Dark Shadows: The Beginning Disc Problems

Brian Himes · 01-30-2007, 06:31 PM

I'm not sure how many folks here are members of the Dark Shadows DVD club, but I am and I would like to warn those that are getting the Dark Shadows: The Beginning DVD sets.

Well, the it seems that MPI has once again had some authoring issues with the company that they use to transfer these episodes to DVD. Everything goes along smoothly (at least on my set) until the last disc. There are five episodes on my 4th disc that just stop near the end of the episode. No end credits. The episodes just come to a stop and skip to the next episode. I've checked the disc in more than one DVD player and it happened in all of them. This isn't a fault with the player or the discs themselves. The episodes were just blatantly cut off in mid stream. I've sent my set back for a replacement but I fear that I may end up with the same problem. Has anyone else noticed this? The first episode that it happened on my set is the episode where Burke finds the bleader valve in the couch of his hotel room. He picks it up, and you can tell that we're about to get the 'dum da dum' last scene of episode music and suddenly the slate for the next episode pops up on the screen. It happens again sporadically throughout the 4th disc. At total of five episodes have been cut short.

I'm going to call MPI to let them know. Especially since I do not want them to send me another set until this issue is fixed. Maybe it just happened on my set, but something tells me (especially with their track record of messing up the episodes at the beginning of the first few sets a few years ago) that this isn't an isolated incident.

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FranR · 01-31-2007, 12:13 AM

Brian,

I checked my disc 4 and, unfortunately, you're right that it isn't an isolated incident.

Ethan Riley · 01-31-2007, 01:21 AM

They were probably trying to save a little space by stupidly cutting off the end credits, is all I can think of. The credits on those episodes were certainly in the vhs versions. MPI has made poor editing choices for its DS dvds; which they did not make for video. That burns me~~

Brian Himes · 01-31-2007, 01:03 PM

I also checked my VHS copies and there are at least the tags on those episodes.

Well, I spoke with MPI this morning and they were already aware of the issue. They claim that that is the way the episodes end. Just cut off like that. They had a statement from Dan Curtis Productions that states that the episodes ran long so there were no ending credits. I explained that I have the VHS versions and I have checked those and the episodes in question do have at least the "Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis production" tag at the end even if there are no ending credits. I explained that the episodes just plain stop. Most of the time in mid ending music note.

This is definately an authoring or transfer error. Since I checked the VHS copies and I told them that I have, they are going to look into the situation. I'm not sure how much good it's going to do but if enough people speak up, they may get the problem corrected.

I'm so glad that I saved my VHS copies of this series. If worse comes to worse I'll just transfer them to DVD myself. That way I'm sure to get decent DVD copy of the series.

Ockeghem · 02-01-2007, 09:42 PM

Brian et al.,

Thanks for the information regarding the Dark Shadows: The Beginning disc four. My copy of DSTB (Collection 1) was shipped about four days ago (prior to February 1st), so I most likely will have the defective DVD in this shipment, with the corrected DVD to be shipped probably within the week or so.

I wrote to them today, and I received a response rather quickly. As you probably are aware by now, this message was sent to all DVD Club members:

****************

We have just sent an email in regards to this issue to all club members….the text of the email has been posted below:

“Dear Dark Shadows DVD Club Member,

MPI is pleased to be releasing the earliest episodes of Dark Shadows on DVD for the very first time as an exclusive to Dark Shadows DVD Club members. Dark Shadows - The Beginning DVD Collections 1 through 6 will feature original episodes 1-209 (June, 1966 - April, 1967), before the introduction of vampire Barnabas Collins.

We have discovered that Disc 4 of Dark Shadows - The Beginning Collection 1 is defective. Due to a manufacturing error, several episodes on Disc 4 are missing the closing credits and small portions at the end of the episodes. (Discs 1-3 are not affected.) We apologize for this inconvenience and we will be sending a replacement disc to Dark Shadows DVD Club Members who have had Dark Shadows The Beginning Collection 1 shipped to them prior to February 1st.

Club members do not need to contact MPI to receive the corrected disc. We will be sending the corrected disc to all club members who have received Dark Shadows The Beginning Collection 1 through the DVD Club.

Club members who have yet to have this collection shipped through the club will receive the corrected version in the set when they are on this installment.

Thank you for your understanding and your interest in Dark Shadows.”

