Discussion:
Miss Ellie
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Hannah Baunanaugh
2004-05-29 23:16:25 UTC
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It was a jolt to see Miss Ellie revert from the nicely coifed and
dressed Donna Reed to the bag lady Barbara BelGeddes. I heard that the
season Donna Reed played Miss Ellie the "fans" were in an uproar for the
loss of their frumpish bag lady. I don't understand why. I think Donna
Reed fit the role of a wealthy oil dynasty matriarch much better than
Barbara. She certainly looked the part.
Buttercup
2004-05-30 04:04:28 UTC
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Post by Hannah Baunanaugh
I think Donna
Reed fit the role of a wealthy oil dynasty matriarch much better than
Barbara. She certainly looked the part.
Jock fell in love with a simple country girl and she stayed that way. Barbara
dressed humbly because Miss Ellie was always the one to care more for her
family more than herself.

(`*·.¸(`*·.¸¸.·*´)¸.·*´)
«´¨ `Buttercup ´¨`»
(¸.·'´`(¸*·'´'·.*`)`'·. ¸)

How do you like them apples?
Annie Woughman
2004-05-30 08:18:13 UTC
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Post by Buttercup
Post by Hannah Baunanaugh
I think Donna
Reed fit the role of a wealthy oil dynasty matriarch much better than
Barbara. She certainly looked the part.
Jock fell in love with a simple country girl and she stayed that way. Barbara
dressed humbly because Miss Ellie was always the one to care more for her
family more than herself.
Since when would dressing stylishly by an extremely wealthy woman show more
care for her family than herself???? It isn't like the kids had to go
without shoes so she could get a new (more stylish wardrobe)? She had money
to burn--spending a little on herself would not detract from the commitment
she felt to her family--I think it would enhance the image of the family if
the "matriarch" was motivated to keep herself looking her best. And from
some of the stories presented as antidotes about Ellie and Jock's past made
her sound like anything but a simple country girl. She sounded more like a
spitfire than a hayseed (once taking a horsewhip to Jock). She fought
hard to keep Southfork; marrying Jock was one of the things she did to save
Southfork. She admitted that she had been in love with Digger Barnes, but
knew he wouldn't be able to provide for her the things she wanted out of
life. This does not sound like a woman who would settle for letting herself
turn into a bag lady.
IMHO
Annie Woughman
2004-05-30 09:24:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Hannah Baunanaugh
Post by Buttercup
Post by Hannah Baunanaugh
I think Donna
Reed fit the role of a wealthy oil dynasty matriarch much better than
Barbara. She certainly looked the part.
Jock fell in love with a simple country girl and she stayed that way.
Barbara
Post by Buttercup
dressed humbly because Miss Ellie was always the one to care more for her
family more than herself.
Since when would dressing stylishly by an extremely wealthy woman show more
care for her family than herself????
Oops, that should read:
Since when would dressing stylishly by an extremely wealthy woman show more
care for herself than for her family???
Buttercup
2004-05-30 20:26:24 UTC
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Post by Annie Woughman
Since when would dressing stylishly by an extremely wealthy woman show more
care for her family than herself???<<<<<<
I didn't think you'd take it so seriously. Sorry!

(`*·.¸(`*·.¸¸.·*´)¸.·*´)
«´¨ `Buttercup ´¨`»
(¸.·'´`(¸*·'´'·.*`)`'·. ¸)

