Description
Downton Abbey is a popular British television series that has been aired on the ITV network since 1994. The show is set in an estate called Downton Abbey, and follows the lives of the cast and staff of the house. The show has received critical acclaim for its unique plotlines and beautiful scenery. The new season of Downton Abbey began airing on February 14th, 2019, and is expected to last for around 8 seasons.
From the manufacturer
CHARACTER BIOS
THE DOWAGER COUNTESS
Violet inherits a villa in the South of France from an acquaintance she hasn’t seen in decades.
LORD & LADY GRANTHAM
Having agreed to a film shoot at Downton, Robert and Cora leave Mary in charge while they and others set sail for the South of France to view the inherited property
LADY MARY
Mary is in charge of the film production at Downton, and when the film runs into problems, she and Mrs. Hughes come up with an ingenious idea that just might save the day.
LORD & LADY HEXHAM
Edith and Bertie travel to the South of France, as she has an idea to write an article about how fashionable the region has become as a holiday destination for the rich and famous.
TOM & LUCY BRANSON
Tom marries Miss Lucy Smith, the daughter of Lady Bagshaw. The Dowager’s generous gift to Sybbie, his daughter with Lady Sybil, doesn’t sit comfortably with him.
Mr. Carson travels to the South of France with Lord and Lady Grantham, while Mrs. Hughes stays behind at Downton to assist Mary in managing the film production
JOHN & ANNA BATES
Mr. Bates travels to the South of France with the Lord and Lady Grantham, while Anna stays at Downton to be immersed in the glamour of the film stars working at the house.
THOMAS BARROW
Now the butler, Thomas is nonchalant about the movies coming to Downton…until leading man Guy Dexter arrives.
DAISY & ANDY PARKER
Young newlyweds Daisy and Andy, now living with Mr. Mason, set out to fix him up with Mrs. Patmore. Unlike the royal visit, Daisy is beside herself about movie stars being at Downton.
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Dr. Paul –
Without question, I knew when my wife and I saw Downton Abbey: A New Era in the theatre we’d be adding it to our streaming Downton collection – heck, I knew before we went. My wife adores the story and I admit, I am a bit fan. The directing, writing, and acting of the Downton world continues here with a fitting and wonderful next step (ending?) to the series. We are fans who come away finding this a perfect way to – we hope – continue the saga – or perhaps, take a leap forward another decade and continue.Yes, it is sad.Yes, it is fun.Yes, it is full of moments of levity.Yes, some might find the outcome…SPOILERS MOVING AHEAD:The Crawleys are back for more adventures. We begin with Tom marrying the new love of his life. We found the relationship between Tom and Lucy sweet and charming and a great way for Tom to move on. Sybie loves them and they love her. We missed any moments between Tom and BFF Mary, but maybe in the next one… and are they not all surprised when the Dowager wills a villa in France to Sybie… that no one knew existed, until now. Downton fans know that the Dowager told Mary at the end of the first movie she was dying, but she’s back. Moved into the main house, with Danker, and keeping the family on their toes and guessing.This Downton Abbey: A New Era gives us a great moving, fast paced, all hands on deck, upstairs-downstairs series of stories. Some things are wrapped up – like Tom and Lucy – some questions are opened – like how Mary has to deal with a supposedly attentive husband now missing again. Henry is off racing – because Matthew Goode was filming elsewhere – but they handled the (parallel) story well between Mary’s temptations and Violet’s. It’s at the heart of this New Era as things are fully passed from the Dowager to the new Lady.Some of the family go south to find out what the new villa is all about, while others stay home to oversee a movie being made at Downton. There are inside jokes, tips of the hat to “the real lives” of Downton actors and reality itself, and there are touching moments between various couples (married, family, and otherwise). A bunch of hopes are met – including marriages and engagements. And of course.. that elephant in the room… yes… we loose the Dowager… but the end comes with beautiful words and a touching moment, a scene worthy of Dame Maggie Smith, and a wonderful farewell to a women we’ve all come to love and respect.This Downton is a well done next step, a nod to the things Downton fans love, and both a hope for another – movie or series – or bittersweet farewell should they decide the time has come for no more.In the end, we loved Downton Abbey: A New Era and are happy to have added it to our streaming library. It’s nice to visit again, but with hope, we’ll all be back again…
N.P. –
This is a great movie and continued story of the beloved Crawley family. I love how this movie is split and goes back and forth between England and France. Although I wish the movie spent more time in France than England. I first saw the movie in the theater. I bought this DVD to add to my Downtown DVD collection. I highly recommend this movie because sadly I think it might be the last of this series. Especially now that the matriarch Violet, Doweger Countess of Grantham died at the end.
