LinhCelluloid Television: The Big Valley
February 10th 2010 17:20
Big Valley Hits Big Screen by Linh
The Hollywood trend of adapting television series to the silver screen continues with Twentieth Century Fox recently announcing it will release a film version of the popular 1960s western TV drama The Big Valley.
The Big Valley ran from 1965 to 1969 on the US network ABC and starred Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley, the matriarch and widow of the Barkley family. The show is set in California's San Joaquin Valley in the 1870s and delves into the lives, loves and losses of the rich Barkley family members. Barbara Stanwyck won an Emmy Award for her role as Victoria Barkley and the series featured young television personalities Linda Evans (Dynasty, The Love Boat) and Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man) in main roles as well as a swag of popular actors as guest stars in various episodes.
The challenge for producers is to make it familiar enough for fans of the original television series to enjoy while making it fresh and exciting for Generation Y audiences who have never heard of The Big Valley. Another selling point would be an excellent ensemble cast with enough star power and talent to do the characters of the TV show justice. There are no cast members confirmed, but producers are in talks with Susan Sarandon (Thelma and Louise, Dead Man Walking) to play the role of Victoria Barkley.
Producer Kate Edelman Johnson, daughter of Louis F. Edelman who co-produced the original TV series, hopes to get an April start date for principal photography in Michigan and New Mexico, before filming begins in June or July.
The Hollywood trend of adapting television series to the silver screen continues with Twentieth Century Fox recently announcing it will release a film version of the popular 1960s western TV drama The Big Valley.
Opening titles for the television western series The Big Valley. Image: Twentieth Century Fox, ABC Network.
The Big Valley ran from 1965 to 1969 on the US network ABC and starred Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley, the matriarch and widow of the Barkley family. The show is set in California's San Joaquin Valley in the 1870s and delves into the lives, loves and losses of the rich Barkley family members. Barbara Stanwyck won an Emmy Award for her role as Victoria Barkley and the series featured young television personalities Linda Evans (Dynasty, The Love Boat) and Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man) in main roles as well as a swag of popular actors as guest stars in various episodes.
The challenge for producers is to make it familiar enough for fans of the original television series to enjoy while making it fresh and exciting for Generation Y audiences who have never heard of The Big Valley. Another selling point would be an excellent ensemble cast with enough star power and talent to do the characters of the TV show justice. There are no cast members confirmed, but producers are in talks with Susan Sarandon (Thelma and Louise, Dead Man Walking) to play the role of Victoria Barkley.
Producer Kate Edelman Johnson, daughter of Louis F. Edelman who co-produced the original TV series, hopes to get an April start date for principal photography in Michigan and New Mexico, before filming begins in June or July.
Original cast members from the television western series The Big Valley. Image: Twentieth Century Fox, ABC Network.
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