Strange Paradise (1969)
Strange Paradise is a Canadian occult / supernatural soap opera of 195 episodes, initially launched in syndication in the United States on September 8, 1969, and later broadcast on CBC Television from October 20, 1969 to July 22, 1970. The production was the brainchild of producer Steve Krantz, in an attempt to capitalize on the phenomenal success of ABC's daytime serial Dark Shadows. To develop this series, Krantz hired actor-writer Ian Martin and veteran TV and radio producer Jerry Layton, both of who would be given screen credit for the creation of Strange Paradise. With the CBC and American broadcasters Metromedia and Kaiser Broadcasting handling distribution and co-production, the series was produced in Ottawa at CTV affiliate CJOH-TV and aired for 39 weeks, presenting three separate 13-week story arcs.
Seasons & Episode
Quito brought dry ice to the house. Raxl tried to get Dr. Menkin to change Jean Paul's mind about cryogenics. Alison was worried about her sister and asked Dan for help. Dan fired his chatty secretary. Jean Paul was approached by the spirit of Jacques. In a flashback, Jacques' wife was mad at him because of a revoving eye. Alison and Dan ended up in the Carribean. Dan booked them in two separate rooms at the French-Leave Cafe. Beryl sang ""That Old Black Magic"" at the French-Leave Cafe as Jean Paul found the conjure doll with the silver pin in Jacques's coffin.
Vangie and Alison talked about Tim's situation: he's in debt. Tim told Alison about how his mother died and he was forced to use loan sharks to pay for his mother's hospitalization. Jean Paul is possessed by Jacques and Jacques enjoys the world that he has reentered. Vangie convinced Alison to get Jean Paul to commission Tim to do an oil painting of Erica. Alison saved Tim from a thug looking to collect money. Jean Paul had Quito get more dry ice for Erica. Raxl and Quito entered a secret passage through a secret door in the crypt.
Raxl and Quito went into the Temple of the Serpents. Holly tried to leave the church when Elizabeth confronted her. Matthew reprimanded Elizabeth over her parenting skills and then they discussed Holly's inheritance. Raxl visited her beloved mistress. Raxl feared the devil.
The cryonics people arrived. Jacques possessed Jean Paul and indulged in wine when having breakfast with the cryogenics people. Dan returned to Alison to say that Jean Paul would be back to pick them up later. Alison was not relaxed by the thought. Raxl awoken Jean Paul who had no recollection of what had happened. Erica was locked away before Jean Paul could say goodbye. Raxl vowed revenge. Jean Paul signed Dan's papers with the signature: Jacques Eloi des Mondes. Alison coaxed Jean Paul to hire Tim to paint Erica.
Alison tries to visit Erica when she learns Erica is dead. Alison was scared by Quito and saw Erica in the cryogenic capsule. Quito was attracted to Jacques portrait and Raxl reprimanded him. Jean Paul consoled Alison. He told her the story of how Erica died. Raxl informed Jean Paul that Menkin wanted to leave the island. Alison asked Raxl about Jean Paul and she replied that evil walks among them. Raxl continued to talk about Jacques. A scream was heard outside and Jean Paul, possessed by Jacques, returned with Quito and the body of Dr. Menkin. In a dream, Jacques learned of the conjure doll and he realized he was possessed.
Tim is packed and ready to leave the island, despite Erica's objections that no one must leave. Jean-Paul is possessed by Jaques, who summones the spirit of the first murderer. Tim is lured into Jean-Paul's secret room, where is is strangled by Jean-Paul/Jaques. Elizabeth comes to Erica and Jean-Paul's bedroom, unaware of what is taking place behind the bookcase, and discovers Tim's lucky palet knife on the floor.
Jean-Paul realizes the truth about Erica after his possessed body murders Tim Stanton. Jean-Paul demands Erica turn over the silver pin and takes her and the doll down to confront the portrait of Jaques Eloi De Monde. Erica reveals her plans to take Holly Marshall's body and soul so she can live forever to Jean-Paul, and tells him everyone on the island must die. After arguing with Jaques, Jean-Paul drives the silver pin through his voodoo doll's head with no effect. Frustrated, Jean-Paul throws the doll into the fireplace, and Erica begins to burn. After rescuing the doll from the flames, Erica tells Jean-Paul he has no choice but to help her and Jaques, as they can possess him at any time and make him murder whenever they wish.
