MovieChat Forums > Comes a Horseman (1978) Discussion > Dallas TV Series

Dallas TV Series

posted 17 years ago by tgramful
10 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this movie for the first time tonight and I was surprised at the similarities with the Dallas series, including the name Ewing and Ella instead of Ellie, and actor named Farnsworth instead of characters Southworth or Wentworth, and even the presence of Jim Davis, who played Jock Ewing in the Dallas TV series, with oil barons versus cattle ranchers, surely this movie formed a model to build the Dallas TV series around. Some of the basic elements remain, greed, strong female role, fighting within the family, etc.

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 17 years ago

The trouble with your theory is that "Dallas" and "Comes a Horseman" were released in the same year. In fact, "Dallas actually premiered the month before "Comes a Horseman" was released. What I think we have here is an amusing coincidence, not one thing leading to another. Nice try, though.

[–] mojo2004 12 years ago

The trouble with your theory is that "Dallas" and "Comes a Horseman" were released in the same year. In fact, "Dallas actually premiered the month before "Comes a Horseman" was released. What I think we have here is an amusing coincidence, not one thing leading to another. Nice try, though.

The film was released in 1978 but it was filmed the year before. As someone said the stuntman who was killed during filming died in '77.

Just for the record, I'm not a Dude, I'm a Dudette!

[–] steveholy300 14 years ago

I've seen the movie today, and I totally agree with you,
the similarities are undeniable.

When this movie was realeased, Dallas was on its second season
(the first, if you don't count the first 5 episodes as a season)
and it was after the Dallas's 11th episode that 'Comes a Horseman'
was realeased.
I don't know, when 'Comes a Horseman' took the start.
It's hard to tell which one comes first, or there were some kind
of let's say ins'piration'.

[–] steveholy300 14 years ago

I've noticed one detail guys.
The stuntman James (Jim) Sheppard was killed while shooting the
last scene of the film. And his date of death is listed as
August 1977 which is definetely before the release date
of Dallas (April 1978).

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sawznhamrs-1 14 years ago

I don't know the details of the origin of the series or this movie, but checking who wrote the screenplay, and when THAT was written or what its source was could be key in establishing any relationship between the two, if any exists. Oh and note was made of Jane's natural beauty. I agree. She excellently portrayed her character, which required more restraint and downplay than anything. I was in college when the movie came out, and I missed nearly all movies then, but it was a great one to see in my insomniac state all these many years later. Caan and Robards were excellent also.

[–] parisel 12 years ago

And they are J.R. Ewing and J.W. Ewing..I can believe one coincidence, but that's one too many. And I've never even seen Dallas, or heard of this movie before today...Really liked it though.

I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.

[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

Amazing coincidences, but ultimately, that's all they are, right?

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

Yes, I agree.

I got a kick out of seeing Davis work for a Ewing in this movie, but after filming his role as Blocker here, he left to take up his foundation role as Jock Ewing in the TV series.

This just indicates to me, it was just a string of coincidences, between a film that wasn't a huge commercial success and a TV series that was, which happened to be developed around the same time.🐭

[–] WarpedRecord 9 years ago

It's no surprise that this film wasn't a huge hit, coming smack-dab in the middle of the Carter era when country wasn't chic – a few years before "Urban Cowboy" and the countrypolitan era. But I was surprised at what a hit "Dallas" was, and I have to say I was never a huge fan of the series. I guess the time was right for a night-time soap, regardless of the setting.