Dark Shadows: The Beginning: Collection 2 - DVD

The Start of a Legend! Named One of TV's Top 25 Cult Shows By TV Guide with it's alluring tales of Gothic mystery and supernatural intrigue, DARK SHADOWS became one of the most popular daytime series of all time. Since first airing on ABC-TV from 1966-71, DARK SHADOWS has earned the reputation as being one of the most unusual and enduring programs in broadcasting history. The character of Barnabas Collins, a guilt-ridden, 175-year-old vampire, brought the show tremendous success. Now, for the first time on DVD, MPI presents the spooky series' rare, early episodes before the arrival of Barnabas. Victoria Winters' mysterious journey begins as her train arrives in Collin sport, a small and stormy fishing village on the coast of Maine. An orphan in search of her identity, Victoria is befriended by a stranger named Burke Devlin. At the eerie Collinwood mansion, Victoria meets reclusive matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, her aloof brother Roger Collins, his troubled ten-year-old son David, and Elizabeth's rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn. Collins fishing fleet manager Bill Malloy informs Elizabeth that Burke wants to take everything the Collins' own as revenge for being sent to prison. Collin sport Inn waitress Maggie Evans tells her father Sam that she wants an end to the secret conflict between him, Roger and Burke. David warns Victoria that she will regret that she came to live at Collinwood and be his governess.

With it's alluring tales of Gothic mystery and supernatural intrigue, DARK SHADOWS (1966-71, ABC-TV) became one of the most popular daytime series of all time. The character of Barnabas Collins, a guilt-ridden, 175-year-old vampire, brought the show tremendous success. Now, for the first time on DVD, MPI presents the spooky series' rare, early episodes before Barnabas. Victoria Winters assures Carolyn Stoddard that her loyalties lie with the Collins family, not with Burke Devlin. Victoria makes a startling discovery near the ocean. David Collins visits Burke at the Collinsport Inn and insists his father is a murderer. Burke makes an offer to Elizabeth Collins Stoddard to buy Collinwood. Roger Collins frantically searches to recover evidence that may incriminate him. Annoyed with Carolyn, Joe Haskell begins to turn his affections toward Maggie Evans. David leads Victoria to the closed-off section of Collinwood, where she is stunned by the appearance of a ghost. Caretaker Matthew Morgan tries to dissuade Mrs. Johnson from coming to work at Collinwood. In Bangor, Victoria meets lawyers Richard and Frank Garner, who she hopes will help to unlock the mysteries of her past.

In the year 1995, Barnabas and Dr. Julia Hoffman wonder what has happened to the Collins family when they find the Collinwood estate abandoned and in ruins. They learn that both Carolyn Stoddard and Quentin Collins have gone insane. Barnabas witnesses the ghost of Gerard Stiles and realizes that Julia is under the spirit's power. In 1970, the ghost of Daphne Harridge, a nineteenth century governess, appears to Quentin, who locates her diary in the west wing. Barnabas is stunned when he meets astrologist Sebastian Shaw's assistant, Roxanne Drew, who is identical to the Roxanne that Barnabas knew in parallel time. When Julia discovers fang marks on Maggie Evans' neck, Barnabas assures her that he is not responsible and vows to find the vampire who attacked Maggie. David Collins and Hallie Stokes become possessed by the spirits of Tad Collins and Carrie Collins from 1840.