Starring: Maggie Smith, Matthew Goode, Michelle Dockery, Tuppence Middleton, Allen Leach, Joanne Froggatt, Laura Carmichael, Hugh Bonneville, Phyllis Logan
Director: Michael Engler
Release date: 13th September 2019
It’s 1927 and a letter arrives at Downton Abbey, stating that there will be a Royal visit happening very shortly. The whole downstairs of Downton is buzzing with excitement at the thought of serving King George V and his wife, Queen Mary. Not long after, the King’s butler arrives and throws a big spanner in the works. He states that the King’s household and staff will be taking over all duties; cooking etc and that the Downton staff will take a back seat. They all feel undermined and are determined to find a way to put the Palace staff in their place… A plan is put in place…
The Downton Abbey tv series first began back in September of 2010 and ran until its final episode aired on 25th December 2015. It tells the fictional story of the Crawley family, and their domestic servants who live in a huge stately home in Yorkshire. The tv show became a smash hit both here and across the globe.
Fans of the tv show will undoubtedly flock to see this new story and immediately be transported back to a golden era, and a time they will recognise straight away. Pretty much all of the characters you know and love are back and continuing their stories. Very much a period piece, it can be watched even by people that haven’t seen the tv series. Though for obvious reasons, things will make a lot more sense to watchers of the tv show. The main stand out character though is of course the Dowager Countess of Grantham (Dame Maggie Smith) who with her sarcasm and wit brings a lot of laughter to the movie. On the other end of the spectrum too, by the end, she will almost reduce you to tears. She’s an incredibly talented actress.
If you love your period dramas then this could be right up your alley.
Overall: 7/10
