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Post by kimalysong on Oct 23, 2016 21:48:44 GMT
Los Angeles, 1948. Reunited in the heart of the Hollywood Hills, Dorian Gray and Dorothy Parker quickly find themselves embroiled in a conspiracy that takes them behind-the-scenes of the region’s booming movie industry. But how much of it is an act…? by David Llewelyn
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Post by barnabaslives on Oct 24, 2016 6:00:50 GMT
It's out! Now in downloads.
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Post by rosekitten on Oct 24, 2016 11:24:20 GMT
I have just Listened to The Valley of nightmares, I like that it like a murder mystery, I like murder mysteries. going to listen again this evening.
happy that, (not sure how it's spelt) DowDow drinks black coffee like me. I really like Dorothy Parker.
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Post by Trace on Oct 25, 2016 2:52:52 GMT
What a fun romp through Tinseltown and the silver screen! Dodo and Dottie still have that amazing chemistry, thanks to Sarah Douglas and Alex. So far, three wonderful hour long stories, and I'm loving the different format with narration duties by the co-stars! How I hate to be nearing the end, and I know the final story is going to be amazing if these first three are any indication. I have no idea how the series is ending, but I'm begging Scott and Alex (hopefully they read this!) to consider one or more reunion specials someday. If the plan is for Dorian to die at the end, I hope they will use any means at their disposal to resurrect him again. I'm going to be very sad indeed to bid farewell if it truly is forever.
Nice little bit from Stephanie Ellyne of 'Dark Shadows' fame too. 'Valley of Nightmares' gets another 5 stars from this listener.
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Post by elkawho on Oct 25, 2016 4:08:43 GMT
I liked this one a lot. For a while I was wondering where it was all going, and why so much exposition. It had a little bit of a slow burn going, but then it picked up and it was great. I really do love Dottie and Dorian together. She is such a New Yorker, it was great having these two characters who were both such fish out of water in this situation. I enjoyed the humor of it as well. I thought Stephanie Ellyne did a nice job as a crazy person.
I'm hoping this week goes slowly. I'm a little hesitant to get to the next, and last story.
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Post by omega on Oct 25, 2016 4:22:19 GMT
I have just Listened to The Valley of nightmares, I like that it like a murder mystery, I like murder mysteries. going to listen again this evening. happy that, (not sure how it's spelt) DowDow drinks black coffee like me. I really like Dorothy Parker. It's Dodo, as in dead as a. Murder on 81st Street has Dotty remark on how ironic the nickname is after seeing a death-defying vertigo inducing stunt Dorian performs in that story. |
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Post by omega on Oct 25, 2016 4:38:02 GMT
The story isn't quite as deep on character as the first two, but still very interesting. The plot could be a film plot from that period (Dorian's Big Damn Hero moment for example), which more than makes up for it and is a nice link back to how Murder on 81st Street also had a tone atypical of the range.
Some period attitudes that obviously seem cringeworthy to a modern listener, including Van Kirk's alterations to the Picture of Dorian Gray pitch (no faggy stuff, give him a girlfriend, make him like a typical hunky movie star etc) as well as the dynamic between the Harrises when they aren't all culty with the woman driver stereotypes. Usually period pieces try to skate over or underplay these elements but they seem period accurate here. Dorian's outrage as to Van Kirk's preferred actors who could portray him is hilarious. Likewise is Dorothy's distraction of the guard.
Like One Must Not Look at Mirrors, there is some degree of ambiguity to the framing device, where we never quite learn where or why Dorothy is telling the story. She mentions paying someone to write up the story, but she also comments about a sanitarium (the in-story listener is describer as writing in a notepad), suggesting she may have been committed for whatever reason. We also don't know Tommy's ultimate fate, only left with the implication Van Kirk finally got around to killing him.
Given the two previous stories have involved other recurring characters giving accounts of specific times they spent with Dorian, will the final story follow the same format or offer a reason we're privy to these recollections? Is some as yet unidentified force profiling Dorian through the people he's touched over the years?
