Stacy Keach, who worked in everything from Shakespeare to Cheech and Chong, has passed away. Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know the procedure. While everyone else salutes his more popular projects, I’ll look at a few of his more obscure items.
DYNASTY (1976)
This Made for Television production was based on a story outline by James A. Michener. He doesn’t seem to have had much else to do with it, however. The Blackwood Family are trying to make a life for themselves on the Ohio Frontier of the very early 1800s.
Circumstances push the family ever further westward as they try to build an empire. Brothers Matt Blackwood – played by Stacy Keach – and John Blackwood – played by Harris Yulin – fight over Jennifer (Sarah Miles).
Despite this, the family stands united against slave-hunters when they come looking for fugitive slave Sam (Charles Weldon). They come to Sam’s aid and he stays with the Blackwoods from then on.
Despite being married to one of the brothers, Jennifer runs off with the other. Long years later, she returns to her husband with her son Mark, played by Harrison Ford. But which Blackwood Brother is his real father? Also starring Amy Irving. Continue reading
