In the sold-out AMC theater where we viewed Downton Abbey: The Movie, the audience clapped and cheered when the film ended. Several of the audience dressed up as their favorite characters–hats, long dresses, etc.–which gave the movie opening a Star Wars or Harry Potter event feel. The elegant costumes, the stately mansions, the cool 1920s vehicles filmed by Ben Smithard look plush and posh. Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, and Elizabeth McGovern return to lead the action at Downton Abbey when King George V and Queen Mary announce they’re going to visit Yorkshire and spend a day or two with the Granthams. This Royal announcement sends the staff of Downton Abbey into a tizzy. Lady Mary brings retired butler, Carson, out of retirement to help prepare for the Royal visit.
To prepare for Downton Abbey: The Movie Diane and I binged on all 52 hours of the PBS series. It took us two weeks of nightly viewing. The back-stories of the dozen or so re-accuring characters of this drama series enriches the movie experience. Director Michael Engler plunges right into the Royal shenanigans so viewers with little or no knowledge of the TV series may be a bit lost as events unfold. Series creator Julian Fellowes provides a screenplay that gives all the major characters some key moments. If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, this movie version is a must-see. If you’re a fan of Upstairs Downstairs you might enjoy this clone series and movie. GRADE: B
It has been getting good reviews. But I never watched the show and have no interest in the movie. The travails of the wealthy and their servants have interest for me.
Steve, the cast of DOWNTON ABBEY, playing the wealthy and their servants, are very convincing. The PBS series starts with the disaster of the Titanic, includes the horrors of World War I, the jarring Post-War world in the 1920s as the class structure begins to break down, and the slow disintegration of the large estates like Downton Abbey. It’s more social history told through the characters you would connect with.
Have no interest for me. Sorry.
Steve, different strokes for different folks.
George, someone like you — used to Wealth and Class, moving easily among the circles of the Elite — probably relates to a film like this. Are there any car chases or explosions?
Dan, yes there are some car races and wrecks and fabulous classic vehicles in both the PBS series and the movie. I’ve found just as many fools among the Wealthy as I have among the Middle Class.
They dressed up like the characters? OMG.
We were fans of the series, but from the reviews I read, this sounds more like an extended “greatest hits” episode than a “movie” per se. Even the Royal Visit echoes the great UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS episode where Edward VII comes to Eaton Place on the same day that Sarah goes into labor. Jackie’s verdict: this is a television show, so wait until it’s on television.
Jeff, the theater where we saw DOWNTON ABBEY: THE MOVIE was full of fans. Like fans of Star Wars who showed up dressed as an Imperial Stormtrooper gear or kids who attended the Harry Potter films looking like Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley at Hogwarts, some of the DOWNTON ABBEY fans dressed up as their favorite characters. I’ve never seen so many women in hats!
Of course, it would have been worth it to see George dressed in tails!
Jeff, I’ve only worn a tuxedo a few times in my life. Never wore tails! All the men in DOWNTON ABBEY look like penguins when they’re all dressed up!
I gave some thought to seeing it despite giving up on the series after two years but probably won’t. It seems like a rehash of old issues with the royalty thrown in.
Patti, things were changing in 1927 so part of DOWNTON ABBEY: THE MOVIE concern the social disruptions. I think you’d enjoy it.
I enjoyed the first 3-4 seasons but by the last two I was more than ready for it to be over. My completest gene will probably make me see the movie, but it’s not a priority.
Michael, binging on all 52 hours of DOWNTON ABBEY, the 2-hour movie came as a relief.
The late, great writer, Angela Carter, used to lament that American Public television had devolved to little more than non-stop British Edwardian class stratification. She was exaggerating, of course, but she had a point—and this was before DOWNTON ABBEY (but post-UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS). I tried to watch DA, but felt it was just a rehash of UD—without UD’s much more accurate representation of the uncrossable Edwardian class lines. A pass for me.
Deb, as the PBS version of DOWNTON ABBEY went on, the winds of Change affect the story-lines and the characters. Yes, class is still a problem, but cracks in the social stratification start coming hard and fast. If there’s a sequel to DOWNTON ABBEY: THE MOVIE, I suspect it will be set in 1929 when the world was plunged into the beginning of the Great Depression.
How about a Lego Downton Abbey? Or when in which Cthulu makes an appearance.
Steve, I would pay Real Money to see a LEGO version of DOWNTON ABBEY with a cameo by Cthulhu!
In an interview I saw last night on PBS Newshour, it was made clear that this film is a continuation, events occurring after the series ended, so no old ground was covered. So it’s intended to be a stand alone, and, if successful, a second film will be made. But you imply the movie goer would need to be familiar with the series, which we have not watched, to be grounded in the story.
Is all of the series now available on DVD?
Rick, all six seasons (7 to 9 episodes per season) are available on DVD and Blu-ray. Most Libraries have them in their video collections. They are also free on AMAZON PRIME Video. Knowing the backstories to the characters makes the movie more entertaining. I suspect there will be a sequel to this movie in a couple of years.
Have to admit that we didn’t watch the tv series, just read about the background, don’t think I would like it.
The British class system is something I’ve often wondered about, having been to London and other English places more than 70 times for my shopping.
Just the idea that most of Central London belongs to a few people and every house is only on a 99 years lease I find strange …
Even my sister’s English husband whom you might call upper middle class behaves strangely sometimes, in Germany e g in my favourite bar there are professors, politicians, doctors – and workers at the same table …
Wolf, DOWNTON ABBEY charts the social changes in class structure in the early 20th Century. I found it irresistible.