Stanwyck Saves ‘The Night Walker’ 1964

 

Barbara Stanwyck reunited professionally with ex-husband Robert Taylor in
William Castle's 1964 suspense starrer, "The Night Walker."

Cheap thrills artist William Castle’s The Night Walker, was really more suspense than shock. The flamboyant producer/director played up the scares to ride the early ‘60s wave of post-Psycho/Baby Jane style fright flicks, but this outing was light on horror.

The 1964 film was hardly “hag horror” as star Barbara Stanwyck played a perfectly normal person being tormented and looked quite attractive at age 57. Stanwyck was teamed opposite former husband Robert Taylor, who actually did look very haggard and prematurely aged at 53. They worked together as professionals and without feuding, unlike other stars with histrionic “history.” Five years later, Taylor would be dead of lung cancer, after a lifetime of chain-smoking.

Producer/Director William Castle with his stars, Robert Taylor &
Barbara Stanwyck,  for 1964's "The Night Walker."

The premise of this moody noir-like movie is that after the death of her unstable scientist husband (Hayden Rorke in disfigured makeup), Stanwyck’s Irene Trenton returns to her beauty salon to take her mind off hubby’s sudden death. Irene’s dreams have become increasingly romantic, which had inflamed her jealous husband, convinced that she had a lover. Well, we see at least in her dreams that she has one, played by that unctuous smoothie, Lloyd Bochner of Dynasty fame. At least he doesn’t wear his usual smoking jacket and ascot! He’s quite young and handsome, in his aquiline way.

That's quite a liplock dream lover Lloyd Bochner lays on
Barbara Stanwyck in 1964's "The Night Walker."

The dreams become more intense and dire, as Mr. McDreamy wants to marry her. Are the dreams becoming reality? Is Irene in danger? Or is she merely wigging out? With the rather small cast, there are not a lot of suspects to choose from. The plot of The Night Walker is as slim as Stanwyck’s figure. And you know that Barbara Stanwyck, one of the most sensible stars ever, is not going berserk like Joan Crawford or all “Baby”-ish like Bette Davis. So “the how” of this mystery is more the question than whodunit.

Stanwyck is supposed to go over the top in response to her mental torture, but acting a hysterical scream queen is not Barbara’s bag. “Stany” is best when she’s down to earth or cool and understated. In her best film noirs or suspense films, Barbara Stanwyck is the acting equivalent of Peggy Lee, slyly insinuating without going big. Overall, Stanwyck’s performance is her usual total pro turn, with natural empathy. But when she starts screaming and hollering, it feels false and falls flat.

Barbara Stanwyck bellowing hysterically was not a good look for the cool actress!

I think Stanwyck aged quite gracefully and strikingly, with her gray hair now silver, in a subtle hairstyle and makeup. This is a far cry from most of her contemporaries who were becoming increasingly cartoonish looking or just going to seed. Stanwyck looked her age, but with great style.

Barbara Stanwyck was subtle and stylish in her older years, here in 1964's "The Night Walker." Thankfully, "The Big Valley"was just around the corner, a big career boost.

As the family lawyer in The Night Walker, Robert Taylor acts like a sleep walker. As he aged in dog years, Bob looked increasingly dour, much like Alan Ladd. Taylor also didn’t have Gable’s strong personality or Tyrone Power’s warm charm. The long-time MGM star seemed to be put increasingly out to pasture in westerns. Still, this horror film was a hiccup in both Bob and Bab’s careers.

Robert Taylor was a rough-looking 53 when he made 1964's "The Night Walker."

Producer-director William Castle used great imagination to stretch his B-movie budgets. In The Night Castle, the intro, complete with spoken work creepiness by Paul Frees, is visually striking if not terribly related to the movie itself. The score is by Vic Mizzy, the prolific composer who famously came up with The Addams Family theme. One recurring riff sounds amazingly like “Food, Glorious Food” from the Broadway musical Oliver!, which made its Broadway debut around this time. Coincidence? Who can say?

No, Hayden Rorke and Robert Taylor aren't debating who's the hotter dude for Barbara Stanwyck! From 1964's "The Night Walker."

The dream scenes are stylishly done and subtly, too, except when the courtroom wedding scene is populated by puppets that look like life size versions of The Thunderbirds. Hilariously camp, especially when the chandeliers catch fire and spin, with Stanwyck’s smoky voice emitting raspy screams!

