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While Jason and Elizabeth argue over the whereabouts of Willie Loomis, a mysterious cousin pays a visit to Collinwood.
Synopsis
Teaser
- My name is Victoria Winters. The dawn will soon come to Collinwood, and bring with it the unresolved troubles of another day. A man…a frightening and violent man has disappeared. But the fear he has created has not disappeared with him. Wherever he is, some violence is surely taking place.
Willie has entered a secret chamber in the Collins Family Mausoleum and found a solitary coffin, wrapped in thick, sturdy chains. Convinced that this is the resting place of the coveted family jewels, he gets to work on prying the chains loose. Willie opens the coffin. A look of terror passes across his face as a hand reaches out of the coffin and grabs him by the throat!
Act I
Jason is arguing with Elizabeth in the drawing room at Collinwood. They are both concerned about the recent disappearance of Willie. Elizabeth's concern stems mostly from the fact that she wants to be sure whether or not Willie is gone for good. Jason, convinced that Willie is embarking upon some scheme without him, is not willing to let Willie flee town without answering to him first. Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth goes upstairs to retire. Mrs. Johnson enters the foyer and has a conversation with Jason. She tells Jason that she saw Willie taking supplies from the tool shed before he left Collinwood last evening.
Act II
Mrs. Johnson further reveals that Willie had grown uncharacteristically infatuated with the portrait of Barnabas Collins hanging in the foyer. Mrs. Johnson elaborates that she in fact told Willie about a legend concerning a treasure trove of family jewels that had been buried with the 18th century family matriarch, Naomi Collins. Jason now has a sneaking suspicion about where Willie may have gone. Meantime, at the Collins Family Mausoleum the Caretaker enters and senses an evil presence in the air.
Act III
A short while later, Jason arrives at Eagle Hill Cemetery. He gets into an uncomfortable discussion with the Caretaker concerning the three primary occupants of the mausoleum. The Caretaker, being intensely superstitious, drones on about how the place is cursed and that there is evil afoot. Jason inspects the inner chamber and finds the remains of one of Willie's cigarette butts on the lip of Naomi Collins' coffin. Saying nothing more to the Caretaker, Jason races back to Collinwood.
Act IV
Upon arriving, he argues some more with Elizabeth. Liz complains that Jason has been ineffectual at finding Willie. He doesn't tell her about his sojourn to Eagle Hill Cemetery. A short while later, there is a knock at the front door. Mrs. Johnson answers, and is greeted by a well-dressed gentleman who introduces himself as being a cousin to Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. Mrs. Johnson lets him in and tells him that she will fetch Mrs. Stoddard. The gentleman removes his hat and cloak and stands next to the portrait hanging in the foyer. Coincidentally enough, the man in the portrait and the man standing next to it appear to be the spitting image of one another. This is Barnabas Collins.
Memorable quotes
- Jason McGuire: (regarding Willie's disappearance) "But I've looked for him! Every place conceivable!"
- Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: "Well, I suggest you look for him in a few inconceivable places! Knowing Willie that's probably where he'll be."
Dramatis personae
- ← Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard →
- Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins →
- ← John Karlen as Willie Loomis →
- ← Daniel F. Keyes as Caretaker →
- ← Clarice Blackburn as Mrs. Johnson →
- ← Dennis Patrick as Jason McGuire →
Background information and notes
- This is the first appearance of Jonathan Frid on Dark Shadows playing the role of Barnabas Collins. The character of Barnabas Collins made a cameo appearance in episode 210, as portrayed by Tim Gordon, but Jonathan Frid was not involved with the character until this episode.
- This is the first appearance of Barnabas Collins' silver-handled, Wolf's-head cane. The cane is likewise depicted in the portrait of Barnabas that hangs in the Collinwood foyer as revealed in episode 210, but this is the first time that it makes a physical appearance. Barnabas carries this cane wherever he goes, and is almost never seen without it. The style and purpose of the cane was inspired by a prop used by Lon Chaney Jr.’s character Larry Talbot in the 1941 Universal Pictures movie, The Wolf Man. In the Marilyn Ross series of Dark Shadows novels, it is revealed that the cane actually conceals a sword tip, which Barnabas is known to wield in times of crisis. This alternative facet of the cane's purpose is exclusive to the novels. Barnabas has never used his cane as a weapon throughout the course of the actual television series. Fans of the show have affectionately taken to calling the cane the Willie-beater.
- Mrs. Johnson relates the Legend of Naomi Collins in this episode. The legend states that Naomi received a large quantity of expensive jewelry from an overseas pirate. It is rumored that she is buried with these valuables at the time of her death. Later episodes will prove that Naomi was not buried with a wide array of finery. Whether or not she in fact received such gifts from a pirate has never been confirmed or denied.
- John Karlen (Willie Loomis) appears in a flashback to the closing scenes from episode 210, but otherwise does not appear in this episode.
- This is one of the few times in the series that Barnabas Collins is seen wearing a hat. He wears it again in episode 218.
- This episode survives only as a kinescope copy. A restored version of 211 (complete with original 1967 commercials) can be seen on TB C6D4.
Continuity and mistakes
- Joan Bennett stumbles over her lines slightly during her opening conversation with Jason McGuire.
- In the Collins Family mausoleum, Jason McGuire points to the wrong grave markers as he reads the names aloud. When he verbally indicates Naomi and Joshua Collins’ coffins, he is pointing to the plaques that correspond to Sarah and Naomi Collins. The caretaker of Eagle Hill Cemetery points to the coffin of Joshua Collins and mistakenly claims that its occupant is a child.