Will the uncut version ever see the light of day for release? - Night of Dark Shadows (1971) Discussion

[–] MitchumsGal 12 years ago

Normally, I'm a very optimistic person but on this issue I don't think it's likely. And I say this because of two words.....Warner Bros.

I became a Dark Shadows fan through the back door so to speak because of David Selby. After Falcon Crest ended I was in my local drugstore and found a copy of MPI's Best Of DS video for sale. I had never heard of DS, no one in my family had watched it, and this was all pre-internet so it was fate that I had found ”something new” from one of my favorite actors.

So because I am a Selby fan I've had to deal with Warner Bros for many years and their horrible attitude towards the buying public. They own Falcon Crest and several movies David is in including Rich And Famous, Super Cops, and of course NoDS.

It took years to get Super Cops an official DVD release and that was in large part to Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino. For at least a decade bootlegs with dialogue looping for TV were being sold on Amazon.

Rich and Famous was available on VHS for a long time but if you bought a recent copy it was the edited ”clean version”. You wouldn't know that until you unwrapped it and put it in the player. They continued to string fans along promising a DVD release and when we finally got it an innocuous train station scene that had no adult language or nudity was mysteriously edited.

Their release of Falcon Crest is a joke. I am betting they will do the same thing they did to Knots Landing fans and halt future releases of seasons. Frankly I would rather find original TV recordings from soneone and covert then to DVD myself so that they don't get my money.

Of course, they also own most of RKO and MGM's libraries which means its nearly impossible to get decent quality films because they refuse to release them or if they do they put them in 4 packs and force people to buy films they don't want.

They treat movie/TV fans as if they are doing us a favor by releasing the little that they do. It's not just Warner Home Video, it's their entire corporate structure that's completely hostile to the public. They've been known to shut down eBay sellers who were selling legitimate factory copies of Warner films by accusing them of selling fakes with no proof. If you go to a taping at their studios in Burbank they have the most ridiculously aggressive security. They have a fire marshall on hand to make safety announcements before a show begins in order to cover their asses in case soneone tries to sue them if there is a real emergency.

Sorry for the rant but I haven't spoke my disgust for Warner in a while, probably since the Rich and Famous dvd release. I just feel like all this effort has been put in by everyone and WB will be the only roadblock that screws this all up.

They made their money overseas with the Depp/Burton Shadows but they will not connect that with the show or the 2 movies. I think for us to see it either hell will freeze over or a very special person at Warner who likes to buck their dictatorial system will see the value in giving us the movie we deserve.

E N L I G H T E N E D

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[–] theblackestmagic 12 years ago

Not at all about 'the rant'. I appreciate you're informative thoughts and opinions on this topic. I myself don't believe an uncut version of this film is likely to be released either. But I often try to remain optimistic as well. But yes, it does appear that this last release of 'NODS' will probably be the only official version of the film we'll get on dvd unfortunately.

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[–] Sandoz 12 years ago

I'm glad someone else out there who cares about films recognizes Warner Brothers for the scum-sucking megacorporate fascists they are when it comes to their entertainment "product."

I have plenty of my own beefs with them--first and foresmost they being the ones who came up with the dvd-r model of releasing films, which result in film fans getting less quality and quantity of a film, but paying twice as much for it.

The cheapskate approach to NODS is just one in a long list of slights that shows WB's contempt for fans of cinema, and especially towards collectors of cinema.

Without mentioning specifics, I do my best to hurt Warner Brothers at every opportunity that I can. And that's all I'll say about that.

That boy's angrier than a rabid coon!

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[–] ElectricWarlock 12 years ago

While I would absolutely love to see the uncut version, I don't think it's very likely. I agree with the other person that this DVD release shows just how much Warner Bros. cares about their fans. I picture some studio executive sitting in an office saying "Why bother with all of that? The fans will pay either way, let's just release it as is." They obviously don't care about the quality of the product they put out as long as they get their money.

Come, fly the teeth of the wind. Share my wings.

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[–] theblackestmagic 12 years ago

Completely agree with you horror2. That does indeed sound exactly like the mentality of a greedy and unappreciative studio exectutive. Just basically put out a mediocre and incomplete version of the film without having any consideration whatsoever for the film's fans. It's pretty much the typical treatment for alot of films that weren't huge blockbuster successes when they were originally released.

