Dr.William Russo Conspicuous by his absence.Salem's Lot in Life & Death When in 1979 we heard James Mason was doing a Stephen King TV movie, we were appalled. We refused to watch one of our perennial favorites demean his career in its last years.Today we eagerly watch it and devour his every screen moment.Who would have guessed that James Mason slumming on TV could be so delightful? With Tobe Hooper directing like he is doing an imitation of Vera Miles approaching Hitchcock's Bates mansion, you throw in some performers we always liked: Lance Kerwin, Ed Flanders, Elisha Cook, Lew Ayres, Marie Windsor, Kenneth MacMillan and Fred Willard!! What a juicy little horror-just a tad silly around the edges.It's a little perverse too. James Mason is the procurer for some kind of Nosferatu in Maine, finding little boys for him to devour. Lance Kerwin seems ripe, but he has eyes only for David Soul. Their smoldering subtext is off the charts in its own way. Did anyone making the movie understand the word 'latent'?James Mason and Lance Kerwin share only a couple of glances in their scenes, but it may be that they saw something utterly disdainful in the other. With an uncut three-hour version of the old TV miniseries now available on streaming, you can sit back and wallow in low-rent horror that remains top-drawer compared to the junk of today. There is no needless blood and/or off-the-computer special effects. Here actors rely on their wiles, not on the blue screen.James Mason is the full show here, delivering lines with an inimitable throwaway snobbery. Wait till you hear him pronounce, "expertise."Most of the movie he is either entering or exiting doorways and looking askance. He clearly enjoyed making a movie with his wife, Clarissa Kaye, and chewing the scenery. You will enjoy it too.

alexanderdavies-99382 It is never an easy task in adapting a Stephen King novel. His books include many details regarding plot and characters, with many intricate components. A sterling job has been done in bringing the bestselling book of "Salem's Lot" to the small screen. The mini series had to be a long one in order to include the various characters and plot details. The production also succeeded in that there is no foul language included, any sexual content is both mild and minimal and the violence serves a purpose. Regarding the fact that there were two different versions of "Salem's Lot" - one for television and one for the cinema - the only one to see, is the mini series. It has a superior narrative and a more thorough plot. In addition, the majority of the production is a flashback. David Soul plays a successful writer who returns to the town of his childhood so he can write a book based upon the notorious Marsden house. He is a man who is persecuted by an experience he had as a boy and it concerns entering the Marsden house. Soul does quite well as Benjamin Mears but James Mason gives the best performance as Straker the antiques dealer and guardian to his undead master. A plague and a wave of vampirism is about to be unleashed upon the town of Salem's Lot. The plot really warms up after about 30 minutes. Before then, all the main characters are depicted as we discover what their role in the story is. The atmosphere and suspense is well maintained throughout and looking at the location where the mini series was made, I can actually envision there being vampires roaming the countryside that surrounds Salem's Lot. There are so many great scenes. Amongst them, the scene where Lew Ayres is paid a visit at home by an undead creature of the night, children vampires stalking their prey, David Soul fending off a female vampire at the local morgue etc. As Mears, Soul displays much vulnerability and isn't exactly a "superhero" kind of character. He finds himself thrown into the position of being the hero but he isn't afraid to display his fear regarding the horrible events that take place. The ending could have been a bit better and I feel it was rushed. The Count should have come into the series a bit earlier. This is an intelligent and thought-provoking bit of television and it bears repeated viewing.

vdubmikey How can you not like this? Suspense...the late and great James Mason? (one of his very last roles) The window scenes and the prevailing menace of he film make it worthwhile. 20 odd years ago I let my daughter ( after badgering me) watch it when she was 9 years old...and she still winds me up about it even now..could not sleep for a month ( did warn her) but that's kids... Is it cerebral?..no..is it fun?.. hell yeah.. great book and David Soul isn't half bad either. and Mr. Tobe Hooper died today, Thank you for this Tobe..and Poltergeist and Texas Chainsaw... you will be missed bud x #RIP

nlangella1 This was an excellent miniseries. I use to own the full length miniseries on VHS as a kid. Idk why so many fans had a problem with making Barlow look more like Nosferatu? Honestly, I preferred this version over the 2004 one and the novel written by Stephen King himself. It just makes more sense. Barlow's appearance in the novel and in the 2004 version wasn't scary. I don't find a vampire with a more human like appearance like Dracula to be frightening. David Soul portrayed a better Ben Mears than Rob Lowe. I also liked the actor who played Mark. I found this version satisfying. Sure, it's not exactly like the novel. But then again it's Hollywood.