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The Cutting Room FloorPage One: Nightmare In The Past | |
[Strack's Death] [Charles and Gabriel Quarrel] [Page Bottom]
| Quentin's nightmare in the past is actually made up of several disparate sequences that were nearly victims of the infamous MGM demanded marathon Night of Dark Shadows editing session to trim the intially over two hour long film down to a more double-feature friendly ninty-seven minutes. In actuality, only one element of what is now this dream was intended to be utilized in the film as a dream sequence - Gabriel's abduction of Charles and Charles' imprisonment in a Collinwood basement room. However, the intent of the original script was for Quentin to have this dream much later in the film - on going back to bed after having attacked Gerard in the Tower Room. |
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Though the "official" release of Night of Dark Shadows wasn't until September 1971, the film actually opened in 130 New England theaters and drive-ins on August 4, 1971, and it was subsequently shown in various theaters in the area throughout the entire month. Even during this run, several sequences in the film were actually longer than they now appear - including the Strack's death sequence of Quentin's nightmare in the past. (Download a Transcript)
As the film was originally edited and released, Strack's death was far more graphically bloody than what now remains in the film. Also now deleted are the shots of Angelique's spirit standing outside the cemetery gate, along with Charles galloping his horse up to her and his dismount before he moves with a pronounced limp to her side. |
| The Night of Dark Shadows original script intended Strack's death to appear much later in the story than it now does. It, as well as other scenes, were actually used as a bridge between the ones depicting Tracy leaving Quentin to his reading in the Gallery and her subsequent discovery of his having resumed painting in the Tower Room. The script's design was that the "memory" of Strack's death further motivates Quentin's decision to return to the Tower Room, as can be seen in the following script excerpt: | |
Night of Dark ShadowsScript Excerpt(red text - included in film / white text - deleted from film)With Tracy asleep in the F.G., Quentin ENTERS THE SHOT. TRUCK IN ON HIS CLOSE-UP as he stands in the doorway, obviously not wanting to go to bed.He turns, leaves the room, closes the door softly behind him. INT - SECOND FLOOR CORRIDOR - NIGHT
as Quentin walks TOWARD CAMERA. He approaches the stairs leading to the tower. Stopping at the foot of the stairs, he looks up.
QUENTIN - HIGH ANGLE
SEEN from third floor as he looks TOWARD CAMERA. HOLD FOR A LONG MOMENT EXT - COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT as Quentin walks through the night in an effort to purge himself of the horrible temptations that are gnawing at his soul. He comes to a fallen tree, where he stops for a moment and sits. SLOWLY TRUCK IN ON HIM as the SOUND OF THUNDERING HOOF BEATS can be HEARD O.S. As we end up on a TIGHT SHOT OF HIS EYES. CUT TO:
EXT - COUNTRYSIDE - 1810 - NIGHT
SUBCONSCIOUS MEMORY CUT
Suddenly, out of a heavy bank of fog gallops a man on horseback.
CUT TO: EXT - COUNTRYSIDE - 1971 - NIGHT - NORMAL COLOR QUENTIN - EXTREME CLOSE-UP as his eyes fill the screen, he stares blankly INTO CAMERA. SLOWLY WIDEN as he rises and PAN WITH HIM, revealing the massive silhouette of Collinwood in the distance. INT - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT CLOSE ON TRACY as she lies in bed sound asleep. HOLD until she stirs, then WIDEN to reveal she is alone. Through the window in the B.G. the tower can be seen. A light glows there. Tracy opens her eyes and, noticing the light, she gets out of bed and crosses to the window... | |
| The voiceover of Charles and Gabriel quarreling was also not supposed to have been a part of Quentin's nightmare. The original intent of the Night of Dark Shadows script was for the sequence involving the brothers' quarrel to occur on the second morning after Quentin's arrival at Collinwood, and for the scene to be the third of his "visions". (The first being Quentin's glimpse from the Gallery window of Angelique's remains hanging in the tree, and the second his witnessing of Angelique's funeral.) The following script excerpt is taken from the midst of several scenes involving Quentin and Tracy that originally were scripted to take place after Carlotta shows Quentin the Tower Room and before he "sees" Sarah screaming from her bedroom window. |
Night of Dark ShadowsScript ExcerptThey are both in bed - Quentin is sound asleep. She is wide awake. The alarm clock says 10:30. Finally, she can't stand it anymore and quietly starts to get out of bed. Hey! Where are you going?
TRACY
QUENTIN
TRACY CUT TO: INT - MASTER BEDROOM - 1810 - NIGHT SUBCONSCIOUS MEMORY CUT A gray-haired man, CHARLES COLLINS, stands at the window, his back to CAMERA. He is dressed in period costume. If we see him walking, he limps. Suddenly, the door flies open as GABRIEL, Charles' brother, storms in. Have I no privacy, brother?
GABRIEL Would that it were. I'm sick of your weak face.
GABRIEL
CHARLES
GABRIEL CUT TO: INT - MASTER BEDROOM - 1971 - DAY - NORMAL COLOR QUENTIN - CLOSE-UP His face introspectve, bewildered. Why are you just sitting ther staring at nothing? Oh...just remembering a dream, I guess. A nightmare I never even knew I had.
TRACY |
