Not enough catfights? Maybe that's why it only lasted two seasons. As a spinoff from Dynasty, an iconic series that dominated TV ratings during the 1980s, The Colbys boasted plenty of glamorous decadence and overwrought melodrama. It starred Charlton Heston, Barbara Stanwyck, Ricardo Montalban, Katharine Ross, and Emma Samms. Its preposterous storylines served up sex appeal, greed, skullduggery, and silliness. But it didn't have Alexis and Krystle Carrington scratching at each other's Nolan Miller gowns and Harry Winston jewels. Widely considered a bland clone from the Aaron Spelling entertainment lab, The Colbys centers on another corporate dynasty whose familial shenanigans in Los Angeles are even more farcical than the Denver Carrington clan's. Heston plays Jason Colby, the patriarch executive who rules a roost of licentious associates, randy kinfolk, and evil enemies from his .01 percent perch. An amnesiac Fallon Carrington is the Dynasty crossover character (Samms, replacing Pamela Sue Martin) who weds Jason's playboy son (Maxwell Caulfield) not knowing that she's already married to his nephew (John James, another Dynasty regular). Connoisseurs of ‘80s camp will likely delight in all of the hammy histrionics, up to and including the series-ending UFO abduction that is still hanging off a cliff. Compiling all 49 episodes from 1985-87, extras include new cast interviews. A strong optional purchase. (T. Fry)
The Colbys: The Complete Series
Shout! Factory, 12 discs, 2,205 min., not rated, DVD: $119.99 Volume 30, Issue 4
The Colbys: The Complete Series
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: