Watched Season 1 on DVD

[JCottle]

I recently watched the first season on dvd and really enjoyed it. I felt it was a solid beginning to the show. They really seemed to know what they were doing with the show. All of the characters and storylines were believable and Jane Wyman certainly stole the show as ruthless Angela Channing. At first you could see her as a JR type knock-off, but Wyman made the character her own, and I'm glad to read that she really enjoyed playing the role.

Season 1 really kept the family and their interactions at the center of the storylines, and the season long Uncle Jason storyline kept things flowing. The acting was also quite good with standouts by Wyman, Susan Sullivan, and particularly Margaret Ladd.
It also helped that, like Dallas, there was a lot of on-location filming to add a sense of authenticity to the show.

I worry that we won't get another season for a long time, if ever. I'm glad to see Dallas finishing up on dvd (years ago I wasn't sure they'd get past the dream season).
Hopefully Falcon Crest sold enough to warrant more releases.

I'm curious to see what others thought about season 1. Please mention both good and bad things about it. I'm trying not to spoil myself too much about future seasons, so I'd like to keep the discussion in this thread focused just on season 1.

[falconlanding]

Season 1 was an object lesson in how to attain viewers and retain them. They were able to grip the viewer right from the start but in a realistic way - you felt compelled to keep watching to see how the situations played out. Everything that happened is season 1 was grounded in reality; everything could have happened. Nothing was far fetched or unbelievable. The twists and turns were real and did not feel contrived. It was television without the "crash bang wallop" of today, without CGI, without the director giving you a headache with camera movements. The backing music was rich and orchestral and was pitched right.

The arrival of Chase and his family at Falcon Crest - with the car driving over the Golden Gate bridge and then on to the mansion at Falcon crest took well over a minute of airtime in itself. No narrative. Just the car moving with a soaring and robust orchestral score that moved from strings to piano. That piece of music alone will have taken hours to score and perform But no primetime show could dare take up viewers' "time" in such a way now. It would be cut to 5 seconds!

Indeed for today's generation the first season might be deemed too slow, too plodding. There may be cries of "get on with it".....the long narratives, the long pauses as actors enter and exit the scenes, the manners, the offer of a drink, the opening and closing of doors.....all of them would be deemed not relevant to the story and might cause annoyance to an impatient viewer who wants to get to the ending without the middle.

But it is the "middling" interactions that make the whole thing worthwhile. It kept you watching, it kept you guessing, and when you (the viewer) knew something the rest of the cast didn't know, you were hooked. Whilst there was lots of the "ordinary" and mundane interactions, there was always plenty of melodrama as well.

So for those who are impatient and don't like the "long game" drama with real narratives and interactions, season one would be difficult to watch. But for those of us who delight in rich, mindful acting and direction it is a sheer delight. It is a cliche, but they don't make television like that anymore. The whooping masses watching American Idol would be glad. I for one feel its passing.

[JCottle]

Fantastic analysis Falconlanding. I had read a few reviews of the first season dvd release and several made mention of the slow pacing. Watching it however, I didn't find it a bother, as it gives the viewer a chance to get to know the characters and history. You mentioned the long approach of Chase and family to the Falcon Crest property, and I recall a similar approach of Blake Carrington in his limo during the first episode/pilot of Dynasty. You are right though, that you don't see this kind of pacing on tv anymore. The attention span of general audiences has changed so much. It's a real shame.

[falconlanding]

The Falcon Crest Limo approach was very very Dynasty-esque, you are so right - it was just like Blake one. In fact the music, whilst clearly the Falcon Crest theme, had a touch of Dynasty about it as well. Perhaps the producers were showing that Falcon could compete with both Dallas and Dynasty!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHvcv...eature=related

A fine piece of composition.

[falconlanding]

And here is the Dynasty one for comparison (watch the whole clip). It is attached to the opening credits but it is even longer than the Falcon Crest one!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJFtj...eature=related

Again, no TV series would dare waste airtime in this way now.

Of course Bill Conti composed both theme tunes and what fine pieces of work they are too.

First episode of Dynasty was broadcast in January 1981 with the first episode of Falcon Crest in December 1981. I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery


By the way JCottle, if you liked Season 1 you are going to LOVE the even better Season 2. It is Season 1 with even more wheels on !

[JCottle]

Thanks for the link to the clip Falconlanding. I haven't seen that opening in Dynasty in a few years. It was also interesting to hear the expanded Dynasty theme. I knew both shows premiered in 1981, but wasn't sure which came first. Thanks for clearing that up. To me, Falcon Crest was a perfect hybrid between Dynasty and Dallas. It was down to earth, had the close knit family storylines and attention to character development of Dallas, with the elegance and high society feel of Dynasty.