No, this isn't Raymond Burr with blonde hair from "Rear Window," it's one of the creepy puppets/mannequins from 1964's "The Night Walker." Bizzaro!

This film has a thin plot, low budget, and loony logic, typical of William Castle. As a mood piece, it’s quite entertaining and shows some style, along with some eye-rolling chills! The Night Walker pairs well with Stanwyck’s half-baked ‘40s WB thriller, Cry Wolf, with Barbara’s character dealing with the loony men in her life, and a secret lab!

Below is a link to "The Night Walker."
Enjoy!

Here is an excellent, free copy of The Night Walker to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5RYClikxcc&t=5s

Below is the link to my review at Stanwyck's
"Sorry, Wrong Number."

Here’s my look at Barbara’s best “woman in jeopardy” role, 1948’s “Sorry, Wrong Number”:  https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2025/06/stanwycks-fatal-phone-call-sorry-wrong.html

 

 

‘The Name of the Game’ an Ordeal for Jessica Walter 1968

Jessica Walter as topless cocktail waitress turned top-tier socialite Linda Ramsey.

When I was a grade school-age kid, The Name of the Game was one of those "grown up" TV shows that I loved. That Dave Grusin theme song instantly brings back memories. Game’s storytelling was considered hip and adult, and this Upper Michigan kid quickly made that distinction between what Mom liked, and what Dad liked. Mom favored cool shows like The Mod Squad, and Dad watched mostly westerns and the Green Bay Packers—though she watched the “modern” westerns, with hunky stars. When Name was still on at night time, its reruns were shown on our local afternoon movie show. My Mom enjoyed The Name of the Game, which was on NBC Friday nights, between two of Mom’s very favorites, High Chaparral and Star Trek!

Friday nights in 1968 were a fave TV night for my Mom!
'The Name of the Game' had three rotating stars: Gene Barry, Robert Stack, & Tony Franciosa.

The Name of the Game’s three leading men were essentially stars of their own 90 minute TV movies. Today, I still enjoy the shows more for the storytelling, and not so much the stars. In our house, we always thought Robert Stack was a stiff, with that sonorous voice and glowering eyes, sort of a minor league Charlton Heston. Gene Barry was another actor who acted with his voice, but seemed mellower, if slightly pompous. We thought Tony Franciosa was the king of cool back in the day, but now, he seems rather smug, like another Tony—Curtis. Still charming as ever is Susan Saint James, as the wisecracking girl Friday, Peggy Maxwell.

Veteran Robert Stack had youngsters Ben Murphy and Susan Saint James as his co-stars.

This episode, titled Ordeal, starred regulars Robert Stack as hard-nosed Dan Farrell, Crime magazine reporter, Ben Murphy as cocky sidekick Joe Sample, and Susan Saint James as Peggy, the quirky and often kidnapped secretary.

The guest stars are from my eye-roll Hollywood Hall of Fame: perennial plastic starlet Martha Hyer; middle-aged but still-pouty Farley Granger; and drum roll, please: Lloyd Bochner, with his trademark slicked back hair, ascot, and sneer. Most surprising is an uncredited O.J. Simpson, as the gas chamber prison guard. I guess The Juice got promoted when he rescued that cat in The Towering Inferno!

Jessica Walter faces the gas chamber with prison guard O.J. Simpson!

On the plus side, there’s Jessica Walter, at the start of her long roll in TV guest star roles, right up there with Vera Miles. Walter’s role was a showcase for her, sort of a mini-I Want to Live! And Jessica has that old time movie diva vibe, like Susan Hayward and Anne Baxter, theatrical, yes, but also intense and empathetic. Walter makes the most of her juicy role as Linda Ramsey, tough as the young "dancer/waitress," later the hurt wife, and finally the stoic figure on death row, fighting for her life. Walter looks lovely, even with her short '60s hairdo that would soon evolve into her famous Play Misty for Me shag.

I realized right off that Ordeal was a take-off on the infamous shooting of high society’s Billy Woodward by his former showgirl, now wife, Ann. This scandal was immortalized in the '70s by Truman Capote as part of his notorious Answered Prayers. Later, Dominick Dunne became a best-selling author with a fictionalized account, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles. Well, Ordeal got there first!

Socialite from the wrong side of the tracks shoots her boozy rich husband, & claims she mistook him for a burglar?! 'Ordeal' could have been called 'The Two Ms. Ramseys!'

