Amazon.com

Beloved by audiences in more than 70 countries, this seminal British television series is just as enjoyable now as when it first aired in the mid-1970s. Richard, his new wife Virginia, and recently widowed son James comprise the aristocratic Bellamy family who resides upstairs while their loyal servants maintain the London household from downstairs. These final 16 episodes cover the swinging '20s to the stock market crash (1919-30). Theepisodes of the fifth season are more self-contained than other seasons' and every bit as entertaining.

The household mood reflects the events of the day--jubilation at the armistice,a fancy-dress party amidst the gaiety of the early '20s, divided allegiancesduring the general strike of 1926, the fever of stock market wealth, andovernight ruin in October 1929. James, with too much time and money on hishands, is single again and up to his usual antics. Nor is life dull for theother members of the household--Hudson almost resigns his position after he's caught holding hands with Lily, the housemaid, and Georgina winds up in court after she hits and kills a man while taking a group of irresponsible socialites to Sussex in the Bellamys' Rolls. While James and Richard focus their political activities outside the home, Edward and Frederick vie to see who will fill in for Hudson while he recuperates from his heart attack. Finally, after the market crash and James's subsequent death, the family is forced to sell 165 Eaton Place to pay off his creditors. The series ends with Rose locking up the empty house, closing the door on one of TV's most popular and acclaimed shows. Whether you first met the Bellamys and their delightfully enjoyable downstairs entourage in the 1970s or are just getting to know them now, the superb acting and compelling character development will always be the real reason to watch Upstairs Downstairs. --Tara Chace ... Read more

Reviews (8)

165 Eaton Place in the "Roaring Twenties"...
The fifth and final season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS picks up just after the First World War. It's the dawn of a new age, the Roaring Twenties. However, despite all the trevails, life continues at good old 165 Eaton Place.

"On with the Dance" - Richard (David Langton) and his new wife Virginia (Hannah Gordon) start thinking about buying a house in London, when lonely James (Simon Williams) suggests that they move back into Eaton Place.

"A Place in the World" - Bored and dissatisfied with his life, James decides to enter politics...with disastrous results. Edward (Christopher Beeny) and Daisy (Jacqueline Tong) reluctantly return to Eaton Place after finding little employment in the 'outside world'...

"Laugh a Little Louder, Please" - Georgina (Lesley-Anne Down) and James decide to throw a lavish fancy dress party for their society friends. Meanwhile, the new governess Miss Treadwell (Shirley Cain) is due to arrive.

"The Joy Ride" - James buys an aeroplane, and Virginia defies her husband in order to join James for a joy-ride across Southwold. But when they are reported missing, Richard and Lady Prudence (Joan Benham) fear the worst...

"Wanted- A Good Home" - William (Jonathan Seely) is packed off to boarding school, and Alice (Anne Yarker) gets a puppy, which soon upsets Miss Treadwell and puts the servants in an awkward position.

"An Old Flame" - James finds himself back in the arms of Lady Diana Newbury (Celia Bannerman) and they decide to spend the weekend at a golfing cottage. Edward fends off the advances of Diana's flirty maid Violet (Georgina Hale).

"Disillusion" - Hudson (Gordon Jackson) has been seen publicly in the company of maid Lily (Karen Dotrice), which threatens his future in the household.

"Such a Lovely Man" - Virginia is enjoying the attentions of the well-known 'safe man' Sir Guy Paynter (Robert Hardy) while Ruby (Jenny Tomasin) decides to get a pen-pal.

"The Nine Days Wonder" - The chaos of the 1926 General Strike severely divides the Bellamy household. James and footman Frederick (Gareth Hunt) decide to take action...

"The Understudy" - The household is expecting several important guests for a dinner party and Hudson suffers a mild heart attack. Tensions soon run riot downstairs when Edward and Frederick fight over who should take the butler position.

"Alberto" - Georgina gets star struck and decides to become a movie actress. However, when James discovers the skimpy costume she's wearing and that her co-star is none other than Frederick, he decides to cut short her ambition. Frederick leaves Eaton Place to become a gigolo for society women.

"Will Ye No Come Back Again" - Richard, James, Georgina and the servants set out for a holiday in the Scottish Highlands, which takes a bit of getting used to...

"Joke Over" - Following a madcap 'scavenger party', Georgina and her mindless society friends decide to take the Bellamy car on a drive in the country, with deadly results...

"Noblesse Oblige" - Georgina falls madly in love with kindly Robert, the Marquis of Stockbridge (Anthony Andrews); whilst Mrs Bridges (Angela Baddeley) brings in a new kitchen-maid, the rude and lazy Mabel (Elaine Donnelly). Ruby goes to work for the social-climbing matron Mrs Waddilove (Joan Sanderson).

