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When a slightly cross-eyed Siamese cat named D.C. (Darn Cat) turns upwith a wristwatch around hisneck instead of a collar, it could be just the clue the FBI needs tocrack a series of bank robberies in this lightweight comedy fromDisney.The watch belongs to a bank teller whohas been taken hostage.Dean Jones stars as the good-hearted FBI agentassigned to the case.Unfortunately, he is highly allergic to, you guessedit, cats.Hayley Mills is D.C.'s doting owner who hatches a hair-brainedscheme to follow D.C.'s every move until he returns to the crooks' hideoutwhere he got the wristwatch.After a lot of sneezing, slapstick, and comedic intrigue, the bank robbers are foiled, the hostage is safe, and everyone ishappy. An impressive supporting cast of Frank Gorshin, Elsa Lanchester,Roddy McDowall, and Ed Wynn add to the zaniness. Released in 1965 (and remade in 1997), it is understandably dated, but the performances are funnonetheless.Hayley Mills is delightful as the determined and unflappablewannabe sleuth, and Dean Jones proves he is adept at physical comedy. This is a movie of little consequence, just a clean, fun diversion that thewhole family can watch. The theme song is sung by Bobby Darin. --Peggy Maltby-Etra ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Mill's Best Film Ever!
While out prowling one night DC,a siamese cat whose name stands for 'darn cat,' happens upon two kidnappers & their hostage, a bank teller by the name of Maragret Miller. While the hostage is up cooking for the two DC comes in, taking off her wrist watch & scratching the 'help' on the back, slips it on the back, & puts the cat out, hoping that somebody will find it.

When DC returns home, his owner Patti (Hayley Mills) finds the watch on DC's neck & with her wild imagination comes up with a near correct theory. Her sister Ingrid (Dorthey Provine) disaproves with the whole thing & leaves for work the next morning with one note of instruction, Patti is not to notify the police about the watch.

Instead of telling the police Patti notifies the FBI, & agent Kelso (Dean Joanes) is assigned to the job of following the cat. The movie was followed 32 years later with a fairly good remake starring Christina Ricci & Doug E Doug.

"That Darn Cat" is a Disney gem!
Young teenager Patti Randall (Hayley Mills) discovers that the Randall cat, D.C. which stands for Darn Cat, comes home one night wearing a wrist-watch around his neck. Scratched behind the watch are the letters 'H', 'E', and part of an 'L'. Patti's imagination runs away with her and she figures out that the letters were supposed to spell out the word "HELP"! Patti thinks that the watch belongs to a kidnapped teller, Margaret Miller (Grayson Hall). And she is correct! Ms. Miller had been kidnapped by two bank robbers Dan (Neville Brand) and Sammy (Frank Gorshin) and fearing for her life, had put the wristwatch on D.C. Luckily, Patti, ignoring her sister Ingrid's (Dorothy Provine) commands on not to call the police, instead calls the FBI and gets help from Agent Zeke Kelso (Dean Jones). From there starts a zany adventure in which Zeke Kelso has to follow D.C. to the crooks while fighting off nosy neighbors, jealous boyfriends, and D.C.'s disappearing maneuvers.

Based on the book "Undercover Cat" written by the Gordons, "That Darn Cat" is a Disney gem! For those who have read the book must be warned though that this movie is very different from the book, yet still hilarious and exciting! One of the best things about this movie though is that superb cast of stars! Everyone is perfect for their parts, from Hayley Mills the full-of-life Randall girl, Ingrid the serious sister, Dean Jones the allergic FBI agent, Roddy McDowall the short-tempered neighbor, Elsa Lanchester the nosy neighbor, her husband played by William Demarest, Tom Lowell as Canoe the jealous boyfriend, Ed Wynn the very nervous watch jeweler, and Richard Eastham as the FBI Supervisor. And of course we can't forget D.C. who is actually a very good actor! The title song is fun to listen to, very jazzy and sung by Bobby Darin.

If you still haven't seen this movie, I really recommend that you do! For other great Disney Hayley Mill's movies, I suggest you watch "The Parent Trap", "Pollyana", "The Moon Spinners", and "Summer Magic".

