Night Of Dark Shadows (1971)

A young newlywed couple (David Selby, Kate Jackson) arrive at his ancestral estate. But the mansion has a dark history that begins to possess the husband. So much so that it puts the life of his bride in mortal danger. Directed by Dan Curtis (THE WINDS OF WAR), this is a sequel to the 1970 HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS which in turn was based on the TV gothic soap opera which ran for five years (1966-1971). This entry drops the vampire storyline used by the series and the first movie. It also drops two of its major actors, Joan Bennett (who played the family matriarch) and Jonathan Frid (who played the vampire). Actors returning are playing different parts including Grayson Hall, John Karlen and Thayer David. The film wasn't as successful as HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and it's easy to see why. The vampire plotline has been jettisoned and what we're given is a REBECCA retread with supernatural elements. It's a drab film that often borders on "camp" with nondescript performances (with Selby particularly bad) except for Grayson Hall, who brings a nice Mrs. Danvers quality to her character. With Nancy Barrett, Lara Parker, Diana Millay and James Storm.