Curiosities

This page is a episode capture tribute to the rich world created for us.
It inspires as it thrills us - and will continue to do so every time an episode is watched.

This examination makes the series we love seem even more fantastic
- by highlighting the considerable hard work involved behind the scenes.

A huge debt of gratitude is owed ladymanson.com
for the excellent episode captures which made this page possible.

Stock Footage and Repeats
Candles
Chess Sets
Places
The Pipe Chamber
Statues
Timepieces
Tunnels
The Ways Change
Vincent Himself
Vincent's Window
Other Objects
Song of Orpheus
Costume Curiosities
Guests Gathered

Stock Footage & Repeats
(NOT including flashbacks)

Some scenes were just too good not to be used again, and again - especially those pensive Vincent ones.

Remember Love

A Distant Shore

The Outsiders

A closeup clip of that thoughtful Vincent was used yet again in Season 3.

The Outsiders

Though Lovers Be Lost

Vincent's walk onto the Whispering Gallery bridge became stock footage. It was only shot once, but was not used in its entirety in any episode, so pieces were used elsewhere.

This particular clip was used at least three times.

Terrible Saviour

China Moon

A Fair and Perfect Knight

Here's a Season 2 scene used in save film stock in Season 3 - and costume changes by two actors. Original dialogue too, of course.

A Distant Shore

The Reckoning

And then there were the times when a messy scene crawling through a rocky tunnel could be re-used to save the laundry bill.

Shades of Grey

Temptation

We didn't see Vincent often in his nightclothes, so using a previous one saved a costume change.

The Outsider's episode also had a voice-over of Vincent reading a Walt Whitman poem.

Sticks and Stones

The
Outsiders

Here we see the whole costume from the Whispering Bridge scene in four different episodes. It appeared again in "Though Lovers Be Lost."

In every case, he's apparently listening too.

The book in his left hand - and the unusual belt - is a giveaway.

Terrible Saviour

Siege

China Moon

Ozymandias

When Vincent was in a hurry to save Catherine,, he rode on top of subway trains - always in the same costume (to save laundry, again).

Some of this stock footage also appeared in 'An Impossible Silence'.

Once Upon a Time ...

Siege

Down to a Sunless Sea

The Watcher

A good roar can be used more than once too - no doubt to save on throat lozenges.

Once Upon a Time

Terrible Saviour

10.

That run down the tunnel became stock footage. However, because it first appeared in the pilot, ever after he had to do some fast off-camera costume changes before and after this scene. And we never saw those calf-length boots again.

The set is a matte painting by the inimitable Syd Dutton.

Once Upon a Time

Siege

Down to a Sunless Sea

Ozymandias

11.

In 'When the Bluebird Sings', we have perhaps the only instance of a clip being re-used later in the same episode - for no apparent reason.

The dream sequence early in the episode

Later with Kristopher and Catherine, we get a sense of deja vu ...

... except he's actually wearing a completely different outfit by then.

12.

And it wasn't only Vincent who had repeats. Here we have Pascal.

An Impossible Silence

To Reign in Hell

13.

Here, Catherine looks very pleased with herself - as well she might. She wore the same outfit in two different episodes, both near the end. And Vincent? Not a hair is out of place!
The 'Fever' clip lasts only a few seconds, without the dialogue which was an important component of the original clip.

An Impossible Silence

Fever

14.

'Though Lovers Be Lost ' (TLBL) borrowed from several episodes, especially when Vincent was searching for Catherine.
In all cases, the costume and/or setting is distinctive.

They definitely saved a lot of shoe leather - but also gave us better quality images for the notoriously bad Season 1 episodes.

Siege - TLBL

No Way Down - TLBL

Trial - TLBL

Siege - TLBL

15

A subset of Vincent sitting on a roof above the city in the previous collection, is this head and shoulders, windblown clip.

Again, because it was a Season 1 clip reused in the Season 2, the quality is far superior in the latter one (the original film having been 'lost').

Siege

The Watcher

16.

A subset of Vincent's run down the subway tunnel, is him jumping over the drainage ditch.

An Impossible Silence

Ozymandias

A Happy Life

Though Lovers Be Lost

17.

When Vincent wanted to ruminate about life - and Catherine - he went to the culvert in the Park, no doubt to gaze at the City lights

Siege

Remember Love

Distinctive costumes worn in only one episode, were too good to ignore, apparently - regardless of the discontinuity.

Trial

A Distant Shore

Vincent leads Catherine along the narrow ledge on the way out of the tunnels.
The same two people are still working on the floor below and behind them.