Cats Rule & Dogs SUCK!
The best movie of all time! My favorite part is when the cat tricks that bulldog ((...) that dog was so stupid!). So the cat climbs up the tree and knocks the hummingbird feeder off and it falls in the corner of the yard. The bulldog wakes up and runs over to the spot and starts jumping up and down barking. That (...) dog did not even notice the cat slinking up and start eating his food. Then he finally notices the cat and chases him. The cat jumps on top of a loose board, causing the other end to come up. Just as the dog gets there the board hits him HARD on the face. And he's all whimpering 'n' stuff and the cat runs away! Then the dog sticks his sorry face up and he says, "That Darn Cat!" I could not stop laughing through the whole movie! THIS IS DEFINATLY A MOVIE FOR CAT LOVERS (NOT DOG LOVERS!). HOPE YOU THINK SO TOO!*

Classic Cat!
This movie is a crowd pleaser to this day! I show it as a special reward to my 2nd grade classes each year, and it is wonderful to see that a good, old-fashioned family film is enjoyable after 40+ years! They love the slapstick humor, and they like to complain about the nosy neighbor. Disney at its finest!

A Darn Good Movie
Get this movie if you have kids. They'll love it. You'll love it. Only positive messages here. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Before there was "Passions," there was "Dark Shadows"!
To those of you spending your days bewitched by the misadventures of Tabitha and Timmy on "Passions," there are those of us who are here to remind you of "Dark Shadows," the cult soap opera hit that ran from 1966-71. The Gothic soap was floundering in the ratings when the character of vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) was introduced. Producer/Director Dan Curtis provided this 1970 introduction to the wonderful world of "Dark Shadows," so late comers could get up to speed. Barnabas is freed from his crypt after nearly 200 years by a thief stealing treasure and returns to the family home Collinwood pretending to be a distant English cousin who just happens to be named for the infamous "ancestor." Barnabas discovers that the family governess, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) is the spitting image of his former love Josette, who killed herself when she learned he had become a vampire. Meanwhile, the family physician Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) learns of Barnabas' true identity and develops a treatment that will reverse the curse. Able to walk in daylight again, Barnabas plans on marrying Maggie. Unfortunately, Dr. Hoffman has fallen in love with Barnabas and sabotges the treatments, which results in quite a bloodbath.

"House of Dark Shadows" certainly stands on its own if you have never seen the soap opera, although the effort to give everyone in the cast some screen time does get in the way from time to time. For those who remember the show, it is nice to see Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, Joan Benett and the others again. The script by Sam Hall and Gordon Russell is actually quite innovative, coming up with some new twists for the love triangle while working in notions of reincarnation and scientific approaches to curing vampirism. At the heart of the film is Frid's portrayal of Barnabas Collins, which offers considerably more depth to the character than we were getting at the time from Christopher Lee's Dracula in all those Hammer films.

the shadows are dark
if your a fan of the series dark shadows you will be in for a great big surprise when you first view "house of dark shadows" one thing is the movie is well made and so is the script well written. all the cast is wonderful especially kathryn leigh scott,joan bennett,jonathan frid,and the late louis edmonds. it has a lot of gothic look and even plays like a true hammer filmshould be when i was a child this film scared the he double hockey sticks outta me. even grayson hall is great i this movie dispite she dies before the film ends. nancy barret once again plays carolyn stoddard but has a rather misfortune to her,her cousin turning her into one of the undead,but miss barret is a great actress as well as the others i mantioned above,too many good actors in this film. the mansion that is in tarrytown new york is a great spooky place to film dark shadows
even the cematary there is a great place too. "house of dark shadows" plays well and whenevr the missing scenes are found and restored hey it will be a better movie but once again the movie is great no matter what. dan curtis is a perfect director for this kind of movie he has since done a lot of other spooky films like "night of dark shadows" "burnt offerings","trilogy of terror" "dracula"(with jack palance),and "tirlogy of terror 2" if you dont have house go rent or buy it ...john karlen is great too.

Stylish feature film of a popular TV classic!
This vivid, well-crafted feature version of the '60's supernatural soap opera "Dark Shadows" recounts the resurrection of 200-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins(superbly portrayed by Jonathan Frid) who is released from his chained coffin by an imbecile handyman(John Karlen), then proceeds to wreak havoc on his modern descendants. The film features a number of the series regulars, including Joan Bennett as the aristocratic and very beautiful matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, and is very well directed by the original series creator Dan Curtis, who produced the picture as well. Fans of the ever popuar show will indeed find a great deal to like here as the film is shot on a much bigger budget featuring more sex and violence than those blasted censors would allow on the small screen. If you like this film, you may also want to check out its sequel, "NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS".

A Good Horror Film
One of the first times a television program was brought to the big screen. The movie takes one of the most popular story lines from the tv program and goes way beyond it. Characters, who never die in the series, do so in this film with a heck of a lot more ketchupy bloody scenes.

The movie is complete by itself and it is not necessary to have every watched the tv series to understand and enjoy this film.

Some very eerie and tense scenes. Excellent directing and great mood music. The acting also far exceeds what we saw on the tv series!

