Your memories of the Ewing Matriarch, Miss Ellie Southworth Ewing Farlow

Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Telly Talk Champion
What's your favourite memories of Miss Ellie.

Played mostly by Barbara Bel Geddes but for one season by Hollywood superstar Donna Reed.

Donna taking Jock's painting down was a memorable memory for me.

However Barbara's Mastectomy episode was very powerful to me & had me crying as she came to terms with her condition.

The episode where she answers the phone at the barbecue when Jock is coming home, again had me in tears.

This was the episode where she was told that Jock's chopper had crashed and was presumed dead.

The other episode where I couldn't stop myself crying was when she came to terms with Jock's death. Smashing the crockery in the kitchen and wailing "Why Did You Leave Me!"

Barbara Bel Geddes was exceptional in the role, Donna Reed unfortunately never stood a chance. The viewers obviously identified Barbara as being the real Miss Ellie. Personally I liked her a lot. I know she wasn't Barbara but she still gave a dignified performance in the role.

What are your favourite memories of the Ewing Matriarch? May both of these outstanding actors, Barbara & Donna Rest In Peace.

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Mustard

Mustard

Telly Talk TV Fanatic
I like how Miss Ellie almost single-handedly bailed out J.R. from his disastrous stockpiling of the Farlows' crude oil in Season 5 DVD. I don't see how J.R. gets out of it without her. He was even protesting a bit when he heard what his mother was doing to sort the mess out, yet laughed once he was alone in the room. He knew he was off the hook.

I remember Miss Ellie most for her pearls of wisdom with other characters and her doing the general chores around Southfork, though. The Mastectomy episode was indeed powerful, and obviously very personal to Barbara Bel Geddes herself.
 
Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Telly Talk Champion
Mustard said:
I like how Miss Ellie almost single-handedly bailed out J.R. from his disastrous stockpiling of the Farlows' crude oil in Season 5 DVD. I don't see how J.R. gets out of it without her. He was even protesting a bit when he heard what his mother was doing to sort the mess out, yet laughed once he was alone in the room. He knew he was off the hook.

I remember Miss Ellie most for her pearls of wisdom with other characters and her doing the general chores around Southfork, though. The Mastectomy episode was indeed powerful, and obviously very personal to Barbara Bel Geddes herself.
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Yeah Barbara had to endure that condition herself in real life.

That's probably why she gave such a believable performance in the role.

I adore her as the Ewing matriarch. :love2:

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Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Luke_Krebbs_Ewing

Telly Talk Champion
CeeCee72 said:
Standing in the living room alone looking absolutely stunned and heartbroken after Parmelee told her he wasn't Jock.

I have always felt she really, deep down in her heart believed he was Jock and was devastated when he told her the truth.
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But we never actually see that scene on-screen.

Yeah Ellie says he told her that he wasn't Jock. But did he really say that? And if he did, did he really tell her the truth because he could see his family didn't believe him and he wanted to spare them any more pain?

The way she reacts by trying to stop Clayton going after him speaks volumes!

It's all up to the viewer. Maybe he was a fraud or maybe he was Jock Ewing all along. :)
 
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