Pilot

A Children's Story

Curious Places

The beautiful paintings by celebrated matte artist Syd Dutton are part of the enduring magic of the series. All are stunningly detailed and realistic. To see more of Syd Dutton's wonderful work for B&B, and learn more about him, visit his tribute page HERE	Dark Spirit	Temptation
Vincent and Pascal stand on a bridge in this massive chambered - but unnamed - complex. (Trial).	Here's a look at the Whispering Gallery Bridge from a distance. (Terrible Saviour)	Another view of the Whispering Gallery (Terrible Saviour)
A complex matte of steps, tunnels and a pool. (The Rest is Silence)	Then there's the unforgettable waterfall ... (A Happy Life)	... which had several outlooks and seasonal changes. (God Bless the Child)
The nameless river (or lake) (To Reign in Hell)	The view up the spiral metal staircase, first seen in the pilot episode. (Once Upon a Time)	This multi-level gallery, with its narrow walkway, is seen in several episodes, beginning with the Pilot.
The long stairway seen in its entirety. (To Reign in Hell)	More of the network of bridges and stairs (To Reign in Hell)	Iconic image of a disused subway tunnel (Pilot)

The Pipe Chamber

We first see the Pipe Chamber, and meet Pascal, in "An Impossible Silence" This features more of the amazing matte artwork of Syd Dutton. Pipes played an important role in several episodes.
	Some real pipe arrangements were used in "An Impossible Silence" as well ...	... and we got a tantalizing glimpse of Pascal training an apprentice in "Though Lovers Be Lost"
Pipes in "Dead of Winter"	More pipes in "To Reign in Hell"	A collection of pipes in"To Reign in Hell"
Part of the Pipe Chamber in "Snow"	Pascal listening in "Dead ofWinter"

Song of Orpheus

The "wreck of my memories" ad in the newspaper.

The other ads in this view, especially the one below it, are pretty funny ...

In the first image, we see Lou inserting the ad into a hair tonic bottle. He has an unexceptional ring on each hand.

Later, he surrepticiously kicks the bottle down a storm sewer opening. Now, he's wearing a very large and clunky-looking ring - especially for the occasion?

Vincent, in his search for some evidence about Father's whereabouts, makes a huge mess in the patriarch's chamber. Is it likely he would do this? Would he really throw books on the floor? (We know he did it when he was very sick - but that's different).
And who cleaned this up?

Chess Sets
Chess was a passion with Vincent and Father - and chess games or references appear in many episodes.
Our tunnel players seem to have an impressive number of very unique sets.

Song of Orpheus An ornately carved ivory set	Song of Orpheus Here's a better look at the heads, which make this set very ususual indeed.	A Kingdom by the Sea A painted metal, very realistic set	Ashes, Ashes A fairly ordinary set.
Fever Cullen shows off the first of his carvings for a new chess set	A Happy Life Another more traditional set - but these chessmen are quite large.	A Distant Shore There's a chessboard, but Father and Vincent are obviously too distracted to play.	Labyrinths Another very detailed set of metal pieces on a board that is probably the top of the storage case.
Labyrinths Close up of the King chess figurine Vincent gave Brian	Ceremony of Innocence This is the same set seen in "Labyrinths". Is it missing a King? Who is playing Vincent?	Dead of Winter Fairly ordinary set - until you focus on the Knight in the right foreground. This appears to be the set Paracelsus gave Father (see box on right)	Dead of Winter The Paracelsus chess set becomes a major player when the real set is exchanged for one with a bomb.

Costume Curiosities

In the Pilot episode, Father wears an odd assortment of chain under a reversed fur vest. It was the only time he jangled like this.	In 'A Children's Story', Father seems to be wearing a non-vest, or perhaps a vest-in-progress.	Vincent never goes anywhere outside the home tunnels without his cloak, yet here in 'Beast Within', he's in a brightly-lit warehouse without it. Mitch must have really rattled him!	In 'Fever', Jamie wears the hood up on this fabric jacket, which seems to have an unusual number of sausage ties.
Vincent only wore blue denium in two episodes (more's the pity) but he wore this combo in Terrible Saviour and China Moon. BUT he never wore blue jeans.	Here we see Vincent again without his cloak near Catherine's threshold, at the end of 'Shades of Grey'.

Timepieces
Despite having a pipe system and probaby regular time checks, clocks were not unknown in the tunnel community
Vincent seems to have more than his share.

A Children's Story Giant fob-type clock in Father's Chamber	The Hollow Men An hourglass in Vincent's chamber, which he apparently used to tell him when he could go above - in this one episode.	This Rough Beast A lot of small clocks - all reading different times. What do they signify?	Laura has a clock in 'An Impossible Silence'.
Another clock in Father's chamber (right rear), this time in 'The Alchemist'. It looks very similar to the one in Laura's chamber.	A clock set in a ship's wheel in 'Ashes, Ashes' (left rear).	Two clocks bracket Vincent in 'Though Lovers Be Lost'.

Candles

Candles are a fine thing in dark tunnel chambers ... and they certainly didn't economize on them!

