Dallas had our attention, but did it have our respect?

[Mel O'Drama]

I hadn't really thought out about it before, but he's right - Hagman's casual, throwaway delivery is a big part of what makes his performance so effective.

I know that grin has been discussed from time to time as being a JR trademark which went against expectations (as I remember it was talked about at length in the audio commentary for Digger's Daughter, even though someone - David Jacobs? - had misremembered the ending of that episode as a grin rather than the scowl we got).

But yes: the delivery was a key part. I've just watched a compilation of JR quotes on YouTube.

With the comments about BBG singing her lines fresh in my mind, I noticed that Larry, too, has a melodious quality. He rarely delivers a line that's flat. There are numerous upward inflections and emphases on words that I might not expect. And as Stephen said, he doesn't have that classic male villain resonant voice.

In turn, that led me on to another video. It made me smile so I'll throw it in as a bonus:

In addition to the up and down, I'd say Larry also uses the "connectiiing-aaaaaallll-the-wooorrrrds-togeeeetheer" technique.

Many moons ago, I was introduced to Tony Slattery as a Dallas fan and he told me that he and Stephen Fry would phone each other after every episode and discuss it at length.

Oh my. In my mind, those phone calls were invigilated by Nick Parsons:

Tony, it's your turn to begin. Can you speak for just a minute on "Blame It On Bogota" without hesitation, repetition or deviation, starting now?

 

[Kenny Coyote]

And as Stephen said, he doesn't have that classic male villain resonant voice.

Why would he? He's just a character with some good and some bad qualities, as is every main cast character in Dallas.

JR was remarkably good in stressful situations. Even in some of the most stressful situations, like when he mortgaged Southfork, he had a belief in himself that he'd figure out some way to get through it and end up alright. You didn't see him lose his composure like Cliff did, for example. Cliff would let stress just eat him up but JR didn't and that's one of the things people liked about him. They admire someone who can reman that cavalier in a crisis.

 

[James from London]

the delivery was a key part. I've just watched a compilation of JR quotes on YouTube.

Oh, they're great! I notice he mostly doesn't deliver a punchline as if it were The Punchline, he just tosses it off on his way to do something else, leaving the recipient to just stand there and take it. A really clear example is at exactly 5.00 mins in where he calls Lucy her mother's daughter, a scheming blackmailing little tramp. Before he's even finished the line, he's picked up a file and started turning round in his chair, leaving her standing there helpless. He doesn't even care enough to watch her reaction.

In turn, that led me on to another video. It made me smile so I'll throw it in as a bonus:

That's ... interesting.

Tony, it's your turn to begin. Can you speak for just a minute on "Blame It On Bogota" without hesitation, repetition or deviation, starting now?

Oh, can you imagine it? That would be brilliant!

Why would he? He's just a character with some good and some bad qualities, as is every main cast character in Dallas.

No-one's disputing that. We're talking about Larry Hagman's choices as an actor.

 

[Alexis]

This is a very funny thread. It's mostly people discussing Dallas and how it's been perceived outside of America by the UK. Where people have stated that there are many reasons to be a Dallas fan. How they have enjoyed the show immensely for various reasons. Praising the show but also realising that it wasn't really the height of television drama or an at all realistic representation of the times or the setting in which the show was based. And then there is this other bit of the thread that's just not getting it and thinking anything other than outright praise and worship of the show, and it would seem JR. (not Hagman). Is just the snobbish whimpering of some Europeans who don't fully grasp the utter greatness of the worlds best serialised continuing Western drama. As Dallas obviously wasn't a Soap Opera.

Subjectivity is not allowed when discussing Dallas.

 

[Alexis]

Clive James's fascination with the '80s soaps lasted throughout the decade. I remember him on TV discussing Season 8 of Dynasty with Germaine Greer of all people.

I have always wanted to read this but could never seem to find the article.

 

[James from London]

I have always wanted to read this but could never seem to find the article.

How intriguing! I started googling Germaine Greer and Dynasty hoping to find that Clive James interview yesterday (anything to postpone doing 'Joe Wicks' Daily PE for 6-year-olds'), but couldn't find anything. If you're in the mood for a feminist take on an '80s soap diva, Camille Paglia's interview with Donna Mills makes for a good read:

https://www.scribd.com/document/151034388/Interview-between-Donna-Mills-and-Camille-Paglia

 

[Alexis]

How intriguing! I started googling Germaine Greer and Dynasty hoping to find that Clive James interview yesterday (anything to postpone doing 'Joe Wicks' Daily PE for 6-year-olds'), but couldn't find anything. If you're in the mood for a feminist take on an '80s soap diva, Camille Paglia's interview with Donna Mills makes for a good read:

https://www.scribd.com/document/151034388/Interview-between-Donna-Mills-and-Camille-Paglia

I have read that article before, but always good to see again. My mind was blown when I first learned that Sandy from Grease was based on Donna Mills. But then after, I was like.... well of course she was. Sandy is a man's idealised version of Donna Mills.

 

[James from London]

Actually, it's easier to access here: https://vdocuments.mx/interview-between-donna-mills-and-camille-paglia.html

 

[Alexis]

Actually, it's easier to access here: https://vdocuments.mx/interview-between-donna-mills-and-camille-paglia.html

Yes, this is the article which first brought to my attention Abby's Monet impressionist eyeshadow skills. Fabulous!

 

[Kenny Coyote]

Praising the show but also realising that it wasn't really the height of television drama or an at all realistic representation of the times or the setting in which the show was based.

