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Post by CG Wendy on Jun 29, 2005 22:07:18 GMT
One of the finest costume dramas on television, bar none. I was 8 years old when it started and it was shown on Sunday afternoons. Even as a young girl, I was transfixed by the drama. The one that really sticks out in my mind was when Elizabeth took Rose to a suffragette meeting and they were sent to prison. Its brilliant to be able to watch them again. I`m renting them from Netflix...one DVD a week. Am also renting All Creatures Great and Small - one of hubbys fave shows. As soon as I`ve finished renting the U/D dvds, I`m going to rent the Thomas and Sarah spin off.
Its brilliant to see so many fans of U/D here. I never realised how much we had in common ;D
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Post by Nick on Jun 30, 2005 0:15:53 GMT
I didn't think Thomas and Sarah was as good..it was made 4 years after Upstairs Downstairs had finished (which was set in 1930)..but T & S was only supposed to be a couple of days after the had left the Bellamy's house,which would have been circa 1910..and it dosen't feature any of the U/D cast
I loved U/D....i was only a child myself when it was on..but recently (as I mentioned in another thread,but I'll repeat myself here) i bought the whole 5 series on DVD..my favourite series were the 3rd and 4th (altho I loved them all)...My favourite Character was Hazel Bellamy..it is interesting seeing them as an adult..because you understand the social behaviour much better..poor Hazel (who was middle class and Richard's secretary and married James Bellamy)was looked down upon by the 'Upstairs' because they didn't think she was good enough and the 'Downstairs' lot thought she had ideas above her station..I remember a great scene between her and Hudson.where she had to remind him who was in charge while James & Richard were away,because he had been filling the junior staffs heads with stories of war and German spies..it was very sad when she died....by crikey..i could rabbit on for hours about the series..but I won't....
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Post by CG Wendy on Jun 30, 2005 18:18:52 GMT
Please do, because I could rabbit on for hours about U/D too ;D I watched 3 episodes of U/D yesterday. (season 3, disk 4). A Perfect Stranger where Rose met Gregory, Distant Thunder where poor Hazel lost her baby and James ever the cad took Georgina to a dance, and the Sudden Storm where Hazel treated the servents to a day out at the seaside the day World War one was declared.
Even as a young girl, I could see what a selfish git James was. Even when his mother died, it was all about me me me and took Hazel as a wife because he knew she could mother him. And he needed a mother, because he seemed to be a Mummys Boy. What James did to Hazel was unforgivable. Not only was he cold towards his wife, but cared more about his needs than hers when he asked Georgina to be his guest at the annual ball. And you could see that he wanted to seduce Georgina. The fact that he was her cousin...stepcousin meant nothing to him. He wanted her and to hell with anyone else. He used Sarah the parlourmaid the same way. When she was pregnant with his child, he went back to the army and let his parents sort the mess out along with Geoffrey Dillan, the family lawyer. I`m sure it was a relief to him that the baby died....the a-hole.
I did like Lady Marjory, and was upset when she died. But Hazel, Richard Bellamy and his soon to be wife Virginia were always my favourites of the upstairs lot. Elizabeth, like James was a spoilt brat and I was glad when she left. I don`t suppose I ever forgave Elizabeth for persuading Rose to join the Suffragetts and landing poor Rose in prison where she was force fed and abused. Downstairs, I loved them all. Well, except for Alfred the footman from the first series. He always seemed creepy to me.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jun 30, 2005 20:25:01 GMT
Thomas and Sarah was rubbish. It's a pity really the ITV strike prevented the 2nd series being made because it was meant to have been better. Did you notice though in 1 ep they used the old Eaton Place set? And Nick, you being a DW fan will also have spotted Thomas's business yard was used later in Remembrance of the Daleks!
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Jun 30, 2005 22:51:54 GMT
I have got to be honest...I haven't clapped eyes on an episode of T&S since their initial showing in 1979..and don't remember the yard in all fairness to James re: Sarahs baby,it was his parents idea to send him back to India..because they were very scandal concious in those days and Richard was an MP
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 1, 2005 2:13:40 GMT
I watched T&S on Granada Plus and quite enjoyed it. However, when I got the videos, I watched the first and was so bored the 2nd's still sat there! LOL!