In this take, Linda Ramsey is on death row, for the murder of her rich husband, Tom Ramsey, respectively played by Walter and Bochner. She shot him, claiming she thought he was a prowler. However, their marriage was very publicly on the rocks, and his wealthy family and friends thought she was a gold digger. The drunken playboy met Linda when she was a topless waitress, which is ironic, since Walter is rail thin here. Bochner's Tom seems to think of his marriage as a joke. He humiliates Linda by ripping her top off at a ‘welcome to his world’ cocktail party, to demonstrate how he met her. I recall being outraged by this as a 9-year-old!

Farley Granger co-stars as Jessica Walter's louche lover.

The bitter sister-in-law, Billie Ramsey, is played by Martha Hyer, in her usual mannequin manner. Her character is angry at being second banana to a brother who is bananas! Hyer’s Billie sees Linda as a fortune hunter and Tom as a debit to the family. However, Hyer’s expressions of unhappiness or anger looks like someone who just smelled something bad. At 44, Martha looks pretty, but the late '60s clothing and hair styles Martha sports make her slightly plump figure and face look like a glamorous bowling ball.

Martha Hyer as the sinister sister-in-law, with Farley Granger as a charming hanger-on.

Farley Granger plays the handsome, charming, and weak man with ease—sort of an American Louis Jourdan. Interestingly, Granger and Robert Stack acted together in the notoriously awful TV version of Laura the same year, with Lee Radziwill in the title role, Granger in the Vincent Price gigolo role, and Stack as Dana Andrews’ detective. Here, in Ordeal, their roles aren’t really that different.

The opening titles of 'The Name of the Game' were made even more memorable paired with Dave Grusin's theme song. 

Lloyd Bochner is haughty and hammy as Tom, first as the degrading husband, then suddenly hurt and pathetic when he finds out his abused wife is cheating. Bochner’s character is a lot like Robert Stack’s Oscar –nominated role of a rich boy drunk, whose wife is suspected of shooting him, in Written on the Wind. That too, was based on a real life murder. Back to Bochner, who made a career of supercilious and slimy characters, from cheesy movies like Sylvia and Harlow to television villains, most memorably as Dynasty’s Cecil Colby. 

Robert Stack doesn't take kindly to intimidation, as former FBI man now reporter Dan Farrell.

Robert Stack as Dan Farrell, was an extension of his famed Eliot Ness role in The Untouchables. Dan was also once an FBI man, now a crusading reporter, inflamed by the murder of his wife. The role is tailored for the actor, so the deadpan stare and booming radio voice are on full display. Now Bob Stack was by all accounts a nice guy, who had the good humor to spoof his image in the Airplane movies. But Bob’s humor is not on display as Dan!

Ben Murphy as Joe Sample, Dan Farrell's cocky sidekick.

Ben Murphy's character as the outspoken sidekick is rather annoying. Considering he’s supposed to be a hip young guy, his knee jerk reactions to everything are today middle-brow. Still, Murphy was an engaging actor, who always reminded me of a young Paul Newman mixed with Ryan O’ Neal. His big break, Alias Smith & Jones was just around the corner, another Mom favorite. Susan Saint James isn’t in this episode much, but it’s always nice to see her good-humored Peggy Maxwell.

Dan Farrell's wise veteran paired with energetic upstart Joe Sample is a TV show staple.

There are a lot of clever twist and turns in this episode and I won’t spoil them for you. The Name of the Game can be hard to come by, but YouTube is a good place to start, as are various classic TV cable channels, and Amazon.

The dramatic tale of Ordeal, especially as enacted by Jessica Walter, has stayed with me all these years, and I’m glad to have seen this episode again.

From gas chamber to cover girl--that was a close one, Jessica!

FYI: I put all the movie overflow on my public FB  movie page. 

Check it out & join!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/178488909366865/

‘Dynasty’: Catfights, Cliffhangers, & Clothes, Oh, My! 1981-89

Why is Linda Evans, 5'8", the shortest person in the photo? Hair & high heels, baby! That may include Mr. Forsythe! 

FYI: I put all the movie overflow on my public FB  movie page. 

Check it out & join!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/178488909366865/

Part 1 of a 3-Part Piece: The Show

As a 20-something waiter who alternately worked and partied nights during the great ‘80s, I missed most of Dynasty during its original run. 30 years later, I found myself constantly sick while working with school kids. Looking for some mindless fun to watch, I decided on Dynasty.