Vincent Lawrence –
Resilience, continuity, and classic describe the elaborate production, casting, with scrumptious scenery, period costuming, exquisite destination settings, and prolific writing. A must have for collectors. Production surpassing the BBC series The Crown! Dame Maggie Smith (CBE) (DBE) (CH) as The Dowager Countess Grantham portrays the “true” ideals of royalty, and regal breeding of the British aristocracy. A byword of royalty today. The House of Windsor could definitely aspire to Julian Fellowes establishment of a legacy that continues. God bless The Queen! God Save Downton Abbey.
JustPat –
As a huge fan of the series and movies this latest did not disappoint. It feels like some loose end were tied up. I am hopeful that this story will continue and possibly a prequel eventually. I love the depth of all of the characters. They are relatable to any era. I hope this goes on for a long time to come. That is not something I usually have thought about a series/movie in the past.
Tyler A. –
Like many here, I have been a HUGE fan of Downton since its inception. I mean, like a huge fan. And have to admit my heart has always held Mary very fondly (smiles). I can’t explain how incredible it was to see the cast back together finally. I dimmed the lights in my home, poured myself a glass of Merlot, and enjoyed being taken back to this era while smiling that my favorite cast of characters were finally back together. Of course, the acting is superb, as usual. I will say, I was a little disappointed in the plot (or lack thereof), but who cares, to finally get to enjoy Downton again was all that mattered. Enjoy! It is worth a watch!*Sidenote. For other HUGE Downton fans. The show isn’t over… I mean, it couldn’t be after this . . . A new era (hence the title) has begun!!! And I’m all here for it! 🙂
Gault –
The story felt disjointed and there was a lack of interaction between the family members and staff. It was more about the movie company and that story was based upon a character from Singing in the Rain. The death scene for the grandmother and the storyline was so poorly executed. She should have gone out in style, suitable to her nature. Better that her former love interest had not died and left her a mansion in france. He should have showed up and whisk her off to France to a New Life in their elderly age. Then Maggie Smith could have shown up every now and then in futures story lines, if need be.On the positive side the ending for Thomas was quite lovely and well done. It was fun to see the servant class dress up and be a part of the film company in the movie.
F. Wilson –
As others have already noted, this movie was much better than the first. Downton Abbey has always had multiple plot lines. In the theater I had a bit of a problem following both, but when watched the second time at home, it was easier to follow. Really enjoyed the plot line on the movie making. Really enjoyed seeing more of Lady Mary. Enjoyed learning a bit about moving from non-talking movies to “talkies”. Did not see the death of Maggie Smith’s character coming, but it makes sense. It now clears the way for a third movie which I hope Julian Fellows writes. I have always wanted to see Downton Abbey go through the World War II era, whether a TV series or another movie. So many possibilities: George serving as an RAF pilot, Sybbie working as a nurse as her mother did, or possibly Sybbie in the WAAF. Mary running Downton Abbey as a hospital again with Tom producing lots of farm crops to offset the rationing. (Perhaps Highclere itself was used as a hospital during the WWII.) A visit right before the war from Barrow and his friend showing how happy he is. Julian Fellows take note. Lots of good ideas.