Excellent!
This movie is definitely bloodier than the daytime Dark Shadows you might be used to, but it an excellent horror movie -- and proof of how talented and versatile the DS cast was. Jonathan Frid is really the reason to see this, his Barnabas ranks among the pantheon of classic vampires. He is much more evil in this film as opposed to the dapper, mysterious gentleman on TV, but just try to look away. He is wonderful, as are the very talented Nancy Barrett as the doomed Carolyn, and beautiful Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie. John Karlen, Thayer David and Grayson Hall all add their magic to the mix, and Joan Bennett never looked more grand and glamorous. Really a fun scary movie and a treat for fans! ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Stark yet poetic rendering of Williams' last masterpiece
This is arguably the last of Williams' great plays. On Broadway Bette Davis essayed the role given to a gusty, gutsy Ava Gardner in the film- a role Bette Midler would be ripe for today. The day scenes are shot quite starkly, grainily, realistically. The night scenes are shot in a luminous/poetic style. John Huston's direction contrasts these characters' realities with their dreams - the essence of Williams' writing. Burton is excellent as is Gardner, but the finest work is that of Deborah Kerr in her last great performance as Hannah Jelkes, a woman who has put her own life aside to aid her dying grandfather, "the world's oldest living poet," in completing his last opus. Her scenes with Burton and Gardner are exquisite.

Totally Excellent !!
Great play ... Great acting ... Great direction ... although nobody won Oscars. Who cares? John Huston wisely filmed this in stark black and white reflecting its somber tone. Burton gives the performance of lifetime as Shannon at the end of his rope, and Kerr is fantastic, as always, imbuing a tender role with even more humanity. T. Williams' play, one of the best from America's best playwright, has everything. Conflict, strong characterization, wisdom, and of course humor. Some of the coarseness of the play has been excised (Shannon's), thus making him a more sympathetic character, but this does not hurt the movie. Huston sticks pretty much to the actual play, except for the ending, which was not in the play. However, this does not really hurt the film. Anyway, buy this film and enjoy it again and again. Your life will be richer for it.

WAY Behind Schedule
THIS MOVIE IS SO BEAUTIFULLY FILMED IN BLACK AND WHITE, IT LITERALLY CRIES OUT FOR A CRISP, CLEAN, SHARP DVD TRANSFER. LESSER MOVIES ARE ALREADY OUT ON DVD, WHILE THIS ONE SEEMS CONDEMNED TO LANGUISH IN THE ETERNAL MURKINESS OF VHS....A VIEWING EXPERIENCE TANTAMOUNT TO DRINKING DON PERIGNON OUT OF A DIRTY TIN CAN. TSK TSK.
PUT IT OUT ON DVD; IT DESERVES TO BE SHOWCASED IN GORGEOUS QUALITY. WE ARE ALL WAITING!

Where is this LONG OVERDUE DVD???
This is truly one of the most amazing films you will ever see!!!It touches on "The Truth" and something much bigger/more acknowledging than perhaps we as human beings can understand in this lifetime-and does so with a magnificence and grace much more effective than almost anything I have ever seen. Although released in 1964, the messages of tolerance to other people, restoring faith, rising above our own potential self-destructivness, and MOVING ON WITH LIFE couldn't be more poignant for todays audience (perhaps even more striking and PRESCIENT!!). I agree with one previous reviewer- that it is comparable to the emotional depth/intellectual magnitude of a Bergman but perhaps much more easily digestable for a "pop-cultured" American audience-and that is truly unusual if nonexsistnat for an American Hollywood-type film. And Yet all the magic ingredients of A Hollywood Moneymaker are here...BIG STARS: Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, and Deborah Kerr (all of whom in my opinon deserved Oscars for their performances here), DIRECTED BY ONE OF HOLLYWOODS BEST/MOST SOUGHT AFTER DIRECTORS: John Huston BRILLIANT AND SMARTLY WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE BEST AUTHORs/ and POPULAR PLAYWRITES EVER!: Tennessee Williams. Their looks like there will be a 2005 re-release of this film but they NEVER LIVE UP TO THE ORIGINAL and I also agree that with one reviewer who states this is a film that was meant to be seen (and is much stronger) in its original black-and-white. I WILL NOT, (and I repeaat NOT)BUY the 2005 rerelase but I would however, dish out BIG MONEY for the original 1964 release of this film on DVD. This is truly one of the most powerful and worthwhile films you will ever see with performances by all players that are equally as strong!!! SO I REPEAT, WHERE IS THE DVD OF THIS BRILLIANT 1964 GEM??? MGM-PLEASE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!