The first season of Dynasty is often described as a dud, which isn’t totally true. The ratings were middling, finishing 24^th for the first half season. The problem was that it was about the super rich, and an expensive show to produce; also, Dynasty was created to compete with CBS’ established hit Dallas, which was the #1show for that season.

'Dynasty' producers proclaimed that audiences were not interested in the working class Blaisdel family of Season 1. Out with the poor, in with the super rich!

Dynasty began as a blend of thoughtful epic, like Giant, and a Ross Hunter-type gloss on the glamorous rich. The two sides never really meshed. With Season 2, the sudsy rich took over, and the working folks were sent packing—just like real life! The show then caught the wave of the super rich Reagan era. Still, it’s a shame Dynasty turned into a mindless cartoon, because in the era of Dominick Dunne and Kitty Kelley, it could have been a smart soap. The more serious takes on wealth, ethics, women, and gays fell by the wayside, and replaced by plot gimmicks that were stale soap clichés: amnesia, kidnappings, cliff hanger accidents and murder, and the biggest one of all, replacing actors by melodramatic means. Through the entire run of the show, all four of Blake and Alexis’ offspring were gradually replaced by other actors, to lesser effect.

The Season 1 cliffhanger featured a model, incognito as Alexis, because the producers hadn't cast the role yet! Joan Collins got the part and finally became a genuine star at nearly 50!

Dynasty was a bit like ABC’s Happy Days in its early seasons. The sitcom was low-key and its first two season ratings went from good to so-so. Creator Garry Marshall noticed that the show’s bad boy, Arthur Fonzarelli, captured the audience’s attention. Once Fonzie was the focus, Happy Days got hella ratings. As the show progressed, it became a caricature, and Fonzie’s “jumping the shark” on a motorcycle became a catchphrase for a show whose antics have gone beyond the pale. Dynasty would follow a similar trajectory. The second season introduced Joan Collins as Alexis, Blake’s vengeful ex-wife. In Collins’ words, Alexis became the female JR Ewing.

'Dynasty' stars Joan Collins, John Forsythe, & Linda Evans are all smiles, at the show's peak.

In its prime, Dynasty did break some new ground. First, despite all the pretty young scenery, veteran stars held the show together. Joan Collins became a bonafide star at 50, while John Forsythe and Linda Evans got another hit series. Diahann Carroll, as Dominique Deveraux, made television history again, as TV’s “first black bitch,” as the star herself put it. Women characters in professional positions of power were also forward-thinking for the era. Dynasty was the first time a TV series had a gay character in a starring role. Despite the flip-flopping over Steven Carrington’s sexuality, his character was never a stereotype or portrayed negatively.

As Steven Carrington, Al Corley played the groundbreaking role of the gay son for two seasons. Corley left when the show's creators kept flipflopping on his character's sexuality.

Critics and viewers say that Dynasty jumped their shark after the over-the-top “Moldavian massacre” cliffhanger. While Dynasty was all downhill after that, earlier moments like vixen Alexis doing a hoedown to seal an oil deal, with an encore of Marlene Dietrich’s ‘See What the Boys in the Backroom Will Have,’ was just one campy sign of things to come.

Rock Hudson joined 'Dynasty' for Season 5, as wealthy horse breeder Daniel Reece. He's madly in love with Evans' Krystle, natch. Hudson's later AIDS revelation brought real life soap opera to the show.

Season 5 was the beginning of the end for Dynasty, though nobody realized it at the time, as is often the case. First, the entire season was wasted prepping for the absurd Moldavia royal marriage between pouty Amanda Carrington and the Prince Charmless. Also, the fanfare that greeted genuine movie star Rock Hudson as guest star turned to tabloid gossip over his gaunt appearance, furthered by his abrupt departure from the show. Rock played Daniel Reece, the millionaire/horse breeder who loves Krystle. While Rock brought his usual authority to the role, it’s beyond sad watching this giant of a leading man, a shell of his former self. That summer it was revealed that Rock was ravaged by AIDS. Dynasty finally became the #1rated show, in its 5^th season, but got dinged in the ratings next season, and dropped rapidly each season after.

George Peppard played Blake in the 3-hour pilot, 'Oil.'
Producers were displeased with Peppard's performance & behavior.
He was replaced with John Forsythe.

