Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood

Kathryn Leigh Scott is amazing in "Dark Shadows," after watching the epic numerous times, I'm impressed all over again by the extraordinary quality of her acting. Rejoice fans who wish the show would continue on and on: a Gothic Danse Macabre lurks inside these pages, rattling autumn leaves and ravens welcome. The vivid imagination of "Dark Shadows" will transport you to a land of perpetual Halloween. The denizens of the murky environs of Collinsport, Maine, aren't concerned about the normal things in life, even when they discover missing cows drained of blood. These folks have special worries, with things that go bump or bite or batty in the night. The entire cast of this little horror troupe is theater at its best; they deserve credit for a remarkable achievement that proudly stands the test of time. Kathryn Leigh Scott's & Jim Pierson's intriguing book contains a short forward by the late Jonathan Frid, fascinating essays by Kathryn Leigh Scott and Lara Parker, visits to the set of the Burton/Depp movie, and wonderful contributions by Pierson, Darren Gross, Stuart Manning, and David Selby. They're all gifted raconteurs. I wish Nancy Barrett and Alexandra Moltke contributed stories too. The book is a must-have for fans of the classic show, wonderfully updated with a plethora of intriguing photographs from Dark Shadows past and present. I never saw "Dark Shadows" as a child (when I lived in a really haunted Victorian house). Photos of Burton's cast pay homage to the classic series. Acclaimed movie director Fritz Lang was an avid fan, who appreciated how Dark Shadows reflected director's Val Lewton's noir-ridden artistic sensibilities. Thank goodness for perpetually dark and stormy nights! The mundane mixes with the extraordinary in the fully realized little world of Collinsport, Maine. In an ennui of smoke, ashes, and burning cigarettes, the citizens of Collinsport cope. Maggie's soda-fountain, with its delightful menus (notice the grilled cheese sandwiches, the ubiquitous hamburgers, and the vintage low prices) is as normal as apple pie, but not: an imminent darkness edges the diner's boundaries with gentle and creepy suspense. The glossy normalcy of Maggie's Collinsport Diner contains a brave cheeriness, a momentary reprieve from the dogs howling in the perpetual darkness beyond the diner's frilly curtains. I'm craving some of those 1960s era grilled cheese sandwiches Maggie efficiently made, with white bread and slices of American cheese, and a side of tomato soup. Be like Professor Stokes, an elegant large man, his portly rotundity robed in silk before a cracking fire, enjoying sherry and cheese. "Dark Shadows" is an original gothic, its British sensibilities sepia-tinted with the coastal spooks of New England. The narrative envelopes and captivates viewers in a languorous spirit-fog. The lurking turmoil of "Dark Shadows" is inspired by the classics, not comic books. There is depth and excellent writing, the narrative carries the show, not special effects. There aren't too many ambiguous shades of grey here, bad usually enjoys its evilness, and good is good, unless you're Barnabas. Or Angelique, or Willie. Or the clueless and unfortunate Roger Collins, whose marriages flop to the lopsided end of the stick. Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins walks the line, balancing hunger, desperation, and dignity. The expressive Grayson Hall loyally caws at his side; we should all have such doctors on-call. Don Briscoe is one of the best vampires ever. Cobert's superb music adds richness and another layer to the story. As the epic saga unfolds, it's a treat to observe the details in Sy Tomashoff's amazing sets and Ramse Mostoller's costumes. And through it all, Joan Bennett emotes with aplomb and glamour, her dusky self beautiful and classy. Dan Curtis was clearly influenced by the story of the luscious Bennett in Fritz Lang's Secret Beyond the Door [VHS ]. I've become a huge fan of Joan Bennett, and wish she could have been interviewed for this book, or that there was an essay about her, and how she inspired Dan Curtis. She just got better, with her maternal warmth and dry humor. What expressive wringing of hands, what a regal coiffure. And what courage on her part to commit to such an eccentric project as "Dark Shadows." A warning: after hours of viewing, you may go through withdrawal when you must stop watching. Read this book, hum the creepy soundtrack, draw the curtains, and find comfort in the fact that the Dark Shadows collection of DVDs is colossal; it need never be too sunny again. The cast of the little horror repertory company was/is simply amazing. Their acting holds up today; they are anything but afflicted with contemporary flat-affect shallowness. Though this original is inspired by gothic classics, it remains innovative, enlivened by the incredibly hard-working, talented cast. This classy theater troupe contributed the book with charm and humor. I don't understand why the actors didn't become more famous, but hope the appreciation of new fans, as well as loyal viewers from the past, helps. From the inordinately talented cast: beautiful Joan Bennet, Nancy Barrett, Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Alexandra Moltke, Marie Wallace, Kate Jackson, etc., to Jonathan Frid, the voluptuous Thayer David, David Selby, John Karlen, Christopher Pennock, David Henesy; every single actor contributes enormously, lending sincerity and gravitas. This repertory theater has Shakespearian depth, yet it seems like they were ostracized in Hollywood, until now. The entire cast deserves credit for the enduring quality of "Dark Shadows, and this excellent book celebrates their achievements! You might want to check-out the new Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series (Deluxe Edition) , where fellow fans are practically blogging their excitement in their reviews and comments. Enjoy!

The latest in a series of fine Dark Shadows books by Kathryn Leigh Scott, who played Maggie Evans and Josette (among others) in the show. The book is full of anecdotes and remembrances and filled with pictures. Ms. Scott is a fine writer (as proven by her previous volumes and her fiction like Dark Passages) and fans of the show are sure to enjoy this. It also covers Dark Shadows right up through the recent Tim Burton - Johnny Depp film (love it or not) and has some final looks (and an intro by) our beloved Jonathan Frid (Barnabas). With loads of information and the highest production values to date, Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood is a great place to start your Dark Shadows book collection. Highly recommended.

This book is an absolute necessity for any Dark Shadows fan. Kathryn Leigh Scott has done a wonderful job of tying all the DS incarnations together ... original series, early 1970's theatrical movies, 1991 prime-time revival, and last-but-hardly-least, the highly-anticipated 2012 film starring Johnny Depp. Where else could you find the backstage scoop on what happened when the original series regulars filmed their cameo roles in the new film? That's one highlight of the book, but you'll also find a great deal more. A Foreword by Jonathan Frid ... contribution from Lara Parker ... poem by David Selby ... along with Scott's personal recollections and Jim Pierson's narrative ... how can you miss? This is the perfect companion piece to Kathryn Leigh Scott's earlier books on the subject. In addition, the book is illustrated with lots of rare photos; I've been delving into all things DS lately, and haven't seen these anywhere. Dark Shadows fans won't be able to put this one down ... and if there's anyone out there who still wonders why the DS phenomenon has lasted for so long, continuing to gather new fans along the way, pick up Return to Collinwood. No further questions.

For fans of Dark Shadows this is a fantastic behind the curtain look at the celebrated TV show. From start to finish the book is a mix of rare cast photos and an insight to the show by the actors themselves, as told through the eyes of Kathryn Leigh Scott, who played the roll of Maggie Evans. A great read for anyone who wishes to learn more about Dark Shadows and those inside the strange wonderful world of Collinwood.

I was displeased with the amount of this book which was given over to the Tim Burton movie and the 1991 series. I am not in the least a fan of either of those, therefore it was like getting half a book. The photos were also a let down as I had seen them all before online.

I found this book on Dark Shadows to be truly well put together! Plus the behind seeings pictures to be very good!

This was a gift for my brother who is a big Dark Shadows fan and he absolutely loves it!