How do you like them apples?
Annie Woughman
2004-05-31 06:09:46 UTC
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Post by Buttercup
Post by Annie Woughman
Since when would dressing stylishly by an extremely wealthy woman show more
care for her family than herself???<<<<<<
I didn't think you'd take it so seriously. Sorry!
I didn't take it particularly seriously :-) This is just a duscussion about
a silly soap. But I must admit I was just puzzled by the reaction (by most
people in general, not just you) Donna Reed got when she took Barbara's
place for a season. I always did think that Miss Ellie was sort of an
odd-ball for someone so rich, with the "history" they had provided for her
and Jock. To me, Donna Reed just seemed such a better casting choice. Let
me put it this way--if Donna Reed had been playing Miss Ellie from the
beginning, wearing her elegant clothes and sporting a nice hairdo each week,
and then she had to take a season off and then they put Barbara in as a
substitute for her--Barbara would have gotten hooted out of the place. I
think it is a matter of what people get used to. Everyone was used to Ellie
being a dumpy little woman, but if they had been used to her as an elegant,
well-dressed woman, everyone would have been outraged at the obviously
lowered standards for their "Dear Miss Ellie." IMHO
Kalish
2004-05-31 14:22:52 UTC
Permalink
On Sun, 30 May 2004 23:09:46 -0700, "Annie Woughman"
Post by Annie Woughman
think it is a matter of what people get used to. Everyone was used to Ellie
being a dumpy little woman, but if they had been used to her as an elegant,
well-dressed woman, everyone would have been outraged at the obviously
lowered standards for their "Dear Miss Ellie." IMHO
Makes me wonder whose choice it was then - the actress's or the show's
costume department? What if they had dressed Donna Reed in Barbara's
frumpy sacks and careless hairdo (hairdon't)? Would fans have
accepted her better? I saw BBG in an old movie from around 1950
called (I think) Panic in the Streets - she was much thinner and
looked taller but she was never what you'd call pretty - and she was
batting her eyelashes and elongating the word at the end of every
sentence, "Why don't you go to the store, deeeeeaaaar..." (Oh,
Paaaaaaaam...I'm so glad to see youuuuuuuu...") Arrrrgh!
Kalish
2004-05-30 15:03:09 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 29 May 2004 16:16:25 -0700, "Hannah Baunanaugh"
Post by Hannah Baunanaugh
It was a jolt to see Miss Ellie revert from the nicely coifed and
dressed Donna Reed to the bag lady Barbara BelGeddes. I heard that the
season Donna Reed played Miss Ellie the "fans" were in an uproar for the
loss of their frumpish bag lady. I don't understand why. I think Donna
Reed fit the role of a wealthy oil dynasty matriarch much better than
Barbara. She certainly looked the part.
I thought I was the only one who felt this way!!! Yep, we're back to
the "Yellow Sack of Texas" - and after a year off, BBG looked worse
than ever - she gained weight and her face was haggard. And those
fluttering eyes - did you ever notice she bats her eyes everytime she
ends a sentence, no matter who she's talking to or what she's talking
about. Drives *me* batty! I loved Donna Reed ever since I was a kid
watching her own show (in reruns of course!) but even if she wasn't
perfect for the part of Miss Ellie, she was much easier on the eyes!
Barbara Stanwyck would have made a good Miss Ellie - those boys needed
someone to kick their butts once Jock was gone...
Gojira1971
2004-05-30 18:04:02 UTC
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Post by Kalish
On Sat, 29 May 2004 16:16:25 -0700, "Hannah Baunanaugh"
Post by Hannah Baunanaugh
It was a jolt to see Miss Ellie revert from the nicely coifed and
dressed Donna Reed to the bag lady Barbara BelGeddes. I heard that the
season Donna Reed played Miss Ellie the "fans" were in an uproar for the
loss of their frumpish bag lady. I don't understand why. I think Donna
Reed fit the role of a wealthy oil dynasty matriarch much better than
Barbara. She certainly looked the part.
Reed was a horrible choice for Ellie. She was hard to watch
Buttercup
2004-05-30 20:25:09 UTC
Permalink
Reed was a horrible choice for Ellie. She was hard to watch<<<<<
I agree!



(`*·.¸(`*·.¸¸.·*´)¸.·*´)
«´¨ `Buttercup ´¨`»
(¸.·'´`(¸*·'´'·.*`)`'·. ¸)

How do you like them apples?
james martin
2004-05-31 16:02:03 UTC
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i never liked her

i want to know how its ends
BOY1230
2004-06-02 22:16:00 UTC
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Reed is/was awful..the skeletor like matriarch with no history behind
her.....glad they wised up or glad BBG wised up.

~G~
Jeff
2004-06-06 20:40:17 UTC
Permalink
I think Grace Jones should have been Miss Ellie.

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