When the full-length trailer for the Downton Abbey movie came out a month ago, I found myself getting into it yet again. I watched all of the original DA television show, and while I maintain that it was mostly a bitchy, overwrought soap opera with costume p0rn and English estate p0rn, I find that I still have so much affection for many of these characters. Edith was such a lost soul, always the “ugly sister,” and then she found a nice guy and it turned out that he inherited some fancy-pants Scottish title and now she lives in a castle bigger than Downton. Lady Mary was such a mega-bitch throughout the series but after Cousin Matthew’s death, I softened on her a tad (she was still a mega bish though). And now she’s married to… the owner of a garage. Seriously.
Anyway, the point is that I find myself truly looking forward to the movie and I am here for any hype about it. The new character posters were just released this week and I LOVE THEM. I find the pairings very interesting…why not Matthew Goode with Lady Mary, why is Mary paired with the Dowager Countess? And my lord, EDITH LOOKS AMAZING. The film is set in 1927, the height of the Roaring Twenties, when that flapper style was simply everywhere. It’s some kind of petty justice that Mary looks like ten kinds of hell with her trendy ‘20s hairstyle and Edith looks like the chicest flapper ever.
Do you want to watch another trailer? I haven’t seen this one before, this must be the UK trailer edit. It explains more about the flurry of activity around the king and queen’s visit to Downton. Who’s playing King George V?
Posters courtesy of Universal.
I’m too excited for the movie! I live for the English castle po*n!
Oh my gosh, yes please.
Yes. And the costumes truly are amazing. Those dresses.
If you are in Boston you can see the costumes and sets in person. I saw the exhibit in NYC and loved it.
https://www.downtonexhibition.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl6LoBRDqARIsABllMSax11bUXCcnqIrJq4w7FsX7EDj3LfmAUml4_079NjUtAnlAuduK6WUaAjkYEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I also saw the exhibit when it was in NYC. Extremely well done, and so many of the costumes were there. I’d have been so nervous wearing those vintage beaded outfits, if I were one of the actors! Sets included the servants hall with bell board, the kitchen, and dining room. Written commentary throughout the exhibit not only had details about the show’s characters, but also information regarding society at the time. Highly recommended.
The costumes! Some of the fabric was so ephemerally vintage- it disintegrated after a shoot apparently. History fading before our eyes, I just die for the poetry of THIS
I love the Dowager Countess so much. I can’t wait to see this movie
Oh, me too! My favorite from the show!
And I have been thinking about the posters – who would the DC be paired with? Branson? No, it’d have to be Lady Mary – they are the “bitchy ice queens” so to speak. And then it makes sense to pair Branson and Talbot since they are of “similar rank” and own the car shop together.
I think Julian Fellows is making the movie for fans of the Dowager Countess. She is a legendary character.
I could never stand Mary, but I want that dress! That blue color is gorgeous.
Team Edith all the way.
Lady Mary got to wear a Fortuny gown. Envy.
OMG, yes.
Did it cost so much that they only had $10 leftover for the atrocious wig?
Imelda Staunton!
Is she in this? Who does she play?
FYI:I know in real life she is married to Jim Carter.
I just realized a few weeks ago that Delores Umbridge is married to Carson and it kind of made my head explode. How did I not know this before???
Delores Umbridge is married to Carson?
Ok I know they are not their characters but THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE IN MY BRAIN
But she was BRILLIANT as Umbridge.
I will never forgive Mary after she told Bertie about Marigold. That was so cruel and unnecessary. I hope her marriage is miserable.
Yeah, though upon rewatch (I just finished the first season) I had forgotten just how truly horrible Edith was to Mary as well – especially when she wrote to the Turkish ambassador to out Mary’s dalliance with Pamuk. So, while Mary is horrible for sure, Edith absolutely gave as good as she got.
For real. I have no idea why everyone gives Edith a free pass and that she never does anything wrong ever. Girl please. She knows how to throw the knives.
Poor Mr Pamuk
I’m all for a Pamuk prequel. And with an appearance from the world’s best wingman, Evelyn Napier, please.
