Nice actor interactions

[Lastkidpicked]

We're now up to the Mickey Trotter season on our re-watch.

If you watch The Ewing Touch (Season 6, Episode 8), you'll see a nice interaction between Steve Kanally and Timothy Patrick Murphy.

Mickey is still rebelling, but starting to come around. Ray announced, "I'm going to be your shadow. When we get done riding horses you will be as comfortable in the saddle as on that bar stool."

Timothy Patrick Murphy is leaning against the truck with his back to Steve Kanally. As Steve is talking, he puts his hands on Timothy's shoulders more than once.

Then Steve says, "Get in the truck" as he gives Timothy a slap on the shoulder.

If you watch that scene you can imagine those two actors had spent time together practicing. You can imagine them off to the side, away from everybody else, working the scene out together.

This bonded the two actors, and you can see it in this scene. The genuine smiles as the actors work their craft. The subtle, but noticeable touching, especially the little slap on the shoulder. It makes a nice scene.

Have you noticed any other scenes where the actors seem to just have perfect chemistry, even if it is only for a small scene?

 

[Toni]

The whole original cast used to do that with each other, especially Barbara, Steve and Susan. I also noticed that with Victoria and Charlene a lot (when they still had scenes together), and Larry and Debbie Rennard (Sly). Of all those little things, what I always found endearing was the kisses Susan used to give to everybody with no special reason (as people do in real life).

"My God, today I really needed 3 hours instead!"​

The other actresses didn´t do that, they used to hug more often, maybe because of the makeup, and Linda less than any other else. Maybe it was because that was SO Sue Ellen ("no touch, I spent two hours in front of the mirror!"), maybe because she just respected the script to the max. Ken, Steve, Susan and Larry (especially him) ad-libbed things here and there, but the others not so much. It´s quite safe to say that Larry was the one who decided to checkup every waitress that attended J.R.! Even Pam in the beginning! ("Buoys", lol!)

Here´s Pam pulling a Kristin (so to say...)​

 

[Sarah]

Oh my goodness, there is no greater chemistry than these two. None. They are magical.

I mean there's chemistry, and there's chemistry!


Where do you want me to start???? :l:

 

[Justine]

I definitely second the chemistry between Victoria and Charlene early on.

Beyond all the sexual chemistry pairs that are obvious (@Sarah ) - I would also say Linda with every little actor that played John Ross (especially the toddler one circa. season 5) because I think it's easy to underestimate how difficult it must be to act out a scene perfectly and contend with an unpredictable co-star the same can be said for Larry too, and Patrick and Victoria when they had scenes with baby Christopher.

 

[Sarah]

I definitely second the chemistry between Victoria and Charlene early on.

Beyond all the sexual chemistry pairs that are obvious (@Sarah ) - I would also say Linda with every little actor that played John Ross (especially the toddler one circa. season 5) because I think it's easy to underestimate how difficult it must be to act out a scene perfectly and contend with an unpredictable co-star the same can be said for Larry too, and Patrick and Victoria when they had scenes with baby Christopher.

:l:

 

[Lastkidpicked]

Stumbled across another nice actor interaction:

Bobby starts a new company and names it Petro Group Dallas.

Miss Ellie smiles and says, "Petro Group Dallas. . . P.G.D."

Just a nice scene, as Barbara Bel Geddes knows that these are Patrick Duffy's initials.

 

[James from London]

these are Patrick Duffy's initials.

I never made that connection!

 

[James from London]

Makes you wonder why Sue Ellen didn't rename Valentine Lingerie Lacey Garments.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

Rewatching Jock's will and the contest for Ewing oil season now and found another nice moment.

The scene is tense, as the family is eating dinner and arguing about Miss Ellie trying to overturn Jock's will. Brooks Oliver stops in unannounced, and this only adds to the tension in the room. Brooks asks to see Miss Ellie.

As Miss Ellie gets up to leave the room, J.R. rises to show respect.

Now, this is one of those tiny little moments, but thanks to the internet we can watch it again and notice a few things:

Remember that J.R. and Miss Ellie have been arguing for some time now. And this scene is happening during the argument.

Even though Bobby is outside the frame, it appears that J.R. is the only one who rises.

This really makes me think that this is not in the script. It is Larry Hagman's respect for Barbara Bel Geddes that causes him to rise when she gets up to leave the room.

Another nice little thing that is barely noticeable, but a nice gesture by Larry.

 

[Bill Dilks]

One of my favorite guest actors of the time was Jerry Hardin, who played Elroy Askew. He also played Samuel Clemens in the Star Trek TNG 2-part SanFran episode.

The dvd s4 episode is where JR is trying to get involved with another cartel. The scene where he turns down JR in JR's office. Watch his performance, his cadence toward the end of the turndown, and his eyes and posturing and smile/smirk. To me, it's a stunning performance.

Hardin also played a judge later on in the series, and played it well.

 

[Bill Dilks]

S04 E67 "MAKING OF A PRESIDENT" is the episode I referred to in the previous post about Jerry Hardin.

 

[Bill Dilks]

Chemistry scene with Swellen and JR, just before Kristen's call about having the baby.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

S04 E67 "MAKING OF A PRESIDENT" is the episode I referred to in the previous post about Jerry Hardin.

Thank you, Bill! I'll rewatch that one.


And here's another nice little interaction, and it is so subtle that you will barely notice it.

Season 7 Episode 2, "The Long Goodbye". The first couple of minutes into it, Pam pulls up in her car while Bobby is outside Southfork directing two construction workers.

Bobby says, "Give it another hour, then give the boys a break" and then turns to say hello to Pam.

If you watch closely, you'll see that the young construction worker doesn't move after that line. You'll see Patrick Duffy give the smallest little wave to say, "I need to pivot to where you are standing. Step off your mark." And the young extra does so instantly, so they can get it in one shot instead of reshooting it.

Just a tiny moment, where an experienced actor gives an unspoken signal to a young actor to remind him to step off his mark.

 

[Dr. Ellby's hair]

Thank you, Bill! I'll rewatch that one.


And here's another nice little interaction, and it is so subtle that you will barely notice it.

Season 7 Episode 2, "The Long Goodbye". The first couple of minutes into it, Pam pulls up in her car while Bobby is outside Southfork directing two construction workers.

Bobby says, "Give it another hour, then give the boys a break" and then turns to say hello to Pam.

If you watch closely, you'll see that the young construction worker doesn't move after that line. You'll see Patrick Duffy give the smallest little wave to say, "I need to pivot to where you are standing. Step off your mark." And the young extra does so instantly, so they can get it in one shot instead of reshooting it.

Just a tiny moment, where an experienced actor gives an unspoken signal to a young actor to remind him to step off his mark.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

Thank you for posting that pic, @Dr. Ellby's hair . And I love your screen name!

Yes, this is exactly the scene I noticed. See how the older guy in coveralls immediately pivots out of the way, but the younger actor hesitates until Patrick gives him that little wave. It just shows that the younger actor respects Patrick and that little signal was all it took to remind him to pivot off his mark.