Dallas: The Early Years (TV 1986)

Prequel to the popular "Dallas" TV series focuses on the origins of the Ewing-Barnes feud during the 1930's. Larry Hagman provides the opening narration for the film. The story opens at a ... See full summary »

Director:

Larry Elikann

Writer:

David Jacobs

Stars:

David Marshall Grant, Dale Midkiff, Molly Hagan

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Marshall Grant	...	Willard 'Diggers' Barnes
Dale Midkiff	...	Jock Ewing
Molly Hagan	...	Ellie
David Wilson	...	Jason Ewing
Hoyt Axton	...	Aaron Southworth
Larry Hagman	...	J.R. Ewing
Bill Duke	...	Seth Foster
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Ed Porter
Diane Franklin	...	Amanda
Marshall Thompson	...	Dr. Ted Johnson
William Frankfather	...	Newman
Wendel Meldrum	...	Honey
Josef Rainer	...	Sam Culver (as Joe Rainer)
Marjie Rynearson	...	Barbara Southworth
Elizabeth Keifer	...	Cherie

Storyline

Prequel to the popular "Dallas" TV series focuses on the origins of the Ewing-Barnes feud during the 1930's. Larry Hagman provides the opening narration for the film. The story opens at a 1951 barbecue with "Digger" Barnes firing a shot at "Jock" Ewing. Immediately flashing back to the depression, the two men first meet in a boxcar as both are hoboing. Their original friendship is built on their desires to find oil. But their failings start as they both compete for the hand of the beautiful Miss Ellie. Jock is shown to be an honorable man caught up in a backlash. Digger is a neurotic, alcoholic with a gift for finding oil.

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Plot Keywords:

oil | feud | prequel | family relationships | marriage | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dallas quand tout a commencé...

Filming Locations:

Cloyce Box Ranch - 10514 E.Main St., Frisco, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roundelay, Lorimar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was originally intended for the character of Miss Ellie played by Barbara Bel Geddes to introduce this movie but because of ill health, the story was written to have J.R. (played by Larry Hagman) do the intro.

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Goofs

One of the musicians playing at the 1951 Armistice Day party is playing an electric bass guitar. In 1951, electric basses were in their infancy and were not yet available to the public in quantity. Even if this player was lucky enough to obtain one, its color would have been blonde or sunburst, not black. A more appropriate instrument for this scene would have been an upright acoustic bass.

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Quotes

[first lines]
J.R. Ewing: Well, I don't know how much help I can give you. Daddy didn't keep any records in the early years.

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Connections

Spun-off from Dallas (1978)

User Reviews

How the Ewings and Barnes families became entwined.

Excellent movie, well put-together, acting was superb. Gave an insight into what transpired to make the series Dallas and the characters in and around the Ewing family more understandable. Dale Midkiff made an excellent Jock. Couldn't have picked a better!!