If George Peppard had continued to play Blake Carrington beyond Dynasty’s pilot, it would have just been a retread of his tycoon bastard Jonas Cord in The Carpetbaggers. Peppard was considered problematic for a number of reasons and the producers decided to scrap George’s performance and cut him loose. In the early seasons of Dynasty especially, Blake almost feels bipolar, alternating between gentlemanly and stately, to temperamental and tyrannical. It’s a shame that Dynasty’s writing was often so cartoonish, since the veteran stars like John Forsythe bring empathy to their roles. Forsythe’s warmth, class, and intelligence somewhat alleviate Blake’s actions, like physical violence to anyone who thwarts him, or drunkenly raping his loving wife. (I recall watching this back in the early ‘80s and thinking it was an ugly dramatic twist even then.)  

John Forsythe became Blake Carrington, bringing warmth to a difficult role.

Critics point to the Moldavian Massacre as when Dynasty’s plots went downhill. I beg to differ, but the writing was bad from the start. Aside from the typical soap absurdity, the repetition was mind numbing. Of course, this show was made before the age of recording shows and binge watching. So maybe writers then felt they had more leeway in repeating plot points: kidnapped babies; Krystle constantly suspected of adultery; family members and former flames coming out of the woodwork; Alexis’ constant cock blocking Blake’s business deals; Blake lunging to choke anyone who disobeyed his commands; car accidents; trials; etc.

I love the 'National Enquirer' headline about Steven's rescue, so obviously fake. Also amusing is the Carringtons share the cover with their show's competition, 'Dallas!'

Forsythe and Evans were a great team as Blake and Krystle. But like all nice characters on soaps, they were the show’s punching bags, with everyone scheming against them. I get that no one likes to see characters happy all the time, but the Carrington couple barely survived one calamity before the next crisis, to the point where they barely had one episode of domestic bliss.

No, Blake didn't join the Witness Protection Program. Here, the tycoon is afflicted with trauma-induced blindness. Later, he suffered amnesia. Later still, shot. But then, so did other members of the Carrington family!

That repetition trickled right down to characters’ behavior, like Joan’s Alexis constantly dropping by the Carrington manse, like a glam Gladys Kravitz, to snoop around. How many times did Alexis barge into Blake’s office to have it out? Didn’t he have security? Then there were the famed catfights. The first few were campy fun, but soon everyone but household cook Mrs. Gunnerson was rolling around the mud, pool, or pond. And frankly, the catfights between Linda Evans and Joan Collins were mostly obvious male stunt doubles!

This photo sums up Joan Collins disdain for the 'catfights' the show became famous for. 

Speaking of repetition, it is one thing for daytime soaps to repeat, since they are on five days a week, year-round. Recently, I was watching early Dark Shadows episodes with my Mom. We were laughing at the redundant dialogue between the Collins clan, which sounded like Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure’s refrain, “I know you are, but what am I?” Dynasty started repeating tropes right off the bat and seems very lazy for a show that was supposedly so planned out.

Before Alexis Carrington became oil tycoon Alexis Colby, her official talent was as an artist. Judging from this effort, her paintings were aimed at Acapulco tourists!

What I always found hilarious about soaps like Dynasty is how totally unqualified family members are hired to run an oil business or start an upscale hotel, and instantly succeed! The greatest example is Alexis, whose life as a jet setter apparently prepared her to compete in the oil biz with ex-hubby Blake. Of course, Alexis’ skill set mainly involves seducing the competition, scheming, lying, and blackmail.

The cliffhanger for Season 3 took place in a burning cabin, yet Alexis & Krystle's
style differences are on display: glam for Collins, sporty for Evans.

When Dynasty hit its stride in the early seasons, both Linda Evans and Joan Collins looked amazing. Designer Nolan Miller played to their strengths—sleek and sporty for Linda, old-time glamour for Joan—and was a smart and professional designer, if not truly inspired or tasteful. This was apparent in later seasons, as the shoulder pads and furs grew and grew, and costumes that were supposed to be glam started to look drag queen garish.

George Hamilton, Robert Evans-lite as showbiz type Joel Abrigore, makes over aging starlet Rita to replace Krystle Carrington! Why didn't they just call Linda Evans' ex, John Derek?!