And as much as I'm glad to finally have the dvd version of 'House', I too was dissapointed by the utter lack of special features, save for the theatrical trailer, on the dvd. Surely they could have included interviews with cast members and perhaps even made a 30 to 45 minute documentary on the origins and evolution of the tv series to the eventual makings of the 2 Dark Shadows films. That would have been so very wonderful to have been featured on the dvd. But of course it's still better than not having the film released on dvd at all.

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[–] LoneWolfAttack 12 years ago

MitchumsGal is correct. Warner are a bunch of jerks. They have been hostile to the collector community for decades. And then they wonder why "A Star Is Born" is still missing 15 minutes of picture. When you sic the FBI on collectors, they tend not to want to deal with you. Shocking, I know.

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[–] libby2130 12 years ago

the trivia section says that the 20 minutes dan curtis had to cut out were found, but there is no sound, so can't be used , how would they get around that?

update, another thread mentioned the actors have rerecorded their voices in that part.

I do get your rant, for sure.

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[–] TheSolarSailor 11 years ago

I picture some studio executive sitting in an office saying "Why bother with all of that? The fans will pay either way, let's just release it as is."

Well, sadly, they are right. There area great many fans that WILL buy whatever bare-bones version that is released. I recall debating this with people when the BluRays came out of the Dark Shadows films, those bare-bone releases that were put forth instead of actual special editions. Fans lapped them up and claimed that the special editions would never get a release if we don't support this release. What bollocks! These fans are the ones who will buy the crap versions and prove the studio right. These fans are the ones who enable double-dipping strategies as well. Why shouldn't the studio act this way when they KNOW that these people will buy their cheap releases that offer little to nothing?

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

Yes, it's kind of a lose-lose situation. If nobody bought the DVDs, they would say "Well, obviously there's no interest in Dark Shadows, we better not release the special edition." But if tons and tons people bought the DVD, they would say "people seem to really like this version the way it is. No need to release the special edition." So we're doomed if we do buy it and doomed if we don't.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

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[–] TheSolarSailor 11 years ago

I didn't buy them because of WB's obvious past regarding special editions and such. They promised us more and then kept on pushing the release dates back, then we got bare bone releases. I understand that the films look great, but that just isn't enough in this case, not for me. I won't be double-dipped like that, nor will I tolerate being lied to by this studio. It's hopeless, but for me I personally refuse to support their bare bones release.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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[–] TheSolarSailor 12 years ago

I just don't understand why they don't allow Shout Factory to release it. So many other old films get special editions by them, so why not the two classic Dark Shadows movies? I mean, Universal just released The Shadow yesterday on BluRay, and it is getting a Shout Factory special edition loaded with extras later this year. There is no reason WB can't allow this for Dark Shadows.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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[–] theblackestmagic 12 years ago

And you know, as I pointed out before, as nice as it is to have 'House of Dark Shadows' finally out on both DVD and Blu-Ray, it's just disappointing that the film was released with no extras included. I mean surely they could have added a few extras onto the 'HODS' DVD, rather than giving us such a bare bones release. I'm certain there was material out there that could have been included as extras on the DVD. But WB just decided to rush out both films on DVD for the Depp-Burton release with no thought of including any extras to either film.

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[–] stimpy25 12 years ago

i believe they said that it was far to expensive to remaster the found footage. and that it would take to long for it to be done. since they had already remastered the theatrical cut. and like you said they wanted it out cause of the Johny Depp DS film. so instead like you said of giving us fans what we want. they said fux it and prefer to piss us all off.

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[–] Sandoz 12 years ago

and by "far too expensive to remaster", they basically meant it was a meager added expense that would have subtracted a bit from the bottom line profit total.

By remastering and restoring this film, WB would have gained a ton of free publicity for the film on many Horror and fan sites and sold more copies of this title, too. They could have even charged more for it...and for an effort like this it would have been worth it.

Yeah, it would have take some effort on their part... But why put effort into your business when you can just sit on your fatcat asses and still rake in a profit?

That boy's angrier than a rabid coon!

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[–] stimpy25 12 years ago

i think you got the sum of how i wrote that post? he he. and how i also feel about it too. well done.

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[–] geminidreamatl24 11 years ago

I was told today at Dragon Con in Atlanta by Kathryn Leigh Scott the directors cut will be shown next year at the Dark Shadows convention in Lyndhurst mansion were House and Night of Dark Shadows were filmed. its in Tarrytown, NY if anyone is interested in going. so maybe this mean there some hope for it after all.

