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Dallas - Season 7
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Editorial
Synopsis
Pulling in viewers in their droves, DALLAS offered viewers a glimpse into the glamourous world of the Texan elite. Its mix of big hair, big shoulder pads, scandals, and melodrama proved to be a winning combination, catapulting the show into the echelons of soap opera royalty, and making it one of the biggest hits of the 1980s. Centred on the lives and affairs of the uber-rich Ewing family, DALLAS derived much of its drama from the decadent, materialistic values of the '80s; namely money, sex, and power. Starring Larry Hagman as the nefarious J.R. Ewing, the series also boasted a talented supporting cast, including Howard Keel, Patrick Duffy, Victoria Principal, Linda Gray, and many more. This release contains every episode from the show's seventh series.
The show was still raising some "gushers"!!!
Review date: 2008-06-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
"Dallas," though one of CBS's top-rated shows, was showing a slight drop in the ratings at the start of the show's SIXTH season.
The producers decided to add some controversy and spice to the show with a May-December romance between Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and her son's trainer, Peter (special guest Christopher Atkins). There is also the end of the beloved marriage of Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Pam (Victoria Principal) and the rekindling of a romance between Bobby and old flame Jenna Wade, now played by Priscilla Presley. The third highlight of the season sees the marriage of Ewing matriarch Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) and Clayton Farlow (Howard Keel).
Of course, of all the characters, the dominant character is still J.R. Ewing, superbly played by Larry Hagman. Hagman is given the best lines, indicative of his character's devilish persona, willing to do anything to keep Ewing Oil on top.
Woe to anyone that stands in his way...and that applies to family members, too.
Linda Gray has really grown as an actress and she gets many chances to show her thespian skills. Besides that, her distinctive walk, along with her marvelous figure, is presented in several key scenes around the Ewing pool.
With those three aforementioned major plot developments propelling much of the season, it would be easy to concentrate on those solely; however, this is "Dallas" and, like the state in which the soap takes place, is bigger and other story lines and characters routinely take center stage.
Steve Kanaly and Susan Howard (Ray and Donna Krebbs) are highlighted as their characters get embroiled in a case of euthanasia. Guest star Kate Reid is memorable as Ray's Aunt Lil.
Morgan Brittany shines as Katherine Wentworth, Pam's sister, who will do anything (including sleep with J.R) to conquer Bobby.
Ken Kerchevel's Cliff Barnes is still as social-climbing as ever, willing to sacrifice his morals, his family, and even his girlfriend Afton (Audrey Landers) to achieve his place in Dallas society and power.
Speaking of Afton, she continues to be the silent conscious of the show, being the first to notice Katherine's deviousness, Pam's inability to shake her divorce with Bobby, and her own dwindling relationship with Barnes. Landers' skill as an actress, as well as her "telling eyes," is showcased well this season.
J.R.'s secretary, Sly (Deborah Rennard), finds her loyalty tested but turns the tables on her blackmailer and becomes her boss's undercover agent.
New and equally interesting characters are introduced. As mentioned above, Peter becomes the "young stud" in Sue Ellen's life. Though Atkins does an admirable job as the Sue Ellen's suitor, his boyish looks betray him. He appears to be more like seventeen than his actual twenty-two years. His "intimacies" with the forty-something Gray almost border on the absurd.
40's movie star Alexis Smith joins the cast as Clayton's off-center and mysterious sister, Jessica. It is ironic that both she and Keel were MGM stars during that studios heyday.
The show would not be complete without appearances of other actors in their respective recurring roles: Fern Fitzgerald (the sexy Marilee Stone), Don Star (Jordan Lee), Morgan Woodward (Punk Anderson), Dennis Patrick (Vaughn Leland), and my personal favorite Pat Colbert (Dora Mae, the hostess of The Cattleman's Club).
As far as the DVD quality as a whole is concerned, the picture transfer could be better, befitting the status of the show in television history. If any show deserves re-mastery, it is the Lorimar production.
Also, there is only one extra: an interesting, albeit short, look at the men behind the music of "Dallas."
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Reviews
Bright Lights and Big Fights
Review date: 2008-02-14 Rating: 10 out of 10
This season is Dallas at its glitzy best. The sets get better, the lighting turns up a notch and the action moves to more upmarket joints, like the Oil Barons Club. J.R. is at his dastardly best, Swellin makes eyes at gorgeous young student Peter, and poor old Lucy is unlucky in love yet again. Pam and Bobby are still apart, and this series see the return of Jenna Wade, played by the gorgeous Priscilla Presley. John Ross Junior steals every scene he is in, due to his great acting, as does baby Christopher, but only because he never stops crying. The fashions are a delight as is the hair : the shoulder pads and backcombing get wider as the series progresses. Cliff is in the money for once but fool that he is, it's not long until he's back to making useless deals. And lovely Miss Ellie finds romance with Clayton Farlow. The dilemmmas are still there: how much food do these people eat and never put on weight? Why do they drink bourbon all day and then drive home? And why do so many rich people all have to share a house? A classic Dallas series: watch out for Katherine Wentworth, too. Pure soap villainy at its best.
