DALLAS: THE TWO MISS ELLIE'S

DALLAS TELEVISION CAST AND CREW DISCUSS DONNA REED AND BARBARA BEL GEDDES PLAYING THE ROLE OF MISS ELLIE ON DALLAS.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• DALLAS
• DALLAS TV SERIES
• BARBARA BEL GEDDES
• DONNA REED
• J.R EWING
• LARRY HAGMAN
• EWING

[The1983silence]

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!

[Shakeshack78]

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.

[jksonny]

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.).

[lightningboltthrster]

@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 !

[grayfortress]

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.

[bette1908]

Does the woman that played Donna Krebbs think because "it's Hollywood", that it should excuse their behavior?

[TheWaterfallprincess]

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.

[burtonrules123]

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.

[jasonROXcarlySUX]

never knew she played this role.

[TopandTang]

Donna Reed was a wimpy Miss Ellie...Barbara was the ONLY true Miss Ellie!

[bluenail03]

@adelgado75 Didn't the finally kill of Nicole? I 'think' so.