Realism wasn't their goal. It wasn't a documentary. The goal is to entertain people. Some of the choices they made, like having the Ewings live together at Southfork, were deliberately unrealistic, but made the show more entertaining than if they'd set out to make the most realistic drama series possible.

 

[Alexis]

Realism wasn't their goal. It wasn't a documentary. The goal is to entertain people. Some of the choices they made, like having the Ewings live together at Southfork, were deliberately unrealistic, but made the show more entertaining than if they'd set out to make the most realistic drama series possible.

Yes, most of us are in on the gag. It's brilliant for many, many reasons.

 

[Kenny Coyote]

It's brilliant for many, many reasons.

Careful, that's getting close to "outright praise."

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Oh, they're great! I notice he mostly doesn't deliver a punchline as if it were The Punchline, he just tosses it off on his way to do something else, leaving the recipient to just stand there and take it. A really clear example is at exactly 5.00 mins in where he calls Lucy her mother's daughter, a scheming blackmailing little tramp. Before he's even finished the line, he's picked up a file and started turning round in his chair, leaving her standing there helpless. He doesn't even care enough to watch her reaction.

Yes. It's the dramatic equivalent of a mic drop. I recall this being taken to a different level in a couple of similar scenes where he turned round in his chair after a quip but we got a close up shot of his face with the target standing in the distance behind him. In those shots it's apparent that he's pretending to read his papers or whatever while actually carefully listening for the slam of the door. So he does care, but the other person would never know. It's all about perspective.

Oh, can you imagine it? That would be brilliant!

Kind of like those post-show analysis series that appear on E4 or whatever following the main event: Big D's Little B's.

I have always wanted to read this but could never seem to find the article.

That's my kind of culture clash.

If you're in the mood for a feminist take on an '80s soap diva, Camille Paglia's interview with Donna Mills makes for a good read:

That's wonderful.

Speaking of cultural differences, Donna's opinion that nobody would want to see the inside of a garage after a day at work struck me as a very American one. Which is exactly what Brits loved about these imports. They were a form of escapism.

But at the same time, her statement dismisses the value of identification that comes with seeing the prosaic made real. Like, tell that to Corrie viewers.

She was on great form in that interview:

I thought Knots Landing was a show about a houseboat with Andy Griffith.

I have read that article before, but always good to see again. My mind was blown when I first learned that Sandy from Grease was based on Donna Mills. But then after, I was like.... well of course she was. Sandy is a man's idealised version of Donna Mills.

This was my first time, and my mind is well and truly blown.

 

[Alexis]

Careful, that's getting close to "outright praise."

Not to worry. That closeness dissipates beyond season 10.

 

[Alexis]

That's my kind of culture clash.

I just need to know the information contained in that article? Is it complementary towards Joan, or is it scathing?

This was my first time, and my mind is well and truly blown

When I first discovered the bit about Sandy I remember texting people who didn't even know who Donna Mills was to let them know.

 

[Kenny Coyote]

Not to worry. That closeness dissipates beyond season 10.

For me too. They did fall a long way. Of course, they had a high place from which to fall.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I just need to know the information contained in that article? Is it complementary towards Joan, or is it scathing?

The Triumph Of Artifice seems like a very shady title. But it's hard to say.

I was thinking Germaine Greer once sang Wonder Woman's praises, but turns out I was thinking of Gloria Steinem:

When I first discovered the bit about Sandy I remember texting people who didn't even know who Donna Mills was to let them know.

Imagine some of those people watching Knots for the first time with that comparison in mind. That would really put a different spin on the experience.

 

[James from London]

My mind was blown when I first learned that Sandy from Grease was based on Donna Mills.

This is slightly more obscure, but Niki Flacks, who played Brian Dennehy's wife in 'Winds of Vengeance' ("Luther honey, it isn't what you think!" she insists after he finds her in the motel bed where she's just had it off with JR), Andrew Laird's wife in 'Old Acquaintance' (she threatens to ruin his career after finding him in bed with Morgan Fairchild's Jenna Wade) and the woman Mitch Cooper saves from choking to death on a chicken bone (her husband turns out to be the plastic surgeon who offers Mitch a job) once told me that she was the original inspiration for Doris in the film version of Fame. My mind was also blown.

=

 

[Alexis]

About JR. I always found his easy breezy delivery and matter of fact but weirdly smiley way of saying the lines to be the most frightening. I mean you knew if it came down to it most opponents would whip JR's ass in a physical fight. That wasn't why he was frightening. He wasn't intimidating in that way. He was frightening in a way that was different. He whole heartedly believed he was right and that his actions were always justified and that the people he ruined and destroyed were the actual scum of the earth. And he delighted in ridding the earth of that scum. What was frightening about him wasn't even that he was wrong. It was that he knew he was right.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

This is slightly more obscure, but Niki Flacks, who played Brian Dennehy's wife in 'Winds of Vengeance' ("Luther honey, it isn't what you think!" she insists after he finds her in the motel bed where she's just had it off with JR), Andrew Laird's wife in 'Old Acquaintance' (she threatens to ruin his career after finding him in bed with Morgan Fairchild's Jenna Wade) and the woman Mitch Cooper saves from choking to death on a chicken bone (her husband turns out to be the plastic surgeon who offers Mitch a job) once told me that she was the original inspiration for Doris in the film version of Fame.

I couldn't resist peeking at the bio on her website. She's a flipping dynamo.