Sensational 7!
Review date: 2008-01-01 Rating: 10 out of 10
A brilliant season of the classic texas drama from 1983/84. The production team appear to have raised the bar with this particular season with some great storylines to boot!
There are also some new additions to the series in the form of 'Blue Lagoon' star, Christopher Atkins and Elvis' ex-wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. Season 7 is nicely filmed with a great quality transfer to this DVD boxed set - the cover is fabulous too!
The character of Katharine Wentworth played by Morgan Brittany certainly comes into her own during this season, as she teams up with 'oil slime-king', Mr. J.R. Ewing in a big attempt to keep her sister and his brother apart for good. The scene between Bobby and Pam in 'Thanksgiving Square' is heartwrenchingly fabulous and is worth the price of the set alone!
Season 7 is an emotional roller-coaster in more ways than one, and the final episode cliff-hanger was a big shocker when first screened nearly twenty-five years ago. Don't be afraid to add this set to your collection - it's a definite must-have with some great writing, directing and acting. Plus, you are treated to another nice little DVD extra too!
It's gripping drama all the way in this award-winning television series.
Carry On Dallas !
Review date: 2007-10-27 Rating: 8 out of 10
It is true that after Jim Davis died Dallas got more & more over the top and downright implausible . It was good that Howard Keel turned up as Clayton Farlow and met Miss Ellie . JR needed to be kept in check as letting him run wild is not an enchanting prospect . The Mark Graison storyline is played out in a touching & sensitive manner while in the true Dallas tradition all the little sub-plots bubble a way nicely so that as with Season Three things build up a nice cresecendo and of course a cliff hanger to be resolved when season 8 comes out on DVD . Dallas proves that money does not buy happiness as the Ewings for all their money are not a happy crowd . Dallas captures the 1980's - both the greed and the opptimism alike . Larry Hagman did a great job as JR . But as it went on Dallas got dafter and season 7 starts the process of it sliding into comic self parody rather than being a seris drama . There was no need for Carry On Dallas to be filmed in Pinewood studios in 1987 as the actual programme to be spoofed was a comic parody already . The plot lines around JR , Sue Ellen , Miss Ellie and Bobby were daft enough by the mid 1980's without Kenneth Williams , Suzanne Dannielle , Joan Sims or Jim Dale doing an unecessary comic version in Carry On Dallas . Dallas Season Seven is to be watched I think as a tongue in cheek view of the 1980's - not as a serious piece of drama . A good way to relax as it is easy and at times funny to watch . Hence the view that JR is the one we love to hate !
The Ewing's Are Back
Review date: 2007-10-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
When I watched the first epsisode of Dallas when it first came out on DVD in 2004 at the age 13 I was hoooked. The life of the Ewings grasped me and ever since I've kept a close eye on when the boxsets came out. But for this series I was extremely excited as I was aware that many new characters were being introduced; the gorgeous Priscilla Beaulieu Presley as Bobby's first love with a baby that might possibly be Bobby's, Morgan Brittany as the evil Katherine Wentworth who worked with J.R. to split up her half sister Pam and Bobby, John Beck returns as Mark Graison the man trying to win over Pam;s heart and unfortunately does when her and Bobby's divorce is finalised, Sue Ellen continues her marriage with J.R. with a deal that allows both can sleep with whoever they please and she chooses her very own son's young counciler Peter Richards who is dating youn Licy Ewing, Audrey Landers also returns as Afton Cooper (Cliff's girlfriend) who is continuing her singing carrer and finally Howard Keel returns as Clayton Farlow but this time engaged to our very own Miss.Ellie.
And as always the resolution of the previous series cliffhanger, the Southfork fire in which no Ewings were hurt but Southfork was gutted. And as always family arguments, the sex, the money, the old relationships, the new relarionships, the crooked buisness deals, the lies and betrayl. Oh and not forgetting of course the tradition of the Barnes Ewing fued being fought out by J.R. with the resources of Ewing Oil and Cliff Barnes using his new resources as the head of Barnes/Wentworth. All in my opinion contributing to the 7th and in my opinion best season of Dallas so far.
All of tis leading up to the one of the most shocking cliffhangers ever, where 3 bullets are fired into J.R.'s chair at Ewing oil and the body of no other than Bobby Ewing slumping to the floor!!!!!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Patrick Duffy
Linda Gray
Larry Hagman
Howard Keel
Victoria Principal
Creators:
Larry Hagman (Primary Contributor)
Howard Keel (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321902123196
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 5
Format: Full Screen, PAL, Subtitled,
Release date: 2007-09-17
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 1421 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)