Sunday Viewing: Upstairs, Downstairs

In 1971, London Weekend Television debuted a new drama on ITV in England.  Created by Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins, Upstairs, Downstairs, focused on the lives of the residents of an elegant Eaton Place townhouse--the wealthy Bellamy Family (upstairs) and their devoted staff (downstairs)--from the start of the Edwardian period to the Inter-War era.  Running for five seasons (and in the U.S. on PBS), Upstairs, Downstairs was an enormous hit due to the superb writing and brilliant performances of a cast that included, Jean Marsh as the constant and loyal Rose Buck, Gordon Jackson as the devoted butler Angus Hudson, Angela Baddeley as the no-nonsense Mrs. Bridges, Christopher Beeny as cheerful footman Edward, Rachel Gurney as Lady Marjorie Bellamy, David Langton as Richard Bellamy, and Simon Williams as their mercurial son.  Other notable cast members were a very young Lesley-Anne Down and real-life couple Pauline Collins and John Alderton as the impetuous Sarah and scheming Thomas.  The ever-delightful Collins and Alderton later had their own spin-off program, Thomas and Sarah and also worked together on many other projects including Wodehouse Playhouse.

Upstairs, Downstairs is truly a brilliant program.  From its historical accuracy to exciting storylines, the show is both exciting and touching.  I recently had the chance to view the entire series again thanks to my parents who purchased the DVDs.  I highly recommend it for hours of fun and escape to a time that was decidedly more beautiful, and, yet, strangely like our own in many ways.

Above Image Courtesy of The Upstairs, Downstairs Web Pages.