A wonderful story. Great acting

Format: Black & White
Studio: Warner Studios
Video Release Date: November 18, 1992

Cast:

Richard Burton ... Rev. Dr. T. Lawrence Shannon
Ava Gardner ... Maxine Faulk
Deborah Kerr ... Hannah Jelkes
Sue Lyon ... Charlotte Goodall
Skip Ward ... Hank Prosner
Grayson Hall ... Judith Fellowes
Cyril Delevanti ... Nonno
Mary Boylan ... Miss Peebles
Fidelmar Durán ... Pepe
Emilio Fernández ... Barkeeper
C.G. Kim ... Chang
Roberto Leyva ... Pedro
Eloise Hardt ... Teacher
Gladys Hill ... Miss Dexter
Barbara Joyce ... Teacher
Billie Matticks ... Miss Throxton
Betty Proctor ... Teacher
Liz Rubey ... Teacher
Bernice Starr ... Teacher
Dorthy Vance ... Teacher
Thelda Victor ... Teacher

If you have failed to see this film, you have missed a good one. Burton plays a defrocked Episcopal priest, Rev. Shannon, who was locked out of his church because of "sins of the flesh."

Taking a job with a tour-bus conductor, billed as "reverend," he runs afoul of a young girl, Charlotte Goodall) (Sue Lyon) who has designs in his skivvies. Her protector, Miss Fellowes (Grayson Hall) has her own designs on young Miss Goodall, and is intent on getting Shannon fired from his "bottom of the barrel" job. Enter beautiful Ava, a widow friend who owns a lush tropical resort hotel.

You will love this film--especially the poetry (Cyril Delevanti).

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

... Read more

Reviews (21)

Mill's Best Film Ever!
While out prowling one night DC,a siamese cat whose name stands for 'darn cat,' happens upon two kidnappers & their hostage, a bank teller by the name of Maragret Miller. While the hostage is up cooking for the two DC comes in, taking off her wrist watch & scratching the 'help' on the back, slips it on the back, & puts the cat out, hoping that somebody will find it.

When DC returns home, his owner Patti (Hayley Mills) finds the watch on DC's neck & with her wild imagination comes up with a near correct theory. Her sister Ingrid (Dorthey Provine) disaproves with the whole thing & leaves for work the next morning with one note of instruction, Patti is not to notify the police about the watch.

Instead of telling the police Patti notifies the FBI, & agent Kelso (Dean Joanes) is assigned to the job of following the cat. The movie was followed 32 years later with a fairly good remake starring Christina Ricci & Doug E Doug.

"That Darn Cat" is a Disney gem!
Young teenager Patti Randall (Hayley Mills) discovers that the Randall cat, D.C. which stands for Darn Cat, comes home one night wearing a wrist-watch around his neck. Scratched behind the watch are the letters 'H', 'E', and part of an 'L'. Patti's imagination runs away with her and she figures out that the letters were supposed to spell out the word "HELP"! Patti thinks that the watch belongs to a kidnapped teller, Margaret Miller (Grayson Hall). And she is correct! Ms. Miller had been kidnapped by two bank robbers Dan (Neville Brand) and Sammy (Frank Gorshin) and fearing for her life, had put the wristwatch on D.C. Luckily, Patti, ignoring her sister Ingrid's (Dorothy Provine) commands on not to call the police, instead calls the FBI and gets help from Agent Zeke Kelso (Dean Jones). From there starts a zany adventure in which Zeke Kelso has to follow D.C. to the crooks while fighting off nosy neighbors, jealous boyfriends, and D.C.'s disappearing maneuvers.

Based on the book "Undercover Cat" written by the Gordons, "That Darn Cat" is a Disney gem! For those who have read the book must be warned though that this movie is very different from the book, yet still hilarious and exciting! One of the best things about this movie though is that superb cast of stars! Everyone is perfect for their parts, from Hayley Mills the full-of-life Randall girl, Ingrid the serious sister, Dean Jones the allergic FBI agent, Roddy McDowall the short-tempered neighbor, Elsa Lanchester the nosy neighbor, her husband played by William Demarest, Tom Lowell as Canoe the jealous boyfriend, Ed Wynn the very nervous watch jeweler, and Richard Eastham as the FBI Supervisor. And of course we can't forget D.C. who is actually a very good actor! The title song is fun to listen to, very jazzy and sung by Bobby Darin.

If you still haven't seen this movie, I really recommend that you do! For other great Disney Hayley Mill's movies, I suggest you watch "The Parent Trap", "Pollyana", "The Moon Spinners", and "Summer Magic".

