THE DARK SHADOWS MOVIES

Introduction

And because of this broad based appeal, Dan Curtis, the series creator and executive producer, came up with the idea of translating Dark Shadows from the small to the big screen. The notion of adapting a daytime soap opera into a motion picture was unprecedented, and Curtis faced much opposition as he shopped around his idea. But finally, Curtis met with the MGM executives, who understood both his vision and the built-in appeal that the project held. Once MGM agreed to provide the financing, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS became the first of the show's movie adaptations, and Dark Shadows was on its way to making the unprecedented a reality.

Dark Shadows had largely gained its popularity due to the sympathetic portrayal of its central figure, the vampire Barnabas Collins. However, Barnabas had originally been slated to be the embodiment of evil. It had been planned that he would do the most horrible things until he was eventually caught and destroyed. But when Barnabas proved to be so popular with the daytime audience, that story had to be abandoned for the sake of the continuing story. With House of Dark Shadows being a self-contained story, there were no such concerns, so it turned out to be Curtis' second chance to see his original concept of the character played out.

House of Dark Shadows proved to be such a success for MGM that the studio ordered a follow-up. The second film, NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS, wasn't actually a sequel, as no characters from the first film appear in it. The story actually picks up some undetermined time after the events in House. This movie drew its inspiration from the 1970 Parallel Time story of the daytime series: Quentin Collins inherits the Collins estate, only to get caught up in a psychological ghost story, featuring reincarnation and possession, as the spirit of Angelique Collins haunts Collinwood. Perhaps two of Dark Shadows best know alumni are featured in the film: David Selby, who went on to a primetime television career, most notably as Richard Channing in the series Falcon Crest; and Kate Jackson, who gained wide exposure in the television series Charlie's Angels and Scarecrow and Mrs. King, as well as numerous made-for-tv movies.

While not quite as successful as House, Night did take in enough in box office rentals (a film's net profits) for MGM to be interested in making a third film. Things did get as far as an item being placed in a daytime column that Denise Nickerson would star in Dan Curtis' DEATH OF DARK SHADOWS, but Curtis ultimately decided to move on to other projects.

Dark Shadows still retains the distinction of being the only daytime soap opera to ever make the transition to the big screen.