Edith was willing to bring down her entire family’s reputation and standing just to get a shot at her sister! And she was thrilled that married farmer kissed her because it proved she was desirable — she didn’t care about him, or that what his wife felt. I never understand the idea of Edith as an underdog. She was as privileged and oblivious as the rest, she just spent more time feeling sorry for herself.
Edith also made Mary’s fear of marrying again seem like a class thing and attacked her over it, completely ignoring that she was scared of loving and burying another man because her last one died in a car accident and this one is car crazy and his racing was giving her flash backs.
Yup this. They both were horrible at different point. Glad they made peace in the end.
I also wouldn’t call the thing with Pamuk a dalliance. He forced himself into her room and then threatened and pressured her. So many terrible consent issues.
@sunny – You are quite correct, and I was really just referencing it as they did on the show. But great point. It was definitely something more sinister.
OMG All of this!! Everyone’s comments! All of them! I have never understood the “Poor Edith” tripe.
I wonder if people were watching the same show I was watching.
Pamuk absolutely was questionable.
Normally I like series or movies of the periods dramas, but I never very much liked Downton abbey, mainly due to the fact that I think that the intrigues was so boredom and for me the social class problems that they exist in british society was treated superficial manner.
I just LOVE how Elizabeth McGovern…whom I have ADORED since the late 70s (she’s from Evanston…and I’m from Chicago…so HOMEGURL!!!)…moved to England and found her niche…which is EXACTLY how I would have played it!
And she married a Brit.
Can’t wait!
But hello, Debbie Downer here – I didn’t find Matthew Goode quite the right fit. Perhaps I’ll change my mind.
I think he’s a terrible actor who has gotten by on his looks.
Totally agree.
That show. Early 20th century social struggles, sexual taboos, politics, war, moral ambiguities, wealth, poverty, landscape excellence and those clothes!!! And all delivered to our senses with prudence, restraint and dignity lol! Magnifique!
Oooohhh Matthew Goode is in it too! Yum.
It’s my trashy guilty pleasure! I remember liking Mary and despising Edith early on and then, as I grew to dislike Mary, I was willing to overlook Edith’s transgressions, especially given Edith’s personal growth. Team Edith!
Hum? Did Lady Mary’s vag kill another husband?
Team no-one. They are both insufferable overall, although the writers managed to make them endearing somehow. Sybil was the nice one.
I seem to recall Maggie Smith saying (on Graham Norton?) that she never watched an episode, which I found hilarious, condescending and grand all at the same time!
She’s also very eye-rolly about the show when it’s brought up in “Tea With the Dames,” which is a great movie. It’s pretty clear it’s a paycheck and a way to keep her profile up, but not exactly a passion project.
Mary got what she deserved , used car salesman. I still miss Lady Sybil.
Sybil’s death was awful, and IiRC, it was because the actress wanted out. Then when Matthew left for the same reason, I couldn’t watch any more. I doubt I’ll see this.
It was awful, but actually totally realistic. No matter how rich you were, childbirth was a dangerous business.
It was handled much better than Matthew’s exit
Geraldine James as Queen Mary
Simon Jones as King George V (Arthur Dent from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.)
Kate Phillips as Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
Also looking forward to this film!!!!
I’ve been trying to rewatch the series lately, but I’m finding it intolerable on the second go. I’ll watch the movie, but I’m not super excited about it. I recently started the Upstairs Downstairs remake, though, and I’ve been digging on that.
Castle porn, jewelry porn, costume porn….I am ready!
Downtown Abbey is a poor satire of Gosford Park. If you want the period pieces, costumes, etc., but without the silly soap opera acting/dialogue/direction, then I highly recommend you watch Gosford Park. And if you think Maggie Smith was good in DA, it’s nothing compared to her performance in GP — along with Helen Mirren, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Eileen Atkins, Alan Bates, Jeremy Northam, Kelly Macdonald, and many more, all of whom were excellent.
Downton Abbey really does feel like Julian Fellowes broke his leash and headed for the hills of Conservative utopianism. He obviously has chops as a writer, but I think Altman and Bob Balaban held the worst of his tendencies in check on Gosford Park, as they came up with the basic ideas. Downton Abbey was supposed to be a spinoff of that movie at first, but Fellowes was forced to come up with his own ideas, and, well.