There aren't many candles in evidence here (Pilot), but those that are seem to be underneath things. Isn't this a bit dangerous? And where is that light in the ceiling coming from?	What are all these candles illuminating?	There are so many candles here, that it's no wonder she had trouble sleeping (Orphans).
Here we have indoor smog - and no wonder, if the usual number of candles is present (God Bless the Child).	They look a little put out. Maybe the pollution was getting to them.	Cullen obviously likes a lot of candles - but for real work he has a hanging electric lamp. It still looks a bit smoky in there, though.
Vincent seems to like candles on every flat surface - even where he doesn't really need them. No wonder it's a bit hazy in there.	And of course there's this romantic scene with literally dozens of candles for Kanin and Olivia. (A Gentle Rain)	And of course at Winterfest, candles are a star attraction
Lots of candles here too - and smoke (Labyrinths) - and even flowers!	How did he not set fire to his books?	Here we get a close-up of some of the culprits creating the smoke in Father's chamber. (Fever)
To the left,we have proof that some of the candles used were NOT dripless (God Bless theChild)	The smoke in this chamber was a hazard to an adult, never mind a baby (God Bless the Child)	Finally, some candles that are NOT lit - in the chandelier that's a fixture in Father's chamber. (A Children's Story)

Vincent's Window

This iconic and distinctive decoration in Vincent's chamber is also remarkable for the items that appeared under it.
Sometimes they're not easy to see, but they can be seen to change.

Once Upon a Time ...	Terrible Saviour	A Children's Story	Nor Iron Bars a Cage
An Impossible Silence	Ozymandias	Promises of Someday	Remember Love
God Bless the Child	A Fair and Perfect Knight

Vincent Himself

Vincent's nose looks unusually human from this angle.
(A Children's Story)

And here too. (Siege)

The Ways Change

This iconic tunnel, which featured in many episodes as a route to elsewhere, has interesting characteristics ...

Here we have what looks like a square tunnel with two exits on the right. This is how it looked in 'Ozymandias'.

It was a stock shot, and from this perspective it looks fairly sizeable.

It was obviously very near Catherine's threshold. Vincent is standing at the far end at the close of 'A Children's Story' - the second episode produced.

Here, it appears to have two exits and Vincent' seems to almost fill the space.

Here we have Brian following Catherine in 'Labyrinths'. This is the first tunnel after he leaves the threshold entry at the rear left.

Wait a minute - how can be be going below in THAT direction?

The ways change - but do they shrink too? Brian is considerably shorter than Vincent.

Mitch uses this tunnel to get below in 'Beast Within', after visiting his father in his decrepit apartment. But he must be miles from Catherine's threshold.

Here's Mitch at the end of that same tunnel. It looks a lot larger here - and so does Mitch.

Here's Vincent in this now-famliar tunnel, also in 'Beast Within'.On the left he's approaching and on the right he's departing. It seems to have shrunk and stretched ... and it moved as well, or how could he intercept Mitch?

Here are Catherine and Vincent talking iat the far end of the tunnel in 'Fever'. Again, it seems to have different dimensions.

Vincent and Catherine are walking to her threshold in 'Orphans.
Again, it appears much more cramped. This seems to jive with 'A Children's Story'.

Of course, there IS a rational explanation for the perspective puzzle.
The image in the first frame is one of Syd Dutton's incredible matte paintings.
The others are that painting combined with some fancy camera work - adapted to suit the situation, location and character(s).

Statues

The classic statue of a lady with a sword and scales appeared in the Pilot episode

Vincent seems to have a great deal of affection for this little lady (Siege)

A classic lady holding an urn over her head, stands in Father's Chamber
(A Children's Story).
However, later she moved to Vincent's Chamber.
(When the Bluebird Sings)

Another small lady, this one with wings, captivates Vincent. (Though Lovers Be Lost)

The white Renaissance bust in the rear left seems to be a doorkeeper.
(Promises of Someday)

The harem girl on the left appeared in
Ashes Ashes

Other Curious Objects

The statue of the classic lady holding and urn above her head moved around. She appeared in Father's chamber (A Children's Story), and later in Vincent's chamber (When the Bluebird Sings).

Mouse was fascinated by images in a kaleidoscope.
(Shades of Grey)

The object that opens the trap door into the Mousehole (Shades of Grey)

Catherine's egg collection (Temptation)

A table-top juke box in Vincent's Chamber, a type that sat on every diner table in the 1950s and 60s.

A Gentle Rain - Remember Love
A tip of the hat to Morse code in the foreground on Father's table - a straight key device for tapping out the "dots and dashes" - which of course was the basis for the tunnel community's pipe code.

An antique "3D" slide viewer and a box of slides
(God Bless the Child)

Vincent apparently needs to find a mark to know where to go to get to Narcissa.
Does she move around? (Dark Spirit)

Vincent has a 3-masted sailing ship model on the ledge under his window in A Children's Story, then Father brings him one in The Hollow Men (with a story).

This wheel leaned agains the entrance to Father's chamber for mamy episodes.

Guests Gathered
The funeral scene in 'Walk Slowly' was a poignant one, not only because of its subject,
but because of the many familiar faces in attendance

Tunnels
There are so many tunnels in this world, that they make a story of their own ...
Over 100 different ones have been spotted.
These are in no particular order. Many are mattes painted by Syd Dutton.
How many do you recognize?

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