Dallas: The Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (DVD)

When "Dallas" premiered as a five-part trial miniseries in 1978, it followed on the heels of the last primetime soap opera, "Peyton Place." While the earlier show had the benefit of being adapted from a bestselling novel and successful movie adaptation, "Dallas" could only find itself being a distant reminder of "Giant," featuring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean, a film about the struggle between two powerful Texas oil families.Also, "Peyton Place" had a cast of established stars (Oscar winner Dorothy Malone and Ed Nelson) and exciting up and comers (Mia Farrow, Barbara Parkins, and Ryan O'Neal, among others). "Dallas" boasted an actor known primarily for his successful comedic turn as an astronaut saddled with a mischievous genie (Larry Hagman in "I Dream of Jeanie"); a veteran of stage and screen (Barbara Bel Geddes); an actor that starred in the short-lived sci-fi show "The Man from Atlantis" (Patrick Duffy); an actor that had been featured in countless westerns (Jim Davis); and an actress that had some less-than-stellar appearances in television and on film (Victoria Principal). The other key roles on the show were assigned to performers that were virtual unknowns to TV audiences (Steve Kanaly, Ken Kerchival, Linda Gray, and Charlene Tilton).However, once "Dallas" premiered, it was obvious that America found something engaging about the ongoing saga of the wealthy Ewing clan and its ongoing battle to remain at the top, regardless of whatever bodies fall by the wayside. Most popular of the show's characters was the anti-hero J.R., played by Hagman. J.R. was ruthlessness personified and Hagman obviously relished playing the part.The actor could do more with a pause, a look, or an aside than more actors could do with entire pages of dialogue. Witness his look in the late-in-the-season installment, "Call Girl," when he discovers that his plan to drive hated sister-in-law Pam (Principal) out of the family has fallen through and hears her voice behind him.In the words of the credit card commercial, his expression is priceless.As far as the total DVD compilation is concerned, the show is addictive as each episode delves into not just J.R.'s machinations and addresses such topics as drug and alcohol addiction, environmental concerns, marital strife, sexuality, family in-fighting, and adolescent wanderings.Yes, for all their wealth, the Ewings reflected the America of its day.Besides Hagman's award-deserving performance, the other performers are equally up to the task. Of the remaining cast members, it is Linda Gray's longsuffering "Sue Ellen" that emerges as the breakout performance of the series. Intially a secondary character, Sue Ellen develops as the character with whom the audience can most sympathize: a woman in a loveless marriage to a man to whom she is no more than a trinket of his romantic conquest. Her scenes with Hagman, often vicious and filled with histrionics, are the stuff of legend and both actors go at it, tooth and nail.The best examples of Gray's work can be seen in the installments "Act of Love," "For Love of Money," "Sue Ellen's Sister," and "John Ewing III (Parts I and II)".The first season compilation also boasts guest star turns from a couple of western performers and one of the cast of another classic 60's comedy. Gene Evans is great as Miss Ellie's brother, Garrison, in "Home Again," while John McIntyre appears as a revered statesman in "The Outsiders." The latter episode also features Susan Howard who would later become one of the regulars in a few seasons to come.Tina Louise, late of "Gilligan's Island," appears in several episodes as J.R.'s secretary Julie, the holder of many of her boss's sinister business dealings.Also, there are appearances of future stars of film and television: Brian Dennehy, Kate Mulgrew, Peter Horton, Veronica Hamel, and Greg Evigan.Even the secondary tier of actors, those whose characters are essential to the storyline are memorable, chief among these being Fern Fitzgerald as "Marilee Stone," the wife of one of J.R.'s chief allies and Barbara Babcock as Pam's boss, Liz Craig.This DVD collection would also mark the first and last appearance by actors whose part will be recast in later seasons, to the betterment of the show: David Wayne's "Digger Barnes" would be later portrayed by movie legend Keenan Wynn while Colleen Camp's "Kristen Sheppard" would find itself more memorably assayed by Mary Crosby.One thing to note about a welcome change in later seasons was the change in the characters of Lucy (Tilton) and Ray (Kanaly). Though the characters had had a romantic relationship in the miniseries, as well as for much of the first half of the initial season, the producers wisely choice to eventually downplay it and ultimately remove it from the show.This is especially beneficial in that in later seasons, it would be revealed that Ray was the illegitimate son of Ewing patriarch Jock, making him Lucy's uncle.Pedophilia and incest are two things that this series didn't need to add to its other melodramatic trappings.

