Falcon Crest
There have been enough dead bodies in this tempestuous tale of
North Californian vineyards to drive a pathologist to drink. Those
that haven't died have had numerous narrow escapes as buildings
suddenly explode or catch fire, cars and planes crash and wronged
parties run amok with machine-guns.
Throw in the odd drowning and even the occasional death from
natural causes, and you've got a fair picture of life in the
fictitious Tuscany Valley.
The most important person in the valley is Angela Channing,
around whom most of the action (and a lot of the attempted
murders) revolve. Angela looks like an up-market Ma Sugden of Emmerdale
Farm - but without the ironing board.
She is the tough, all-conquering boss of Falcon Crest Wines who
schemed to swindle her nephew Chase Gioberti (sounds like a kids
party game!) out of his birthright. Chase had inherited 50 acres
of vineyard from his late father, Jason, but Angela wanted the
land and was prepared to go to any lengths to get it.
 Made by Lorimar (the Dallas and Knots Landing
producers) and filmed in California's Napa Valley, Falcon Crest
was first shown in America in December 1981. It continually tried
to outgun Dallas and Dynasty and after a sticky
start, did do extremely well.
Other major characters in Falcon Crest were Chase's
writer-wife Maggie Gioberti, ruthless newspaper proprietor Richard
Channing (who discovered that he is the son of the woman he hates,
Angela Channing, and is fighting to gain control of Falcon Crest),
Angela's evil playboy grandson Lance Cumson who was once convicted
of trying to murder his dear old granny, and Lance's ex-wife, the
equally shady Melissa.
Julia briefly added blindness to her staggering list of
problems (she was a drunk, insane, prone to mass shootings, on the
run from a mental institution dressed as a nun and should have
died in a cabin fire!). Her eye problem was a side-effect suffered
as a victim of an earthquake.
The malevolence of the Falcon Crest plots seemed to
spread to some of the cast. Reports of open warfare frequently
leaked out.
Robert Foxworth had a chance to direct episodes which led to
Jane Wyman asking to direct. Her request wasn't granted but when
he directed she got a directors salary!
Jane Wyman and Lana Turner's relationship became so hostile
that their scenes together were filmed separately and a
split-screen technique was used.
The series featured a stellar cast, including Morgan Fairchild,
Gina Lollabrigida, Rod Taylor, Cesar Romero, Kim Novak and Jane
Badler.
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