Dallas Actors Out Donna Reed In Barbara Bel Geddes

[Frank Underwood]

I think the "face transplant" comes under the heading of Suspension of Disbelief but, I agree, the character's personality should remain constant.

Yes, but they should have at least went for a BBG type. Donna Reed couldn't have been more different.

In fact, that's often the case with recasts. It's rare that they recast a character with an actor similar to the original. The closest I can think of are the two Darrins on Bewitched.

Donna looked great in the role and I loved the dress she wore in your pic BD. I'll always prefer Barbara in the role, but you have to admit Donna never looked less than perfect as Miss Ellle. Never could say that about Barbara. It's as if some days she would just show up in whatever she was wearing. No hair or makeup assistance either and just started filming.

To each their own. Reed had some nice outfits, but I didn't think that red plastic-looking dress was one of them. Ultimately, I preferred BBG's sensible, down to earth style.

Then again, I wasn't a big fan of the Travilla years to begin with. Even BBG's Ellie was a bit glammed up in the dream season.

 

[Toni]

I think the "face transplant" comes under the heading of Suspension of Disbelief but, I agree, the character's personality should remain constant.

I agree with you. The problem is, that season meant the beginning of the "jumpy-sharky" moves for all the supersoaps. "Dallas" introduced Donna Dread as Miss Nullie, and "Dienasty" did the same thing, later on that year, with Emma Samms as NuFallon. It was like saying, "look at what they did, haha, now we can do whatever we want to!" And so did they, and also "Falcon Crest"...and "The Colbys" in that finale. Until they were stamped "canceled".

 

[southfork88]

 

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Here some my free DALLAS captures, directly from my hard drive ... made without Photobucket for everyone polite and friendly Dallas Fan

 

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[TJames03]

Well, since we found out that Miss Ellie was actually in a mental institution when she and Clayton were allegedly on their honeymoon in the TNT Dallas, I'm assuming she thought she'd try a different look when she returned, but didn't care for bit and returned back to her original self.

 

[Rove]

Until they were stamped "canceled".

Looking back it was if all the shrill moments Dallas, Dynasty, Falcon Crest and The Colby's were attempting ultimately led their downfall, Knots Landing being the exception, which I never watched.

 

[southfork88]

 

[southfork88]

Barbara or Donna ?

 

[Seaviewer]

View attachment 9601

Barbara or Donna ?

I'm guessing Donna.

 

[JRandSueEllenForever]

Just watched the opening scene of the dream season with the family arriving home after Bobby died on YouTube. The show didn't even try to make Barbara look anything like Donna did by Bobbys deathbed. Donna in her black and white designer dress and Barbara in one of her famous sack dresses. Think this was a statement by the show as if to say "This is the true Miss Ellie". Barbara was of course better than Donna in the role but there were times where Barbara was dressed horribly. Not dressed casual but HORRIBLY. But then Barbara could look great in some beautiful dress or gown. Why were the clothes with the character so bad at times and then so great?

The show was definitely saying “this is the true Miss Ellie”as I recall Donna Reed was fired after only one season, I guess because Bel Geddes decided to come back, or it could have also been because fans were rejecting Reed as Miss Ellie. Reed sued for breach of contract, I believe. I remember my mother used to hate the way Bel Geddes dressed in house dresses. She said Donna Reed dressed more like a wealthy woman should dress. But wardrobe did not make the woman in this case, as I thought Reed couldn’t hold a candle to the down to earth strength and toughness of Bel Geddes’ Miss Ellie.

 

[Sarah]

View attachment 9601

Barbara or Donna ?

Very obviously Donna.

 

[southfork88]