RDD –
Julian Fellowes and Simon Curtis’s 2022 film, “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” takes place in 1928, shortly after the events of the 2019 film and television series that originally aired from 2010 – 2015. The story begins with the wedding of Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton) – hinted at in the previous film – and alternates between events at the Abbey – where a film production company arrives to produce a motion picture, struggling amid the shift from silent film to talkies – and the south of France, where members of the Crawley family travel after learning that a French marquis left a villa to Violet (Maggie Smith), the dowager countess, who intends to leave it to Sybil. The family only agrees to the movie-making in order to cover the continued costs of maintaining the house and estate, though Mary (Michelle Dockery) and the household staff find it quite interesting. Meanwhile, Robert’s (Hugh Bonneville) world is shocked in France with rumors about his parentage and Cora’s (Elizabeth McGovern) health.Characters at the Abbey have a chance to explore the changing world while Fellowes writes a story touching on the themes many previous Hollywood pictures explored, including “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The Artist.” Those in France offer a chance for the fish-out-of-water comic moments while also exploring elements of their characters in a way that the usual settings would not necessarily allow. The effect of the film is that it ties up the few remaining loose ends from the previous entry while offering a happy ending for those characters whose storylines were still somewhat open-ended.It’s a nice epilogue to “Downton Abbey” for fans, but newcomers may find themselves lost in a way they did not during the first film. While Fellowes could theoretically create a third film with these characters, the rapidly approaching events of World War II and the permanent social changes it wrought – coupled with several of the characters’ in-universe ages – makes it unlikely. Fans will enjoy this especially as the two films work like a two-act seventh season to the show.
Richard B. Schwartz –
This is great fun. We are in the age of talking pictures (just barely). A film company wants to make a film about a gambler at Downton; the fee would pay for a new roof, something sorely needed. Events ensue (as we say) because the film is a silent and the emergence of talkies is jeopardizing the positioning of backsides in theatre seats. The female lead has a heavy cockney accent; mayhap Lady Mary’s voice could be dubbed and the day saved . . . . But the extras haven’t been paid because of the studio’s suspension of production and they threaten a walkout. Mayhap the Downton servants could be pressed into service, get all bedecked in finery and hobnob with the actors (the leading man is none other than a gay Dominic West, who has eyes for the Downton butler, Mr. Barrow).Meanwhile, the Countess Dowager has received word that she is the heir to a villa in the south of France and Lord and Lady Grantham have been invited to travel there. It appears that the Countess Dowager had a relationship of some sort with the wealthy chap who has left her the villa and it may just be possible that Robert’s Papa was actually a Frenchman. Zounds.The plots all come together; wonderful things happen for a number of the members of the ensemble cast as the Countess Dowager prepares to depart for her heavenly reward.The script is fun; the production values are superb; the scenes shot on the “ferry” to France are actually shot on the royal yacht Britannia. The shooting of the film within the film is a high point and all of the period details (camera equipment, costuming, and so on) are exquisite. The subsidiary material explains some of the equipment as well as its more recent provenance. Spoiler/Hint: there is a Monty Python connection.Bottom line: a must see for all Downtonians and Anglophiles and a very beautiful film.An easy five stars.
Eros –
I should have read reviews prior to watching this movie…..total tear fest at the end, but knowing the character of the Dowager, Lord Grantham was right so long ago when he described his mother, and I qoute:” She’s an old Intriguer, she will use Tears or Terror to get her way…”What a lovely movie all around. Then again, Downton Abbey has never let me down, hence the reason for me not reading reviews, I would have bought it anyway, just like all the other Downton Abbey fans around the globe. There is never a dull moment. I did think Mr. Talbot would have made another last minute appearance, but no luck there. With or without him, there is never a stone unturned, and how typical Violet to make her final words. (Spoiler alert) “…all that noise,, I can’t hear myself dying…” typical Dowager sass, which I do not see lacking in future movies, or, for heavens sake, Series, only to be carried out by the ever so strong Lady Mary Crawley (Tolbot). 5 stars and worth every penny ! The Queen of Downton is Dead, Long live the Queen !