"Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971) TV series 1971-1975

Directors:

Bill Bain
Derek Bennett

Writers:

Alfred Shaughnessy (writer) (15 episodes)
Jeremy Paul (writer) (14 episodes)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

6 January 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The series follows the lives of both the family and the servants in the London townhouse at 165 Eaton Place...

Plot Keywords:

Parliament | Espionage | Kidnapping | Abortion | Masterpiece Theatre

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Gordon Jackson	...	Hudson (60 episodes, 1971-1975)
David Langton	...	Richard Bellamy (56 episodes, 1971-1975)
Jean Marsh	...	Rose (54 episodes, 1971-1975)
Angela Baddeley	...	Mrs. Bridges (52 episodes, 1971-1975)
Christopher Beeny	...	Edward / ... (46 episodes, 1971-1975)
Jenny Tomasin	...	Ruby (41 episodes, 1972-1975)
Simon Williams	...	James Bellamy (38 episodes, 1971-1975)
Jacqueline Tong	...	Daisy (32 episodes, 1973-1975)

Runtime:

Sweden:50 min | UK:60 min (68 episodes) | USA:60 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White | Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-18 (2007) (DVD) (self applied) | New Zealand:PG (season 1) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

65 Eaton Place, Belgravia, London, England, UK

Company:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Trivia:

When Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins came up with the original idea for Upstairs Downstairs, they envisaged it as a comedy called Behind the Green Baize Door.

Goofs:

Continuity: Hamish and Dorothy Matthews' names are spelt Mathews in the credits of episode 3.11 and Matthews in episode 4.6

Quotes:

Rose Buck, housemaid: [furiously] You've got foreigners on the mind, you have, Mr Hudson! I remember the time you said that the German Army had landed, and that they were all working on the South coast as waiters and hairdressers, and that they'd all rise up and slaughter us in our beds! Haha! Well they haven't, have they? We're still here, aren't we?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Killer Barbys (1996)

an Edwardian soap opera

Set from pre-World War I to the late 1920s, this series ran for five years and was a cornerstone of ITV drama in the UK.

Co-created by Jean Marsh and debuting in good old black and white, before moving into colour, 'Upstairs, Downstairs' remains the best (and the soapiest) drama of above and below stairs.

Too many people in the cast to mention, but kudos should go to David Langton, who played Richard Bellamy throughout, to the two Lady Bellamys, Rachel Gurney and Hannah Gordon, to Simon Williams and Nicola Pagett as James and Elizabeth, and Lesley Anne Down as Georgina.

Below stairs there were three key characters - Gordon Jackson as Hudson the butler, Angela Baddeley as Mrs Bridges the cook (a character so famous she had her own range of biscuits and preserves for many years), and Jean Marsh as Rose, the house-parlourmaid. I also remember Karen Dotrice as Lily, Jacqueline Tong as Daisy, John Alderton and Pauline Collins as Thomas and Sarah (who got their own spin-off series), and Christopher Beeny as Edward.

Full of drama - the Titanic disaster, debt collectors, intrigue and affairs, and of course the obligatory conflict between ranks, this series had it all. It enjoyed several repeat runs on TV and now has a new life on DVD, well-deserved.

Highly recommended if you've never seen it; if you have you don't need convincing.