Doctor Ranson

[Richard Denault]

The season 8 cast group portrait is sort of a disgrace to Jane. I mean... having sit her on a wooden box instead of a proper chair or armchair??? Really?! What was the photographer thinking? I wonder why she didn't object.

I do get the idea of having her in the center of the pic, but not even that worked well because — although she is technically the center person in the back row — the camera left too much space on the left while the pic is more or less cut off on the right and, thus, not properly centered, resulting in Jane — at least visually — sitting off center.

Neither was the new spa restaurant set decoration a good choice in my opinion. I can't blame the photographer because the all the sets became so awful that season, and the Victorian Mansion set had not been redone yet when this shot was scheduled to be taken, although the new over-furnished way to dress the Mansion and the over-the-top wallpapers wouldn't have helped either.

I was always surprised that this photograph was technically so bad whereas the quality of the single and duo studio portraits of this season was exceptionally good.

In this thread we have discussed for those photos
The photographer was responsible. The actors and those responsible for Lorimar intervened
You are right the photo is very bad. It was taken when 806 Liars Anonymous was filmed.

 

[tommie]

The season 8 cast group portrait is sort of a disgrace to Jane. I mean... having sit her on a wooden box instead of a proper chair or armchair??? Really?! What was the photographer thinking? I wonder why she didn't object.

These photographies aren't the only ones taken - usually they do a number of different variations of where people are placed in a shot and the network/production company chooses whichever fits the show best. IE: here's two shots of Melrose Place's season 4 cast in different positions:


An example of same set, same warderobe but with people moved around. In other words, cast photoshoots aren't static with people necessarily not moved around for different shots. Unless Lorimar releases cast pictures from the vault I doubt we'll ever see them.

I'd imagine they choose the season 8 one partly because Jane is in the middle.

 

[TJP]

These photographies aren't the only ones taken - usually they do a number of different variations of where people are placed in a shot and the network/production company chooses whichever fits the show best. IE: here's two shots of Melrose Place's season 4 cast in different positions:

An example of same set, same warderobe but with people moved around. In other words, cast photoshoots aren't static with people necessarily not moved around for different shots. Unless Lorimar releases cast pictures from the vault I doubt we'll ever see them.

I'd imagine they choose the season 8 one partly because Jane is in the middle.

That's correct. "Falcon Crest" sometimes rearranged the people in cast group pictures, too; not too often though. When, after season 1, WB consulted with our organization on the DVD release, I was invited to their Corporate Archives to single out suitable publicity stills — and needless to say, I primarily advised them to digitize previously unpublished photos. The only major rearrangement of a cast group shot occurred in season 3, and I was so astonished to find that new version that I had it released for a placard in our reunion "Falcon Crest: A Look Back" at the Paley Center in 2010 and on the cover of the season 3 DVD box set. Compare the two shots...

One of Lorimar's original releases (there is a series of shots with this arrangement, but the cast looking into different directions or smiling more or less, etc.):


The previously unpublished arrangement I selected for the season 3 DVD box set (which ended up being cropped to be ingested into the artwork format):

 

[Richard Denault]

That's correct. "Falcon Crest" sometimes rearranged the people in cast group pictures, too; not too often though. When, after season 1, WB consulted with our organization on the DVD release, I was invited to their Corporate Archives to single out suitable publicity stills — and needless to say, I primarily advised them to digitize previously unpublished photos. The only major rearrangement of a cast group shot occurred in season 3, and I was so astonished to find that new version that I had it released for a placard in our reunion "Falcon Crest: A Look Back" at the Paley Center in 2010 and on the cover of the season 3 DVD box set. Compare the two shots...

One of Lorimar's original releases (there is a series of shots with this arrangement, but the cast looking into different directions or smiling more or less, etc.):
View attachment 45620

The previously unpublished arrangement I selected for the season 3 DVD box set (which ended up being cropped to be ingested into the artwork format):
View attachment 45621

It doesn't seem like a bad gesture to Mel Ferrer that he didn't sit next to Jane. After all, Cliff's role was secondary and although he won an Oscar, his career cannot be compared to Mel's, and he was also the boyfriend from Angela.Cliff a distant relative of Chase
According to David, the photo for Christmas could not be taken because several actors got angry and left, so there was not a very good atmosphere
It was ever thought of Cliff taking over from Chase and so he was given a prominent position.

