Product Details

• Actors: Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall
• Directors: Dan Curtis (creator)
• Format: Color, Limited Edition, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 131
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: April 10, 2012
• Run Time: 470 hours
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (252 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B006Z7Z3KY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,690 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series (Limited Edition)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

This limited edition boxed set contains every eerie episode of the original Gothic suspense series DARK SHADOWS (1966-1971) plus a wealth of bonus interviews with the stars and creative members that made the supernatural thriller a cult favorite and an enduring television classic.

Box Features:
131 DVDs with all 1,225 Complete Episodes
Commemorative large Coffin package (housing 22 amarays)
Deluxe booklet with episode summaries & photographs
Special Bloopers, Treasures & Behind The Scenes DVD s
Over 120 Bonus Cast & Crew Video Interviews
Autographed Postcard by Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins)
Limited Numbered Edition
Other features include nickel hinges, white ribbon to hold the lid when open, matte and foil coating
Box dimensions: (Coffin), 13 ½ L x 11 ¼ W (at widest) x 5 ¾ D.
Shipping carton dimensions,  16.5" x 8.5" x 14"  
Weight Shipping carton with contents

Named one of TV's top 24 Cult Shows by TV GUIDE!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

348 of 365 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "O.K....Now We're Talking!!!!" January 21, 2012

By Terry Richard TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

The following review is dedicated to my favorite actor of all-time, Jonathan Frid who passed away peacefully in his native Canada on April 14, 2012. We will miss you Mr. Frid, but thankfully we have your years of work on DVD for posterity to remember you by. God bless you "Barnabas".

With the release film version of the 1960's cult classic daytime soap opera "Dark Shadows" starring Johnny Depp MPI Home Video has released "Dark Shadows-The Complete DVD Collection"! This has made all of us "Dark Shadows" fans extremely happy, especially those of us that haven't yet purchased any DVD sets of the series. All 1225 episodes from the ABC network daytime run (1966-1971) are available along with a slew of bonuses including interviews with series creator Dan Curtis and various stars of the soap.

Luckily for the show's fans all episodes of this soap opera exist except one (#1219) which is the "lost show" episode. However, the audio of that episode has been found by a collector and the studio has been able to recreate the episode using that audio and various still pictures. The fact that most soap operas had their episodes destroyed prior to 1979 and that all the shows of "Dark Shadows" exist is really a miracle as networks were proned to wiping soaps and daytime game shows as they felt no one would want to watch them again after their first airing, and also because videotape (which is the way "Dark Shadows" was produced) was very costly during the sixties.

The price for this beautiful box set is in the range of $400.00-$600.00, but when you consider what your getting it is a remarkable deal. The shows have been cleaned from their prints and look as if they were produced yesterday.... Also, "Dark Shadows" has been released several times on DVD in various box sets that were nearly $60.00 per set and there were 32 sets to purchase so when you take all this into account the "Limited Edition" or "Deluxe Edition" is a collector's dream! If you had to purchase each one of the "collector's sets" individually the final price tag would be $2000.00 for all 1225 shows so again this is a fantastic price!

It is important to note as well that on the original individual box set that featured episode #451 a very popular "blooper" was omitted. The blooper featured an actress playing an old witch who went up on her line. You then could hear someone off camera telling her what the line was. In this "Complete Collection" set that blooper is being restored!

Also the first episode to feature Barnabas from 1967 was an old kinescope that was grainy and rough to view which was put on the original DVD set. Eventually on the last DVD set of "Dark Shadows" (from the "In the Beginning" series) a better copy of that episode was found, restored and included as a bonus. In this "new" set both the rough copy and the remastered version are being included.

Many have wondered if the two "Dark Shadows" feature films, 1970's "House of Dark Shadows" and 1971's "Night of Dark Shadows", would be included here and unfortunately the answer is no. Those films are not owned by MPI, but by Warner Brothers who have stated that both movies will be released on DVD and Blu Ray sometime later in 2012.

MPI has also announced that it is rereleasing all 32 individual box sets of "Dark Shadows" on April 3, 2012

UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2012: THE STREET DATE IS INDEED APRIL 10, 2012 WITH SOME ON-LINE RETAILERS ACTUALLY SENDING OUT COPIES TO CUSTOMERS THIS WEEK, TWO FULL WEEKS BEFORE THE SET ARRIVES IN STORES!!!