Cats Rule & Dogs SUCK!
The best movie of all time! My favorite part is when the cat tricks that bulldog ((...) that dog was so stupid!). So the cat climbs up the tree and knocks the hummingbird feeder off and it falls in the corner of the yard. The bulldog wakes up and runs over to the spot and starts jumping up and down barking. That (...) dog did not even notice the cat slinking up and start eating his food. Then he finally notices the cat and chases him. The cat jumps on top of a loose board, causing the other end to come up. Just as the dog gets there the board hits him HARD on the face. And he's all whimpering 'n' stuff and the cat runs away! Then the dog sticks his sorry face up and he says, "That Darn Cat!" I could not stop laughing through the whole movie! THIS IS DEFINATLY A MOVIE FOR CAT LOVERS (NOT DOG LOVERS!). HOPE YOU THINK SO TOO!*

Classic Cat!
This movie is a crowd pleaser to this day! I show it as a special reward to my 2nd grade classes each year, and it is wonderful to see that a good, old-fashioned family film is enjoyable after 40+ years! They love the slapstick humor, and they like to complain about the nosy neighbor. Disney at its finest!

A Darn Good Movie
Get this movie if you have kids. They'll love it. You'll love it. Only positive messages here. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Don't Waste Your Money
Very disappointing...would of been better if maybe Jonathan Frid or another cast member had narratored the mishaps for us. Some of the bloopers are not apparent and have to be pointed out with a little white arrow (boring) and we are just subjected to one scene after another. The outtakes are also disappointing - most of them are of the actors or a stage hand holding the number slate.

OOPS! Lara Parker says "Hollywood" instead of Collinwood.
It seems that most of the main cast has made a blooper during their time on the live soap opera "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971). As the videobox says, "Dark Shadows was videotaped virtually live without stopping the camera". "Modern videotape editing was not yet commonly available". See the entire cast in their most embarassing moments and under pressure of live videotaping, Lara Parker, Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Joan Bennett, Nancy Barrett, Louis Edmonds, Kathryn Leigh Scott, John Karlen, David Selby, Kate Jackson, Jim Storm, Roger Davis, Christopher Pennock, David Henesy and others. Bloopers you will see are the crew in the way, actors flubbing lines, forgetting lines, doors that close by themselves, actors that hit their heads in the doorway, television cameras in the way, boomers in the scene, "Hollywood" instead of Collinwood, actor's trip on something, the fly that insists to be in scenes and bother the actors, good ad-libbing, bad ad-libbing, problems with props, candles that re-light and blow out mysteriously, trees that wobble, earrings that fall off, noises off camera (the crew not being quiet), terrible camera shots and moving sets and sets that fall apart. This tape is only 40 minutes long. My favorite bloopers: Lara Parker when she says "Hollywood. I never imagined that I'd see it", and the orange bottle that shattered by touching it before the actor could use it to pretend to hit the actor in a fight.

Sad
Don't get me wrong; I am a huge fan. That's why I bought the video. But it was mostly a bore and disappointment. Big deal if the actors stumble over some lines or if some candles go out. The outakes were interesting but they seem to only represent maybe 10% of the video.

Very funny, but missing something
This is an incredibly funny video and a must for any DS fan, but the problem is....:

The box talks about bloopers and out takes, but there are so many bloopers and not enough outtakes. I love to see when actors have to stop and break character.

Alas, that is why this video has 3 stars and not five.

Fascinating viewing, though not for the intended reason...
Bloopers are bloopers -- if you've seen one, you've seen them all. Be they line flubs, accidents, misadventure or the result of downright ineptitude, to watch a blooper compilation of any sort usually amounts to an invitation to extreme repetition.

Two important factors distance "Dark Shadows Bloopers" from these pitfalls: the fact that with no facility for retakes, the show had to plough ahead regardless; and the way in which they succeed in offering a rounded overview of the production atmosphere on a unique footnote in broadcast history.

The sight of armies of running stagehands, misplaced booms and wayward camera lenses manage to give a lucid insight into the working environment of the "Dark Shadows" studio, which transcends any number of interviews or printed matter. Bloopers, by nature, are a trivial commodity, but by employing them in a way that illustrates the background of the show so well, they gain a value and quality far more satisfying than the sight of a stumbling actor or error in syntax.

