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| Casts of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey |
Coming up this fall, there will be an update of Upstairs, Downstairs (this time it will move ahead to 1936) as well as a new drama of Downton Abbey (set in Edwardian country house in 1912, penned by Julian Fellowes).
As much as I abhor people being treated as servants and the division of class, I find that I'm fascinated by these films which give us a glimpse of what they must have gone through in their daily lives.
Here are other period dramas that feature the hired help:
There are various films that focus on the nanny or governess:
Nanny McPhee, Mary Poppins, The Sound Of Music, Berkeley Square, Firelight, Jane Eyre, The Turn of the Screw, The Lost Prince and Corrina, Corrina
As well as other dramas that focus on household servants:
Gosford Park, The Remains of the Day, Driving Miss Daisy, Jeeves and Wooster
And there's also the reality series that allowed individuals to see what it was like to live in "The Edwardian Country House".
So for the Up - Down Poll, how many of these dramas have you seen?
Which ones are your favourites?
[Vote or comment below]
[Vote or comment below]
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| Gosford Park |
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| Berkeley Square | Firelight |
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| The Edwardian Country House (reality series) |
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| Emma Thompson in Remains of the Day and Nanny McPhee |
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| Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins |
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| Jane Eyre | The Turn of the Screw | Corrina, Corrina |
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| Jeeves and Wooster | The Lost Prince | Driving Miss Daisy |
Did see most but not quite all! Have to say Firelight would be my favorite as I so love Sophie Marceau. Jane Eyre has to be next of course.
ReplyDeleteSuch a hard choice... My favorite is Jane Eyre, but Upstairs, Downstairs is my top choice for the servant/family relationship.
ReplyDeleteI just have realised how many of these period dramas I have not yet seen! I agree with the majority on Jane Eyre though and can't wait for the new adaptation of this story.
ReplyDeleteI only clicked for Jane Eyre and Sound of Music. I don't remember ever seeing all of Mary Poppins or Nanny McPhee or Gosford Park. I think I've seen a bit of Jeeves & Wooster aaaages ago when it was on Swedish TV (and recently, on ITV3 I caught most of an episode). The rest I've not seen at all.
ReplyDeleteЯ видела большинство фильмов. Предпочитаю "Джейн Эйр" и "Госфорд-парк".
ReplyDeleteSounds like Jane Eyre is a clear favourite, it's been neck and neck with Sound of Music for most seen.
ReplyDelete@Traxy, surprised that you've only partly seen Gosford Park. The ending scene with Helen Mirren and Eileen Atkins was so emotional!
LOVED Edwardian Country House! I think the upstairs/downstairs relationships is what made the show so incredibly interesting, moreso than the contemporary people living in the past basis which had drawn me to the other historical reality series (Frontier House, Victorian House, etc).
ReplyDeleteI agree. I recall how quickly the regular folk stepped into their roles as Master and Mistress of the House! I felt badly for the hard work required of those below stairs!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that "The Grand" wasn't included. It is fascinating and definitely belongs in the "up-down" category.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning The Grand! I forgot about that one! I've heard of it but not seen it myself.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the first, and still one of the best, was THE FORSYTHE SAGA from 1967 on for several years. It was based on the John Galsworthy novels. Redone in color with Rupert Graves and Damian Lewis in 2002.
ReplyDeleteBoth versions are worth seeking out on DVD.
UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS would be my second choice.
sunny, I loved the 2002 adaptation of The Forsyte Saga! I especially was impressed by Damian Lewis' riveting performance! I didn't include that series in this poll since the servants were only minor characters. I've heard the original series is excellent but I haven't seen it myself. Thanks for your recommendations!
ReplyDelete