Both TV-miniseries "Salem's Lot" were adapted from King's second novel "'Salem's Lot" (notice the disappearance of the first "'" in the adaptation), which was first published by Doubleday as a hardcover book in October 1975.

Novelist David Soul returns to his home town of Salem, finding that things have changed a bit. More than a bit, in fact: the previously warm and friendly community is downright sinister. Soul suspects that the bizarre behavior of his onetime friends and neighbors is the handiwork of oddball antique dealer James Mason. We won't reveal here the secret of Salem: suffice to say that the action goes directly to the jugular, and that make-up artists Jack Young and Ben Lane won an Emmy nomination Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, Salem's Lot was originally telecast in two parts on November 17 and 24, 1979; it was subsequently pared down to a single three-hour installment, which in turn was whittled down to about two hours for cable-TV play.

Tobe Hooper's lengthy made-for-TV adaptation of Stephen King's creepy vampire novel is necessarily toned-down from its source (as well as cutting most of its frightening focus on the evil Marsten House), but remains entertaining. James Mason is delightfully sinister as the King Vampire's assistant, while Lance Kerwin (then the hot star of TV's James at 15) is engaging and believable as the young Mark Petrie. Drawbacks include David Soul's cardboard lead performance and the ridiculous blue-rat faux-Nosferatu makeup job on villain Reggie Nalder, but Mason's creepy turn and some clever direction by Hooper make the film work despite its flaws. Salem's Lot is available in its original miniseries form or a shorter version released theatrically in Europe.