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Dark Shadows: The Beginning Collection 2
Dark Shadows The Beginning Collection 2
Actor: Joan Bennett
Genres: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Television, Mystery & Suspense
NR     2007     11hr 30min

With its alluring tales of Gothic mystery and supernatural intrigue, DARK SHADOWS became one of the most popular daytime series of all time. Since first airing on ABC-TV from 1966-71, DARK SHADOWS has earned the reputation...  more »

     
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Movie Details

Actor: Joan Bennett
Genres: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Television, Mystery & Suspense
Sub-Genres: Love & Romance, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Drama, Science Fiction, Miniseries, Classic TV, Mystery & Suspense
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
Format: DVD - Black and White,Color
DVD Release Date: 10/30/2007
Original Release Date: 06/27/1966
Theatrical Release Date: 06/27/1966
Release Year: 2007
Run Time: 11hr 30min
Screens: Black and White,Color
Number of Discs: 4
SwapaDVD Credits: 4
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 6
Edition: Box set
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English

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Movie Reviews

The Gothic Plot Thickens!!
E. Hornaday | Lawrenceville, NJ United States | 07/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following it's landmark premier in 1966, the first-ever gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows, settled into its afternoon timeslot to haunt viewers with is unique blend of romance and terror. Unfortunately, viewership dwindled steadily, despite excellent stories and equally fine acting, which are clearly demonstrated in this latest boxed set of remastered DVD episodes from MPI Home Video.

The Beginning Set 1, reflecting the first 35 episodes of the series, introduced the characters and eerie atmosphere created by innovative sets and unforgettable original music that was the hallmark of the show for its five-year run.

The Beginning Set 2, which collects the next 35 episodes, builds on that foundation by further developing the main characters and adding some new ones.

Burke Devlin, portrayed with animation and realism by Mitchell Ryan, has returned to Collinsport a rich man after being away for 10 years. He spent the first five years in prison after being convicted in Collinsport of manslaugter. He had spent the succeeeding years years abroad amassing his fortune before returning, embittered and angry, to his hometown.

In these episodes, Burke begins to unravel the truth behind the crime for which he was falsely convicted, and strategizes to take over the Collins Family's vast financial holdings, including the family estate of Collinwood.

Victoria Winters, played to perfection by Alexandra Moltke, finds herself drawn to Burke, then embroiled in a bitter feud with Carolyn Stoddard, portrayed by the incredible Nancy Barrett, who inexplicably decides she no longer wants her steady but "boring" boyfriend, Joe Haskell, but would rather try to seduce the volatile Burke.

As a result, Joe, played by the late Joel Crothers, begins to develop romantic feelings for waitress Maggie Evans, played by Kathryn Leigh Scott. (Cast Note: Mark Allen, the actor who originated the role of Maggie's father, Sam Evans, is now replaced by actor David Ford, who brings a depth and likeability to the character as never before.)

David Collins, the young son of Burke's arch enemy, Roger Collins (who testified against Burke at his trial,) is given a crystal ball by Burke and "sees" the disappearance of Bill Malloy, manager of Collins Enterprises and Cannery. Malloy, who has begun to believe that Burke was innocent of the manslaughter charge, had been investigating and had asked to meet with Burke, Roger and Sam that night to discuss what he had found. Instead, Malloy's lifeless body is found washed up on the rocks by Widow's Hill.

Talented actress Clarice Blackburn joins the cast as Malloy's housekeeper Mrs. Sarah Johnson, who eventually becomes the live-in housekeeper for the Collins Family at Collinwood. This set also features the debut of the brilliant actor, Thayer David, who took over the role of Collinwood ground's keeper Matthew Morgan. Mr. David would go on to play some of the show's most memorable characters during the remainder of the series' run.

Special features in this set include: Interviews with Moltke, Ryan and Conrad Fowkes, who portrayed attorney Frank Garner.

These early episodes occur prior to the arrival of the vampire, Barnabas Collins, played by the gifted Jonathan Frid. Series Creator, the late Dan Curtis, decided to "go all the way" into the supernatural in an attempt to save the show from falling ratings. It worked. Once Frid joined the cast, the show skyrocketed to iconic status. Many fans who began watching once Barnabas became a fixture on the show, never saw these early episodes, so it's wonderful to have them finally available on DVD, to see how it all began!! Besides, there's plenty of gothic intrigue in these episodes to satisfy anyone.

Bring on Set 3!!"
Dark Shadows: The Beginning "Reels" Out More Tantalizing Got
Music Fan-atic | Hogwarts | 08/31/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dark Shadows became fodder for my pre-teen imagination enough to be one of the kids who ran home after school, out of breath to sit on the edge of the couch and watch every second of eerie goings on at the Collinwood mansion....evil abound with ghosts, werewolves, phoenixes, zombies....a schoolage boys delight. The show had centered its story by then around a sympathetic figure in the guise of one 175 year old vampire Barnabas Collins and the misadventures of his dysfunctional wealthy family.