Bill Conti did do an amazing score for both shows. It would be hard to choose a favorite of the two. Main themes like that are another thing you don't see on shows these days, particularly with cast "title cards". Now most shows want to have the names quickly flashed on the screen as the episode begins. I remember I was upset when after a few seasons Desperate Housewives' main theme was cut down to just a title card for the show and the entire Danny Elfman theme was lost.

I am looking forward to season 2 of Falcon Crest. I hope they go ahead and announce a release soon. I notice that there has been an official version released in countries other than the US, so I am hopeful we'll get one here in the US soon.

[falconlanding]

Thanks for the link to the clip Falconlanding. I haven't seen that opening in Dynasty in a few years. It was also interesting to hear the expanded Dynasty theme. I knew both shows premiered in 1981, but wasn't sure which came first. Thanks for clearing that up. To me, Falcon Crest was a perfect hybrid between Dynasty and Dallas. It was down to earth, had the close knit family storylines and attention to character development of Dallas, with the elegance and high society feel of Dynasty.

Bill Conti did do an amazing score for both shows. It would be hard to choose a favorite of the two. Main themes like that are another thing you don't see on shows these days, particularly with cast "title cards". Now most shows want to have the names quickly flashed on the screen as the episode begins. I remember I was upset when after a few seasons Desperate Housewives' main theme was cut down to just a title card for the show and the entire Danny Elfman theme was lost.

I am looking forward to season 2 of Falcon Crest. I hope they go ahead and announce a release soon. I notice that there has been an official version released in countries other than the US, so I am hopeful we'll get one here in the US soon.

Desperate Housewives is unbelievable. The later seasons are superimposing titles on screen way, way into the drama. It seems shows must be up and running with the bare minimum of formality these days.

Bill Conti also did The Colbys theme tune and even the sassy Cagney and Lacey themetune.

I am sure FC series 2 will get an official release in the US. It is the best season - everything good about season 1 but with even more wheels, whistles and bells.

[JCottle]

Totally agree about Desperate Housewives. Sadly the credits aren't the only thing lacking on that show these days. The writing has been sub-par in my opinion for several seasons.

I did know about Conti's score for The Colbys. I like how it has a few notes at the beginning that are identical to the beginning of the Dynasty theme. He also did a fantastic score for the miniseries North and South.

Yes, I am hoping for that FC season two release soon. I saw the cover online for the UK release. It was a nice deep red and looked to be a reverse of the season 1 cover.

Just a few other things about season 1 that I enjoyed:

The FC main house was nice and large but didn't seem so large that it wasn't inviting. It felt real, and I do like the gothic look that people have mentioned.

Sometimes the young cast of a show irritates me, but I didn't feel that way about Cole, Vicki, or Lance. They gave them adequate storyline and they pulled it off. The show didn't dwell too long on their storylines, and kept them interwoven with the rest.

I enjoyed how ruthless and cold Angela could be. Whereas JR did have a certain bit of loyalty to his parents on Dallas, Angela doesn't answer to or explain her actions to anyone. By that regard, she comes off as much more of a villain to me than JR. Her manipulations seemed much more psychological with her family, particularly Emma and Julia. She tried to keep her children very child-like and somehow manipulate their minds into thinking they are still teenagers. This was particularly effective with Julia because she did have the ability to leave the family (after how Angela treats her) but chooses not to. Emma is another case. Angela shows no warmth towards her daughter who already has enough issues of her own. She'd rather just keep her locked upstairs and not allow her to grow and enjoy life. I found that much more disturbing as a villain than a good bit of what JR did. Angela seems ashamed of her entire family.

I enjoyed all the rich history of the FC winery that season 1 started to get into. Seeing things like wine bottles with the FC logo, the winery itself, and pickers working within the vineyard gave another level of richness to the show. The family business is arguably as front and center as Ewing Oil is on Dallas.

Susan Sullivan is a terrific actress and I definitely enjoyed her as Maggie during season 1. She adds even more realism to the cast and show.

Just a few more thoughts...I'm sure I'll think of others....

[willie oleson]

I enjoyed all the rich history of the FC winery that season 1 started to get into. Seeing things like wine bottles with the FC logo, the winery itself, and pickers working within the vineyard gave another level of richness to the show. The family business is arguably as front and center as Ewing Oil is on Dallas

I loved to watch the Gioberti's working the vineyards like a sort of INGALLS family, with all the struggles and disappointments.

[JCottle]

I loved to watch the Gioberti's working the vineyards like a sort of INGALLS family, with all the struggles and disappointments.

That is a very good comparison. I think that really helped to keep the show grounded. Even though they were rich, we literally got to see what made them rich and how they were always in the "front lines" of it, rather than just simply sitting back and enjoying the riches while someone else did all the real work.