 

[Angela Channing]

It doesn't seem like a bad gesture to Mel Ferrer that he didn't sit next to Jane. After all, Cliff's role was secondary and although he won an Oscar, his career cannot be compared to Mel's, and he was also the boyfriend from Angela.Cliff a distant relative of Chase
According to David, the photo for Christmas could not be taken because several actors got angry and left, so there was not a very good atmosphere
It was ever thought of Cliff taking over from Chase and so he was given a prominent position.

I think you're missing the point. Cliff Robertson was a big signing for the series so naturally the producers would want to promote him which is probably the reason why he was given such a prominent position in the photo. Mel Ferrer being in the back row is unlikely to have anything to do with his career up to that point even though he was never a big star and in Hollywood mainly featured in supporting roles or second rung films. Falcon Crest was probably the most prominent role he had in his career.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Mel Ferrer was also in the back on Season 1's cast photo. I think he (1,91 m) and David Selby (1,90 m) were just the tallest actors.



Just googled them: Robertson 1,80 m; Foxworth 1,80 m, Moses 1,85 m, Lamas 1,88 m; Sullivan 1,70 m; Wyman 1,59 m. Shannon Tweed, between Ferrer and Selby is 1,78 m tall.

With some tricks and angles they made it look like on the PR photos or stills:



But Mel Ferrer and Jane Wyman standing close together for a group shot would've looked like Margaret Ladd (1,62 m) and David Selby on this image:

Mel Ferrer being in the back row is unlikely to have anything to do with his career up to that point even though he was never a big star and in Hollywood mainly featured in supporting roles or second rung films. Falcon Crest was probably the most prominent role he had in his career.

No that is topped by an episode of Columbo with him (the gossip columnist who blackmails Anne Baxter), War and Peace with Audrey Hepburn and Lili with Leslie Caron according to the first autofill Google search results. Gone with the Wind appears there too (at least on Google Germany), I guess younger generations may confuse him with Leslie Howard. But not Falcon Crest.

 

[Richard Denault]

Mel Ferrer was also in the back on Season 1's cast photo. I think he (1,91 m) and David Selby (1,90 m) were just the tallest actors.

View attachment 45641

Just googled them: Robertson 1,80 m; Foxworth 1,80 m, Moses 1,85 m, Lamas 1,88 m; Sullivan 1,70 m; Wyman 1,59 m. Shannon Tweed, between Ferrer and Selby is 1,78 m tall.

With some tricks and angles they made it look like on the PR photos or stills:

View attachment 45643

But Mel Ferrer and Jane Wyman standing close together for a group shot would've looked like Margaret Ladd (1,62 m) and David Selby on this image:

View attachment 45642


No that is topped by an episode of Columbo with him (the gossip columnist who blackmails Anne Baxter), War and Peace with Audrey Hepburn and Lili with Leslie Caron according to the first autofill Google search results. Gone with the Wind appears there too (at least on Google Germany), I guess younger generations may confuse him with Leslie Howard. But not Falcon Crest.

But sitting down it is not so noticeable with a cushion it is solved
Ingrid Berman was taller than Bogart like many actors in the scenes where Bogart climbed on a box Sitting down, you couldn't tell

 

[Richard Denault]

I think you're missing the point. Cliff Robertson was a big signing for the series so naturally the producers would want to promote him which is probably the reason why he was given such a prominent position in the photo. Mel Ferrer being in the back row is unlikely to have anything to do with his career up to that point even though he was never a big star and in Hollywood mainly featured in supporting roles or second rung films. Falcon Crest was probably the most prominent role he had in his career.

Mel Ferrer made `very successful movies like Scaroumuche, War and Peace The Sun Also Rises The Longest Day Charade,
All great successes and in color
He was also the husband of a superstar like Audrey Hepburn for 14 years.

 

[Richard Denault]

Mel Ferrer made `very successful movies like Scaroumuche, War and Peace The Sun Also Rises The Longest Day Charade,
All great successes and in color
He was also the husband of a superstar like Audrey Hepburn for 14 years.

Lili was the movie that turned Leslie Caron into a star

 

[Brian Kinney]

I think you're missing the point. Cliff Robertson was a big signing for the series so naturally the producers would want to promote him which is probably the reason why he was given such a prominent position in the photo.

Yes! Cliff Robertson was a spokesman for AT&T and did a lot of commercials for them, in print and TV (1982-late 80's).



