In a time when more and more TV shows are moving away from traditional opening title sequences, Dallas went back to a classic design that hasn’t been seen on the show in 25 years.
Viewers who remember the series’ classic run in the 1980’s surely recall the way the original sequence would split into three shots of each actor as their name came up; in most seasons, the two shots on the size would be a frozen frame. The sequence provided instant identification to the viewer and made even bigger stars of the original show’s cast – whether it be gruff Jim Davis, Patrick Duffy keeping the same shirtless shot for most of the run, Charlene Tilton looking provocative, or that really old shot Victoria Principal walking in front of the ranch that seemed to be used in years. Opening titles used on other shows taught me a lot about who was playing which character even at a very young age – even at age 5, I could tell you that James Best played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, for example.
Other shows could learn from Dallas’ example here, because now, immediately, the audience gets an idea of what the show is about but also the names of the faces they enjoy, especially for the newer cast who might not be as well known yet. In addition to the veterans and those who have been involved in the show, now, a viewer will immediately know that Emma is played by Emma Bell, and she’s a bit of a seductress. They instantly see Juan Pablo Di Pace as a newer addition to those credits and will probably wonder how important he is to the show’s scheme. With the clips of people we know, we learn about their characters. Take Jordana Brewster’s title image: we see that Elena is seductive, smart, and dangerous all in three frames. I also especially like the Mitch Pileggi clips chosen – showing Harris Ryland is someone that is not to be messed with. I love it – the only thing that I wish had also been retained from the original show would be the original stacked font. But, I’ll take what I can get!
If you missed the Dallas season premiere last night, here are the new credits. For good measure, we’re including the old ones below as well. Enjoy:
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Yeah. My boyfriend never knows who actors are on shows unless I tell him now that credits aren’t connected to faces. I always appreciated the title sequences for BTVS and Angel for still keeping the classic name/face style into the 2000s.