Dallas House On The Prairie

[Bobby Southworth]

So, after watching "Dove Hunt", I am continuing on with "The Lost Child". Was Patrick Duffy channeling some of Michael Landon's Charles Ingall's in this episode? The scenes with him and Luke, and Bobby's tears. Especially the end feels a lot like Little House On The Prairie. That said, I seem to recall this episode being regarded as corny by a lot of fans; myself included, but as I watch it now, I can't help but find it somewhat touching. Even the music, unique to this episode stirs me a bit. Part of it is how authentic the episode is with a lot of filming on the ranch, but more so, the loss of a dream for Bobby. Before finding out Pam shouldn't have anymore kids, Bobby tells Luke he'd like to have a boy and a girl. Then by the end, he finds out he most likely won't have either, and Luke runs to him for one last hug, as this new found reality sinks in for Bobby. This actually is very poignant. Dallas was so good during this time. I guess count me in as a cornball, but the 70's cinematic feel, the music, raw emotion, and the authenticity of the on-location shooting really work for me here,

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

So, after watching "Dove Hunt", I am continuing on with "The Lost Child". Was Patrick Duffy channeling some of Michael Landon's Charles Ingall's in this episode? The scenes with him and Luke, and Bobby's tears. Especially the end feels a lot like Little House On The Prairie. That said, I seem to recall this episode being regarded as corny by a lot of fans; myself included, but as I watch it now, I can't help but find it somewhat touching. Even the music, unique to this episode stirs me a bit. Part of it is how authentic the episode is with a lot of filming on the ranch, but more so, the loss of a dream for Bobby. Before finding out Pam shouldn't have anymore kids, Bobby tells Luke he'd like to have a boy and a girl. Then by the end, he finds out he most likely won't have either, and Luke runs to him for one last hug, as this new found reality sinks in for Bobby. This actually is very poignant. Dallas was so good during this time. I guess count me in as a cornball, but the 70's cinematic feel, the music, raw emotion, and the authenticity of the on-location shooting really work for me here,

It's not cornball or schmaltz if it works --- "The Lost Child" works, more or less (although I'm not sure I would have cast that child actor, but he's okay).

People have sometimes compared Patrick Duffy to Michael Landon ("Little Joe Ewing") but Landon was a maudlin narcissist and did a lot of disingenuous acting, directing and producing (although he was competent at all those things when he reined himself in, which he was rarely-inclined to do.

The objective viewer always knew there was something wrong with Landon, an indulgent perversity laying right below the surface of his creaky veneer of wholesomeness. (He was even mean to Priscilla on a movie set prior to DALLAS).

Not so with Patrick Duffy. He may have had his own quirks -- as everyone does -- but he was a good, straightforward actor who lacked the creepy, snot-slinging foolishness of Michael Landon.

I liked Landon adequately on BONANZA, but couldn't stand to watch him, or his work, after that.

 

[Billy Wall]

Interesting that you bring this up. I always thought there was a similarity between Bobby and Charles Ingalls and that if not Michael Landing, Patrick Duffy could have played Charles Ingalls.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

Interesting that you bring this up. I always thought there was a similarity between Bobby and Charles Ingalls and that if not Michael Landing, Patrick Duffy could have played Charles Ingalls.

There are similarities. I suppose they looked somewhat alike, similar hair, and eyes, to an extent, but Bobby's personality was much more boyish in his earlier days in Dallas, compared to Landon by the time of Little House On The Prairie. Bobby did have a similar way of offering strength and sensitivity, and emoted these things in a similar way to Landon's Charles Ingalls. My thoughts go to the scene when he was talking to Lucy after Sue Ellen fell down the stairs. The talk about drugs, and how she couldn't go through life without feeling the pain. This also channeled Charles, IMHO. Had Duffy been a little older when Little House started, I suppose I could see him playing the role. Maybe Landon, around the time of Bonanza could have played Bobby, but in all honesty, I've never seen enough of Bonanza to say for certain.

Yes, I have heard some of the bad stuff about Landon. The woman who played his wife on Little House wrote a book where she revealed he could be sexist, and did some crappy things regarding her salary. Also, I guess, according to her, there was drinking on the set, and some crude things were said amongst Landon and some of the other males about women. Who knows. He's not here to defend himself, but I also consider the possibility that while he had ideals about life, it was much easier to portray that idealism than to walk the walk. It's disappointing, but after everything that's come out about some of our idols over recent years, it's not really that surprising. That's why it's best not to idolize other human beings, and to just appreciate the characters and the art.

 

[LMLDallas78]

Dallas reminded me more of the waltons than little house on the prairie. Bobby was like the daddy of the Waltons, always giving his moral high horse or emotive speeches to eyeryone, Bobby was more complex than Pa Walton, but good at dishing out his talks. Very occasionally it was down to Miss Ellie but hardly ever Jock to give such talks. Jock only ever lectured JR to keep him in line. And memorably Jocks brief "power" speech to Bobby.
I remember at the beginning Dallas was known for not having so many nice, sweet characters unlike the Waltons.

I wonder why jock wasn't more like Daddy Walton or Pa Ingalls and Bobby was? I would've loved Jock to sit down and chat with Lucy, Sue Ellen etc like Bobby did. Imagine that sanitarium scene when Sue Ellen kisses Bobby if it was Jock!!

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

That's why it's best not to idolize other human beings, and to just appreciate the characters and the art.

But that's the thing -- I dislike Landon's "art" more than I care about his personal character. His work is manipulative and too dishonestly sappy.

