Dallas made some unfortunate casting mistakes (Leslie Stewart, Peter Richards, Jamie Ewing, James Beaumont, etc.) and Donna Reed is a good example. Reed was not a good fit for Ellie but it can't really be blamed on her. Reed was playing the exact type of character for which she was famous - a sweet, caring, understanding, nurturing woman. What did the show's producers/writers expect? Dallas, btw, also made some excellent casting decisions (Katherine, Wendell, Mandy, Donna, Jenna, April, etc.).
I think the producers of Dallas were cruel to Donna Reed. Unfortunately, as much as I love the show, there was definitely an undercurrent of improper treatment behind the scenes. Dack Rambo claimed he was so nervous doing the show he had to quit. Susan Howard was let go despite the fact the show already lost V Principal. Howard Keel complained his character was too weak and Jim Davis felt his character was sometimes too dumb. BBG quit again due to poor story lines.
the darker side of Hollywood...Donna Reed was just a pawn ..a victim of ruthless TV producers...the biggest mistake she made in her career was taking on the role of Miss Ellie..when Barbara left, the character should have been killed off.....poor Donna Reed sadly was thrown to the lions when cast to replace Geddes ..a challenge that would prove to be not only a disater for the show but a disaster for her personaly...Dallas lost its credability and Hollywood lost a fine actress.
I loved Donna in From Here To Eternity! But Miss Ellie was Barbara's part. It's a shame Donna got caught up in that mess to replace her. After that many years of playing the part of Ellie, it would be hard for audiences to accept anyone.........even Donna. If it had only been one or two seasons of the show it may have worked out better. But Barbara was too identified with the part.
@Shakeshack78 No, I don't agree! Though I love Donna Reed, i don't like that she played the part of a hooker. Too Classy a lady for such a part. Breaks my heart that she did! And I am sooo angry at the way they treated her on Dallas. What a great lady! Donna Reed is deserving of better credit than that! And she deserverved this! Beautiful lady, she was! It was wrong how they treated her! Larry Hagman is largely to blame...Bastard he was !
donna reed is a better actress, not to mention more famous and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more beautiful. she deserved better, and im glad she fought for her role even if it was meant for someone else. she was treated unfair and she was always such a kind and loveable woman.
BBG played beautifully in Dallas, and I love her very much, but again this does not justify the way everyone treated Donna Reed. It was exactly the same as JR treated everyone around him in the show. It was simply unethical and unjustifiable!
Totally agree about the bad lighting they had for Donna, but not sure why they would deny her that. Reed was a TV veteran and knew about the technical aspects from her old sitcom. It has been said the crew found her to be a "prima donna" when she gave them advice or asked them to film her a specific way. She did look old and tired in her first episode, especially in the bedroom scene in her nightgown. Thankfully, she looked better as the season went on, even though her part was diminished.
@amminoff If DR were a RELATIVE of Ellie's, maybe that would have made it better to accept her. TPTB DID slash Ellie's lines when DR took the role and i totally believe everything that DR said they did to her.
@bluenail03 Perhaps if they employed the voice over that announced a new actor in a role...
"The role of Nicole Drake is now being played by Lisa Sloan' That was heard many times on the soap opera EDGE OF NIGHT on ABC when a new actress was playing Nicole. Ironically Larry Hagman got his start on this soap opera. I guess nighttime television feels superior to soap operas.
@amminoff Agreed, BBG looks quite bad in this piece. On Dallas, you had actors that believed they "owned" the characters they played. Pushing Donna Reed out because BBG wanted back is not really justifiable. Then, Patrick Duffy insisted to producers that the Bobby character be killed as he never wanted to return to the role (which he did 1 year later). Then Victoria Principal has made comments that the Pam character should be "alive" as long as she (VP) is alive. Such arrogant entitlement.
I would've had BBG take a year off (Ellie would become ill and have to stay abroad; Clayton stayed at the ranch at her request to make sure JR behaved) then had Donna Reed come as Miss Ellie's sister in law who was married to Jason, thenhave her more social climbing than Ellie.
I think a part of the problem was Barbara Bel Geddes' Miss Ellie was a salt of the earth farm girl who had little interest in material things. Whereas Donna Reed's Miss Ellie was more of a wealthy socialite it turned a lot of viewers off probably
Dallas made some unfortunate casting mistakes (Leslie Stewart, Peter Richards, Jamie Ewing, James Beaumont, etc.) and Donna Reed is a good example. Reed was not a good fit for Ellie but it can't really be blamed on her. Reed was playing the exact type of character for which she was famous - a sweet, caring, understanding, nurturing woman. What did the show's producers/writers expect? Dallas, btw, also made some excellent casting decisions (Katherine, Wendell, Mandy, Donna, Jenna, April, etc.).
jksonny 2 weeks ago
I think the producers of Dallas were cruel to Donna Reed. Unfortunately, as much as I love the show, there was definitely an undercurrent of improper treatment behind the scenes. Dack Rambo claimed he was so nervous doing the show he had to quit. Susan Howard was let go despite the fact the show already lost V Principal. Howard Keel complained his character was too weak and Jim Davis felt his character was sometimes too dumb. BBG quit again due to poor story lines.
grayfortress 1 month ago
Does the woman that played Donna Krebbs think because "it's Hollywood", that it should excuse their behavior?
bette1908 2 months ago
the darker side of Hollywood...Donna Reed was just a pawn ..a victim of ruthless TV producers...the biggest mistake she made in her career was taking on the role of Miss Ellie..when Barbara left, the character should have been killed off.....poor Donna Reed sadly was thrown to the lions when cast to replace Geddes ..a challenge that would prove to be not only a disater for the show but a disaster for her personaly...Dallas lost its credability and Hollywood lost a fine actress.