The following is a complete list of bonuses provided by MPI Studios and these are splendid:

1. Commemorative large Coffin package (housing 22 amaray cases)
2. A Deluxe Booklet with episode summaries and photographs
3. Special Bloopers, Treasure and Behind-The-Scenes DVD
4. Over 120 Bonus Cast and Crew Video Interviews
5. An Autographed Postcard from Jonathan Frid (Barnabas). This is an actual signed postcard autographed by Jonathan and not a preprint!!! (Thank you Gerard Heaney)
6. Limited Numbered Edition
7. Deluxe High-Quality Packaging (matte and foil coating, nickel hinges and black ribbon to hold lid when opened)
8. Box Dimensions: (Coffin), 13 1/2" L X 11 1/4" W (at widest) X 5 3/4" D
9. Shipping Carton Dimensions, 16.5" X 8.8" X 14"
10.Weight (Carton and Contents)-15.5 lbs

The actual box art comes in the shape of a coffin and is the size of a shoebox. The DVD's themselves are housed in individual plastic cases with the spines looking upward to show the entire body of Barnabas lying asleep in his coffin. Really neat!!! The cases house an amazing 131 DVD's.

Among the MANY bonuses are the rare Jonathan Frid "Merv Griffin" interview from 1969 and Joan Bennett's appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show". What is also nice to hear are the original ABC network voice-overs during the credit crawl at the end of the episodes.

MPI I thank you from the bottom of my vampire heart!!!!

UPDATE: MARCH 28, 2012: Well folks I almost dropped dead when a man came to my door today as I didn't anticipate getting the set until the street date. I opened this big cardboard box and there lying in all its glory was my beloved "Dark Shadows"!!! Trust me...everything you've heard about the set is true. As "Mayday" explained..."MPI hit it out of the ball park with this one". This set is everything I dreamed of and more. The packaging is strong, sturdy and almost made out of a combination of cardbord and strong tin. Where the coffin opens there are two hinges made of medal that are tightly screwed to the case. Inside the DVD's themselves are all lined up nicely and safely and are NOT in paper sleeves, but actual strong DVD cases. When I opened my set I was dismayed not to find my collectable booklet, but upon inspection I realized it is put at the very end along where the DVD's themselves are housed. The book is gorgeous with rare black and white pics and all the ABC original airdates and summaries of each show are included. The autograph postcard of Jonathan Frid is indeed authentic and is signed in beautiful red ink.

I also looked at the bottom of the set and I am #2462 out of 2500. There is a seal that states this is a limited edition and has your number there.

All in all a beautiful set that has to be seen to be believed.

UPDATE: MARCH 29th, 2012: O.K. MORE NEWS! MPI HAS BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH THE HUGE SALES OF THIS COMPLETE SET OF "DARK SHADOWS" THAT ON JULY, 10th, 2012 ANOTHER SERIES OF SETS OF "DARK SHADOWS-THE COMPLETE SERIES" WILL BECOME AVAILABLE!!! HOWEVER, ON THIS "NEW" SET THE DVD"S, THE COLLECTABLE BOOKLET AND THE WONDERFUL PACKAGING OF THE COFFIN WILL REMAIN THE SAME, BUT MISSING WILL BE THE JONATHAN FRID POSTCARD AND THE "LIMITED #" ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SET. THE JULY 10th RELEASE WILL BE AN UNLIMITED SET MEANING THOUSANDS WILL BE PRODUCED, NOT JUST THE MERE 2500 THAT WERE MADE. THE REASON TOO FOR THIS DELAY IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PACKAGING OF THE COFFIN IS DONE OVERSEAS AND IT TAKES TIME FOR THEM TO BE MADE AND SHIPPED TO THE U.S..

UPDATE: ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 6th, 2012 AMAZON HAS STOPPED TAKING PRE-ORDERS FOR "THE LIMITED SET" SIGNALLING THEY HAVE NO MORE FOR SALE, BUT THEY ARE TAKING PRE-ORDERS FOR THE "DELUXE EDITION". Also, as of July 20th the Deluxe Edition has already sold signalling the second printing of this delightful box set (even without the Jonathan Frid autographed postcard) is in very high demand by consumers. Way to go "Dark Shadows" fans!

UPDATE: April 13, 2012: As of this date all on-line retailers, including Amazon, have completely sold out the Limited Edition set of "Dark Shadows" which means if you were fortunate enough to purchase a copy you are now sitting on a gold mine! Actually, many stores sold out this remarkable collection weeks before the actual street date which was April 10, 2012 including MPI the company that produced the set.

UPDATE: July 18th, 2012: Warner Brothers has announced that both "House of Dark Shadows" and "Night of Dark Shadows" will arrive separately on both DVD and Blu-Ray on October 30th, 2012!!!!!

Regards, Terry Read more ›

111 of 114 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From MPI (buy the Deluxe)! March 30, 2012

By DS Fan 4Ever

Format:DVD

Dear Dark Shadows Fans,

We recommend buying the Deluxe Edition. I do believe Amazon might have sold out of the Limited Edition despite it still being available for pre-order.

DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND:
We are releasing a second print of Dark Shadows coffins (also known as The Deluxe Edition). It is virtually the same as the Limited Edition (releasing on April 10th) however that version was limited in quantity and was offered early to fans. This Deluxe Edition coffin (the one you see on this product page) does NOT include a serial # nor does it include a Jonathan Frid signed postcard. If you missed out on that, I am sorry but they were very limited in quantity.

