Dallas: The Early Years

Summary

Dallas: The Early Years is a 1986 American made-for-television drama film and a prequel to the television series Dallas. The three-hour film aired on CBS on March 23, 1986 between the 26th and 27th episodes of the 1985–1986 ninth season of Dallas.

Dallas: The Early Years
GenreDrama
Based onDallas
by David Jacobs
Written byDavid Jacobs
Directed byLarry Elikann
Starring
Theme music composerJerrold Immel
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • David Jacobs
  • Malcolm Stuart
ProducerJoseph B. Wallenstein
Production locations
CinematographyNeil Roach
EditorHarry Kaye
Running time180 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 23, 1986 (1986-03-23)
Related
Dallas

Plot edit

Written by series creator David Jacobs, the movie chronicles the exploits of Jock Ewing, Ellie Southworth, and Willard "Digger" Barnes from 1933 to 1951, and firmly established the background story of Dallas and how the long and ongoing feud between Jock and Digger started. Larry Hagman also appears in the opening sequence as his character, J.R. Ewing, being interviewed by a reporter who is researching the Barnes – Ewing feud.

While focusing on the triangle of Jock – Ellie – Digger, the movie also features Jock's brother, Jason, and Miss Ellie's father, Aaron, as starring characters. It shows the origins of the Ewing Oil, and Jock's schemings to make it big, and it deals with the inter-family relations of the Ewings, the Barnes, and the Southworths. It also shows Jock's first marriage to Amanda Lewis, and Ellie's relationship with her mother, Barbara, and brother, Garrison.

Cast edit

Starring
Introduced by
Also starring
Guest starring
Co-starring
  • Joe Berryman as Roscoe
  • Angie Bolling as Deborah Culver
  • Blue Deckert as Card Player
  • Cynthia Dorn as Jeanne
  • Bob Hannah as the Sheriff
  • Norma Moore as Maggie Barnes
  • Karen Radcliffe as the Hooker
  • Terrence Riggins as Benjamin Foster
  • Norma Allen as Townswoman
  • Jesse Baca as Driver
  • Ryan Beadle as young Bobby Ewing
  • Frank Bell as Sharecropper
  • Terry Evans as Young Man
  • Johnny Felder as young Cliff Barnes
  • Lee Gideon as Haskins
  • Max Harvey as Farmer
  • Rhashell Hunter as Priscilla Foster
  • Joyce Ingle as Townswoman
  • George Leverett as Square Dance Caller
  • Bennie Moore as young Benjamin Foster
  • Tony Morris as Ranch Hand
  • Chuck Page as Townsman
  • Peyton Park as the Justice
  • Jim Ponds as Farmer
  • Ray Redd as Townsman
  • Debra Lynn Rogeras as Joanne Haskins
  • Rose Mari Roundtree as Girlfriend
  • Mike Shanks as Hobo
  • Gena Sleete as Townswoman
  • Louanne Stephens as Woman
  • Fred Vest as Ranch Hand
  • Woody Watson as Legionnaire
  • Andrea Wauters as young Pamela Barnes
  • Bethany Wright as Laurette
  • Joel Allen as Gary Ewing (uncredited)

Home media edit

Warner Home Video released Dallas: The Early Years on DVD April 12, 2011 on the Dallas: The Movie Collection two-disc set.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ Lambert, David (8 February 2011). "Dallas - Package Art - Front and Rear - Finally Arrives for 'The Movie Collection' DVDs". TVShowsOnDVD.Com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.

External links edit

  • Dallas: The Early Years at IMDb  
  • Ultimate Dallas: Official Guide to the series