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Upstairs Downstairs - The Complete Third Series


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Enjoyable 3rd series
Review date: 2008-08-25 Rating: 8 out of 10

This was a very enjoyable series with the poignancy of the Titanic sinking. It was inevitable that such a momentous event in world history would have to touch the Bellamy household in some way. At the end of the first episode of "Miss Forrest" where the end music cuts away to show a photo of Lady Margery gives one the sense of feeling that we will not see her again.

Meg Wynn Owen (Hazel) joins the cast and we see the hostility of Hudson who with his sense of proprietory and sensing an imbalance in the order of things makes his feelings clear. However, with Hazel managing to defuse a tragic situation over Lady Margery's jewellery, she begins to slowly win over the staff and ends up with Rose becoming devoted to her.

The show highlights how Rose nearly goes to Australia over her whirlwind romance with Gregory but how she changes her mind over it all after his spiteful friend manages to spoil things for her.

We first meet Georgina Worsley and Daisy who become fast friends and get embroiled in their Christmas Day escapade when Georgina persuades Daisy to visit Hoxton and also raid the larder.

The winds of war approach Europe and in the final episode, we see the staff off on a holiday to Herne Bay and it somehow manages to capture perfectly that patriotic fervour that the public were all caught up in right at the outbreak of war.

The very final part of the episode we hear fireworks and church bells ringing out at the outbreak of war in August 1914 and it is hard to believe that such naivety could exist but then no-one really knew what lay in store; particularly as Georgina and her then boyfriend went to a "War Party" at the Ritz. Could such a thing happen today?

The acting is once again strong with the stalwart cast members coming through and cementing their places in the hearts of the viewers.

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Reviews


A True Classic
Review date: 2007-03-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

I remember (just about) when Upstairs Downstairs was originally shown, but I was too young to appreciate it and remember the storylines. ITV3 began showing repeats and are now in the middle of the third series - this means sadly, that the previous reviewer has spoiled a plot line for me as I am watching the episodes in order. The previous reviewer gives away a plot in series four (without giving a spoiler warning), so if you haven't watched up to this point yet, avoid reading too far in this person's review. Watching the repeats made me want to buy all the discs of the series and watch all the hours of this wonderful programme again, as I knew it would not be money wasted. This is a series that even makes me get up early on Sunday mornings instead of having a lie in! It is that good.

The cast are all faultless and the contrast between what life was like for people such as the Bellamy family and the servants is very evocatively portrayed. If one didn't appreciate modern life before watching this series, one certainly would afterwards. A true classic. Classic is an overused word, but an entirely proper one to describe this series.


Upstairs Downstairs-the Complete Third Series
Review date: 2006-11-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

Please be aware there are spoilers on forthcoming storylines in my review,so please don't read on if you don't want to know future storylines on further DVD releases.
Upstairs Downstairs" returned for a 3rd series but there were a lot of changes to the cast as Pauline Collins,John Alderton,(Sarah and Thomas)Nicola Paget(Elizabeth Bellamy)had all left the cast although several years later,Pauline Collins and John Alderton had their own spinoff series,"Thomas and Sarah".
The biggest blow to the series was Rachel Gurney(Lady Marjorie Bellamy)deciding to move on and Lady Marjorie is setting of on a cruise to New York in the opening episode "Miss Forrest",when right at the end of the episode,Richard Bellamy decides to cable gram his wife and we learn she is sailing on the "Titanic"!
I can remember watching the reruns in the 80s and being totally shocked at this revelation and the closing shot on Lady Marjorie's photograph is very effective.
Rachel Gurney decided she'd made a mistake but it was too late to change the scripts,so Lady Marjorie goes down with "The Titanic" but her maid,Roberts(Patsy Smart)survives and in the next episode "A House Divided" ,she tells of Lady Marjorie helping a little girl look for her mother on the deck of "The Titanic" and never seeing her again.
Meg Wyn Owen(Hazel Forrest/Bellamy) becomes the new lady of the house when she marries James(Simon Williams)and the staff eventually accept her even though she's only middle class!
In "A Change Of A Scene" Hudson accompanys James to do some shooting and Hudson so impresses the people of the large estate there,he is offered a job,Hudson (Gordon Jackson)goes as far as writing a letter of acceptance but on returning to 165 Eaton Place,is so welcomed back by Mrs Bridges (Angela Baddeley)and Richard Bellamy(David Langton)he decides to stay,out of loyalty,his glance at Lady Marjorie's potrait is very moving too,so the letter is torn up.
Lesley Anne Down (Georgina)makes her debut in "Goodwill To All Men",when out of kindness,she takes new under house parlour maid Daisy,(Jacqueline Tong)to Hoxton,to see her mother and is appalled at the poverty there and the both get rough treatment from Daisy's Mum's new man,Daisy's father having died the year before.
The marriage of James and Hazel quickly comes under strain after Hazel attempts to join James in hunting in "The Bolter" with near disasterous results.
When Hazel loses a baby,later in the season,James is really horrible to her and poor Hazel never really had a happy time in Eaton place and dies at the end of season 4.
The whole of season 3 is the build up to World War One and as London celebrates the start of war,Rose(Jean Marsh)Daisy and Richard Bellamy,know that there is going to be a hugh loss of life,Richard even refusing to drink to war.
An excellent season and I'm looking forward to watching season 4 of "Upstairs Downstairs".

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Jean Marsh
Simon Williams
Gordon Jackson

Creators:
Simon Williams (Primary Contributor)
Gordon Jackson (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Network
Manufacturer: Network
EAN: 5027626243340
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-05-01
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 650 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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