Of course that was limited to the audience in the US. But his name was also in the international press because of the Columbia scandal:

In 1977, Robertson discovered that his signature had been forged on a $10,000 check payable to him, although it was for work he had not performed. He also learned that the forgery had been carried out by then-Columbia Pictures head David Begelman, and on reporting it he inadvertently triggered one of the biggest Hollywood scandals of the 1970s. Begelman was charged with embezzlement, convicted, and later fired from Columbia. Despite pressure to remain quiet, Robertson and his wife Dina Merrill spoke to the press. As a result, Hollywood producers blacklisted him.

Before the Columbia scandal he was starring or co-starring in two big hits: Three Days of the Condor (1975) and Obsession (1976). I think the public liked him - otherwise he wouldn't have been AT&T's "face" for many years. He would later return to films but was limited to supporting roles.

 

[TJP]

Just googled them: Robertson 1,80 m; Foxworth 1,80 m, Moses 1,85 m, Lamas 1,88 m; Sullivan 1,70 m; Wyman 1,59 m. Shannon Tweed, between Ferrer and Selby is 1,78 m tall.

With some tricks and angles they made it look like on the PR photos or stills:

Jane's height on Google and IMDb is not accurate. She is definitely taller than Margaret, but not as tall as Susan. Lorimar had the cast do health check-ups from time to time, and — as far as we have them in our archives besides contracts — I checked this kind of documentation. Her height is listed as 5'6", which is 1.67 m; that seems plausible to me.
That being said, I don't think the scene stills from "For Better or Worse" are manipulated. Jane loved to wear high heels when she went out and played her rôles, so her and Mel's heights look pretty correct to me.

By the way, Janie loved wearing sneakers in private and between takes. I will have to look for some of our BTS pictures. We have some rehearsal shots of Napa Valley scenes in the vineyards in which she is all dressed up, except with her filming shoes — and she's wearing sneakers, of course. I'll discuss with our board when to release them as homepage cover pictures on falconcrest.org.

Speaking of tricks regarding heights, Kristian Alfonso is really small. The producers oftentimes had her stand on a crate in close-ups with Lorenzo. You can see the inconsistency if you compare scenes with them walking vs. standing next to each other!

 

[Brian Kinney]

Jane loved to wear high heels when she went out and played her rôles, so her and Mel's heights look pretty correct to me.

My mistake - I forgot to calculate high heels!

 

[tommie]

Actors frequently lie about their height - women tend to make themselves shorter, and men taller. 5'10" actors tend to be more like 5'8".

 

[Richard Denault]

Jane's height on Google and IMDb is not accurate. She is definitely taller than Margaret, but not as tall as Susan. Lorimar had the cast do health check-ups from time to time, and — as far as we have them in our archives besides contracts — I checked this kind of documentation. Her height is listed as 5'6", which is 1.67 m; that seems plausible to me.
That being said, I don't think the scene stills from "For Better or Worse" are manipulated. Jane loved to wear high heels when she went out and played her rôles, so her and Mel's heights look pretty correct to me.

By the way, Janie loved wearing sneakers in private and between takes. I will have to look for some of our BTS pictures. We have some rehearsal shots of Napa Valley scenes in the vineyards in which she is all dressed up, except with her filming shoes — and she's wearing sneakers, of course. I'll discuss with our board when to release them as homepage cover pictures on falconcrest.org.

Speaking of tricks regarding heights, Kristian Alfonso is really small. The producers oftentimes had her stand on a crate in close-ups with Lorenzo. You can see the inconsistency if you compare scenes with them walking vs. standing next to each other!

The height of Kristian Alfonso. 5 ft 4 (162.6 cm). American actress known for appearing on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.
Was she shorter than Angela?
Any idea why Michael Filerman insisted on netting it in

Falcon Crest

 

[TJP]

The height of Kristian Alfonso. 5 ft 4 (162.6 cm). American actress known for appearing on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.
Was she shorter than Angela?
Any idea why Michael Filerman insisted on netting it in

Yes, Kristian was shorter than Jane.

No idea why Filerman insisted on adding Kristian to the cast.

 

[WarriorsFan]

No idea why Filerman insisted on adding Kristian to the cast.

Those who are not in North America may not be aware that from 1983 to 1987 Kristian Alfonso was one of the most popular stars of US daytime television and she was on a daytime drama Days of our Lives that was popular with a younger audience.

 

[TJP]

Those who are not in North America may not be aware that from 1983 to 1987 Kristian Alfonso was one of the most popular stars of US daytime television and she was on a daytime drama Days of our Lives that was popular with a younger audience.

I'm fully aware that she played Hope on "Days of Our Lives", and her qualities as an actress are not the issue. Kristian is a good actress with stunning looks, but it felt too forced to give her more screen time than most of the established main cast members in season 8.
It's still difficult to understand why the "new" (or let's say "returning" — if we believe he ever really worked on the show) executive producer was trying to replace Melissa with her. Considering that Ana Alicia gave the ailing first season the right kick and, therefore, was one of the reasons why CBS greenlighted season 2, securing — along with the arrival of David Selby — the survival of the show for next six years, it is still a mystery why Filerman so desperately wanted to introduce Kristian at the expense of Ana Alicia. He could have easily had them both in season 8, maybe in a love triangle with Lance. But Filerman apparently didn't understand the importance of Melissa for the key storyline.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Those who are not in North America may not be aware that from 1983 to 1987 Kristian Alfonso was one of the most popular stars of US daytime television and she was on a daytime drama Days of our Lives that was popular with a younger audience.

I was aware of it but she was on NBC daytime. And from 1983-87 Days of our Lives rated behind ABC's General Hospital and CBS' TY&TR (also among younger viewers I guess?). I understood why Dynasty hired Emma Samms, made perfect sense for ABC and Spelling. But Alfonso not. If they wanted viewers back or new viewers for Falcon Crest they just had to re-engage their CBS daytime viewers from TY&TR and their new show (in 1986-87) TB&TB and promote it (the actress who played the youngest Logan sister back then would've been perfect for Lance).


Source (Edited)

Lorimar didn't hire CBS TY&TR stars but at least two big names from NBC (Peter Reckell for Knots Landing and Alfonso for FC). Maybe the casting people were DOOL fans and influenced the producer Michael Filerman for Knots and FC?

 

[tommie]

Lorimar didn't hire CBS TY&TR stars but at least two big names from NBC (Peter Reckell for Knots Landing and Alfonso for FC). Maybe the casting people were DOOL fans and influenced the producer Michael Filerman for Knots and FC?

DAYS might not have been the highest rated soap, but Bo and Hope were very popular with audiences and got a lot of coverage by soap magazines, which probably influenced both Knots and Falcon in getting Reckell and Alfonso respectively.

Re: heights. It's a well-known phenomenom that actors and actresses will lie about their height - actresses usually become a bit shorter than they are in real life while the men tend to get 2-3 inches taller, especially if they're around 5'7"/5'8" they usually end up being 5'10" on their resumes.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Then Grindr is an app for actors - because they all lie about height and some other size there.

The popularity of Bo and Hope wasn't like the one Luke and Laura had (81') - Geary and Francis didn't succeed in prime time as series leads and daytime soap stars don't attract many new viewers in prime time, as producers must've known when Alonso was hired. Lorimar's older veterans knew the difference between media bubbles (yesterday's Twitter: fan mail campaigns or soap polls) and ratings but they didn't care enough and FAILED US!!!

Instead of creating the Nunuoz replacement Ortega group of stereotypes, Filerman could've extended the Agretti family in a different way than he did in Season 8. Maybe with the same actors (except Assumpta Serna as dying Anna Cellini, because she was only there for the SAG card). Rich and poor, as in S1 but giving Melissa what Angela had with the Giobertis in a shameless version!

Gold-diggers who want their piece of Melissa's Falcon Crest (old documents prove it). Not as over-the-top as Season 9's St. James bros: Nick targets Emma because he knows the documents were forged (and he marries her in Season 9 when Angela is in a coma/holiday). Nick's Anna - played by Alfonso (!) - only pretends to die - before she marries Lance or Richard and gets pregnant or fakes it ... Nick and Anna's student son Ben played by a slightly older popular daytime hunk who spies on Angela while cleaning her pool/washing her limousine - shirtless - and also showing talent as a writer to Maggie. Frank's loyality is torn between Angela and Nick before Genele delivers more excitement. Melissa must figure out how to get her family off from Falcon Crest - maybe with Angela's help or Richard's? Would've checked most boxes too...

I've read somewhere (serious newspaper, no fan board) that Tilly in Star Trek - Discovery is a "fan favourite". No, she isn't. But at Paramount+ they rather build a series around Miss Piggy at school than giving 7 of 9 and the hot Picard son a chance. I'll rather want Alfonso as a ST captain than Tilly on merchandise. But producers don't listen to me. Lorimar and Paramount+: J' ACCUSE!