Dallas (1978–1991)

The soapy, backstabbing machinations of Dallas oil magnate J.R. Ewing and his family.

Creator:

David Jacobs

Stars:

Larry Hagman, Ken Kercheval, Patrick Duffy

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 45 wins & 80 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Larry Hagman	...	J.R. Ewing (356 episodes, 1978-1991)
Ken Kercheval	...	Cliff Barnes (333 episodes, 1978-1991)
Patrick Duffy	...	Bobby Ewing (326 episodes, 1978-1991)
Linda Gray	...	Sue Ellen Ewing (308 episodes, 1978-1991)
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Miss Ellie Ewing (299 episodes, 1978-1990)
Steve Kanaly	...	Ray Krebbs (285 episodes, 1978-1991)
Victoria Principal	...	Pamela Barnes Ewing (251 episodes, 1978-1987)
Howard Keel	...	Clayton Farlow (246 episodes, 1981-1991)
Charlene Tilton	...	Lucy Ewing Cooper (233 episodes, 1978-1990)
Susan Howard	...	Donna Culver Krebbs (198 episodes, 1979-1987)
Deborah Rennard	...	Sly Lovegren (180 episodes, 1981-1991)
Sherril Lynn Rettino	...	Jackie Dugan (167 episodes, 1979-1991)
Priscilla Presley	...	Jenna Wade (143 episodes, 1983-1988)

Storyline

Popular evening 'soap-opera' style television drama. The show was set in Dallas and chronicled the exploits of wealthy Texas oil millionaires. Many of the plots revolved around shady business dealings and dysfunctional family dynamics.

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Plot Keywords:

oil | texas | ranch | soap opera | alcoholism | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Ultimate Dallas - Official Series website

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Oil

Filming Locations:

1181 Anna Cade Rd, Rockwall, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Productions, Lorimar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (356 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Larry Hagman was not the first choice to play J.R. The part was offered first to Robert Foxworth who declined because he felt the character needed "softening". Foxworth later played a more sympathetic character on the hit prime-time soap Falcon Crest. Ken Kercheval was originally to play Ray Krebbs, while Steve Kanaly was to play Bobby Ewing. Linda Evans was to play Pamela, and Mary Frann was to play Sue Ellen.

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Quotes

Clayton Farlow: [to Bobby] I don't why she would have any problem with your family. Outside of JR, everyone is pretty normal.

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Connections

Referenced in The New York Ripper (1982)

User Reviews

Good story

When Dallas was aired for the first times in the 80s I was a child and I couldn't appreciate it yet. Since last September, when a satellite channel proposed again this Soap Opera, I had a small crush of it. I became fond of J.R.'s intrigues, his rivalry with Bobby and Cliff Barnes, the beautiful Pamela and nice Miss Ellie.

Dallas' strength is the plot. Not completely concerned about love and betrayals (typical but annoying), the Ewing Oil battles can move even the male audience transforming the Soap in a TV-series. Jim Davis' death (the mythical Jock, R.I.P.) put a lot of fuel in the "engines" with the legacy questions and relations getting worse. J.R.'s Machiavellian plans filled the script of amusing and caustic irony, always enjoyable.

The recitative level wasn't so great; all the actors, actually, had their height in this series, but the general quality is decent. Except for Ken Kercheval and Steve Kanaly, which proved to be good actors giving a great shape to their characters, challenging J.R. at any cost. Special mention to Charlene Tilton, which is really beautiful and should have had greater relief in the story.

Ending too late, in 1991 (2-3 years too many), the story was slowly plagued by script tricks and poorly credible deaths or departures, compromising its heritage made of several Emmys and 1 Golden Globe won.

6,5 / 10