This stylish Warner Brothers' five-disc set contains the inaugural 29 "Dallas" episodes (out of a total of 357 aired during the show's CBS-TV network run of 13-plus years), with every wheeling-dealing moment and bickering family feud Digitally realized via this great format known as "DVD". This set combines the so-called 5-episode "Mini-Series" with the first FULL season (1978-1979). So we're getting two seasons (sort of) in one collection here.The series began on April 2, 1978, with "Digger's Daughter", which has Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) coming home to Dallas with new bride, Pam (Victoria Principal), in tow. And seeing as how Pamela is "Digger's Daughter", we know we're not going to be experiencing a comfortable day at the beach from the get-go of this ultra-popular prime-time soap opera. Because, you see, "Digger" is not exactly thought too highly of around Ewing territory -- and vice-versa. A great debut episode!Video and audio quality rate pretty good marks here (IMHO). Picture quality is kind of hit-&-miss in places, with some portions looking better than others. The opening credits are speckled with artifacts and grain (which seems to be common among a lot of TV-on-DVD products being produced; evidently many DVD companies don't go to the added expense to "clean up" the repetitive opening and closing credit sequences on many TV series).Colors aren't super-bright on this DVD set, but they aren't extremely dull either. For the most part, I'd say the shows look and sound fairly good on these Digital Discs. A good representation of how the first seasons of "Dallas" looked when the episodes first aired on network TV.The original Full-Screen television ratio (1.33:1) is used for these twenty-nine episodes; while audio comes from highly-adequate Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono tracks (English only). (The Audio Commentary tracks are in DD 2.0.) The distinctive opening theme music comes across very nicely here, via the 1-channel Dolby Digital audio. The booming "Dallas" theme is one of the best ever written for a TV series, in my opinion.These "Dallas" programs are definitely presented here in their original full and UNCUT form, with a run time of approximately 48 minutes per episode. This running time *does* include the "trailer" clips at the beginning of each show, just as they were originally broadcast on CBS-TV in 1978 and 1979. However, the "Next Week On Dallas..." trailers (with clips of the next episode in the series) are not included on these DVDs.Special Features:>> "Soap Talk: Dallas Reunion" (42 minutes). This fun bonus feature serves up new (2003) interviews with members of the "Dallas" cast (Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, and Charlene Tilton). The four famous "Ewings" fondly reminisce about the show. The genuine affection these actors and actresses have for each other is quite readily apparent and easily shows through during this entertaining "Soap Talk" bonus. Video clips from various "Dallas" episodes are also shown during this program. Pretty good stuff.>> Audio Commentaries for three episodes. Participating in the commentary tracks are Larry Hagman, Charlene Tilton, and series' creator David Jacobs. .... The three episodes featuring the commentary tracks are: "Digger's Daughter", "Reunion (Part 1)", and "Reunion (Part 2)".>> Subtitles can be accessed in English and French, as well as Spanish.>> A "Play All Episodes" option is included on all discs.Packaging:Warner Home Video gives us these 29 "Dallas" episodes in an attractive fold-out "Digipak" type of box, with some nice artwork adorning it. The inner case, which slides out very easily from its outer slipcover, securely holds the five double-sided discs. When all 5 discs are removed from their individual tray holders, a grandiose picture of the skyline of downtown Dallas emerges, with large letters (in the familiar font associated with this TV series) spelling out "DALLAS" laid over the top of the skyline image. Quite impressive indeed.No booklet is included with this DVD set. Instead, episode information (with original CBS air dates) is shown on the various flaps of the inner disc-housing part of the package.Menus:The Menus are all static, with no lengthy animations of any kind. From the Main Menu, you can access Sub-Menus of: "Episodes", "Languages", and "Special Features" (on applicable discs). Selecting "Play" from the Main Menu will play all the episodes on that side of the disc. Discs 1 through 4 each contain three episodes per side. Disc 5 has three programs on Side A, and 2 shows (plus bonus material) on Side B. Each time you return to a disc's Main Menu, the rousing "Dallas" theme song plays all the way through (just like on the opening credits for every episode). The theme music repeats if the Main Menu remains on-screen.Chapter breaks are included on all episodes, including a much-appreciated chapter stop immediately after the opening titles.Watching these top-notch episodes again on DVD makes a "Dallas" fan yearn for the next installment in the series on Digital Disc, which will include the most famous "cliffhanger" in TV history -- when J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) falls victim to a bullet in episode 54, "A House Divided".

I have to buy Dallas DVD’s individually because the full set isn’t compatible with my DVD player. A favorite show of mine.

It's good. Only problem is that the sound quality is bad and you have to hike up the telly to full to hear it. Some of them characters are difficult to hear because of this.Anyhoo , loving the series. I forgot good it was. And the gorgeous Victoria Principle is so enchanting. It brought all the years at school that I wanted to be just like her.

Havent watched them yet but I am sure I wont be disappointed.

Purchased for my Dad who was obsessed w Dallas (the original) - he was shocked and HAPPY to receive this!

Seasons 1 and 2 in Dallas are not the best. But it's still important to watch them for the future. Also I understand English but the Texas accent is a bit more difficult for me. Notice to Quebeckers who like me, uses Google Translate to write comments.

All these episodes were great and I would like to watch them all over again. It was truly the best show back in the 70's. If you are watching the new Dallas episodes on TV now, then you truly like to watch the early episodes to see how it all happened.