The good news is, you can still get your hands on this amazing coffin collection. We did try to price it as reasonable as possible as no expense was spared in building this set.

In summary:
Limited Edition = April 10th = includes autograph and serial #
Deluxe Edition = July 10th = No autograph and no serial #

Enjoy!!!

Sincerely,
MPI Home Video

122 of 130 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wanting the Dark Shadows Collection REAL bad! January 27, 2012

By A. Roberts

Format:DVD

I have seen the entire series many times and starting when it was first on TV many years ago. To say that I love this TV series would be a major understatement. There is just something about it that makes me want to see it again and again. Maybe because it mentally transports me back to a time when I was a kid at home after school, a time before my parents were deceased, a time when all seemed right in the world and the scariest thing about life was Barnabas and Angelique in Dark Shadows.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars MPI hit it out of the park with this one! March 21, 2012

By Mayday

Format:DVD

Got my hands on this monster today (March 21, 2012) and I have to say it's even cooler than it looks in the promo photos!
Much has been written about Dark Shadows, it's cast, its strengths and weaknesses, and its place in television history. I won't bother regurgitating that information here.
The discs in this set are purportedly the same as those released previously by MPI, with the exception of the reinsertion of some previously omitted bloopers. To answer a previous question, I can find no closed-captioning.
Since many fans already own some or all of the 32 previously-released sets -- and since I obviously have not had time to watch these new discs yet -- I will restrict my initial review to the collector's packaging.
While listed at nearly 16 pounds, the box doesn't seem as heavy or quite as large as I anticipated (although it's not light, either). Yet the coffin box seems pleasantly and surprisingly sturdy, as do the hinges connecting the lid to the box. The words "Dark Shadows" are scripted in red foil letters.
As illustrated in publicity photos, the spines of the 22 individual amaray cases combine to depict Barnabas Collins at rest in his coffin. The image is more detailed and striking than what appears in the photos. An awesome effect!
Looking at the photos, I had hoped that the inside lid of the coffin was actually quilted felt or velvet. Alas, it is merely a cardboard representation. It looks great anyway. The outside bottom of the box contains a sticker that tells a little about the set and a collector's number. Mine is No. 795 out of 2,500.
Each of the 22 amaray cases look the same. They are stark black with the words "Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series" in larger red letters on the cover.... Underneath and written in white lettering are the words Discs 1-6, Discs 7-12, etc. The back of each case has more detailed information on what episodes or special features are on each of the six discs inside.
Like the coffin box, the amaray cases seem fairly sturdy. Each snugly holds six discs. Time will tell, but I would say that the discs seem well-protected. Unlike the discs from the previous series, which had artwork on them, the discs here are all similar to their cases: Jet black with red lettering ("Dark Shadows," "Disc No. XXX," and "Complete Original Series"). Everything is tied in so that you know you're dealing with a special set. The only downside is that if you ever have to replace a bad disc with one from the general sets it won't match the others. No big deal unless you're more interested in collecting than watching. Perhaps you can buy replacements from MPI?
The 22nd and final case includes five extra discs. Most have been sold separately elsewhere.
They are:
Special Programs and Compilations: (Scariest moments, a DS tribute, The Best of Barnabas, and a 25th Anniversary special)
Bloopers and Treasures: (Bloopers, outtakes, DS music videos, DS In Salem, Game Show Appearances, Promos and a commercial).
Featurettes and More: (The Making of Return To Collinwood, A Dan Curtis spot, a Joan Bennett Spot, a rehearsal from 1970 with Lara Parker, Promos with Jonathan Frid, etc.)
Special Edition: (DS "Nightmares and Dreams," DS on location, Inside the Shadows, a Spanish episode, rare TV commercials and a photo gallery)
Dark Shadows reunion: (With interviews, promos, etc.)
Included in this set is a small book with a listing of the episodes on each disc and a one-paragraph summary of each episode. A small paper sheath holds a 4x6 picture card of Barnabas Collins (him standing next to his portrait in the Collinwood foyer) that appears to be handed-signed by Jonathan Frid in permanent silver ink. A sticker on the box seems to confirm that it is hand-signed.
I have eagerly anticipated a complete box set of Dark Shadows for years. I have breathlessly awaited its arrival since I first read about this collector's edition and ordered it more than six week ago (for $362, a fraction of what it costs for the 32 individual sets). Time will tell whether the discs are well-manufactured with a minimum of defects. But for now I am extremely pleased by what I see. From a presentation perspective this set is everything I imagined and more.
Great job MPI. And Thanks!

PS: My coffin box came in a plastic bag packed inside a sturdy cardboard shipping box with hollow cardboard buffers all around the inside. Very safely packaged. Since the inner-packaging so conforms to the coffin-shaped box -- and the outer packaging details what's inside -- I'm assuming they all come that way, no matter which seller you choose. It does say "Made in China" on the packing box. Read more ›