diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DialogBox.py b/direct/src/gui/DialogBox.py
index 4c7c87697d..2cb33251e7 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DialogBox.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DialogBox.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class DialogBox(OnscreenPanel.OnscreenPanel):
 	"""
 	if self.isLoaded == 0:
 	    self.load()
-
+        base.transitions.fadeScreen()
         OnscreenPanel.OnscreenPanel.show(self)
         
 	return None
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class DialogBox(OnscreenPanel.OnscreenPanel):
 	"""
 	if self.isLoaded == 0:
 	    return None
-        
+        base.transitions.noTransitions()        
         OnscreenPanel.OnscreenPanel.hide(self)
 
 	return None
@@ -83,12 +83,12 @@ class DialogBox(OnscreenPanel.OnscreenPanel):
         if (self.style == TwoChoice):
             # create OK and CANCEL buttons
             self.makeButton("OK", pos = (-0.325, -0.25),
-                            func = self.__handleOk)
+                            func = self.handleOk)
             self.makeButton("Cancel", pos = (0.2, -0.25),
-                            func = self.__handleCancel)
+                            func = self.handleCancel)
         elif (self.style == Acknowledge):
             # create a centered OK  button
-            self.makeButton("OK", pos = (0.0, -0.25), func = self.__handleOk)
+            self.makeButton("OK", pos = (0.0, -0.25), func = self.handleOk)
         elif (self.style == NoButtons):
             # No buttons at all
             pass
@@ -111,15 +111,15 @@ class DialogBox(OnscreenPanel.OnscreenPanel):
 	self.isLoaded = 0
 	return None
 
-    def __handleRollover(self):
+    def handleRollover(self):
 	return None
 
-    def __handleOk(self):
+    def handleOk(self):
         assert(self.style != NoButtons)
 	self.doneStatus = "ok"	
 	messenger.send(self.doneEvent)
 
-    def __handleCancel(self):
+    def handleCancel(self):
         assert(self.style == TwoChoice)
         self.doneStatus = "cancel"
 	messenger.send(self.doneEvent)
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/Transitions.py b/direct/src/showbase/Transitions.py
index c7e8873a4d..9bed95385a 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/Transitions.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/Transitions.py
@@ -83,6 +83,16 @@ class Transitions:
                                 0,0,0,1,
                                 t)
 
+    def fadeScreen(self, alpha=0.6):
+        """
+        Put a semitransparent screen over the camera plane
+        to darken out the world. Useful for drawing attention to
+        a dialog box for instance
+        """
+        self.noTransitions()
+        self.fade.reparentTo(aspect2d)
+        self.fade.setColor(0,0,0,alpha)
+
     def fadeOutTask(self, task, time=0.5, noFade=1):
         """
         As a sequence: Fade out, execute the given task, then do a noFade