Actress Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) has written in with some thoughts on the recent comments from Helena Bonham Carter about the original Dark Shadows series. Carter, who plays Dr. Julia Hoffman in the new production, described Dark Shadows as "a really bad, hilariously bad soap opera."
"Helena and Michelle Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard) were both into watching the original episodes and we all laughed about the famous bloopers, which were indeed 'hilariously bad'... However, we take pride in the original series, bloopers and all. Our budget for a single episode of the series wouldn't pay for a tea break on the set of the new film, Yet our series has become an enduring classic for over 45 years! The new movie should be an easy sell to the legions of fans who ran home from school to watch the original and the multitudes of young new fans drawn to us each year."
Elsewhere, in a recent interview with Soap Opera Digest, David Selby (Quentin Collins) spoke briefly about filming his cameo for the film: "My part is very brief. There's a big party and I'm one of the guests. Tim [Burton] and Johnny [Depp] wanted to pay homage to the show. I also couldn't believe how they managed to create the Collinwood set. It was incredible."
13 comments:
I personally thought that Miss Bonham Carter was totally out of line for saying that awfully rude comment about Dark Shadows. I was one of those kids who ran home from school to watch the series and will forever love the original!!!
I guess that is what comes from floating around in a bubble too high to maintain common sense. Not only was she rude about the original series she also gave away a major plot twist in the new movie. I don't think any harm was meant -- it was just extremely THOUGHTLESS.
I love the original Dark Shadows series that ran from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. Dark Shadows taped at a time before widespread editing of videotape was available, denying its cast the luxury of retakes. With minimal post-production time available, and primitive editing equipment only coming into use during the show's final years, the show was generally recorded 'as live', with just half an hour's taping for each episode. Any mistakes made during taping were broadcast with the finished episodes regardless. With that said i would like to congratulate the whole cast for their immaculate acting skills. To the public,"You try to remember a whole script and see how far you get without being able to have retakes."
Ms. Scott is a class act, as always. Ms. Bonham-Carter is, um, a talented actor. Ahem. At any rate, I look forward to this film. It's true that some of the bloopers remain hilarious. But the original show was certainly no worse than any other soap of the time.
I have a lot of respect for Kathryn Leigh Scott. So far, I've seen nothing but classy responses and commentary from her. She is the best PR person to represent Dark Shadows.
For a show so "horribly bad," DS obviously did everything right to be remembered, cherished and, yes, revived 45 years later. DS' loyal fans have never let this gem go, and it survives in books, comics, audiotapes and this blog. As for Ms. Carter, in defense, she is well known for speaking without a censor. I doubt she's serious here - she's just clueless.
I would not criticize the critic of a TV serial. I would simply ask, "Why do you think the show is bad?" The article does not explain why Helena Carter finds the serial bad. She may have been joking about why the movie was made. You can not come to a conclusion about a person's commentary based on a few quotations without much detail.
KLS rocks...and is ALWAYS a class act. I just love her. And I agree with Mario500 that HBC's comments may be taken out of context. "Hilariously bad" can be "downright brilliant" for some people. Not for me, but c'est la guerre. Whatever the case, the original was great stuff, and I'm sure the new film will be as well.
Yes I personally wouldn't take Carter's words too seriously, she's probably just trying to be a bit flip.
When you can see a microphone or someone walking through the back of a set which you thought was just a window, or just the sheer melodrama yes that can be considered bad, but that doesn't mean it's a bad we don't appreciate. Smoking cigarettes is bad, but some people still appreciate it. I don't see why it's wrong for her to call the old show bad on some level but it's okay for others to say it, that just seems hypocritical.
On another note, that being a reason for Burton to pour money into it, that actually sort of makes sense to me. I mean, it's something that when compared to other properties could be seen as 'underfunded' at this point in time. All the more reason to give Dark Shadows a nice renovation! :D
Love Kathryn and Lara for sticking up for the show. I think Helena was probably taken out of context.
Certainly, she was referring to the amazing feat of a TV show, filmed live, with special effects, and brilliant acting, and all of the pitfalls that occur with the situation. Obviously, everyone involved understands the talent it took to achieve what the cast and crew of the 60s achieved. Or they wouldn't be making this film. I think her comment was an inside joke directed to Depp and Burton, as they always choose off the wall projects.
DS was an integral part of my childhood in the 60's (Barnabas was my first crush...lol).
I can understand HBC's comments since she's speaking from experience with today's production standards - including retakes...
I do not begrudge her comments because the very thing she "derides" is what actually makes the show so endearing after 45 years! It's such a lot of fun to see dramatic scenes with the shadow of a cameraman in the background or a camera coming into the frame - that's part of the legend of DS, much like Bruce the shark not working is part of the legend of the making of "Jaws" - which we all know is a classic!.
So, again, I don't begrudge her comments. We all know and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the original cast - including Kathrine and Lara.
Besides, give me any episode of DS (bloopers and all) over any of today's overblown and oversexed pathetic excuses for television shows.
I have the deepest respect for EVERYONE in the old DS cast and I'm glad that Tim Burton decided to include them in the film, and I hope it is a huge success.
Go Kathryn! It is easy to dismiss the original DS as "hilariously bad" while missing the rich, intimate and hypnotic quality of the atmosphere, the music and the acting. If those 1225 episodes were shown back to back it would run for 500 consecutive hours produced live to tape. So basically a single 24-hour 2 week long production by one of the finest repertory companies ever. Yeah, I think there might have been a few mistakes on it's first performance. Let's hope the new team has a small fraction of its impact given its task is a fraction of what was demanded of the original crew.
Too much is made of bloopers and not enough is made of all the other features of the show such as a core cast with actual chemistry each of whom put their best foot forward, the incredible suspense, a well-written and imaginative story that transitions through four time periods and two parallel universes, believable characters, village by the sea setting, spooky houses, great sets and costumes, perfect music and sound effects, and fantastic acting. I can't even imagine being under the stress to act out that sort of material and make it believable. I bet the original DS cast is the most beloved cast ever. I could go on and on and on...I'm very happy for those new owners of the complete series.
Kristine
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