Dynasty - The Complete First Season
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: John Forsythe, John James, Linda Evans, Pamela Bellwood, Pamela Sue MartinDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Extra tracks, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 719 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-04-19
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Dynasty - The Complete First Season
Movie Review: Still Timeless and Relevant
Summary: 5 Stars
Are general briefs of the entire season necessary? This show came to be known as a soap, but the first season is more like a drama. Yeah, it's devoid of catfights, of the B-word being tossed around, of Joan Collins (Alexis Morrel Carrington Colby Raun) scheming to get back at Blake for throwing her out of his mansion and lifestyle ... BUT ... this season is great and shows that this was more than just a flash in the pan. The creators of the show, Esther and Richard Shapiro, set out to tell a story of society as it was, and as it still is.
Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) is an oil tycoon. He's preparing to marry his former secretary, Krystle Jennings (Linda Evans). She's still in love with Matthew Blaisdale (Bo Hopkins), whom she had an affair with while his wife, Claudia (Bellwood) was in a mental institution. The wedding brings together the family and exposes it's many flaws. Blake's daughter Fallon (Pamela Sue Martin) is jelous, wanting her father all to herself. She gets involved with Cecil Colby, who'll help her father out if she marries his nephew, Jeff (John James). Then there's the Carrington rebel son Steven (Al Corley), who's struggling with his sexuality and his place in the world.
Everyone can find something to relate to in "Dynasty." Whether it's a dysfunctional family, issues of sexuality, or class struggles, there's a lot said in this series that simply caught me by surprise. The actors are all high class. The first season is different from all the other seasons. Yes, it's shorter, with only 13 episodes which clock in at 15 hours worth, but it's high quality story-telling and acting. Forsythe makes you hate Blake for how hard he is on Krystle and how demanding he is of Steven. Steven puts a new face on a bisexual male, one that today's t.v. really wouldn't handle.
The first episode was rather epic and was originally shown on ABC as a 3-hour event. As for the transfer to DVD, I thought it was rather good. I've heard complaints, but considering it was filmed in 1981, I think it's good. The story lines and acting are nothing like the rest of the series. Linda Evans plays a Krystle who isn't comfortable with wealth and she isn't comfortable with being Blake's lap-dog. Forsythe's Blake is hard-nosed and aged, hateful and angry and unable to manage his family while his business ventures take-off. Another breakout star is Bellwood, who plays a fragile Claudia Blaisdale. Her scenes with her on-screen daughter and others really help you to relate the all the wealth and glamour. Another great actor, Pamela Sue Martin, who plays the jealous daughter. She's witty, independent, and knows how to get to people.
I'd definately recommend that people listen to the commentary. I was disapointed with some of the commentary that went into the Dallas Season 1 and 2 set. Yet, Esther Shapiro really puts in a great effort by explaining everything in the three episodes which commentary is available. She'll explain the coming of Joan Collins, why they decided to spend so much time on Steven's sexuality, why this season was different from all the others. She puts the show in the context of the '80s, saying that they wanted to do a show about the wealthy but they wanted to tell it somewhat from the perspective of the ordinary man. Surprisingly, she also compares a lot of the scenes and characters to that of Dallas, which Dynasty was in constant competition with.
As for other bonus features, Al Corley (Steven), does commentary with Esther Shapiro for two episodes near the end of the season. He too is great to listen to. They don't just sit there and say, "oh, look, there I am. I remember liking that scene." He comments on how he was frustrated with Steven always being unsure of his sexuality, on the secrets behind little scenes such as the big trial, on what it was like behind the stage. "Family, Furs and Fun: Creating DYNASTY" isn't really a series overview as the box claims. It talks about the creation of the series and the characters. It's short but informative. Richard Shapiro speaks more here than his wife Esther. Fallon and Steven are profiled in "Dynasty's Daughter" and "Prodigal Son." I would ave liked it if it would have gotten the opinions of the actors who took over the roles in the later seasons, just to get an idea of how these characters changed. BUT, the great thing is that these segements contained candid interviews from Pamela Sue Martin and Al Corley as they are today. So they've had time to reflect on their experiences and their roles and they don't really hold back. Both are about five minutes each. Pamela Sue Martin goes into Fallon's character and the decision she made to leave the show.
This was such a great season and show that I'd recommend it to all. It's relevant to today because here we are, nearly two decades after the show first aired, still dealing with homosexuality, oil, wealth, greed, just as the characters in the show are. Birth control, drugs, sex ... that's all a part of this season as well and highly interesting. "Dynasty" is a timeless show that perhaps was derailed after Joan Collins stepped in and spiced things up, but definately should be included in your DVD collection.
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