Dark Shadows - Collection 17 (4-DVD)

With its 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 of being one of the most unusual and enduring programs in television history. The character of Barnabas Collins, a guilt-ridden, 175-year-old vampire, brought the show tremendous success.

In 1897, Judith Collins is released from the sanitarium and returns to Collinwood, where Gregory Trask, hoping to seize control of the Collins family wealth, plans her murder. Evan Hanley conducts a ceremony to reunite Quentin Collins' mind with his body, which has been taken over by Count Petofi. Secretly cured of his vampirism, Barnabas Collins reappears, claiming to be a British relative. Mesmerized by Josette's portrait, Lady Kitty Hampshire begins to believe she is Barnabas' lost love. When Kitty vanishes, Barnabas follows her back to the year 1796. He is chosen against his will to become the human leader of the Leviathans, an ancient race from another world. The ghost of Jenny Collins warns Chris Jennings in 1969 that Quentin is the only one who can save him from the werewolf curse.

Unlike any other soap opera in the history of American television, DARK SHADOWS focused on supernatural themes and characters. The central figure was the tortured vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), part of a family around which strange events seemed to circulate. VOLUME 17 of the series, which ran for a half-hour every day from 1966 to 1971, contains episodes 856-895. Many of these episodes take place in 1897, where the villainous Petofi takes over the mind of Quentin Collins in an effort to sow discord in the family. Meanwhile, Barnabas attempts to prevent his beloved Josette from committing suicide, traveling back further in time and once again to the present day, 1969, in possession of the Leviathan box, which he is to hold for presentation to the mysterious "chosen ones."