Dallas reminded me more of the waltons than little house on the prairie. Bobby was like the daddy of the Waltons, always giving his moral high horse or emotive speeches to eyeryone, Bobby was more complex than Pa Walton, but good at dishing out his talks

Yes, THE WALTONS (at least until they recast John Boy) was an unpretentious series, and far less drippy than LHOTP.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

Just for the record, I was really only saying that "The Lost Son" episode reminded me of Little House On The Prairie, and sometimes the way Duffy emoted strength and sensitivity with the tears channeled a bit of Landon other times, but I certainly wasn't trying to imply there was much similarity between the two shows, far from it, LOL. The Waltons is another series I have yet to really explore, so I can't really offer much in comparison there.

 

[LMLDallas78]

Just for the record, I was really only saying that "The Lost Son" episode reminded me of Little House On The Prairie, and sometimes the way Duffy emoted strength and sensitivity with the tears channeled a bit of Landon other times, but I certainly wasn't trying to imply there was much similarity between the two shows, far from it, LOL. The Waltons is another series I have yet to really explore, so I can't really offer much in comparison there.

I'm sure we all appreciate your take on it and what you meant, but that's what's so great about these threads, they can create a whole new take on a subject with lots of little diversions that are linked or not so linked but still great ideas and opinions.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Just for the record, I was really only saying that "The Lost Son" episode reminded me of Little House On The Prairie, and sometimes the way Duffy emoted strength and sensitivity with the tears channeled a bit of Landon other times, but I certainly wasn't trying to imply there was much similarity between the two shows, far from it, LOL. The Waltons is another series I have yet to really explore, so I can't really offer much in comparison there.

I'm sorry. I just hate Landon.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

as a little kid I thought Landon and Duffy were the same person

 

[southfork88]

As a child, I enjoyed 'Dallas', 'Little House on the Prairie', and 'The Waltons' without any form of discrimination.

However, Dallas was generally considered a show not very educational for young viewers, unlike the other two.

Both Dallas and The Waltons had Leonard Katzman on backstage, while the third show had Michael Landon front and backstage.

I always knew about Katzman he was a goddamn sexist, bossy, nepotistic, vengeful man. That Landon had these flaws I learned only a few years ago.

Their shows worked very well as long as their ego was held back by other people. When Katzman and Landon became omnipotent, disaster struck.

Watching the three shows without prejudice, in my opinion, remains the best way to appreciate them, both 'Little House on the Prairie' and 'The Waltons' which spoke of sweetened good feelings, and Dallas in which parents, brothers, sisters and associates stab each other relentlessly.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I always knew about Katzman he was a goddamn sexist, bossy, nepotistic, vengeful man. That Landon had these flaws I learned only a few years ago.

Their shows worked very well as long as their ego was held back by other people. When Katzman and Landon became omnipotent, disaster struck.

Watching the three shows without prejudice, in my opinion, remains the best way to appreciate them, both 'Little House on the Prairie' and 'The Waltons' which spoke of sweetened good feelings, and Dallas in which parents, brothers, sisters and associates stab each other rerelentlessly.

What a marvellous description, very apt and very deserved.

 

[Toni]

I may become a Landon fan if he really didn't get along with La Presley...

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I may become a Landon fan if he really didn't get along with La Presley...

Landon was a POS. He would get good press as an industry "nice guy" by being kind to children who were auditioning for his shows, but he'd bully them and deny them close-ups whenever he was displeased with them -- never mind how much that affects the end product.

He was doing a TV movie with Priscilla in SE Asia where the humidity is horrendous, and he would tease her -- not good-naturedly -- repeatedly yelling, "It's Charlie's Angels time!!," when she kept fixing her hair... Ironic, given his own spectacular coif which likely commanded as much attention.

Landon further shocked the production when he broke all sorts of union rules (but may have gotten away with it given where they were) when he stopped with the crew and filmed scenes from the movie with no approval to do so from the producers, despite his just being a paid actor on the film with no authority over it.

Many other credible stories about him being a pig.

 

[Billy Wall]

Landon was a POS. He would get good press as an industry "nice guy" by being kind to children who were auditioning for his shows, but he'd bully them and deny them close-ups whenever he was displeased with them -- never mind how much that affects the end product.

He was doing a TV movie with Priscilla in SE Asia where the humidity is horrendous, and he would tease her -- not good-naturedly -- repeatedly yelling, "It's Charlie's Angels time!!," when she kept fixing her hair... Ironic, given his own spectacular coif which likely commanded as much attention.

Landon further shocked the production when he broke all sorts of union rules (but may have gotten away with it given where they were) when he stopped with the crew and filmed scenes from the movie with no approval to do so from the producers, despite his just being a paid actor on the film with no authority over it.

Many other credible stories about him being a pig.

Not good old pa Ingalls. Lol

 

[Laurie Marr]

The abomination that was Highway to Heaven has to be the nadir of simpering, lachrymose sentimentality. In the words of my late mother, it was (a bit like Landon) ‘too sweet to be wholesome.’

 

[DallasFanForever]

The abomination that was Highway to Heaven has to be the nadir of simpering, lachrymose sentimentality. In the words of my late mother, it was (a bit like Landon) ‘too sweet to be wholesome.’

Oh, I don’t know! What’s so abominable, simpering, lachrymose (great word by the way), sentimental, sweet and wholesome about an Angel given “the stuff” and an unnecessary sidekick to figure out how to solve the problems of normal everyday idiots that can’t ever do it for themselves?

 

[Willie Oleson]

Who are the Ingallses? I must have missed that episode.