"Falcon Crest" (1981) TV series 1981-1990

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Creator:

Earl Hamner Jr.

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

4 joulukuu 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Set in the vineyards of California, this prime-time soap opera featured the conflict between two families: the Channings...

Plot Keywords:

Vineyard | Soap | Falcon | Wealth | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 46 nominations

Cast

Jane Wyman	...	Angela Channing (228 episodes, 1981-1990)
Lorenzo Lamas	...	Lance Cumson (228 episodes, 1981-1990)
Chao Li Chi	...	Chao-Li Chi / ... (215 episodes, 1981-1990)
David Selby	...	Richard Channing (209 episodes, 1982-1990)
Susan Sullivan	...	Maggie Gioberti / ... (207 episodes, 1981-1989)
Margaret Ladd	...	Emma Channing / ... (193 episodes, 1981-1989)
Ana Alicia	...	Melissa Agretti Cumson / ... (178 episodes, 1982-1989)
Robert Foxworth	...	Chase Gioberti (155 episodes, 1981-1987)
William R. Moses	...	Cole Gioberti (140 episodes, 1981-1987)
Abby Dalton	...	Julia Cumson / ... (98 episodes, 1981-1986)

Runtime:

60 min (227 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Napa Valley, California, USA

Company:

Amanda & MF

Trivia:

Jane Wyman and Lorenzo Lamas were the only actors that were part of the main cast through out the entire series. Lorenzo Lamas was the only actor who appeared in all 227 episodes. Jane Wyman was absent in 3 episodes prior to the final season(due to temporary health conditions), and then 16 more episodes during the ninth and final season. That gave Wyman a total of 208 appearances during 227 episodes, which in turn means that David Selby beat Wyman by one episode, even though Selby didn't appear until the start of the second season, as he was present in all 209 episodes from season 2 through 9. Chao Li Chi wasn't a part of the main cast during the 6 first seasons, but still only missed 7 episodes up until season 7. For the last three seasons Chi was promoted to the main cast, with the exception of 7 episodes during season 9 where he was temporarily denoted from the main cast, which gives him the third highest episode count as part of the cast, at 214 episodes. But Chi was in turn absent from another 26 credited episodes during the final three seasons, lowering his actual appearances to 188 episodes, which in turn means that not only David Selby, but also Susan Sullivan passes by Chi in number of appearances, as Sullivan was present during all of the series first 207 episodes, until she left the main cast and the show. Clocking in at 188 appearances, Chi beats Margaret Ladd by five episodes, as Ladd appeared in 183 episodes out of the 193 in which she was part of the cast. (Note: Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, William R. Moses, Jamie Rose, Abby Dalton and Chao-Li Chi each has one added episode count to their total number of credits in the IMDb database, as they were also present in the unaired pilot.

Quotes:

Richard Channing Denault: Angela declared war on me before I even set foot in this valley. I'll tell you what I want. I want her head, and Chase's along side it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "On the Waterfront: (#3.5)" (1989)

Oscar winner Jane Wyman ruled the court!

Wyman, The former wife 39th President Ronald Reagan triumphantly returned to television in the nighttime soap opera "Falcon Crest". For most of the show's nine-year run, no one could best Jane Wyman's "Angela Channing," the writers providing her with the best lines, the best wardrobe, and, in most episodes, the final scene. It wasn't until the show's last season that poor health prevented her from appearing in no more than the first and last installments.

However, she was surrounded by a cast of superb performers. Though Robert Foxworth received second billing, it was evident that other characters were more popular. Susan Sullivan, already a favorite from the daily soap "Another World," gained a wider audience as Chase's wife Maggie, following his dream to achieve success as a wine maker. William R. Moses and, initially, Jamie Rose were their children, brought into a community to which they were ill-suited. Lorenzo Lamas and Ana Alicia as Angela's grandson and granddaughter-in-law provided enough tension, in and out of the bedroom, to supply several soap operas. Margaret Ladd as "looney" daughter "Emma" was a treat to watch each week, as was Abby Dalton as her manipulative sister and the mother to Lamas's character. Chao Li Chi played the chauffeur and confidant to Mrs. Channing.

Possibly the most popular characterization was David Selby as "Richard Channing," Angela's chief nemesis that would later be revealed as her son. Their ongoing battles were priceless.

Other cast members came and went, a veritable "who's who" of "Old Hollywood". Lana Turner, Mel Ferrer, Cesar Romero, Eve Arden, Celeste Holm, Kim Novak, and Rod Taylor were just some of the famous that entered the gates of Falcon Crest.

There were some major casting "snafus," from rock star and Prince-protégé Appolonia, playing to type as a character sporting her same name, to Gregory Harrison as a rival for Richard Channing's empire. Both seemed ill-at-ease with their roles.

Though the show drifted into absurdity in season four with a "Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark-like" search for a treasure buried beneath the estate/vineyard (complete with the film's star Paul Freeman as the sinister leader behind the search), it still maintained its cutthroat machinations for most of its run.

Another plus were the thrilling season-ending cliffhangers. "Dallas" may have started them all, but "Falcon Crest" had the best.

The show never had the ratings success of "Dallas" or "Dynasty" but it was still an enjoyable way to spend an hour on a Friday night.