Old Time Radio at OTRCat!

Friday, April 20, 2012

The death of Jonathan Frid...a fell omen?




Now, I recognise that there are people for whom Johnny Depp hangs the moon. I do not deny that he is a very talented thespian, one who made mincing manly in those Disney movies based on a thrill ride. No, my issue is with this role, this...franchise, as the producers say. "Dark Shadows" was a quirky soap opera on occult themes...vampires, witches, revived dead people, like that. Time travel, too. It was produced live, so it was a real WYSIWIG experience. It was often (unintentionally) amusing, which was much of the charm of the show.  Sometimes a background flat tree would fall over, or a script would be left on a bed. "Dark Shadows" drinking game: every time you see the mike dip into the scene, drink up!

On the other hand, judging by the trailer, the movie is a comedy, a dark one, but comedy nonetheless, which the series definitely was not. Hollywood's incessant need to re-tool, to knock the edges off the perfectly-tooled wheel, is beyond my ken. We will not discuss my Barbie....I can only assume that Government schools accomplished their intent.

As to the demise of the inimitable Mr. Frid, well, perhaps there is a mercy in it. He will not see his well-known persona lampooned. If he did seen it pre-release, it may raise other questions. The undead can only take so much.  

6 comments:

Michael W said...

I'm sure Mr. Frid's passing is on Burton's mind.

Jay said...

There'll probably be a dedication to Mr. Frid at the beginning of the film. I still won't see it however.

What's WYSIWIG?

The problem with "reinventing the wheel" is it's not going to get any rounder thus they change the shape. Ovals & squares don't roll as well as circles.

The Aardvark said...

@ Michael- Jonathan Frid is a classic and tragic case of an actor getting "Scotty-ed". He was never able to surpass his role as Barnabas Collins. I am happy that he was alive to see the the resurgence of the show's fandom in the 2000s. Dark Shadows cons and suchlike.

@ Jay- "What You See Is What You Get"
----------------------
I'm sure I'm overindulging in polemic (tho' I am fond of rice dishes) but dadgummit, I'm so tired of even the most talented writers and directors (like Tim Burton) being infected by the mediocrity bug (otherwise known as the Bey virus).

The Aardvark said...

@ Michael- Jonathan Frid is a classic and tragic case of an actor getting "Scotty-ed". He was never able to surpass his role as Barnabas Collins. I am happy that he was alive to see the the resurgence of the show's fandom in the 2000s. Dark Shadows cons and suchlike.

@ Jay- "What You See Is What You Get"
----------------------
I'm sure I'm overindulging in polemic (tho' I am fond of rice dishes) but dadgummit, I'm so tired of even the most talented writers and directors (like Tim Burton) being infected by the mediocrity bug (otherwise known as the Bey virus).

Michael W said...

@Weatherly --- even worse than being "Scotty-ed" is what happened to people like George Reeves.

(your comment to Jay): yeah, I suspect Burton gets weary of always being associated with a particular style of film. Alice In Wonderland looked as if he had slept all during the production. Frankly, I'd like to see Burton team up with someone like Quentin Tarentino . . . or Martin Scorsese. The results could possibly be memorable.

The Aardvark said...

Wow...yes. Reeves end was such a bizarre, tragic thing. Noel Neill and Jack Larson have made comments about the "double tap" suicide.

Holy Scorsese! That would be a combo! I am actually curious to see his Frankenweenie movie coming up. I like Burton's style. I just don't care for overlaying that style on others' work.