SoapLand - The Battle Of The Character Title Cards - The Result

[Richard Channing]

Up next it's the character title cards, that little clip, or combination of clips, that introduces each character in the opening credits.



As this is a battle that's all about the visual, it would be great if you could include an image with each nomination. Either one from Google images, a screenshot (most opening credits for most seasons of the soaps are on Youtube), or failing that even borrow one that another member has posted.

But it's not compulsory by any means. However, if you don't post an image please provide an adequate description (possibly even including what season(s) it's from), especially for characters who had different title cards over the years.

 

[Willie Oleson]

1. Steven Carrington - DYNASTY season 1

Because it says a lot about the character and the atmosphere in the Carrington mansion.
And I prefer the white font.

2. Alexis Carrington - DYNASTY season 2

Her second title card. It's both seductive and sinister, and the background - although not particularly "Dynasty" - represents her off-screen history.

3. Lance Cumson - FALCON CREST season 1

This position suggests supremacy and authority (eventhough he doesn't have it) and I really like this unfriendly introduction of the nasty grandson.
The second part of his clip is also spot on: the fast car, the swimming pool and Appollo.

4. Miles Colby - THE COLBYS season 2

The anti-Jeff, flaunting his wealth and position while playing with the keys of his outrageously expensive car.
You want him, you hate him, and then you want him even more (at least, that's what my inner-Alexis tells me).

5. Tracy Kendall - DYNASTY season 4

I like how she plays with the fur, and somehow it looks as if that fur coat belongs to someone else. I get the idea that she's a greedy social climber.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

1 - Alexis - Dynasty season two

This really shows all you need to know about the character. Dressed in black, smoking a fag with her colourful past in Acapulco behind her, just waiting to re-emerge.

2 - Laura - Knots Landing season 9

There's so much melodrama in these opening credits. Greg's wistful gaze, Val's mullet, Karen's statuesque stare. But it's Constance's high drama head turn that wins it for me.

3 - Ava - Bare Essence

The opening credits for Bare Essence are a hoot. There's two face slaps before the title card even appears. Ava's title card is my favourite and makes me long for the day that the show will finally show up online or on DVD (wishful thinking I know) so I can finally watch it in it's entirety. Here Jessica Walter combines funeral chic, turban chic and cigarette chic like only the best soap bitches can.

4 - Adam - Dynasty seasons 3+

Dynasty's opening credits were awash with phallic symbolism be it skyscrapers, gushing oil wells or horses. Adam's is my fave though as it the most "Dynasty-esque" with it's champagne on ice.

5 - Emma - Falcon Crest season 7

I love this solely because it looks so pretty.

 

[Richard Channing]

1. Alexis


As soon I came up with the idea for this round this was the one that I knew had to be my number 1. The hair, the dress, the cigarette, I love everything about it. It's equal parts rich glamourpuss/maneater/evil queen.

2. Caress


She doesn't quite out-vamp sister dearest but she has a damn good stab at it.

3. Lance


Lance in leather. Need I say more?

4. Pam


The image of Victoria walking towards us is iconic and quintessentially Dallas.

5. Ben


I like villains. I like explosions. I love this.


And a few honourable mentions:

 

[Willie Oleson]

The image of Victoria walking towards us is iconic and quintessentially Dallas.

Yes I think that's the one everybody remembers.

But overall it looks like Dynasty was the most creative and descriptive with its title cards.

Having too much of everything (and still wanting more).
And the Colby Collection could only be used for her title card.

I was not a fan of FC's "framed portrait" opening credits, but I like the one they did for the glamorous bitchy vixen.


Speaking of...

as Mini-Alexis

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Steven Carrington - DYNASTY season 1

Because it says a lot about the character and the atmosphere in the Carrington mansion.
And I prefer the white font.

Although I'm not sure if I prefer it, the white font might imply snow, mightn't it?

 

[Willie Oleson]

the white font might imply snow, mightn't it?

I hadn't really thought about that, but it looks so pure and dignified.

Surely The Colbys should have done it for the title cards?

Or maybe blue, to make it look more water-y?


Hm

 

[Angela Channing]

1. Angela Channing (FALCON CREST season 1)

I love the drama of the car sweeping in and the window rolling down to reveal Angela before cutting to the 3 shot including her stroking Apollo. I liked it so much I made a gif of part of it and it's featured in my signature for the last couple of years.

2. Pamela Ewing (DALLAS season 3)

Pamela walking across the grounds at Southfork, boobs a-wobbling, was the most iconic image of all the Dallas credits.

3. Maggie Gioberti (FALCON CREST season 3)

Maggie swooping around and smiling was so memorable.

4. Titus Semple (FLAMINGO ROAD season 1)

Titus puffing on a cigar letting viewers know he's bad.

5. Gary Ewing (KNOTS LANDING season 3)

It tells you everything you need to know about he character: he's with Val, he's with Abby and he's in a drunken rage throwing things around and slamming doors.

If I had a 6th vote, it would have been for April Stevens. I hated the character but I liked her title credit with her laughing and then the smile suddenly drops from her face and she looks a little embarrassed.

 

[Willie Oleson]

If I had a 6th vote, it would have been for April Stevens. I hated the character but I liked her title credit with her laughing and then the smile suddenly drops from her face and she looks a little embarrassed.

I like that one too, there's something unusual about it.

It was so difficult to narrow it down to 5 choices. Others I would have picked from Dallas:
Michelle Stevens, because I find her a typical "Dallas" girl.