The Beginning Collection 2 continues the early pre-Barnabas Gothic storyline of governess Victoria Winters trying to find out HER beginnings and family origins after she has accepted a position as governess to the strange and rather disturbed 10 year old David Collins. Victoria (quite ably played by Alexander Moltke) is a perfect femme fatale mix of Jane Eyre and Nancy Drew desperately trying to uncover the mystery of her parentage for she was an orphan growing up in New York who all her life receiving a stipend of money mysteriously from Bangor, Maine not 50 miles from Collinsport where she is summoned out of the blue to become a governess and companion at the Collins Estate/Collinwood....little does she know the mysteries and dangers that await her around every corner of the haunted 40 room mansion....the story continues for another 35 black and white episodes.....Matt Morgan, Collinswood's surly caretaker warns Vicki to mind her own business and tells her tales of ghosts that haunt the spooky mansion such as Josette Collins, wife of an early settler. Bill Malloy, manager of the Collins Fishing Fleet tries to force a meeting between Roger Collins and Burke Devlin to resolve the manslaughter case that wrongfully convicted Burke to years in prison, but this has its own dire consequences....soon Victoria and Carolyn spot a body floating in the shallows beneath Widow's Hill and Victoria has strange premonitions....Roger bribes Sam Evans to leave town to prevent Burke from prying further with his investigation....a mysterious ghostly figure emerges from the Old House......BOOOOOOOOO!!! Great fun just in time for Halloween......ghostly and atmospheric, of the non-gore kind.....you will love Dark Shadows, great family fun!! A+++++++++++++++"
All It's Cracked Up To Be
Laura Demilio | Pittsburgh, PA United States | 11/08/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both Volumes 1 and 2 of the dvd set Dark Shadows: The Beginning are superlative. Why the "prelude to Barnabas' appearance" was omitted for release for so long, and thought of as BORING by reviewers, is beyond me - there are over 200 episodes to catch up with prior to the vampire's story, and so far we only have 70 of those episodes available.

I was immediately engrossed. The ambience of the perpetually overcast late afternoon, evening, or night-time lighting of the house perfectly set the mood for this gothic classic. This had to have been the classiest daytime drama ever in the history of televised soap operas. For forty years, denied by my parents to ever even glimpse a segment of Dark Shadows, I had longed to see the very program I had been forbidden to watch as an impressionable, easily frightened kindergartner - and now I realize why! The deliberate pacing of the story; the snobby, reserved Collins family with their grim secrets; the haughty interchanges as Liz and Roger sip their sherry and bicker over how to handle despised little David or the snoopy governess Vicki only broach the eerie tangle of situations as the plot slips more and more compellingly toward the supernatural. Finally - a middle aged woman with her husband in the next room! - I was honestly as much frightened as thrilled when I watched as Josette's ghost crept out of her portrait in the Old House. What a delicious way to wrap up Part 2 of this set, and how eager I am to have 3 and 4 become available as soon as possible! I hope they hurry with releasing those volumes which catch up to 211, the first of the Barnabas episodes. Audiences need more than just an explanatory preamble about Vicki, Maggie, Burke, Willie, and the Collins family. I rate this and Vol. 1 of the Beginning most highly. Most spooker movies and television shows come nowhere near to the class and panache of this 1966 series - even as it disintegrated into campy cultishness and often ridiculousness by 1971, it still holds its allure for audiences a generation later.

"
The Bill Malloy Controversy
Breanne L. Rodgers | Duncansville, PA | 01/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Dark Shadows Beginning Collection II focuses much attention on Bill Malloy, the Collins family Fishing Fleet Manager. Out of his love for Elizabeth and her family (not her brother Roger though), Bill does his own investigation into the cause of Burke Devlin's imprisonment 10 years prior. Was Burke Devlin falsely accused of a crime and a real criminal still at large? That question was what Bill set out to find. After much research, he wanted to bring his findings to 3 gentlemen: Burke Devlin, Sam Evans, and Roger Collins. The storyline has focused on these characters and what they know or don't know about Burke's imprisonment from the onset. Unfortunately, before Bill Malloy can share his findings, he disappears. Later, Victoria Winters and Carolyn Stoddard find his body washed up beneath Widow's Hill. Was the killing an accident, suicide, or murder? That question becomes the focus on the second half of the set. David Collins, Roger's son, receives a crystal ball from Burke Devlin that reveals to him who Bill Malloy's killer is as well as some events that will happen in the future. At the end of this DVD set, the viewer gets to see the first real image of the much talked about Ghost of Widow's Hill, Josette Collins. The camera work for this apparition was truly spectacular as was the entrance of Josette to all of us waiting to see her. I highly recommend this set to those that have watched the first Beginnings Collection set and to all Dark Shadows fans. Even if you have never seen Dark Shadows, I think you will be able to pick up this storyline if this is your first set. I do highly recommend getting the first collection though as well. Enjoy!"