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| Joan Collins modelling some of the fashions of the 1980s. Source: https://www.tvguide.com/news/natgeo-80s-dynasty-1063997/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Her seven years on “Dynasty” may have made her a household name, at a time when thick make-up, shoulder pads and glamour ruled, but Collins’ career was much more than just Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter.
Meeting Captain Kirk
“City on the Edge of Forever” is one of the best episodes of “Star Trek: The Original Series”. In fact, it is one of the best episodes of any show in the “Star Trek” franchise.
“City on the Edge of Forever” is one of the best episodes of “Star Trek: The Original Series”. In fact, it is one of the best episodes of any show in the “Star Trek” franchise.
The Enterprise comes upon a planet with a time portal. Meanwhile, Dr. McCoy has inadvertently injected himself with a drug that has made him delusional. Suddenly, as Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are on the planet's surface, examining the portal, McCoy appears. He stumbles toward the time portal and plunges through it, disappearing to some unknown point. Soon after, the landing party loses contact with the Enterprise. Spock determines McCoy somehow changed the timeline, causing the Enterprise to disappear. Now they have to go back and prevent him from doing that, or they too will disappear.
Kirk and Spock figure about when to jump, and land in 1930s America. They set themselves up as Spock tries to fix his tricorder which has been damaged. While he does that, they meet Edith Keeler, a social activist who helps the less fortunate. She is also part of a peace movement to keep the United States out of the Second World War.
Spock gets the tricorder to work, just long enough to briefly see the history. Essentially he discovers the dilemma they have. On one hand, Edith’s peace movement is effective enough to keep the Americans out of the Second World War long enough for Germany to win the war. That means the technology to create the Enterprise is never developed. On the other hand, Edith dies and the timeline is restored.
Complicating matters is the fact Kirk has, surprise surprise, fallen in love with Edith.
The other challenge is they do not know when or how she may die.
Then it happens, Edith is about to cross the street. McCoy appears, seeing a vehicle on a collision course with Edith. Kirk grabs him, before he can save her. The vehicle hits her, and she dies in their arms.
It is an amazing episode.
A young Joan Collins played Edith Keeler.
It is an amazing episode.
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| Joan Collins as Edith Keeler with Captain James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner, in the classic "Star Trek" episode "City on the Edge of Forever" Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ (May be subject to copyright) |
At first, it took a little getting used to, not only because she was 20 years younger, but she wore little
make-up. After all, it was the Great Depression. In fact, she just glowed on the screen, and it really showed how naturally beautiful she was.
Although that episode first aired in 1967, I did not discover it until the 1980s. First, I read the story in one of the anthologies of novelized "Star Trek" episodes written by James Blish. Then I saw it on peasant vision one Saturday morning on CBC Channel 9.
It won all sorts of awards, and is still one of my favourite episodes of any Star Trek.
Surprise witness
“Dynasty” debuted in 1981 as the story of Crystal Grant, a poor woman, played by Linda Evans, who marries Blake Carrington, a rich oil millionaire, how she fits in with his family, and deals with Matthew Blaisdell, the more blue collar ex-boyfriend who still has feelings for her.
“Dynasty” debuted in 1981 as the story of Crystal Grant, a poor woman, played by Linda Evans, who marries Blake Carrington, a rich oil millionaire, how she fits in with his family, and deals with Matthew Blaisdell, the more blue collar ex-boyfriend who still has feelings for her.
As the first season unfolds, we get to know the various members of the Carrington family and associates.
It culminates in the trial of Blake Carrington for the murder of his son Steven’s lover and boyfriend.
The first season cliffhanger teases to a surprise witness.
The first season cliffhanger teases to a surprise witness.
That witness turns out to be Alexis Carrington, Blake’s ex-wife.
A more mature, sexier Joan Collins played Alexis Carrington.
Vamp ‘80s style
Alex Carrington became one of those villains you loved to hate. She was constantly scheming, plotting, backstabbing and sleeping with whoever she had to in order to get what she wanted.
Alex Carrington became one of those villains you loved to hate. She was constantly scheming, plotting, backstabbing and sleeping with whoever she had to in order to get what she wanted.
Often standing in her way, metaphorically and physically, was Crystal Carrington. The two wives of Blake Carrington went toe to toe on many occasions, including a memorable fight that ended up in a swimming pool.
Through it all, she was sharply dressed, perfectly coiffed and manicured, making fashion one of the hallmarks of “Dynasty”. It is what differentiated it from other night-time dramas.
In fact, the appearance of Joan Collins is credited with saving “Dynasty”. It was not a serious contender to “Dallas” or other night-time dramas, and was struggling in the ratings.
That all changed when Joan Collins strode onto the screen. She would take “Dynasty” all the way to number one in the United States by 1985, relegating “Dallas” to number two.
Multi-tasking
Collins remained busy throughout the ‘80s, appearing in a variety of roles, often playing against type and not being the antagonist but the heroine. Often she was still in glamourous roles, such as “Paper Dolls” in 1982, “Making of a Male Model” in 1983, “The Cartier Affair” in 1984, and the two miniseries “Sins” in 1986 and “Monte Carlo” in 1987. Sometimes, it was not overly glamourous, such as “The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch” in 1982.
Collins remained busy throughout the ‘80s, appearing in a variety of roles, often playing against type and not being the antagonist but the heroine. Often she was still in glamourous roles, such as “Paper Dolls” in 1982, “Making of a Male Model” in 1983, “The Cartier Affair” in 1984, and the two miniseries “Sins” in 1986 and “Monte Carlo” in 1987. Sometimes, it was not overly glamourous, such as “The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch” in 1982.
The years after
“Dynasty” ended in 1989, but Joan Collins kept on working. She made appearances in a “Dynasty” reunion in 1991, had guest spots in TV series from “Roseanne”, “The Nanny”, and “Will and Grace” in the 1990s, and right up to her recent turn in 2018 in “American Horror Story” and a guest spot in the new “Hawaii Five-O” in 2019.
“Dynasty” ended in 1989, but Joan Collins kept on working. She made appearances in a “Dynasty” reunion in 1991, had guest spots in TV series from “Roseanne”, “The Nanny”, and “Will and Grace” in the 1990s, and right up to her recent turn in 2018 in “American Horror Story” and a guest spot in the new “Hawaii Five-O” in 2019.
Parting thoughts
It was in the 1980s when Joan Collins became a sex symbol, vamp and household name. Not a week went by during the height of “Dynasty” that she did not appear on the cover of some magazine in the racks at the Safeway super market. She will always be synonymous with glamour, fashion, jewellery, and much more.
She still looks great well into her 80s, turning 87 in May, the same age as my own mother.
Judging by her work in “American Horror Story”, Joan Collins not only still has a lot to offer, but is showing no signs of slowing down.
It is an inspiration to all of us.
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