I think Season 6 of Dynasty was the worst, when Sammy Jo enlists crazy “director” George Hamilton to kidnap Krystle, with the help of a floozy double, Rita, amateurishly played by Evans. Linda, tarted up with big red hair, hard makeup, and bulky sweaters that would make Bill Cosby envious. Then the Colby clan came along, to use Dynasty as a springboard for its own TV show. Their characters were all either irritating or innocuous, except the great Barbara Stanwyck. Heston was still playing the aging alpha stud, bad toupee and teeth, pot belly and all. Brittle Stephanie Beacham reads all her lines like she’s snapping off celery with her teeth. The young folks were all a bland bunch, except for hunk Maxwell Caulfield, as Miles. On top of all this, the show was still mopping up cheesy characters’ fates from the Moldavian massacre—IMO, the assassins should have been better aims! All of this top-heavy, but not especially satisfying story-telling, caused Season 6 to drop to #7.

Double vision, and double shoulder pads, as quarterback Krystles get ready to rumble!

Between the cardboard Colbys, the two Krystles/kidnapping, and Moldavian aftermath, I lost serious interest in Dynasty. From Season 7 onward, I skipped over the repeat plots: cliffhangers involving car crashes; staircases, murder trials, or getting shot. What did that leave?

'The Colbys' were too carbon copy to successfully cash in on 'Dynasty.'

Well, Alexis’ final wedding, to crazy Sean Rowan, is amusing. Their tacky Mexican wedding, with Joan in a red poufy dress, is nearly worth the whole storyline. The ‘Who killed Roger Grimes?’ plot was fun and the resolution made me smile. TV has always lifted plots from classic movies. Though hardly a classic, I love the theft from Hitchcock’s Marnie, in regard to Fallon’s memory of who killed Roger. J. Eddie Peck as cutie from the past Roger, with Joan as young Alexis, photographed from a discreet distance.

Did it seem like by 'Dynasty's' demise, every character was arrested for murder, or the victim in question?

Producer Aaron Spelling loved old-time stars and veteran actors. His many shows were a haven for aging actors for several decades. Many young actors were brought on board, but it was the older actors who provided the foundation for Dynasty. Lee Bergere, as Joseph, the domineering major domo of the Carrington household, was a versatile scene stealer for the first four seasons. The same is true of Peter Mark Richman, as Andrew Laird, Blake’s long-suffering lawyer.

Somehow, I don't think John Saxon as Mideast oil tycoon,  Rashid Ahmed, would fly today!

Valley of the Dolls’ Paul Burke played Neal McVane, the crooked politician. Burke was another aging actor arriving on Dynasty, toupee and tux at the ready. The Six Million Dollar Man’s Richard Anderson was Blake’s business pal, Buck Fallmont, with Pat Crowley as his wife, with a secret. Diana Douglas, Kirk’s ex-wife and Michael’s mom, plays wacko Mother Blaisdel. Kevin McCarthy shows up to play yet another sleazy shyster. So does Bradford Dillman. Along with Lloyd Bochner as Cecil Colby, they make a slimy TV villain trifecta!

Oily oil tycoon Cecil Colby, played by Lloyd Bochner, with
demure bride in white, Joan Collins' Alexis.

Amidst an army of capable actors, just how bad were the actors playing the pivotal parts of Thomas Carrington and Adam’s adoptive mama? Both characters in their respective stories are on their deathbed, but they inspire hilarity instead of heartbreak. Surprisingly, both accomplished actors! Veteran British actor Harry Andrews played Blake’s estranged patriarch, and is so hammy, he recalls the latter day Orson Welles. And veteran actress Lurene Tuttle as Adam’s “grandmother,” who actually kidnapped him as a baby, is so amateurish, it’s comical. 

You will be amazed at how many familiar names appeared on Dynasty. Here’s the IMDB link to the full cast and crew: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081856/fullcredits

Diahann Carroll & Billy Dee Williams were one of the very few black couples on TV in the 1980s.

When Dynasty was at its peak, the stylish soap had energy, humor, and style. Even when the later seasons were a letdown, you could enjoy the cast and the show on a camp level. The less said about the depressing, two-part TV reunion movie, the better! And the recent Dynasty reboot looks tacky and cheap. If you’re going to go for the cheese, go with the tasty original.

Alexis get your gun! A classic 'Dynasty' moment, with ex-wife taking the new bride on a ride!

Krystle loses her baby after getting thrown from her horse,
and bitch Alexis shows no remorse!