Watch DALLAS 'The Early Years'.

[Count Jockula]

First shown in 1986 'The Early Years' movie explored how the 'Big D' started, with Jock, Digger and Jason as the foundation. You can watch the entire movie below c/w a bonus of Jock and Digger, at the BBQ in 1978. Let the wagons roll! The last scene of the movie is very cute. Bobby as a child is standing alone, after youngster Cliff takes his little sister Pam away out of the youngest Ewing son's company.

Imho the above makes you imagine what if had there been an early years movie of DYNASTY and FALCON CREST.

J.R. has been making derogatory comments, about the late Hutch McKinney being Pamela's biological father. Bobby hit him. J.R. is holding his stomach. Jock intervened, otherwise junior would have been on the broad of his back, (a scene from season 2; DVD-3, 1979 - '80):

"Now knock it off, both of ya! You watch that temper of yours Bobby and you J.R. watch that mouth of yours!"

 

[DallasFanForever]

I haven’t seen this movie since the late 80s. I owned it on VHS back then but it’s long gone. I really need to see it again so thanks for posting this!

 

[Angela Chilling]

I have a copy of this film but I've not watched it in a while. It's a good film in it's own right and can be enjoyed as a stand alone film with no prior knowledge of the TV series. The casting, especially the actors who played Digger and Ellie, was really good. I also liked how they left open the possibility that JR could have been Digger's son.

 

[Brian Kinney]

I liked the TV movie a lot. Agree about the casting for Digger and Ellie (and Dale Midkiff... sigh!). Molly Hagan who played Ellie is now the wife of Mitch Pileggi (TNT Dallas) and the mother of Walker, a very loosely rethinking of Walker, Texas Ranger, which had his own Dallas connections.

 

[Sarah]

I loved DTEY. I remember being so excited when it was scheduled for tv. I was only 10 and then being left disappointed because Sue Ellen wasn’t in it. My little brain couldn’t understand why!

 

[Lotus Point Tundra Torque]

Molly Hagan who played Ellie is now the wife of Mitch Pileggi (TNT Dallas)

Hmm, IMDB says they are both currently with different spouses and no word of them ever being together... where's your source for this?

 

[B.J. Ewing]

Hmm, IMDB says they are both currently with different spouses and no word of them ever being together... where's your source for this?

They are married in the reboot of Walker.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

I didn't like casting of Young Jock but I though Molly Hagan was near perfect as Young Ellie.

I wished they'd filmed at The Box Ranch (a year away from burning), to be consistent with the 1978 mini-series --- and at some point, during the weekly series' later seasons, have somebody (like J.R., looking at old family photos with Cally) mention that a twister grazed the house "a few months after Bobby brought his little bride Pamela home -- it was almost like an omen..."

 

[DallasFanForever]

I wished they'd filmed at The Box Ranch (a year away from burning), to be consistent with the 1978 mini-series --- and at some point, during the weekly series' later seasons, have somebody (like J.R., looking at old family photos with Cally) mention that a twister grazed the house "a few months after Bobby brought his little bride Pamela home -- it was almost like an omen..."

They definitely should’ve filmed The Early Years at the original ranch, or at the very least do some kind of explanation later on like the one you’re proposing. If not done as a scene with J.R. and Cally then maybe J.R. and John Ross, or perhaps it’s something they could’ve tied into Conundrum somehow as J.R. is looking back on how things would’ve been had he not been born.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Well, I guess facially Dale Midkiff wasn't a bad match, but he had the wrong demeanor -- he's a little too '80s pretty boy doing a macho pose as an earthy guy. None of Jim Davis' rough-hewn persona.

 

[Crimson]

I didn't like casting of Young Jock

I wonder if any consideration had been given to casting Patrick? I believe there was an entire plot point about Jock's first wife thinking Bobby was Jock.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

I wonder if any consideration had been given to casting Patrick? I believe there was an entire plot point about Jock's first wife thinking Bobby was Jock.

Oh, yes, Amanda thought Bobby was Jock -- shortly before somebody shot JR (for the second and most important time -- was it ever established that JR was wounded in Viet Nam?).

And Patrick was off of DALLAS at that time, so it's not a bad idea. But would he have been gruff enough?

And would they have cast Charlene -- also off the show that year and, hence, free for work -- in the role of Mini-Ellie, and thus make-out with yet another on-screen uncle?

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I liked Dallas Early Years
A great performance by David Grant as Digger. He was clearly the main character, the most developed.
Dale Midkiff was a great casting decision. He had played a formidable, intimidating villain in
"Streetwalking"(1985) (a movie that included Julie Newman!) and went on to
a career that included "Pet Semetary" "Time Trax" "Elvis and Me" and
much more. A skilled actor with a lot of presence.
He also looks a lot like a young Jim Davis,
as per some of Jim Davis' older work.
Molly Hagan is a versatile actress. She was OK
and her Miss Ellie showed a level of manipulation and wilyness that was all too frequently missing from the series.

I read that the original main focus
was how Ellie was motivated to save SF and how it
effected her choice of Jock or Digger
I wish it had been more explored about JR's paternity,
although there was mention by JR at the beginning
It was there, but somewhat secondary to Digger's story.

My only real issue is that Digger seems to have lost Ewing Oil
by the flip of a coin. Maybe I misunderstood that scene.

I wish it had gone to series, or at least a miniseries.
There was a lot of material that could have been explored

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

And Patrick was off of DALLAS at that time, so it's not a bad idea.

All the more reason that he wouldn't have done it, I'm thinking.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I wish it had gone to series, or at least a miniseries.
There was a lot of material that could have been explored

There was definitely enough material for this to be a miniseries in my opinion. Would’ve loved that. I enjoyed the movie but I couldn’t help but feel there could’ve been so much more of the story explored.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Yes, they should have filmed THE EARLY YEARS at the Cloyce Box Ranch (a year before it burned) to keep it consistent with the ranch from the mini-series. (It's in Frisco, where the latest racial high school stabbing just took place).

But even David Jacobs couldn't keep every incontinuity from occurring. Pam & Bobby met at a 1951 barbecue at Southfork? When it had been established that they were both born in late 1952? (Yes, Bobby's headstone gave Patrick's "1949" birth year, but Pam was dreaming all that).