In the modern age, when there are well over 200 visual media streaming services, it might seem inconceivable, but at one point, there were essentially three commercial television networks. Dubbed by some as the “Big Three,” you had CBS, NBC, and, of course, ABC. During the 1970s, each competed against the others, with ABC airing the ABC Movie of the Week, The ABC Sunday Night Movie, and a children’s series, ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, for Saturday mornings. Culturally significant during this period, the ratings were high, and so was interest among households around the United States, curious about what would be broadcast next. Then, after prime time, in the late evening, ABC also aired a series called Wide World Mystery.
A campaign that ran from 1973 to 1978 for ABC, these films often featured thrills, chills, and mystique. Some were better than others, while many have been lost in time, forgotten, and never seen again. However, a few have been fortunate enough to reach physical formats, and in 2025, Kino Lorber unifies two of these forgotten gems in a Blu-ray set called Gothic Tales, releasing them on December 9, 2025, as number 42 in their Kino Cult series.
Taking two productions of the late, great Dan Curtis (famously known for his original series Dark Shadows), the 2 Blu-ray set includes 1973’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and 1974’s The Turn of the Screw. Both originally airing as part of the aforementioned ABC’s Wide World Mystery, The Picture of Dorian Gray first premiered on April 23, 1973, while The Turn of the Screw arrived nearly a year later on April 15, 1974.
Both very positively received as faithful, well-directed adaptations of two classic tales (The Picture of Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel of the same name, and The Turn of the Screw from Henry James’ 1898 novella of the same name), they included incredibly haunting, smoky atmospheres, making for a perfect 19th-century gothic setting.
Looking at them more closely, 1973’s The Picture of Dorian Gray was directed by the seasoned Glenn Jordan (while Dan Curtis handled the production), and The Turn of the Screw was directed and produced by Dan Curtis himself. Again, very much staying true to the classic literature being adapted, in The Picture of Dorian Gray the two key cast included Shane Briant (best recognized for his role in various Hammer Films) as Dorian Gray and Nigel Davenport (a well-respected English actor with a list of credits to his name) as Sir Harry Wotton, while in The Turn of the Screw featured the award-winning Lynn Redgrave as the English governess Miss Jane Cubberly and Jasper Jacob (who remains active acting to this day) as the elder child under her care, Miles.
Exhibiting strength from the overall mood of each film, the acting is nothing less than sensational, and each teleplay is one that Gothic Horror fans should inherently enjoy. Interestingly, The Picture of Dorian Gray was filmed primarily on MGM Studios’ backlots, with some great Victorian-era backdrops. At the same time, The Turn of the Screw was shot on location in London, England, to enhance realism. Both were recorded on videotape, rather than film, which also adds a uniqueness to each film that gives it a very theatrical feel, you do not get with many productions nowadays.
All of this in mind, the cautionary message of The Picture of Dorian Gray is conveyed so profoundly and effectively that it leaves you questioning your own soul and potential misgivings. This is while The Turn of the Screw is a more psychological ghost story, with the questioning of children’s innocence, and a fear of lurking evil behind. Also, for more modern audiences, the same base story of The Turn of the Screw was also interjected a few decades later into the popular 2001 Nicole Kidman film The Others. Nonetheless, both these made-for-television films from 1973 and 1974 are pretty scary if you have the attention span to absorb them, and Kino Lorber does a fine job of putting together this Gothic Tales set.
It is a set that includes a lovely, universal, new, compelling gothic-style artwork on the cardboard sleeve and case cover (featuring a woman holding a candle in the dark, carefully peering from a staircase), with each film offered on its own Blu-ray disc. Restored in 1080p HD, there is undoubtedly an upgrade from prior DVD releases of each film, but remember: it was shot on videotape, so each film will still have this look. Beyond this, there is some audio commentary for each movie and a great archival promo interview with Dan Curtis and Lynn Redgrave.
Altogether, the Gothic Tales Blu-ray set from Kino Lorber is a must-have for those who appreciate classic Gothic adaptations and hope to keep almost-lost-for-ever made-for-television movies alive for future audiences. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the Gothic Tales release 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment