Watching Capricorn Crude

[Werewillie Oleson]

Hurrah, the TV version of Valene's smash-hit novel finally made its way into my DVD player again.

Not without hiccups I'm afraid, there were 3 or 4 freezes and I have no idea if it's getting worse or better.

Interestingly, they changed the title of Valene's story.

That's really funny because some of the characters remind me of the Ewings of that other DALLAS series, and I even considered the crazy idea that this was going to be a John Ross/Christopher prequel series.

Never mind, the different mansion proves that this is another story.

This mansion looks really awesome, and J.R. and Gary are living in mini-Southforks, close to the main house. Very cute.

Lucy matter-of-factly informs Pam what happened to her parents, but it's also a warning.

And there's the staircase! I like it, and also the big window and the mustard-yellow curtains, very seventies indeed.
The panelling looks a bit plain though, I would have liked to see some handcrafted curls and figures and whatnot.
Or maybe a painting.

Hunk-in-towel alert #1.


So far so good!

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Capricorn Crude -- such a clever title. Capricorn is The Goat (and a ewe, as in Ewing, is a baby goat).

 

[Karin]

I'm delighted to hear that your re-watch of original Dallas is finally happening. I hope you will enjoy rediscovering this show.

Also very clever title of the thread and paralell to Val's book. I love it.

 

[stevew]

Capricorn Crude -- such a clever title. Capricorn is The Goat (and a ewe, as in Ewing, is a baby goat).

Never realized that. Cool catch.

 

[Angela Chilling]

Capricorn Crude -- such a clever title. Capricorn is The Goat (and a ewe, as in Ewing, is a baby goat).

I always thought a ewe was a female sheep and an kid was a baby goat.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

I'm delighted to hear that your re-watch of original Dallas is finally happening

This was originally scheduled for 2017 but Netflix has sabotaged my every attempt.

Episode 2 is all about rebellious Shortcake.

and I have no idea if it's getting worse or better

Worse. Sometimes the audio spontaneously switches to German language, and I'm baffled by the idea that the punctual Germans would produce such an inferior product.
What else can I expect? Black and white, horizontally flip-flopped, messages from outer space?

Enfin.

Southfork's greatest charme - that house standing in the middle of nothingness like an obscure habitation, maybe the only house that survived the Big Nuke - is emphasized by a mysterious white cover. Could be nuke-dust, my guess it's snow, either way it creates the illusion of a dream sequence.
Getting the mail from the letterbox proves to be quite a chore.

It's a very juicy episode, it has blackmail and counter-blackmail, fake harassment and a schoolboy with creepy intentions.

But he's only creepy because they say so.

J.R. says that Lucy looks like a regular Betty Coed. I have no idea what that means but Sue Ellen is mildly amused by his comment.

Everything about her is mildly, the Karen Carpenter of soap.
Betty Co-ed appears to be a reference to a movie about an All-American Sweetheart.

The D.J. is ready and the kids are working up a sweat, although I'm not sure if they can actually hear the music because they're all dancing out of tune.

 

[James from London]

the Karen Carpenter of soap.

Ha, I love it!

Betty Co-ed appears to be a reference to a movie about an All-American Sweetheart.

I always associate the name with Betty from The Flinstones or Betty from Peyton Place, but that doesn't really make sense.

I'm not sure if they can actually hear the music because they're all dancing out of tune.

Probably not. The music for such scenes tends to be dubbed in afterwards, once the edit's complete. The actors are often dancing to nothing at all which is why they look so naff.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

The music for such scenes tends to be dubbed in afterwards

That makes sense. In reality the music wouldn't disappear into the background whenever someone decides to have a conversation.
Do you think John Travolta danced without music? (maybe I shouldn't ask!)

 

[stevew]

Hurrah, the TV version of Valene's smash-hit novel finally made its way into my DVD player again.
View attachment 14460
Not without hiccups I'm afraid, there were 3 or 4 freezes and I have no idea if it's getting worse or better.

Interestingly, they changed the title of Valene's story.
View attachment 14461
That's really funny because some of the characters remind me of the Ewings of that other DALLAS series, and I even considered the crazy idea that this was going to be a John Ross/Christopher prequel series.

Never mind, the different mansion proves that this is another story.
View attachment 14462
This mansion looks really awesome, and J.R. and Gary are living in mini-Southforks, close to the main house. Very cute.

Lucy matter-of-factly informs Pam what happened to her parents, but it's also a warning.
View attachment 14463
And there's the staircase! I like it, and also the big window and the mustard-yellow curtains, very seventies indeed.
The panelling looks a bit plain though, I would have liked to see some handcrafted curls and figures and whatnot.
Or maybe a painting.

Hunk-in-towel alert #1.
View attachment 14464

So far so good!

I’ve got an idea:

Change the series to Valene Ewing’s Capricorn Crude Series within the Dallas Universe (did she publish as Valene Ewing?):

1st Miniseries = Capricorn Crude

Early Years = Capricorn Crude: Beginnings

Dallas Season 9 on =
9 = Capricorn Crude: This Has to be A Nightmare

10 = Capricorn Crude: JR, Public Enemy Number One

11 = Capricorn Crude: Sue Ellen’s Revenge

12 = Capricorn Crude: The Last Ride of Sue Ellen Ewing and Her Immortals

13 = Capricorn Crude: JR’s Past Final Catches Up With Him

14 = Capricorn Crude: JR Gets His Comeuppance (no one is smiling more than Val at the end of this one).