Complimented with a selection of unbroadcast outtakes, complete with sarcastic stage-hands and Grayson Hall's raucous cackling, for the briefest moment, one finds oneself transported to ABC Studio 16, a cramped rabbit warren buzzing with activity. For that reason alone, "Dark Shadows Bloopers" is a tape I rarely tire of revisiting. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Uneven but good...
I am too much of a Dark Shadows fan to say anything too negative, but this movie isn't as scary as it could have been. It does have incredible atmosphere, and almost suffocating camerawork that adds to the sense of evil. The underuse of Nancy Barrett, John Karlen and especially Lara Parker annoys me the most. This talented trio certainly could have made a good film a great one, but instead we have David Selby and Kate Jackson (never a favorite of mine, although she looks absolutely gorgeous) taking up most of the screen time. Actually, all of the actors look incredible, much better than on the daytime series...even Grayson Hall, whose rubbery TV face looks soft and pretty here.The few glimpses of Angelique we see make this film much less spooky. Certainly that can work in some horror films, but it seems to me that long-time fans familiar with the dazzling Lara/Angelique want to see her more so the impact of this film is predictably blunted. Not bad, but there is lots of wasted potential.

AS good a sequel as the filmmakers could have done.
In this creepy, atmospheric sequel to "House of Dark Shadows", Quentin Collins(David Selby), the last of the surviving Collins clan, moves into the Gothic Collinwood estate with his beautiful young bride, Tracy(Kate Jackson) only to discover that the place is a breeding-ground for the supernatural. This leads to several encounters with a captivating 18th-century witch, Angelique(Lara Parker) who makes married life very difficult for the frightened duo to say the least. Admittedly, the film can't hold a candle to its predecessor(any technical problems the film has is due to the fact that it was cut to ribbons before finally being released), but this is probably as good a sequel as the filmmakers could have come up with after the stunning "House of Dark Shadows". Like the original, the film features a number of the series players, including Selby and Jackson in their film debuts, and boasts some truly striking Gothic atmosphere. Rumor has it that the missing footage from "Night of Dark Shadows" is in the process of being restored, and should be released, hopefully, by the end of next year.

Welcome Back To Creepy Collinwood!
'Night of Dark Shadows' is the second of the two Dark Shadows motion pictures. At the time of it's release, this one didn't do quite as well as the first, but over the years, it has developed a strong cult following, and looks very good on repeated viewings.

What always impressed me about 'Night of Dark Shadows' was it's subtlety. 'House of Dark Shadows' was fast, loud and very "in your face." 'Night of Dark Shadows' is quiet in comparison -- the music is lush and softer, and the pace is quite relaxed at times. However, what emerges is an underlying sense of dread which intensifies throughout the course of the film (similar to Dan Curtis' 'Burnt Offerings' from 1976). This makes the shocks and scares even more jarring, and by the end of the film, the audience is left feeling bewitched, bothered and bewildered!

It's also important to mention David Selby, who turns in an excellent performance as Quentin Collins. His moodswings and erratic behavior (sensitive one minute and vicious the next), leave us as confused as Kate Jackson's character is.

Hopefully, both 'Night of Dark Shadows' and 'House of Dark Shadows' will be released on DVD soon, with the additional footage that was removed from the films before their respective theatrical releases. As for now, both films are highly recommended to anyone who enjoyed the series.

angelique indeeds does come back to collinwood to claim what
in this 1971 sequel to "house of dark shadows'" night of dark shadows" is a creepy film about the ghost of angelique who comes back to claim charles well actually quentin collins who is the reincarnation of charles collins who was a painter like quentin is in the present time. the reason i gave "night " a 5 stars even though there was a lot of the film butchered out by a creep from mgm studio how dare he do that to grayson hall. but grayson was great in it and the 3 cast that was most memorable were kate jackson, david selby.and lara parker,as the bewitching angelique collins. when this film gets a restoration it will make sense and the most awaited scence is the seance according to nancy barrett who plays claire jenkins said it was her best scene maybe it will be the scenes that will be shown at the festival this summer if so i will be there. "night" isnt a bad movie at all . it is just missing some things to read about it get the dark shadows movie book the scripts to both films are in it hopefully "night of dark shadows" will come out on dvd with the missing scenes intact we need to fight cenorship because if we dont jerks like abery from mgm could ruin a great film i personally loved this movie even though the first film "house of dark shadows" was a better film but hopefully the missing scenes will allow the fans to love "night' a little more lara paker is the perfect angelique rather in the flesh or sprit . if you havent read her book about angelique read its a great read a s well.john karlen was great as well as nancy barrett,they made a good husband and wife team. david selby looks very haunting and plays the part of evil well and i cant say enough about the debut motion picture of kate jackson,she was spellbinding in it a great actress,no wonder i can say she was the best angel of charlie's but hey what about a sequel to this movie ? im pretty sure tracy collins figured a way to get away from angelique and quentinor amybe she ran into another room and it changed to another parrell time room like in the series and got away. "night" does have the ability to be pretty creepy. if you are a d s lover rent both films you'll get a kick outta hearing the original music from the series.

