Donna Reed and Dallas

[ansara1]

What's the story about Donna Reed's treatment on Dallas - particularly from Larry Hagman? I have wondered about this and tried to look up articles on it but never found anything. Does anyone have any information on it? I thought I heard Hagman say one time he wasn't aware of everything that was going on which I find VERY hard to believe since (from what I've always heard) he was pretty much in charge of the show by that point (or at least one of the top people in charge of running things). ...and if he was responsible - WHY was he (and whomever else) so cruel to her? Was it because they wanted "the original Miss Ellie" back so badly or because she was a strong woman with her own ideas and wasn't just a "yes man" to Hagman and the others in charge- or both? I appreciate any articles anyone can direct me to and / or any information in general anyone has on this topic! Thanks:)

[Dr. Thong]

I really don't know what happened behind the scenes, but I suspect that while Reed was a good actress, it just wasn't the same Miss Ellie and they decided to bring back Barbara Bel Geddes.

I know that the loss of the role hurt Reed and that she passed away not long after being fired.

The irony, though, is that while they went through such drama to bring back Bel Geddes, they had no problem letting her go a few years later.

[MickeyMac]

Pretty much from what I know everyone wanted Barbara Bel Geddes to come back, and Donna Reed was dismissed. She later sued the show. Ironically it was the season that Bel Geddes returned that turned out to be the dream season which is the least favorite by Hagman and the rest of the cast.


Bel Geddes wasnt later fired. She left over a contract dispute, and the spend the first part of the last season trying to get her back, but it didnt happen.

[ansara1]

Thanks. What do you know (or did you read / hear) about Larry Hagman's treatment of her?

Pretty much from what I know everyone wanted Barbara Bel Geddes to come back, and Donna Reed was dismissed. She later sued the show. Ironically it was the season that Bel Geddes returned that turned out to be the dream season which is the least favorite by Hagman and the rest of the cast.


Bel Geddes wasnt later fired. She left over a contract dispute, and the spend the first part of the last season trying to get her back, but it didnt happen.

[old grouch]

As much as I love Donna Reed, I really didn't care much for her as Miss Ellie. Barbara Bel Geddes owned that role, and Donna seemed like a poor substitute. Besides, she seemed too young to be playing Larry Hagman's mother. They should have created an original role for her, such as a long lost aunt.

[MickeyMac]

Thanks. What do you know (or did you read / hear) about Larry Hagman's treatment of her?



I havent heard or read anything on how Hagman treated Reed on the show, so I cant say.

[MickeyMac]

As much as I love Donna Reed, I really didn't care much for her as Miss Ellie. Barbara Bel Geddes owned that role, and Donna seemed like a poor substitute. Besides, she seemed too young to be playing Larry Hagman's mother. They should have created an original role for her, such as a long lost aunt.




Well keep in mind that Barbara Bel Geddes is only ten years older than Larry Hagman.

[catlover79]

I feel bad that Donna had such an unfortunate experience with Dallas. Several of us here at SO are Facebook friends with Donna's daughter Mary Owen, who herself has stated she is still angry when she thinks about her mother's treatment on that show. On top of that, Donna became ill with cancer and died not long after being let go from the series. :(

[ansara1]

Has her daughter ever commented on Hagman's treatment of her mother or on any of the other cast members?

I feel bad that Donna had such an unfortunate experience with Dallas. Several of us here at SO are Facebook friends with Donna's daughter Mary Owen, who herself has stated she is still angry when she thinks about her mother's treatment on that show. On top of that, Donna became ill with cancer and died not long after being let go from the series. :(

[catlover79]

Has her daughter ever commented on Hagman's treatment of her mother or on any of the other cast members?

Not to me she hasn't - Mary just said the whole experience was not a good one for her mother. :(

[Stuck In The '70's]

What happened to Donna was very sad. She should have been treated better. The problem was the fans of Dallas never excepted her. She was a great actress and I liked her on TDRS and many of her movies but she was awful as Miss Ellie. The Producers should have handled things better. I don't know about her relationship with Larry. I heard it wasn't very good but I've never heard Larry say anything bad about her.

