Upstairs Downstairs - Series 1 - The Colour Edition

Starring: Hannah Gordon, Pauline Collins Director: Christopher Hodson, Derek Bennett, Herbert Wise, Joan KempWelch, Raymond Menmuir Original UK Premiere: 1971 Dvd Release: 18th June, 2001 Number Of Discs: 2 Format: Box set, Full Screen, PAL, Region 2 Encoding

Article Index: [Background Info] [DVD Review] [Biographies] [Articles/Resources] [Link To This Article] Looking To Buy? Buy This DVD Here

Upstairs, Downstairs was a 1970s British television series set in a grand Edwardian town house in London & depicting the events of the early twentieth century as they affected the servants & masters. The concept of the series was created by Jean Marsh & Eileen Atkins as a comedy, called Behind the Green Baize Door, about two housemaids who worked in a Victorian country house. After approaching a development company in 1969 their ideas were expanded & developed to include the upstairs element & it became a drama known variously as Two Little Maids in Town, Below Stairs, The Servants Hall, That House in Eaton Square & 165 Eaton Place until becoming Upstairs, Downstairs shortly before going into production. The series was first offered to Granada Television in Manchester who passed on it as they were working on another period drama but London Weekend Television liked the concept & in April 1970 commissioned a series of thirteen plays with an option for a second.

Upstairs, Downstairs has truly stood the test of time. Not only do the scripts still remain shining examples of dramatic writing but the majority of the performances from the regulars remain brilliantly observed & often very moving, particularly Rachel Gurney as Lady Marjorie & the series creator Jean Marsh as Rose.

As a DVD though, I was rather disappointed. The picture could have done with being cleaned up, especially on the first two episodes, & its such a shame that no effort had been made to include any features from the original cast & crew, most of whom are still alive & were reunited for a TV interview last year. I would have thought Marsh in particular would have been interested in something like this. Its to be hoped that further DVD releases take more advantage of what this medium offers.

This frustration notwithstanding, its an amazing piece of work & worth owning. British drama at its best - fab!

Hannah Gordon is a Scottish-born British actress. She has appeared in many films & television series including Watership Down, The Elephant Man, Miss Morrisons Ghosts & My Family & Other Animals. In Upstairs, Downstairs, she played Lord Bellamys second wife in later series of the programme. Gordon appeared in the 1966 Doctor Who serial The Highlanders & more recently appeared in the webcast Shada — a remake of an unfinished Douglas Adams serial featuring Paul McGann as the Doctor. No stranger to comedy, Hannah Gordon was the female lead in the British sitcom, My Wife Next Door, opposite John Alderton & appeared as a guest on the Morecambe & Wise show. She also played the character in One Foot in the Grave who knocked down & killed Victor Meldrew, played by Richard Wilson. She also hosted the Watercolour Challenge television game show. Hannah Gordon at the Internet Movie Database.

Editors Choice: Upstairs Downstairs, View DVDology

Pauline Collins is a British actress, working extensively in movies & television. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the movie Shirley Valentine. Collins first became well-known for her role as the maid, Sarah, in the 1970s ITV drama series, Upstairs, Downstairs. The series also starred her actor husband, John Alderton, with whom she went on to star in a spin-off, Thomas & Sarah & a sitcom, No, Honestly.

Editors Choice: Mrs Caldicots Cabbage War, Shirley Valentine, Upstairs Downstairs, Wodehouse Playhouse, View DVDology

©2004-2008 DVDArk.co.uk