Yes. Poor James. But he was a randy sod so deserved to be treated so badly. I was really amazed at the way Lady Marjorie was with Sarah after the baby died. Problem sorted and she could have been flung onto the streets. Lady M was a good woman.
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Jul 1, 2005 3:32:40 GMT
She sure was a good woman Patsy, and she clearly adored her 2 children - even with their faults. All the staff loved her too - especially Miss Roberts who suffered a breakdown through guilt that she wasn`t able to save her on the Titanic. That was the episode that really stood out for me. Superb acting for all concerned. 99% of the episodes were excellent from what I remember. The only episode I didn`t like was the Swedish Tiger I believed it was called where lots of stuff was going missing from Eaton Place and it was Sarah that the finger of suspicion lay. A very confusing episode, I couldn`t keep up with the plot. I`ve noticed Richard Bellamy has never shown the same affection to James like he did Elizabeth. Richard clearly adored Elizabeth, and that`s probably why Lady Marjory showered James with affection....to compensate the love Richard didn`t seem to show to James. I don`t think Hudson respected James either. Oh granted he was polite and pleasant towards James. But underneath he showed a lot of disdain and wasn`t as loyal to James as he was for Richard. I can remember one episode where Hudson handed in his notice because of the snobbish way James treated him. I can barely remember T&S. But strangley enough, the only memory I do have of T&S is the courtyard where Thomas fixed the cars. Is that the same courtyard that was shown on Dr Who?
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Post by Nick on Jul 1, 2005 13:18:54 GMT
yes i didn't like 'The Swedish tiger' either..and it was quoted on the U/D website as the worst episode
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 1, 2005 21:05:28 GMT
That's the courtyard, CorrieGirl.
Yes, A House Divided is superb. I never really liked Miss Roberts but Patsy Smart's acting was marvellous. Though if it was a choice between Miss Roberts coming back and creepy Alfred, I'd pick Miss Roberts every time. I hated Alfred. Was glad when he was hanged. There's so much great acting in the show and it brings you to tears when poor Edward is suffering shell shock. Frederick seemed pointless. Didn't like Daisy. Far too pushy. And poor Emily. Though I never liked her as much as Ruby, she was okay.
Oh The Swedish Tiger. I wish now I'd asked Simon Williams WHY the cast loved it so much. I was just stunned he said that since the majority of fans hate it. Well I suppose it was a lot less painful making it that watching it. LOL!
Either of you got that book by Richard Marson (can't remember the title and can't check with my foot)? Mine was £40 but they were meant to be bringing it out cheaper. Wonderful tome for all UpDown fans with rare pics, facts and figures. He's a member of the UpDown Yahoo group I mentioned the other day (as is the bloke who's got that website and knows all).
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Jul 2, 2005 16:06:06 GMT
I spend a lot of time over at the U/D website Patsy...especially before I get my U/D rentals in my mailbox so I can see what eps are coming up next ;D I just finished watching season 3, so now it`s on to season 4 with the episodes, A Patriotic Offering where James is missing and Hazel is persuaded to take in some Belgian refuees, News From the Front where James is home on leave, and The Beastly Hun where Hudson spreads his hatred for the Germans among the kitchen staff. I can`t recall seeing any of these episodes, so it will be a real treat for me to be able to watch them.
Patsy, the book you are talking about is called 'Inside Updown' and is only £24 now. (about $46). My local post office sells international money orders so I may buy this book one of these days after I spend all my money buying Corrie and catherine Cookson books ;D
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Post by Nick on Jul 2, 2005 16:17:48 GMT
'The Beastly hun' is the one I mentioned before where Hazel has to remind Hudson who is in charge of the house !!...brilliant
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 2, 2005 16:24:48 GMT
That's the one, CorrieGirl. The best £40 I never spent (I persauded my parents to get it for my birthday since it came out not long before). I don't know who publishes it now but mine is Kaleidoscope, an independant firm, hence the cost. Amazon UK had them for a while but orders exceeded production so they stopped listing it. You'll love the book. I couldn't put it down even though it was heavy.
Oh yes. Isn't The Beastly Hun the one with that poor Jewish bakery family forced out of their home (I'm hopeless at remembering titles)? They certainly covered a lot of serious issues in the series which is probably what helped make it so great. The war series does drag on a bit but it's still all very good so you'll enjoy them.