Sincerely,

MPI Home Video

Ockeghem · 02-01-2007, 09:55 PM

Hello. Can anyone please tell me how I can edit my Profile? I can't seem to find it anywhere on the Board. Thanks.

Brian Himes · 02-02-2007, 12:45 PM

Thanks for the update from MPI. I just got the same email.

The real bummer is that I've already sent my set back. I should have waited and not been so hasty. Oh well, at least my replacement set will be correct.

Glad that MPI did actually look into this and not just assume we were all a bunch of lunatics.

Ethan Riley · 02-02-2007, 03:36 PM

What fascinates me is that they responded to the problem and reacted with replacement discs so quickly. That's awfully rare--! Didn't it take the Tom & Jerry people about 2 years to fix their disc? lol Now if only MPI were in charge of the Dark Shadows Revival dvd, and could bloody well re-release it full screen, as it was meant to be seen---

Jack Cleveland · 02-02-2007, 06:40 PM

I believe Jim Pierson works for MPI Video w/ their classic TV shows. He has been a long time DS fan, and I imagine he was instrumental on getting this issue resolved so quickly.

I have the early shows on tape and have been meaning to transfer them to DVD for a while. Is there anything in the way of extras I shouldn't live without?

Jack Cleveland

Jack Cleveland · 02-03-2007, 12:06 PM

Can't anyone help me w/ the question in my previous post?

Jack Cleveland

Ockeghem · 02-04-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Thanks for the update from MPI. I just got the same email.

The real bummer is that I've already sent my set back. I should have waited and not been so hasty. Oh well, at least my replacement set will be correct.

Glad that MPI did actually look into this and not just assume we were all a bunch of lunatics.

Brian,

You're welcome. I hope the wait isn't too long. I'm waiting for my replacement disc as well, but didn't send anything back because I received their Email before I got my set. I watched the first nine (Disc 1) episodes over the past two days. I am very, very pleased with the menu, the color scheme, etc. And I'm also pleased that they elected to leave the Collector's Series production slates intact for the DVDs.

Quote:

I believe Jim Pierson works for MPI Video w/ their classic TV shows. He has been a long time DS fan, and I imagine he was instrumental on getting this issue resolved so quickly.

Jack,

I have been purchasing Dark Shadows VHS tapes from MPI for several years. Those at MPI (particularly Mike and Julie) have been extremely helpful. I even asked them if they would ship me thin cases for the (post-Barnabas) episodes, and they did, complete with correctly-fitting DVD inserts. I heard from them that they are going to be issuing only the thin cases (yay!) from DVD Collection 10 onward.

Quote:

I have the early shows on tape and have been meaning to transfer them to DVD for a while. Is there anything in the way of extras I shouldn't live without?

Are you asking about extras in the way of the Collector's Series, or in general? If in general (you probably already own these) I would suggest you get Bloopers and Treasures and the Special Edition DVDS. I like both of them, but I prefer the Special Edition a little more. I have yet to purchase Reunion, although that will happen soon.

Jack Cleveland · 02-04-2007, 12:11 PM

Jack,

I have been purchasing Dark Shadows VHS tapes from MPI for several years. Those at MPI (particularly Mike and Julie) have been extremely helpful. I even asked them if they would ship me thin cases for the (post-Barnabas) episodes, and they did, complete with correctly-fitting DVD inserts. I heard from them that they are going to be issuing only the thin cases (yay!) from DVD Collection 10 onward.

Are you asking about extras in the way of the Collector's Series, or in general? If in general (you probably already own these) I would suggest you get Bloopers and Treasures and the Special Edition DVDS. I like both of them, but I prefer the Special Edition a little more. I have yet to purchase Reunion, although that will happen soon.[/quote]

I was wondering what extras are on the new Pre-Barnabas DVD's that are availlable directly through the MPI club. As I said I have these early episodes already on video tape, and wonder if it is worth while to repurchase them on DVD.

I have not purchased any of the DS collections currently on DVD. If my memory serves me correct, if I have the video tapes of the first year shows, I need to pick up with Volume 2 of the DVD's and skip volume 1 completely, as it has duplicate episodes.

Has anyone bought the new book "Dark Shadows- The First Year" availlable from the fan club? What is it like?

Thanks for your help-

Jack Cleveland