Movies =
Capricorn Crude: JR Returns

Capricorn Crude: War of The Ewing’s

TNT Dallas = Capricorn Crude, Return to the Ranch

With new titles and box set arrangements we’ll be in good shape. What’s left of Dallas (seasons 2-8 become Dallas seasons 1-7 so no Donna Reed switch up and the series ends with Bobby in the hospital) and Knots Landing are canon while the rest are all in Val’s imagination as part of the Capricorn Crude Series within the Dallas Universe.

While they’re at it box up Valene Ewing’s Falcon Crest Series within the Dallas Universe.

Wow she’d be one hell of a writer

The they could do a much nicer continuation starting with the death of JR as season 8: Dallas, 24 years after Bobby’s car accident in 2010 (the year JR planned to die as there was no estate tax), JR’s funeral and will set up the new series and then they forward to the present . . .

 

[Spooky Owl!]

I always thought a ewe was a female sheep and an kid was a baby goat.

Ewe might be right.

 

[Richard Channing]

Really looking forward to reading your thoughts in this thread Willie. I've actually been thinking of doing a Dallas rewatch myself but I will probably start with season 2. Maybe I'll start when you get there.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

but I will probably start with season 2

Well I've finished season 1 and of course it ended with Pam's miscarriage but that was episode 4, not 5. The real episode 4 is not on the DVD. Rude!


Funny, this looks like the grand entrance but it's actually the backside of the building.

Hunk-in-towel alert #2.

Unless he also did it in the missing episode 4, then this would be alert #3. But I don't want to start another numbering controversy.

There's also an obscure family member, Jimmy. Is he the son of Digger's sister or Digger's brother? Or is he from Pam's mother's side of the family?


Happy news for Jock, Ellie and Digger, they're going to be grandparents. The Ewings already have a granddaughter but they don't consider her an "heir" in the classic sense of the word.
Jock immediately starts to make plans for the unborn child, and all the things he's going to get. Expensive things that Digger can't afford to buy so I understand why he feels excluded.

But there isn't going to be a baby.
Bobby wants to leave Southfork but Pam doesn't support that decision.

She probably thinks that Bobby needs his family regardless of all the difficulties. She's going to regret this.

I really like the last scene. There's not much going on but since there are no winners, only losers it looks as if the Ewing Dream has fallen apart.

The background looks very grim, almost as if they've barely survived an attack by the Union Troops.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

One last look at the original mansion

 

[Spooky Owl!]

I really like the last scene. There's not much going on but since there are no winners, only losers it looks as if the Ewing Dream has fallen apart.

I really want this scene reversed at the end of Season 14 (per DVD count) with Sue Ellen having swept into town a few weeks earlier having purchased a stumbling Ewing Oil for the family (with a consortium of business pals she met while making movies) yet placing Cliff in charge of the company out of perversity much to JR's distress.

Following a wild Ewing barbecue (I picture McKay and Wendell fatally crashing a private plane into the swimming pool) JR comes outside to find Sue Ellen, only it's she who gives him the brush-off... Maybe even set to the same plaintive John Parker cue.

But that's just me.

 

[Richard Channing]

Well I've finished season 1

Oh actually by DVD count I mean I plan to start with season 3.

 

[James from London]

Hunk-in-towel alert #2.

Unless he also did it in the missing episode 4, then this would be alert #3. But I don't want to start another numbering controversy.

No, the missing episode contains Former-beauty-queen-in-a-swimsuit-at-gunpoint instead.

There's also an obscure family member, Jimmy. Is he the son of Digger's sister or Digger's brother? Or is he from Pam's mother's side of the family?

He's a Monahan so that makes him Digger's sister Maggie's boy.

One last look at the original mansion

It shows up again in Capricorn Crude: The Early Years. I hope you watch that too -- halfway through the Dream Season as per original broadcast!

 

[Chris2]

The pool is so far away! People never would have been falling into the pool had they stayed in this house. No one would have wanted to walk that far.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

No, the missing episode contains Former-beauty-queen-in-a-swimsuit-at-gunpoint instead

Ah, yes, the hostage episode.
I'm going to re-buy this first series because it needs to be complete. Depending on the performance of the other discs I may have to re-buy the entire series.
But I've read complaints about the most recent boxset too, so I'm not sure if there *is* a flawless Dallas set.

Update: I just made a horrible discovery. The other seasons are incomplete too.
And then I made another discovery: the "missing" episodes are on the bonus discs. How...I mean...for the love of God, where's the logic in all this?

I hope you watch that too -- halfway through the Dream Season as per original broadcast!

I'll write it on a post-it! =)

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

The pool is so far away!

But it's more aesthetic and sophisticated to keep the pool (and other outdoors activities) seperated from the Grand Mansion.
Ponds and fountains are OK for watery decoration.

 

[Richard Channing]

And then I made another discovery: the "missing" episodes are on the bonus discs. How...I mean...for the love of God, where's the logic in all this?

At least you have them. That must be a relief.