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Jul 2, 2005 17:22:25 GMT
Out of the three I`m getting next week Nick, The Beastly Hun is the one I`m looking forward to the most. I may even watch them out of sequence and watch the Beastly Hun first....na I`ll leave the best til last ;D
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 2, 2005 21:05:02 GMT
LOL! I always felt Hazel and whatshisface (the wounded pilot) was a little bit too much like Lady Marjorie and Captain Hammond (even though he wasn't wounded). I preferred Lady M's affair though. I'm sure you'll enjoy series 4. It's ever so sad when you get to the last ep. I know they aren't real but I would like to think Rose had a happy life.
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Jul 2, 2005 22:19:30 GMT
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 2, 2005 22:54:58 GMT
Maybe she met a nice country parson and lived happily ever after.
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Jul 3, 2005 13:13:34 GMT
I think you could bring it back..the original series anded in 1930 (1975)....it is 30 years on so you could set it in 1960...When mr and mrs Hudson died,they left their guest house to Ruby..she wasn't very competent..Rose came to stay with her to help her look after it,and enjoyed it so much she stayed on...Ruby met a shy son of a man who owns a chain of hotels...the father dies,leaving the chain to his son..he dies in WW II..Ruby inherits the whole hotel empire..and Along with Rose,they successfully build up the empire,till they become rich hoteliers....Miss Elizabeth,now widowed and living in New York..is penniless..and returns to England..she applies for a job as Housekeeper at one of the hotels,not realizing Ruby and Rose are the proprioters..thus its gone full cirlce,the former Upstairs are now working for the former Downstairs.Other characters could make guest appearances too
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 4, 2005 16:28:27 GMT
That sounds good. It's a pity Angela Baddley died. I would have loved to have seen the spin-off with Hudson and Mrs B.
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Jul 4, 2005 17:13:10 GMT
me too...even it had just been a one off episode special. We need closure darn it ;D Sod it...I just realised I won`t be getting my U/D DVD rental til Thursday as today is a holiday. I`m dying to watch those 3 eppies....and the movie with Jack Howarth!!!
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Post by Nick on Jul 4, 2005 17:46:07 GMT
What movie with jack Howarth??
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Post by CG Wendy on Jul 4, 2005 19:03:53 GMT
Jack had a small role in a film called The Man in the White Suit...a comedy from 1951. Not sure if its an Ealing comedy - they were fabulous here`s what it`s about .... Sidney Stratton (Alec Guinness) invents an indestructible cloth that never gets dirty and celebrates by having a white suit made of the fabric. But soon, the lowly mill workers start fearing for their jobs, while the mill owners, led by the decrepit Sir John Kierlaw (Ernest Thesiger), worry about their profits. Chase scenes and double-crosses ensue as the impish Stratton (wearing his luminous suit) struggles to defend his discovery from the mob.
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Post by Nick on Jul 4, 2005 19:11:57 GMT
i shan't read it..no offence..we taped it the other day..gonna watch it later..i didn't know jack Howart was in it..I'll look out for him
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 4, 2005 20:09:01 GMT
I saw his name in the credits the other day on Channel 4. He was a receptionist or something. More details in the Corrie board's 'Where are they now?' section.
Oh of course. It's the 4th July over there. Doing anything interesting, CorrieGirl?
Patsy
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Post by CG Wendy on Jul 4, 2005 23:24:50 GMT
Na not doing anything special today Patsy. Hubby had to work as usual. We`re going to our new house later this evening and set off some fireworks. More for the kids benefit really than for ours We promised the kids we`d drive to South Carolina next year and buy the *good* fireworks for next years 4th July and New Years Eve. Bottle rockets, bangers etc are banned in most states over here. Will probably be spring time as from June onwards, cars are searched at bordering states for illegal fireworks. Gawd help anyone if the cops find illegal fireworks.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Jul 4, 2005 23:46:32 GMT
Crikey! It's weird over there. How do you keep up knowing what's okay in one state and not another? We have laws here that bad the use of them after 11pm except times like Bonfire night, New Year or with permission but no one takes any notice.
I hope you, your hubby and kids have a great 4th July anyway despite the feeble bangers this year. ;D
Patsy
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