"Angelique Collins" is in the house!
This is a follow-up film filmed after HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (1970) and filmed while the original ABC Network soap opera "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971) was still on television. This film was released during the last year for the original Dark Shadows serial. This film is my personal Dark Shadows favorite. It is the best and is more engrossing. Kate Jackson's performance is unforgetable and Lara Parker is so memorable in her role as "Angelique Collins" as she was on the original tv serial. As a child, I simply could not watch "Angelique". She gave me goosebumps and her eyes were as if hypnotizing. But now I am an adult (age 40). I think Miss Lara Parker is lovely. All the main cast in rhis movie was also in the ABC Network "Dark Shadows" serial. David Selby, Kate Jackson, Grayson Hall, John Karlen, Lara Parker, Nancy Barrett, Jim Storm, Thayer David, Christopher Pennock, Diana Millay and Clarice Blackburn. I will not explain the plot of the film. This one should be a surprise to all gothic movie lovers. Quite sexy though. And you'll like Grayson Hall's 1960's dresses. Location: Lyndhurst Estate, Tarrytown, New York overlooking the Hudson River. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Adam at 6 AM
I also enjoyed the movie for personal reasons. It was filmed in my hometown of Excelsior Springs MO, and I got to watch the filming each day after school in my neighborhood. As a matter of fact, Debbie, I knew your parents (the screenwriters), and your grandfather Hadley was my dentist. The movie also hits home with me since I have grown up to be a college professor myself; this may have been one of my earlier influences. The only thing I did not like about the movie was the ending - a bit too abrupt. Otherwise, it is fun to watch and see some of my friends in the film thirty-some years later.

Adam @ 6:00A.M.
I loved this movie! Maybe, because my parents wrote it. And, it was filmed in my Mother's home town. It was Michael Douglas' first movie & my parents first movie as well. We always had the paperback edition of this movie in our house. This was the movie to get my parents started in Hollywood as well as Michael Douglas. Although, he would have anyway, considering who he is..

Follow your own road
Often the smaller, nearly forgotten films reveal more about a period in time than the famous ones. This is such a film, featuring a fine performance by a young Michael Douglas, and an equally fine one by Joe Don Baker. Rather than opting for the stereotype of Intellectual versus Working Class, we see two men from very different backgrounds strike up an honest friendship, with insightful dialogue about living a meaningful life. Lee Purcell is equally good as the romantic interest who comes to embody a way of life that's both attractive & confining. While a film about & set during the 60s, the questions asked are timeless: how much of your own soul are you willing to compromise for the sake of what seems like happiness? What do you really want from life? This intelligent film is perfect viewing for anyone seeking an authentic existence, with a striking final image that will linger. Recommended!

Interesting, but not great
The last part of this film impressed me some years ago, and I finally saw it again a few days ago, with a friend. We agreed that it was interesting to see, although the story is a bit thin. Interesting to see Michael Douglas in 1970, and the ending is still impressive, but I think they would make it a much stronger film if they made it today.

Great story of personal decision.
Good acting and a great story. Every young man should see this movie about making decisions that at the time seem small but have life long effects. A great ending that will leave you realizing that you are in control of your destiny. Beleivable story line and lots of laughs. Get it. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Memorable TV-movie from the 70's
Not a bad excursion into mythology with anthropologist Cornel Wilde and daughter Jennifer Salt doing battle with legendary gargoyles in the American Southwest. Also on hand are "Dark Shadows" veteran and Oscar nominee Grayson Hall as a dotty proprietess of an inn and Berny Casey as the "Head Gargoyle" with a voice that is obviously dubbed by an unnamed actor.

The film was one of my favorites while a college student and it still has a fond place in my memory.

Friday night frights
When I was a kid, my friends and I would watch the "Plenty Scary Movies" on channel 8 in Tulsa, Oklahoma every friday night. It was a tradition. It seemed like once every 2 months the feature would be "Gargoyles", and we NEVER got tired of it.

With a creepy soundtrack and amazing makeup by Stan Winston, Gargoyles was a fantastic scare for us. I know a lot of people will roll their eyes and say that there's nothing scary about this film, but I think that is just because we have become used to non-stop action, explosions, shaking camerawork, quick-cut editting, and CGI monsters.

When Jennifer Salt is walking back to the motel in the dark and you hear noises coming from the darkness, well, I'm sorry, but that is just creepy. When Bernie Casey (amazing as the head Gargoyle) emerges from the darkness, I still feel a chill.

This movie used to be on TBS several times a year. It was on so much that I never bothered to get it on video tape. Then when it stopped showing up on cable TV, I thought I might never see it again. Thank goodness it is available again! And on DVD!

