"You Won't Escape! You Can Never Escape!"
The second Dark Shadows DVD collection arrives as the first one did: in a quadruple-Alpha keepcase filled with 40 episodes (10 per disc). It picks up exactly where the previous set left off: with the weird goings-on in Collinsport town and at the Collinwood estate. This series certainly makes fans of the creepy and the macabre feel right at home! It's still a delightful show, which got started when creator Dan Curtis had a dream about a lady on an outbound train, her destination being a mansion that held the secrets to her unknown past.
This compilation of Dark Shadows episodes contains programs #251-290, which ran Mid-June to Early August of 1967. The episodes here further develop the plots surrounding Jason McGuire's attempt to marry Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard, and completes the sequence concerning Barnabas Collin's imprisonment of Maggie Smith, and begins its aftermath. Also we are introduced to new characters like "Buzz", Sarah, and Doctor Julia Hoffman.
When the series originally aired, it was on a Monday-Friday basis. Each Monday there was a recap of the previous week's events, for anyone who had missed out. The "Monday" episodes on both released collections have this left off, as it isn't necessary on a home video release. But the producers at MPI wisely include that recap on the first episode in the new set, making it unnecessary to review the previous collection before jumping in.
Video
As with the previous release, Dark Shadows is presented in its native black-and-white. The video quality is identical to the DVD Collection 1 release: a mixed bag, with scenes that look excellent, scenes that look average, and scenes that look atrocious. Dropouts, artifacts, and other problems show up in various ways. Thankfully, none of them last for more than a few seconds at a time, and are far from being constant.
Once again, MPI is very up-front about these issues, with their video/audio quality disclaimer on the back of the box, and in the booklet. The latter one states: "Note: The Dark Shadows episodes in this collection are mastered from the best possible sources. However, due to the technology at the time of production and the age of the original elements, certain video and audio imperfections exist that cannot be eliminated. Additionally, the videotape master for episode 260 has been lost and a filmed kinescope copy has been utilized."
Despite this, these episodes continue to be very watchable, and entertaining.
Audio
The show continues to be presented in its original mono soundtrack, as it was broadcast over the air 35 years ago. There are a small number of spots in a few episodes that are a tad damaged, but nothing that makes you miss out on the plot.
The audio is mostly dialogue-based, but of course comes complete with spooky, moody background music and the occasional special effects. Almost two generations later, you can still enjoy the soundtrack on these episodes the exact same way you - or your parents, or grandparents - enjoyed them in the summer of '67.
Note that this set is not subtitled or Closed-Captioned.
The set comes with 4 interviews, 1 per DVD. These are on a par with the three from the previous collection: shot in color within the past decade or so, with answers given by the Dark Shadows actors and producers who are the subject, but without hearing the questions asked. Nevertheless, we get some fun behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Each interview airs at the end of their disc, and lasts no more than roughly 4-5 minutes:
Disc 1- Dan Curtis, Creator/Executive Producer 4:50
Disc 2- Nancy "Carolyn Stoddard" Barrett 3:44
Disc 3- Dennis "Jason McGuire" Patrick 5:15
Disc 4- Alexandra "Victoria Winters" Moltke 5:48
In addition, the collection comes with two physical inserts: "Collector's Postcard 2" was in my set (was there a collector's postcard for the first set? I didn't get one!) featuring Barnabas Collins, and the tri-fold "Chapter Index" booklet, which lists all the episodes in this assortment, their airdates, and a quick (sometime spoiler-filled) synopsis of each program. The booklet has a handsome picture of a snow-covered Collinwood Estate, and a full-page shot of Barnabas talking to Elizabeth Collins-Stoddard on the back.
Summary
This continues to be an entertaining series, which many will mistakenly pass over as "old", "corny", or perhaps just because it's in black-and-white. I cannot possibly describe how much fun the missus and I had watching this set. As the stories go on, they build up suspense, and draw you in more and more. A true soap opera, to be sure.
With Halloween fast approaching, this will be the perfect item to set the mood for the season. Or perhaps to play in the background at a party or just while answering the door for trick-or-treaters.
