Elizabeth tells the story of what happened at Collinwood eighteen years earlier, when she thought she killed Paul.Elizabeth tells the story of what happened at Collinwood eighteen years earlier, when she thought she killed Paul.Elizabeth tells the story of what happened at Collinwood eighteen years earlier, when she thought she killed Paul.
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Did you know
- TriviaIn the flashback, Paul Stoddard was seen only from behind, his face was never shown, which led to the humorous suggestion that "a daytime Emmy should be awarded to the back of Joel Fabiani's head for playing the role of Paul Stoddard." But if you watch the Dark Shadows DVD of episode 271 closely you can in fact glimpse Joel Fabiani's face as he turns around. Apparently, the cameraman backed up too fast in that scene. Why Dan Curtis would not want to show Fabiani's face is a mystery. Joel was possibly contractually obligated to The Doctors (1963), which disallowed him from appearing in another soap.
- SoundtracksOpening Theme: Dark Shadows / Collinwood
Written by Bob Cobert (as Robert Cobert)
Performed by The Robert Cobert Orchestra
Featured review
Only early episode to show the iconic Paul Stoddard
Finally after much talk about him, this is the episode in which we get to see Elizabeth Stoddard's long-lost husband Paul (at least in flashback). Elizabeth has been a recluse for 18 years at Collinswood because she's hidden a dark secret -- the alleged killing of her husband (and Carolyn's father) Paul Stoddard. She's always maintained that he ran off when Carolyn was born, never to return, but now faced with the unpalatable prospect of a forced marriage to blackmailer Jason Maguire (Paul's old friend), Elizabeth reveals her secret -- that 18 years prior she killed Paul in a fit or rage with a fire iron. We see her arguing with an arrogant and cocky Paul in a great flashback scene. Paul is only shown from the back and sides, so it's difficult to see who it is -- the ending credits reveal it to be (then-unknown) character actor Joel Fabiani, in an early role. Elizabeth tells of how she got Jason to bury Paul's body in a storeroom of the basement, the one Elizabeth keeps locked, with the only key around her neck.
Of course once the Sheriff digs up the floor of the secret room and there's no body, then Jason is forced to reveal HIS secret -- that Paul was only stunned by the blow, and knowing Elizabeth thought him dead, he took the opportunity to leave Collinswood and make a new life. I've read that series creator Dan Curtis, having revealed that Paul Stoddard was still alive, planned to bring him back soon after, to make trouble for Elizabeth, had the series not taken such an unexpected (and popular) turn with the addition of vampire Barnabas Collins. When they finally did get around to bringing Paul Stoddard back, in late 1969, they made the unfortunate (and confusing) decision to cast the same actor who'd played Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick)! He was central to the "Leviathans" sub-plot, then was killed off after many weeks.
I always thought Paul should have been played by a different actor (Joel Fabiani again?) than Dennis Patrick, who most viewers still remembered as Jason McGuire, Paul's friend. True, some actors such as Thayer David played multiple roles over the years, but Dennis Patrick was far to closely associated with the Paul Stoddard 1967 plot line to be believable AS Paul Stoddard! Also, Paul should have been made a permanent member of the cast, asserting his right under community property laws to half of everything, moving back into Collinswood where he always belonged, and taking over the position of head of the family from the weak-willed Elizabeth. And, of course, all the while aggravating Roger, and doing much womanizing on the side!
Of course once the Sheriff digs up the floor of the secret room and there's no body, then Jason is forced to reveal HIS secret -- that Paul was only stunned by the blow, and knowing Elizabeth thought him dead, he took the opportunity to leave Collinswood and make a new life. I've read that series creator Dan Curtis, having revealed that Paul Stoddard was still alive, planned to bring him back soon after, to make trouble for Elizabeth, had the series not taken such an unexpected (and popular) turn with the addition of vampire Barnabas Collins. When they finally did get around to bringing Paul Stoddard back, in late 1969, they made the unfortunate (and confusing) decision to cast the same actor who'd played Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick)! He was central to the "Leviathans" sub-plot, then was killed off after many weeks.
I always thought Paul should have been played by a different actor (Joel Fabiani again?) than Dennis Patrick, who most viewers still remembered as Jason McGuire, Paul's friend. True, some actors such as Thayer David played multiple roles over the years, but Dennis Patrick was far to closely associated with the Paul Stoddard 1967 plot line to be believable AS Paul Stoddard! Also, Paul should have been made a permanent member of the cast, asserting his right under community property laws to half of everything, moving back into Collinswood where he always belonged, and taking over the position of head of the family from the weak-willed Elizabeth. And, of course, all the while aggravating Roger, and doing much womanizing on the side!
helpful•31
- michaeldouglas1
- Apr 11, 2011
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- Studio 16, ABC Studios, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(studio interiors)
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- Runtime21 minutes
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- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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