This Halloween, do yourself a favor and include Gargoyles in your scary-movie-mix. When you hear the Gargoyle's voice (sounding like he is talking through a fan) saying "you have nothing to fear", you'll know he is lying. I just felt a shiver up my spine. I think I am going to have to go watch this movie again!

Read Genesis chapter six
Genesis chapter six say is all about this prophetic film. This movie was so far ahead of it time. The original Americans have written of these powerful creations for generations. Coast to Coast radio show talk about the giant ones. This film is apparently more truth than fantasy. Just remember the next time at night when you think its just a bat or you see something out of the corner of your eye.....

From 70s TV Comes an Ancient Evil
A made-for-TV flick that originally aired on CBS in November of 1972, GARGOYLES tells the story of an anthropology researcher (Cornel Wilde) who, with the assistance of his adult daughter (Jennifer Salt), travels to the Arizona desert to investigate an unusual skeleton discovered there. However, when the duo try to transport the bony remains away from the discovery site, they are pursued by a number of gargoyle-like creatures who want to reclaim the unearthed skeleton, and the scientist and his daughter soon find themselves at the locus of an age-old battle between mankind and an evil race of garrulous reptilians.

Yes, it's cheesy. But for many horror fans who grew up in the 1970s, it's one of those guilty pleasures that, in spite of any intrinsic sense of good taste, will always have a special place in their nostalgic little hearts--right there next to Wacky Packages stickers and CRACKED magazine. And to be honest, it's really not all that bad, especially when compared to a lot of the other tripe spewed by the one-eyed monster during the "ME" decade.

At times GARGOYLES can be really atmospheric, especially during the night scenes in which the titular creatures attempt to reclaim the bones of their dead, but at other times it is blatantly ridiculous. The first half of the film actually plays better than the second, as the viewer is then offered only brief glimpses of the nightmarish reptilians as they swoop down on moving autos or attack folk in secluded buildings. The "magic" quickly dissipates, however, when the creatures finally appear in full view and the audience can easily see the Gargoyles for what they really are--a group of actors and stuntmen in unconvincing rubber suits. The one exception to this rule is the make-up job on the Gargoyle king, played by former professional football player Bernie Casey. This character looks like a greenish incarnation of Satan himself, and when combined with the eerie vibrato of his voice, he never fails to invoke plenty of gooseflesh.

In spite of the hokey premise of the plot and the rubber-suit monsters, GARGOYLES is definitely a must-see for serious horror fans. There are some genuinely spooky moments, especially early on, and the film is also historically notable for being the first major professional gig for make-up FX master Stan Winston. (Considering the masterful work he's produced in the years since--everything from Cicely Tyson's "aged" skin in TV's THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN to EDWARD SCISSORHANDS to several incarnations of the TERMINATOR--it's not unreasonable to assume that he was responsible for the outstanding make-up of the Gargoyle king and not the rubber suits.)

The DVD from VCI is short on extras, and the image has that same softness common to older TV shows that are transferred to disc. However, the digital transfer was made from the complete, uncut version of the film that was apparently screened only in Europe, and that means that even long-time fans of the show in North America may actually see a few bits they didn't see initially on CBS or during the film's numerous syndicated reruns. Definitely worth picking up a copy.

Creepy movie
I saw this movie when I was a child, it scared the hell out of me. I saw it again at the age of 30, it still did. Ok some of the costumes were cheesy, the special effects were limited and the acting pretty much stunk, but that creepy music.....oh man. I thought this movie was psychologically scary.

This is a timeless B movie classic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A tattered signpost of late sixties indie cinema
After working on Easy Rider, Terry Southern began collaborating with Aram Avakian on an intense adaptation of John Barth's debut novel. Shot in the summer and fall of 1968, when America was reeling from assasinations, the quagmire of Vietnam, rioting and ideological meltdown, the resulting film transforms Barth's existential character study into a chilling, visually stunning critique of political, sexual and cultural dysfunction. If the film's reach sometimes exceeds its grasp, there is still much that astonishes in this rarely screened film: the superb acting by Stacy Keach, James Earl Jones, Dorothy Tristan and Harris Yulin; the feature film debut of legendary cinematographer Gordon Willis; the haunting opening montage that relate's the lead's typical boomer upbringing against the horrorshow of post-WWII history; the music supervised by jazz producer George Avakian; and last, but not least, the uncompromising visionary screenplay by Terry Southern, Aram Avakian and Dennis McGuire. If you are a big fan of such end-of-sixties films as Performance and Two-Lane Blacktop, this is definitely your cup of tea. ... Read more