Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

131 discs, 1,225 episodes, limited to 2500 copies.

http://www.mpihomevideo.com/Store/De...p?ProdID=10933

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Yeah I saw this and ordered one at the cheapest place I could find which was overstock.com for $389.00 shipped! I asked them if I could pay for upgraded, tracked shipping because of the cost and limited # of these and they were nice enough to upgrade me to UPS ground shipping at no extra cost to me! Can't wait for this set!!!:D

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

This brings back memories. I actually lived close to the actress Grayson Hall who played Dr. Julia Hoffman on the show. She used to come over to the house and would help me put together the Dark Shadow trading cards (if you had all the pieces, they would form a huge portrait of Barnabas Collins).

Of course, I was a toddler then. But even back then, I didn't think the show was done very well. They had a 'one take-heck with the anachronistic elements!" approach that surprised me even then. 17th century characters wearing 20th century watches, etc. My favorite consistent goof was there were so many incarnations of the same characters portrayed in different times, that they frequently referred to each other with the wrong-time names (e.g. a character was called John in the 20th century, but played someone named Fred in the 16th century, but in a 20th century episode he was called Fred). Tons of boom mike mistakes, flubs of dialogues, etc. I don't think there are any outtakes from this show!

Yet, this paved the way for horror themed soaps like Buffy, Angel,etc. Back in the 70's to have a soap opera with werewolves and vampires was very exciting! So I am eternally grateful for Dark Shadows.

At least that is how I remember it.. I may buy one or 2 discs individually, tho.. just for nostalgia.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Looks like they raised the price at overstock.

edit: If you do a search, you see the old price in the search result but when you click on it, it's higher. I took a shot with an order and asked if I could get it at the cheaper price they're showing and they did it but I think I was really lucky they gave it to me.

The set is over 15 lbs. the fact you got free upgraded shipping is amazing. That shipping was expensive. Over $40 if I remember right.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Good LORD! One of the most impressive sets I have ever seen!

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

This is one of those sets I'd consider if it ever showed up half-off at Amazon...otherwise, as much as I might be interested, I keep telling myself "Will you ever have time to watch ALL those?" Sadly the answer is no. I've got season sets now I may not live to see all of, and those are only about 100 (or less) episodes per set. :)

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

I'm concerned about how the discs are packaged. If I invest this much in a set, I don't want scratched discs.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Amaray cases

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Yep 22 to be exact!

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Interesting...I remember meeting David Selby at an autograph signing in my home of CT. at a Sears in West Hartford no less. I too was younger then but remember being kind of actually being afraid of him...kind of sort of! Ah kids!!! Also met the great Vincent Price at the same place-different time obviously but he was hosting an art show that my mom took me to. From what I remember Price was a huge art lover and collector- Still cannot wait for this set and re-live those after school times @ 4:30pm-:D

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

One of my friends is a big Dark Shadows fan. She started buying the season sets from my store, but when the news of this came out, she decided to wait for the giant set...

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Given the look of the show, I always assumed it went out live like other soaps in the 60s. At least in the early years.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

It wasn't live, but it was "live to tape"...kind of the way a lot of talk shows are done these days. Basically, if something when wrong they just left it in with no re-takes. They'd only redo a scene if something went HORRIBLY wrong.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Hope you make it that long to see that price! With only 2500 of these being sold, I sense that since this series has such a large cult following these may just become history real fast! Best of luck to you though-

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

I just saw the trailer for the Dark Shadows movie. It's a comedy!

Not what I was expecting, but with Burton and Depp it might have some success and with it, a renewed interest in the original series.

Who knows - maybe they will redo it as a new TV series.

It happened to Battlestar Gallatica. it could happen to this...

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Are you aware there was short-lived remake of the series done in 1991? I quite liked it, but I don't think many other people did. Of course, I never saw any of the original series to compare it to. It is available on DVD.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

I keep seing people mentioning that the release date has been pushed back but I emailed MPI Home Entertainment and they said that the relase date is still 4/10/2012! Wonder where folks are getting their info of a change in release dates???

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

TVshowsonDVD got it from an MPI press release.

For what it's worth, MPI's official site doesn't even offer this product for sale so I wouldn't put too much stock in what you read in an email that was probably written by a customer service rep.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

So... DVDPlanet claims that they've now shipped me my copy.

That seems incredibly (and suspiciously) early to me. But we'll see.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

This is one of those things I was always kind of pft about when it comes to BR, why not put this entire set in SD on 13 BR discs or uprezed on 20-30?

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Ben Cross played Barnabas, right? I remember the show, but didn't care for it all that much.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

If I wanted to start watching this would I start with the beginning collection or the volume one collection?

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

That would depend on whether or not you want to start watching the show from the very beginning or begin with the Barnabas episodes.

(the central character of Barnabas Collins wasn't introduced until episode # 210)

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Your call. The first 209 episodes ("The Beginning") have very little supernatural stuff -- just a little bit with ghosts and magic... it starts off as more of a typical gothic soap, with family drama, blackmail, etc.

The Barnabas episodes start with Volume One, and that's when most people get interested in the show. You can get caught up quickly enough starting there if you want... I prefer to start at the actual beginning.

Re: Dark Shadows: The Complete Series (4/10/2012)
 

Are there any places where you can still order this? What are the best prices still available?