The Dark Shadows Wiki
Register
Advertisement
642 Gallery
642
Number

634

Timeline

1968

Narrator

Nancy Barrett

Writer

Sam Hall

Director

Penberry Jones

Broadcast

December 10, 1968
(Tuesday)

Recorded

December 3, 1968
(Tuesday)

Video

Complete: Disc 67
Collection 11: Disc 3

642 Gallery
We have 16 images of Dark Shadows 642

During a seance, held to contact Jeff, a spirit named Magda speaks through Carolyn with a warning, but Chris interrupts before anything else can be learned.

Synopsis[]

There is a storm raging over the great house at Collinwood, a storm that cannot shut out the sounds of the widows wailing, for theirs is a legend that when death is near, the widows rise from the dead and commence their wait for the one who is to die.

Victoria stands at the cliffs of Widow's Hill and contemplates suicide. Professor Stokes and Elizabeth manage to persuade her that there is still hope and lead her back to the house. Carolyn and Chris return from a date and discuss the recent murder at the Blue Whale. Chris is more upset by the death than Carolyn expected.

When Elizabeth and Professor Stokes lead Victoria back into the house, they decide to hold a seance to try and contact Jeff, for Victoria's benefit. Carolyn is contacted by the spirit of a woman named Magda, who spoke of a curse before Chris abruptly stops the seance.

Memorable quotes[]

Carolyn: The house seems so gloomy tonight.

Carolyn (to Chris): There's not much point in being both rude and mysterious. They amount to the same thing.

Dramatis personae[]

Background information and notes[]

Production[]

Story[]

  • First mention of the character Magda Rakosi.
  • Elizabeth is aware Professor Stokes has certain psychic powers.
  • Professor Stokes meets Chris for the first time. He tells Chris that ghosts want to come through using the same sex.
  • The seance incorporates all 3 current storylines: Vicki looks for Jeff Clark, Magda warns of Quentin, and Chris Jennings is afraid the warning is about his lycanthropy. It is rare to have all stories tied into one event this way.
  • GHOSTWATCH: Elizabeth, Carolyn, Victoria, Professor Stokes and Chris hold a seance to contact Jeff Clark. The spirit of Magda Rakosi speaks through Carolyn. Chris claims not to believe in seances and ghosts before taking part.
    • Despite the fact that it is known that Jeff Clark is really Peter Bradford especially in 1796, when Professor Stokes conducts the seance, he calls upon Jeff, instead of Peter.
  • INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: Victoria: (recalling Professor Stokes voice, reprised from the previous episode).
  • TIMELINE: It was yesterday when the Blue Whale waitress was attacked, (i.e. the early hours of this day, occurred in 640).

Bloopers and continuity errors[]

  • During the scene on Widows' Hill, a loud "Oh!" can be heard from someone off-screen. Also, a boom microphone appears over Elizabeth and Professor Stokes heads.
  • Professor Stokes called Vicki "Miss Winters," although technically she is now Mrs. Clark.
  • When Chris and Carolyn speak in the drawing room the shadow of a boom microphone hovers over his face.
  • Even though Chris is anxious to leave when he returns with Carolyn, it seems odd that he would not visit with his sister, Amy, especially since she has been at Collinwood for only a day or so. No one mentions Amy throughout the entire episode despite Chris's presence there.
  • During the seance, Elizabeth breaks the circle, moving her hand to her throat, but no one comments on this. [Breaking the circle during a seance and leaving someone alone when warned not to leave them alone are perhaps the two most common mistakes during the series run.]
  • When Chris holds Carolyn's head to his own head, his face on the top of her head, Don Briscoe's nose is running.
  • The end credits sway from side to side.

External Links []

Dark Shadows - Episode 642 on the IMDb

Dark Shadows Every Day - Episode 642 - Mind Over Manners

The Dark Shadows Daybook - Episode 642

Gallery (16)[]

Advertisement