TheWaterfallprincess 2 months ago
I loved Donna in From Here To Eternity! But Miss Ellie was Barbara's part. It's a shame Donna got caught up in that mess to replace her. After that many years of playing the part of Ellie, it would be hard for audiences to accept anyone.........even Donna. If it had only been one or two seasons of the show it may have worked out better. But Barbara was too identified with the part.
Shakeshack78 3 months ago
@Shakeshack78 No, I don't agree! Though I love Donna Reed, i don't like that she played the part of a hooker. Too Classy a lady for such a part. Breaks my heart that she did! And I am sooo angry at the way they treated her on Dallas. What a great lady! Donna Reed is deserving of better credit than that! And she deserverved this! Beautiful lady, she was! It was wrong how they treated her! Larry Hagman is largely to blame...Bastard he was !
lightningboltthrster 1 month ago
donna reed is a better actress, not to mention more famous and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more beautiful. she deserved better, and im glad she fought for her role even if it was meant for someone else. she was treated unfair and she was always such a kind and loveable woman.
burtonrules123 5 months ago
never knew she played this role.
jasonROXcarlySUX 6 months ago
Donna Reed was a wimpy Miss Ellie...Barbara was the ONLY true Miss Ellie!
TopandTang 6 months ago
My family and I loved Donna Reed in the role of Miss Ellie. She brought elegance and sofistication to the role. RIP Ms. Reed.
coloren1 8 months ago
BBG played beautifully in Dallas, and I love her very much, but again this does not justify the way everyone treated Donna Reed. It was exactly the same as JR treated everyone around him in the show. It was simply unethical and unjustifiable!
The1983silence 8 months ago 4
@The1983silence Well said :)
samboxed 8 months ago
Fuckers! They killed her with all that BS!
cbl1984 8 months ago
Comment removed
bette1908 9 months ago
Totally agree about the bad lighting they had for Donna, but not sure why they would deny her that. Reed was a TV veteran and knew about the technical aspects from her old sitcom. It has been said the crew found her to be a "prima donna" when she gave them advice or asked them to film her a specific way. She did look old and tired in her first episode, especially in the bedroom scene in her nightgown. Thankfully, she looked better as the season went on, even though her part was diminished.
kentgraovac 10 months ago
THERE IS ONLY ONE MISS ELLIE. THAT WILL ALWAYS BE DONNA REED!!
manussa77 11 months ago
Also, (for some reason) primetime soaps' recast never worked (ie, DYNASTY). It is not like daytime soaps where recast are the norm, in most cases.
bluenail03 11 months ago
Not a flattering portrait of Bel Geddes displayed here. She does comes out as ungrateful, greedy and jealous and envious.
I'm also one in favour for superbeautiful Ms Donna Reed in the role of miss Ellie!
amminoff 1 year ago
@amminoff If DR were a RELATIVE of Ellie's, maybe that would have made it better to accept her. TPTB DID slash Ellie's lines when DR took the role and i totally believe everything that DR said they did to her.
bluenail03 11 months ago
@bluenail03 Perhaps if they employed the voice over that announced a new actor in a role...
"The role of Nicole Drake is now being played by Lisa Sloan' That was heard many times on the soap opera EDGE OF NIGHT on ABC when a new actress was playing Nicole. Ironically Larry Hagman got his start on this soap opera. I guess nighttime television feels superior to soap operas.
adelgado75 7 months ago
@adelgado75 Didn't the finally kill of Nicole? I 'think' so.
bluenail03 7 months ago
@amminoff Agreed, BBG looks quite bad in this piece. On Dallas, you had actors that believed they "owned" the characters they played. Pushing Donna Reed out because BBG wanted back is not really justifiable. Then, Patrick Duffy insisted to producers that the Bobby character be killed as he never wanted to return to the role (which he did 1 year later). Then Victoria Principal has made comments that the Pam character should be "alive" as long as she (VP) is alive. Such arrogant entitlement.
redletter2008 9 months ago
BBG - what a stupid, ridiculous and greedy old hag! It sickens me!
Donna Reed was much much better in the role, far moore beautiful with a really lovely smile :)
linnet81 1 year ago
I would've had BBG take a year off (Ellie would become ill and have to stay abroad; Clayton stayed at the ranch at her request to make sure JR behaved) then had Donna Reed come as Miss Ellie's sister in law who was married to Jason, thenhave her more social climbing than Ellie.
Jenniferkate 1 year ago
I think a part of the problem was Barbara Bel Geddes' Miss Ellie was a salt of the earth farm girl who had little interest in material things. Whereas Donna Reed's Miss Ellie was more of a wealthy socialite it turned a lot of viewers off probably
crassyfrake 1 year ago