It's a very energetic clip and to me it says "I'm ready to take over".

before cutting to the 3 shot including her stroking Apollo

Personally, I think that should have been the first image with Jane Wyman's name.
Nothing beats a villain with an exotic pet.

 

[Daniel Avery]

and he's in a drunken rage throwing things around and slamming doors

Actually, Gary was stone-cold sober during this meltdown. Val had been diagnosed with cancer, and while he had been Val's Tower of Strength to that point, he went home (while she was in the hospital) and tore the place apart in abject terror that she might die.

Knowing him, he probably left the mess for Val to clean up when she got home.

 

[Toni]

1- Victoria Principal (Dallas OR Season 7)



...because it featured three images from three different seasons, including that short hairdo with the lovely smile!!

2- Linda Gray (TNT Dallas, Season 3)



...because it was simply fabulous and so powerful ("I am Texas", she was saying in the right clip), and because Linda rocks!!

3- Jane Wyman ("Falcon Crest", Season 1)

...because it gave such a different image in the Pilot opening with the smile and the red gown, as if she weren´t a big b*tch!! I also prefer her gesture in this one instead of the next season´s with the frozen frame!

4- Stephanie Beacham ("The Colbys")

...because it shows the lesson "The Colbys" taught me about life: when you come home, you just HAVE TO throw away your coat a la Sable! Classy stuff!

5- Morgan Fairchild ("Flamingo Road", Season 2)



...and well, because there´s no better way to introduce a soap vixen than by showing her lying in her bed!! Loved both FR openings, especially the frame with Stella Stevens and her boa!! (Honorable mention to her therefore!!)

 

[Daniel Avery]

It's been difficult to find any pictures to accompany my list, so I'll just give up on that search.

1. Constance McCashin's image in the season nine credits, Knots Landing. Her overall attitude seemed to be "Look at what you're missing out on, bitches!" Okay, maybe I'm projecting, since she had already been given notice (that she was being killed off) when this opening titles segment was filmed. I love her bouncier hair, and the black-and-white imagery complements her.

2. Margaret Ladd's image in several seasons of Falcon Crest. FC did a good job of finding Napa-related imagery for backgrounds, and Emma's bubbly (at times ditzy) personality seemed perfect for the Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Festival (I think that's what it's called).

3. Susan Sullivan's dramatic turn/smile to the camera in the first few seasons of FC. In this case it's not the combination of background image and character--its just that Sullivan's 500-watt smile and ability to exude warmth and niceness draws me in.

4. Donna Mills's image(s) in the Season four credits, KL. Just as Susan Sullivan's smile signals "heroine" in one image, we see four images (via the picture-panels flowing past) of Abby that says "troublemaker", including the unique double-vertical shot highlighting Mills's figure as she walks across the cul-de-sac in short-shorts. They could have broken it up with some 'nice' shots of Abby with her kids, but nooooo….

5. Jane Wyman arriving in the limo, several early seasons of FC. It really does say "She's in charge here", even if she has that "cat who swallowed the canary" smile.

 

[Toni]

If I had a 6th vote, it would have been for April Stevens. I hated the character but I liked her title credit with her laughing and then the smile suddenly drops from her face and she looks a little embarrassed.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Did Gary kill Jill after all?

 

[Toni]

Did Gary kill Jill after all?
View attachment 12816

No he didn´t. SHE did it. And pulled a Jill for it.

 

[Willie Oleson]

 

[Emelee]

1. Pamela, Dallas

2. Miss Ellie, Dallas

3. Alexis, Dynasty

4. Amanda, Dynasty

5. Bobby, Dallas

 

[Richard Channing]

All is talk of title cards got me reminiscing about some of the ones I made for @Snarky's Ghost's Dynastier thread which unfortunately vanished with everything else when the site crashed. Most of my title cards went with it but I still have a folder with a few of them and couldn't resist posting a couple:

 

[Mel O'Drama]

1. Cliff Barnes
Dallas
circa Season Five

I can't find an image, but it's the one where he's standing in the doorway, smiling and shaking his head slightly (and, if I remember correctly, asking "Am I under arrest?"). It's Ken Kercheval at his charismatic best... even more so when he's framed by two images of Cliff as the moody rebel. So iconic is the imagery that David Jacobs himself seemed to channel it in one of the reunion thingies where he got a screen credit.





2. Fallon Carrington Colby
Dynasty

The red sparkle dress. The incredulous look followed by that broad, forgiving smile. The wild, haughty, unbroken animal running free. It perfectly encapsulates the very best of Fallon.





3. Karen Fairgate
Knots Landing
Season Four

Karen's all things to all people here. Mother to Diana. Friend to Val. Putting Abby firmly in her place in the main picture. The cosy jumpers and casual shirts give her an accessible neighbour vibe, but it's juxtaposed with Michele Lee's exotic beauty which tell you she's someone really special.

Incidentally, April's Dallas title card, mentioned earlier in the thread, immediately struck me as being very similar-looking to the main image of Karen here. April's pose, and even her hairdo, make it seem almost like a deliberate re-staging of Michele Lee's here (even though it's probably not).





4. Pamela Ewing
Dallas
circa Season Seven?

As long as Pammy strode across that lawn every week all was right with the world.





5. Claudia Blaisdel
Dynasty

I love how dazed, confused and weary she looks here. The dense woodland appropriately suggests a little girl lost, while the ethereal, mysterious water tells us there are hidden depths just below the placid, sparkling surface.

 

[Richard Channing]

Tomorrow is your last day...



...to vote for your favourite title card.