Jean-Paul frees Alison, Elizabeth and Holly and orders them to pack their things to leave later that day. Erica confronts Jean-Paul and discovers his hatrid for her and what she has become. Erica confesses to Alison, begging for help keeping everyone on the island. When she refuses, Erica tells her how much she hates her but how she could never harm her. Erica gathers everyone for a farwell drink of wine in the dining room, and slips something from her ring into the drink ment for Holly. Alison accidentally takes her glass and falls to the ground.
Alison switches Holly's poisoned wine for hers to save her from Erica and pays the ultimate price to prove to her sister how much she does love her. Jean-Paul rushes Holly and Elizabeth to the boat house with Raxil, only for them to return shortly after to report the boat missing.
Elizabeth becomes hysterical that she and Holly are going to die on Mal Jardin and has to be sedated in her room. Jaques uses his power to set the boat house on fire, Jean-Paul and Raxil run to try and put it out before the entire island is set ablaze. With Holly locked in her room watching over her mother, and no one else in the house, Erica entrances Holly and brings her before Jaques' portrait to stab the silver pin through her heart to gain her youth and spirit. As she goes to stab Holly, Elizabeth runs in the way and is killed. Holly finally sees Erica for what she really is, but with Erica cornering her with the silver pin it may be too late.
Jean-Paul saves Holly from Erica and has Raxl quickly take her to the boathouse. Jean-Paul and Erica have their final confrontation, and Jean-Paul uses her fear of fire to his advantage by setting the mansion on fire. Erica is consumed by the flames and vanishes in a blue fog. Jean-Paul lights Jaques Eloi De Monde's portrait on fire to put an end to his evil. As Jean-Paul escapes the inferno through the front doors Jaques tells him his curse will live on, where ever he goes, and that life for him will forever be "" a strange ... paradise""
Jean-Paul awakens in Desmond Hall, the summer home from when he was growing up. There he is reunited with his cousin Ada and meets her new husband Laslo Thaxton. Raxl, Quito and Holly all survived the burning of Maljardin and have joined him at Desmond Hall. Jean-Paul is informed his brother Phillip Desmond left to visit him on Maljardin and has not been heard from since. As Holly sleeps, a mysterious woman visits her room and places her in a trance and tells her she's her friend. Back in bed, Jean-Paul is awoken to a bloodied ghost calling his name.
Jean-Paul is disturbed by the visitor he received last night, though no one belives what he saw. Holly discovers a necklace in her room and loves it. Raxl recognizes it immediately as a sorcerer's stone and tries to take it from her to protect her. Holly becomes frightened and runs to Jean-Paul. While with Jean-Paul, Irene Hatter, the woman who visited Holly while she slept last night, pays a visit to the Hall and strikes up a friendship with Holly. Laslo later returns the stone to Holly. Jean-Paul goes to Phillip's room and is confronted by Laslo.
Raxl calls upon the great serpent to destroy the ring of Jaques, and Jean-Paul suddenly feels great pain. Desmond Hall is visited by one of the mill's employees and Jean-Paul is not pleased with what he's learning about Laslo's running of the family business. Jean-Paul informs Laslo that he is the senior member of the Desmond family and in Phillip's absence he will be in charge of the family business. Emily Blair arrives at Desmond Hall, after receiving a hand delivered letter from Phillip inviting her to the Hall to do research on the Desmond family's history. Laslo tells her the handwriting on the letter is not Phillip's in an attempt to keep her from doing her research, but Jean-Paul catches her before she leaves and the two talk privately in the drawing room. Jean-Paul says the letter is authentic and allows invites her to perform her research.
Jean-Paul makes his way to Irene's cottage, and the mark of death compells him to strangle her. Phillip leads Holly back to Desmond Hall, where Raxl locks Holly in her room to keep her safe from Jean-Paul. Raxl confronts Irene at the cottage after interrupting Jean-Paul's attempt on her life. On the docks, Jean-Paul comes across Agatha who is about to kill herself and saves her life.
Raxl instructs Jean Paul to strangle Irene, who she believes is Emily. When Jean Paul is unable to, Raxl goes after Irene, with the Mark of Death on her hand. Julien interrupts Raxl, and Jean Paul comes out of his trance. Irene tells the group that Raxl said she killed Agatha, and Julien forces Raxl to reveal her sins. Raxl admits to killing all of ""Jean Paul's"" victims and the Desmonds are freed of the curse. Raxl blesses Jean Paul and Emily's union and then goes up in flames. Julien tells Cort he is not his grandfather, that he is a spirit, Raxl's better half. Ada and Julien say goodbye. Jean Paul and Emily leave to marry and settle abroad and leaving Cort Desmond Hall.