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Dallas the TV series
Dallas - The Original Series
Out Donna Reed In Barbara Bel Geddes
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<blockquote data-quote="ramled99" data-source="post: 54176" data-attributes="member: 85"><p>I agree with several points, disagree with a few. I think Donna Reed was doomed from the jump. I think she was eager and excited about the role, and making the role her own, as would any decent actor. Reed didn't want to be a BBG clone, probably couldn't be if she tried, nor was she ever asked to be by the producers. If I am a casting agent, and I wanted a BBG 2.0, I see no reason in the world to hire Donna Reed. She is the bipolor opposite from the jump, visually, and in how she acts. They obviously hired Donna Reed with the expectation that the Miss Ellie character would be re-defined and re-imaged. And Donna Reed confirmed that in interviews. Not Donna Reed's fault that the producers didn't check with the viewers in reaching that decision to re-create and reimage the Miss Ellie character. Viewers didn't want a new Miss Ellie.</p><p></p><p>Turning Miss Ellie from sack dresser to the bipolor opposite as a feminine mid-80s oppulant and elegance (Joan Collins on Dynasty, Jane Wyman on Falcon Crest, etc.), proved to be Donna Reed's mistake or the unfortunate death knell to her time with Dallas. I read in interviews that Reed openly said that she hated Bel Geddes' wardrobe and wanted to give the character "some elegance." But, as much as I hated Miss Ellie's wardrobe, I, as a viewer, accepted her character as that. </p><p></p><p>Now, with that being said, I vehemently disliked Barbara Bel Geddes wardrobe, and I dislike it more as I get older. I do not believe BBG wardrobe choices anything had to do with her interpretation of the character as "connected to the land." That makes no sense to me. She wore sack dresses everywhere, not just at home potting plants and cooking. She wore those hideous dresses to the Oil Baron's club for goodness sake, as late as Season 7 and into the Clayton years. I think the real reason Bel Geddes wore that was her own body and aging insecurities. She was not trying to compete with nor be comparared to the gorgeous Linda Gray, or Victoria Principal. Or any of the younger ladies on the set. I think BBG was quite simply, body-conscious. So she covered up, big time.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ramled99, post: 54176, member: 85"] I agree with several points, disagree with a few. I think Donna Reed was doomed from the jump. I think she was eager and excited about the role, and making the role her own, as would any decent actor. Reed didn't want to be a BBG clone, probably couldn't be if she tried, nor was she ever asked to be by the producers. If I am a casting agent, and I wanted a BBG 2.0, I see no reason in the world to hire Donna Reed. She is the bipolor opposite from the jump, visually, and in how she acts. They obviously hired Donna Reed with the expectation that the Miss Ellie character would be re-defined and re-imaged. And Donna Reed confirmed that in interviews. Not Donna Reed's fault that the producers didn't check with the viewers in reaching that decision to re-create and reimage the Miss Ellie character. Viewers didn't want a new Miss Ellie. Turning Miss Ellie from sack dresser to the bipolor opposite as a feminine mid-80s oppulant and elegance (Joan Collins on Dynasty, Jane Wyman on Falcon Crest, etc.), proved to be Donna Reed's mistake or the unfortunate death knell to her time with Dallas. I read in interviews that Reed openly said that she hated Bel Geddes' wardrobe and wanted to give the character "some elegance." But, as much as I hated Miss Ellie's wardrobe, I, as a viewer, accepted her character as that. Now, with that being said, I vehemently disliked Barbara Bel Geddes wardrobe, and I dislike it more as I get older. I do not believe BBG wardrobe choices anything had to do with her interpretation of the character as "connected to the land." That makes no sense to me. She wore sack dresses everywhere, not just at home potting plants and cooking. She wore those hideous dresses to the Oil Baron's club for goodness sake, as late as Season 7 and into the Clayton years. I think the real reason Bel Geddes wore that was her own body and aging insecurities. She was not trying to compete with nor be comparared to the gorgeous Linda Gray, or Victoria Principal. Or any of the younger ladies on the set. I think BBG was quite simply, body-conscious. So she covered up, big time. [/QUOTE]
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Dallas the TV series
Dallas - The Original Series
Out Donna Reed In Barbara Bel Geddes
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