitely worth the week long wait. This was hands down the scariest Things that go bump in the night made for TV movie ever! Throughout the years it's amazing how many people I've met have seen and remember this movie. Sometimes all it takes is to say "Did you ever see the movie with the guy who played Uncle Charlie from My Three Sons" and they'll immediately say "DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK."!