Yall mind hanging back? Your jamming my frequences.

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[–] Darren-24 11 years ago

She was mistaken.

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[–] geminidreamatl24 11 years ago

and how do you know she was mistaken? do you run the convention or something? and why would she lie to me?

Yall mind hanging back? Your jamming my frequences.

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[–] mr-paul 11 years ago

as much as I (we all) would love to have the uncut version of "night of dark shadows" released, I am losing hope more & more every year it will ever see the light of day. but I guess even with a little bit of hope, there is always still hope.

Mr. Paul

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[–] Darren-24 11 years ago

Hi- I'm the restoration producer and it's nowhere near done, and the money isn't there to finish it properly at this time.

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[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Darren-24 11 years ago

It's not truly dead though, but just like Uncle Joe, it's movin' kinda slow.

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[–] mr_rubino 10 years ago

The BBC has recreated whole episodes of things from scraps and on a budget of about 3.50. Maybe they should have some cost-cutting tips!

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[–] ElectricWarlock 8 years ago

and by "far too expensive to remaster", they basically meant it was a meager added expense that would have subtracted a bit from the bottom line profit total.

If it's an issue of funding they could do some sort of crowdfunding thing on a platform like Kickstarter or Gofundme. Those kinds of fundraisers are very popular these days. Especially with low budget, independent filmmakers who want to have a budget so their movie can be made. I'm sure there are lots of Dark Shadows fanatics (me included) who would love to donate if that means seeing the film the way it was intended.

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[–] bsmith441 10 years ago

I keep waiting for this. I actually think the film is decent, it is just so poorly edited (Dan Curtis has no choice). With the scenes put back in, I think this could be a truly amazing film.

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[–] preppy-3 10 years ago

Grayson Hall herself saw the released cut and she was horrified at the editing. She said the uncut version was a real beauty. Unfortunately I don't think we'll ever see it.

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[–] bsmith441 10 years ago

Which is a shame because I think most of us who are Dark Shadows fans can see the potential in the film but the editing ruined the flow. It is a shame too because my understanding is originally they wanted to make three Dark Shadows films. I think after all the editing they did with this film (and to a certain extent House of Dark Shadows), Dan Curtis basically threw his hands up and said forget it.

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[–] preppy-3 10 years ago

THREE DS films? That would have been great! But we'll never know now. I know "House" was cut down (you can tell) but not as badly as "Night". I know Curtis in a rage destroyed all the cut material from "House" so we'll never see that again. Still it works beautifully. "Night" however makes next to no sense.

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[–] LoneWolfAttack 10 years ago

Unless everyone at Warner Home Video gets fired and they start from scratch over there, forget it. They've always been the worst of the major studios' video departments, starting from Day One when they were WCI. Their early VHS and Beta telecines were atrocious. Their early DVD telecines were atrocious (and looked like they were mastered off 3/4" tape half the time). Remember the flipper DVDs where you had to flip the thing over to see the second half of the picture, like it was an LD or something? The snapper cases everyone loved? They are going on their fourth digital release of "The Shining" and still can't manage to fix the botched color timing on it. They have three departments - not one, not two, THREE - for no apparent reason except to suck up money that would otherwise be going towards extras. Three departments, yet can't put out anything the public actually wants. They could have at least done a seamless branch disc with both cuts of this film - the extended cut in unremastered form with subtitles for the missing audio - but they chose the path of least resistance, as is their wont. Obviously, even a deleted scenes extra was too much to ask. They have two other departments to finance, after all.

The fact that they would put NODS out on Blu with the music skipping all over the place and not one employee noticed speaks volumes. We should all rue the day Kirk Kerkorian sold the rights to them. MGM, for all their problems, has always had an ace home video dept.

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[–] preppy-3 10 years ago

Did they release "House of Dark Shadows" too? I have it on DVD and it has a pristine picture and great sound. No extras except for the trailer which was in terrible condition. It would be nice to have a full uncut version of that out too but I heard Dan Curtis destroyed all the footage he was forced to cut way back in 1970 so we won't be seeing that.

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[–] Balberith 8 years ago

Too bad Curtis did not do like Coppola did with the Godfather movies and save all his footage and soundtrack.

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