[Kasey]

I read a biography on Donna about 10 years ago. Most of my books are stacked away in a Rubbermaid container so I can't pull it out right now and verify but from what I remember Donna was surprised on her return to TV how rushed everything seemed to be on "Dallas". She remarked it made the time and care taken on her old series "look like 'Gone With the Wind'".

Don't forget she had been very active behind-the-scenes of TDRS and knew the technical aspects of series television. That's why she was so upset when the "Dallas" crew did not give her flattering lighting, etc.

Maybe Larry was expecting her to come in and just do the job and not make waves. I am not saying she was wrong in doing so, she just may have ruffled a few feathers among such an established working environment. I also read somewhere else than when Larry wanted someone out--they were usually out. Dack Rambo was another casualty of "Dallas" for that reason.

Not trying to smear anyone, just trying to answer your questions.

[catlover79]

I read in a book called Soap Opera Babylon that when Barbara Bel Geddes first left the show, Larry Hagman wanted his own mother (Broadway actress Mary Martin) to play Miss Ellie, but things couldn't be worked out. It seems like Mr. Hagman was a bit like J.R. off camera as well - he could be kind of ruthless.

[ansara1]

I hate to say it but I'm not surprised. He wanted I Dream of Jeannie to be "The Larry Hagman Show." According to the "Dreaming of Jeannie" book he got the first season director, Gene Nelson (he directed the first eight episodes) fired. He was always complaining about scripts and in the second season of the show he urinated on the set when everyone left because he was so mad (he and Sidney Sheldon had "discussions" and ironically it was that same season Sheldon was nominated for an Emmy for best writing on I Dream of Jeannie). He was so rude to guest star Sammy Davis Jr. that Barbara had to step in and talk Sammy into staying and finishing the show. In the first season he was so much trouble there was talk of having someone else find Jeannie's bottle and be her new master so they could get rid of Larry (I think that was director Gene Nelson's idea - the one Larry got fired). Apparently Barbara, who didn't speak up much or make many waves, HAD TO (speak up for Larry) on more than one occasion to save Larry from being fired (Bill Daily has stated this). It's funny - because he wanted to be the "star" when he was virtually an unknown when Jeannie started. He had done some theatre and the soap opera, The Edge of Night when Jeannie started whereas Barbara had been in numerous features and TV series in guest roles (as well as starring in the TV version "How To Marry A Millionaire"). Other than having Mary Martin as his mother he was virtually an unknown. Anyway, the show was I Dream of JEANNIE - like I Love LUCY - though inspite of all of this he somewhow wanted to be the star and run things. Granted he was an invaluable and a major part of the series - and ONE OF the stars - but it was Barbara who was definately THE star of the show. I like Larry Hagman but am not fond of some of his behavior and treatment of Jeannie (for many years he wouldn't speak of it until now when he realizes it's longevity and "staying power" in syndication, etc. - he's actually admitted more people recognize him more NOW from Jeannie than from Dallas) and how he treated Donna Reed, etc. Also, from everything I've heard and read I think he has always maintained this same egocentric attitude since his days on Jeannie and is nice as long as he is getting his way. Obviously Donna Reed didn't cow down to him. I hate she had to endure his ego and his wrath.

I read in a book called Soap Opera Babylon that when Barbara Bel Geddes first left the show, Larry Hagman wanted his own mother (Broadway actress Mary Martin) to play Miss Ellie, but things couldn't be worked out. It seems like Mr. Hagman was a bit like J.R. off camera as well - he could be kind of ruthless.

