This television show was my first exposure to the idea that fairy tales and magic might not just belong in story books, but might also belong in our modern world. I was utterly transfixed at the tender age of 10 or so by the world below. A few years ago, the series came out on DVD, and I found myself just as enchanted.
The world down below was one full of wonders and beauties:
My favorite room, however, was Vincent's own bedroom. Cozy and romantic, it perfectly encapsulated the idea of a mythically inspired space.
Catherine Chandler's New York City apartment is quite dated in style when you watch the show now. But Vincent's room, and the rest of the Down Below, are just as stunning today as they were when the show aired.
Filled with timeless treasures, it might be a matter of skepticism that these societal outcasts could afford such relics. But really, it's not that surprising to imagine that in a city like New York, with a network of helpers, these people could have amassed a collection so beautiful from the things others tossed away.
I especially love this old reliquary image in the library chambers:
Books, books, everywhere...piled up, stacked around, exploding off of the shelves. It's not hard to see where Vincent discovered his passion for the written word.
Mouse's chamber in the caverns is a lovely combination of tech inventions and medieval gothic.
Many thanks to the pages of the Classical Alliance of Beauty and the Beast for all of these images.
I remember the show. I enjoyed it alot. Beautiful sets.
ReplyDeleteI was a huge fan of this show when it was on in the '8o's and not embarrassed that I had a poster of Vincent in my bedroom! Plus I had the cassette of Ron Perlman reading poetry in Vincent's voice (still do, except now it's on cd), the Wendy Pini graphic novels based on the series, etc. And now the dvds. You're right, the '80's fashions are dated but Vincent and his people had ageless style.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhhhhhh this is so wondrous, and if only I had ONE MORE ROOM to fix up like this!!!! HEY GRACE! Have a day filled with dreams and goodness! Anita
ReplyDeletei too loved this show...they played their characters so magically...the sets were beautiful...and so was the lighting...i was sorry it had to end...but very glad for the memory of it all...
ReplyDeleteRaine, had I found a poster of Vincent, I would have displayed it as well ;) The spoken word album is lovely...Ron Perlman's voice as Vincent lends itself so well to the Victorian Romantics.
ReplyDeleteAnita, I wish I had the goodies they found in New York!! :)
Eden, bdswagger, totally agreed!