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Post by kimalysong on Oct 25, 2016 12:01:17 GMT
Lots of Spoilers below don't want to ruin any surprises for anyone Dorothy Parker was in a Sanatorium for her drinking omega so that is a very strong possibility. Did any of this really happen? Did she ever see Dorian again after Murder on 81st Street or was her story as fictional as the films that were the setting of this story? Of course knowing Dorian all of this could definitely have happened. But like the other 2 stories there is enough ambiguity here. And I think there may have been some deliberate errors to show maybe stuff isn't exactly right here. Like there already was a pretty well known Picture of Dorian Gray film in 1945, 3 years earlier than this story is set in 1948. Dorothy may also have wanted Dorian to show up during one of the worst times in Hollywood the Communist Witch Hunt just as he showed up right in 1939 during WWII. Dorian rescuing her at the end also plays into this. This makes you relisten to the story with fresh eyes it's a fun over the top supernatural murder mystery. And does feel like it could be from the script of a B-Movie. I love the period setting with all the classic star and director cameos. My favorite was Ramon Novarro (who was one of the original Latin Lovers like Rudolph Valentino of the Silent Era). And I also couldn't help but imagine Dorian having a relationship with Montgomery Clift.  And yes I loved Dorian's outrage at Charlton Heston playing him. Although this is another clue that things may not be what they seem as Heston would not have been well known in 1948 (at least not in Hollywood). Dorothy may be giving us her own opinion about Heston at the time she is telling this story. I also loved how the director wanted to make Dorian a monster, perhaps in reference to the fact that a lot of people do this with Dorian Gray and don't seem to understand what Oscar was trying to say in the novel. There were lots of other things to dig your teeth into: Child actors who grew up with no careers to become drug addicts, suburban families showing a veneer of respectability but really being true monsters underneath (I didn't even recognize Stephanie Ellyne. I loved these 2 characters). Anyways it was terrific to have Dodo & Dottie together again for one last adventure. Murder on 81st Street was one of my favorites from S1 & 2. This story was over the top fun and quite clever. But knowing that it may never have happened or even if it did happen just like this; Dorian probably never visited Dorothy again adds a tinge of sadness to the story. I do like the idea that someone may be relating these stories to Dorian. These are all people Dorian loved at one time and felt close to. Would hearing these stories give Dorian joy or pain? Would he be sad he wasn't with Oscar when he died (though he did visit him before the end); that he never tried to go back to James, that he never visited Dorothy again. Could these stories all just represent the regrets of Dorian? |
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Post by elkawho on Oct 25, 2016 12:43:50 GMT
Given the two previous stories have involved other recurring characters giving accounts of specific times they spent with Dorian, will the final story follow the same format or offer a reason we're privy to these recollections? Is some as yet unidentified force profiling Dorian through the people he's touched over the years? I have a feeling that the last one will be narrated by Toby. I'm not sure how or why, but we haven't heard from or about him yet in this set. And it will be the last. |
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Post by kimalysong on Oct 25, 2016 12:57:00 GMT
Was also thinking the possibility of Toby or the Portrait. It could also be Dorian again for the last story.
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Post by rosekitten on Oct 28, 2016 10:41:25 GMT
I have just Listened to The Valley of nightmares, I like that it like a murder mystery, I like murder mysteries. going to listen again this evening. happy that, (not sure how it's spelt) DowDow drinks black coffee like me. I really like Dorothy Parker. It's Dodo, as in dead as a. Murder on 81st Street has Dotty remark on how ironic the nickname is after seeing a death-defying vertigo inducing stunt Dorian performs in that story. Thankyou, i'm going to re-listen to Murder on 81st Street right now xx |
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Post by chopper on Nov 5, 2016 0:21:52 GMT
Lots to like in this one and a much needed lighter tone than the others, from Dotty to guard distraction to callous parents.
I liked the occult nature of it all and the long game played by Captain Hollister and his ancestors.
Bit of a loose end with Tommy and his sentient hotel, but nothing fundamentally wrong.
I really did like the parents and how they were finally dealt with.
Excellent stuff.
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