[MickeyMac]

I really loved Donna, she was a wonderful woman, what happened with her was that she got off a plane in Paris during our hiatus and a journalist ran up to her and said 'What does it feel like being fired from Dallas?' , and that was the first time she had been aware of that. Which I thought was kind of awful, you would of thought, call her agent, maybe they did and the agent didn't get a hold of her. You know Hollywood is a weird and wonderful place, I didn't know I Dream of Jeanie had been cancelled after 5 years until I went back to go on the lot to pick up some clothes and things I had in my dressing room and the guy asked me who I was and I said 'Bill this is Larry Hagman Hagman' , "Well I'm sorry Mr Hagman there is no pass down here for you", and I said "Really why?" and he said "You know your shows been cancelled". That's the first time I knew about it too, this is a weird and wonderful town. So I don't know what she said about me to tell you the truth, I don't know if it was her herself or her husband, or her agent. You never know about these things some things are printed maliciously in a magazine like the Star or the National Enquirer, one of those things. It's just superstition and they just want to sell some papers. That quote may have come from something like that, that often happens. I don;t think much of it, there's nothing much you can do about it anyhow. I loved her, I thought she was a wonderful girl and as far as Dack was concerned I didn't even know he was gay for gods sake, I mean I'm pretty naive about some things. It never occurred to me he was gay.





Above is an online quote from Hagman.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I really loved Donna, she was a wonderful woman, what happened with her was that she got off a plane in Paris during our hiatus and a journalist ran up to her and said 'What does it feel like being fired from Dallas?' , and that was the first time she had been aware of that. Which I thought was kind of awful, you would of thought, call her agent, maybe they did and the agent didn't get a hold of her. You know Hollywood is a weird and wonderful place, I didn't know I Dream of Jeanie had been cancelled after 5 years until I went back to go on the lot to pick up some clothes and things I had in my dressing room and the guy asked me who I was and I said 'Bill this is Larry Hagman Hagman' , "Well I'm sorry Mr Hagman there is no pass down here for you", and I said "Really why?" and he said "You know your shows been cancelled". That's the first time I knew about it too, this is a weird and wonderful town. So I don't know what she said about me to tell you the truth, I don't know if it was her herself or her husband, or her agent. You never know about these things some things are printed maliciously in a magazine like the Star or the National Enquirer, one of those things. It's just superstition and they just want to sell some papers. That quote may have come from something like that, that often happens. I don;t think much of it, there's nothing much you can do about it anyhow. I loved her, I thought she was a wonderful girl and as far as Dack was concerned I didn't even know he was gay for gods sake, I mean I'm pretty naive about some things. It never occurred to me he was gay.





Above is an online quote from Hagman.
I think I read that before.

He's never said anything bad about Donna. There has been alot of discussion of this over on the Dallas TV show board. I don't know what happened. All I know is what I remember. Donna was never accepted by the fans of Dallas and you can tell that her number of scenes on the show went down as the season went on. I never saw any bad lighting that she talks about. I never knew until a few years ago that the Producers fired Barbara Bel Geddes because she wanted to work less hours because she was recovering from her heart surgery. She had done that the season before but the producers refused this time. They thought anyone could replace her but they were wrong. They were also wrong in not telling Donna that it wasn't working out. They should have paid her what she wanted and admitted that they made a mistake.

[MickeyMac]

Yeah I agree with the above comment.


Eventually the producers realized how valuable their cast was. When Duffy returned to the show, they gave him a big bonus just for signing the contracts, and he ended up making almost as much as Larry Hagman.

[catlover79]

Even Barbara Bel Geddes was quoted in the press as saying the higher-ups could've handled Miss Reed's departure more diplomatically.

[ThomasE]

Personally, I did not have a problem with Donna Reed as Ms. Ellie. I thought she was great and she looked good with the actor Howard Keel who played Clayton. I did not see a problem. Barbara Bel Geddes was Ms. Ellie and I loved her in the role. I can understand why they wanted her back. And if that was the case, then the producers should have given Donna Reed the money for her three year contract instead of forcing her to sue to get it. I'm glad Donna won her case.

[Steve_uk]

I agree with many of the above comments. Donna Reed should not have been brought in to fill Barbara Bel Geddes' shoes,and did not fail to disappoint. When Barbara herself came back she looked ill and I don't think that part ever had the weight it once did. Bobby's character lacked credibility after his "resurrection",and I'm afraid the show just staggered on and the death throes became terminal.