"All the King's Horses" - James returns from visting Elizabeth and her husband in America, full of big ideas and big dreams, mostly concerning the Stock Exchange. James recklessly invests all of Rose's (Jean Marsh) money in bad shares, when the crash of the Stock Exchange heralds the beginning of the Depression...

"Whither Shall I Wander?" - Following James's suicide, all of his property is confiscated, and Eaton Place is to be sold off to pay creditors. What will become of Richard, his family and the servants?... Meanwhile, Georgina marries Robert in a lavish ceremony.

Fans of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS are bound to shed a tear or two when the series reaches its emotional conclusion. Again, fabulous direction and scripts, as well as top-drawer performances from Angela Baddeley, Gordon Jackson, Jean Marsh and Simon Williams.

Also featuring Michael Logan, Ann Mitchell, Jay Neill, Jack LeWhite, Derek Martin, Una Brandon-Jones, Brian Nolan, Osmund Bullock, Trevor Ray, Ursula Howells, John Quayle, Madeleine Cannon, Raymond Huntley, Marsha Fitzalan, Julia Schofield, Victor Langley, Nicholas Hunter, Peter Forest, Tracey Childs, Tom Chatto, Mike McKenzie, John Caesar, Polly Adams, John Normington, Leonard Kavanagh, Stephen Ismay, Martin Wimbush, Tommy Wright, John Breslin, Roy Pattison, Anthony Woodruff, Andre Charisse, Barbara Bolton, Natalie Caron, Philip Webb, Lorna Kilner, Roy Knight, David Nicoll, Seymour Green, Rowland Davies, Jack Watson, Georgine Anderson, Kenneth Ward, Nigel Havers, Patsy Blower, Terence Bayler, Barry Stanton, Bernard Barnsley, Robert Hartley, Daphne Lawson, Kenneth Thornett, Sue Crossland, Deddie Davies, Frank Duncan, Pippa Page and Lindsay Campbell.

4 single-sided, dual-layer discs.

Not as good as the previous four seasons....
I enjoyed the Final season, but I didn't care for it as much as the previous four seasons. Season Five, felt almost as though the writers knew the series was ending and they didn't need to 'try' so hard to pull it off. Several characters change radically: Daisy becomes a nagging shrew, and kitchenmaid Ruby shows a 'spark' of the original character design in that she is a bit 'larcenous,' (claiming in the end, that she planned to outlive Mr. Hudson and Mrs. Bridges and inherit the business).

Favorite episode was: "Will they no come back again?" where the staff and master James and the rest go to Scotland for vacation. Hudson manages to handle things with his usual aplomb and dignity, and the staff are forced to confront a mysterious 'ghost.'

The ending, I felt was sad and almost 'tacked on.' I would've liked a more 'happier ending' than the one which was given. Overall, while I enjoyed season five, it lacked the vitality and hopefullness of season four.... And, at least for me, has far less 'rewatch-ability.'

Sags a Bit, But Still Great
The fifth season of Upstairs Downstairs runs from 1919 to 1930. It is my least favorite series, because 165 Eaton Place just doesn't seem to belong in the Roaring Twenties. Even so, there are some fine moments, but there is a pathos over the whole series. Its like everyone in the cast and crew knew this was going to be the last series and everyone was a bit depressed. Georgina is not very convincing as a flapper, especially when you realize that she'd be in her mid thirties by the time she finally gets married and settles down. The best caste members are Virginia, Lady Bellamy and incorrigible old James, who is as irresponsible as ever. The series ends with the onset of the Great Depression, and the final scenes, as Rose walks through the empty rooms, are unbearably sad.

A Work Of Art
5 Seasons 68 Episodes In All/One Of The Best Acted And Best Written of All Time//When You Think About This Starting In 1972//It's Better All These Years Later,When You See What's Put Out Nowadays//Again Young People Who Want To Be Actors/Well They Don't Have To Go To Teachers//If They Have Any Talent, Then All They Have To Do Is Watch All These Episodes//It Gets Better And Better/Just A Few More Words All The Great Artist In This Series are So Real//You Feel That Your Part Of The Story///Well I Guess You Gathered That I Loved This Upstairs Downstairs//So Will You//One More Note//I Hope That They Put The House Of Elliot And The Duchess Of Duke Street Out On DVD//I'll Be The First To Buy It

The agony is over
Season five is thankfully here on DVD. The story is one of PBS' BEST EVER, but A&E had to struggle with the DVD transfer. The only reason I gave it four stars was that it was marginally better than seasons 1 through 4. I'm glad I have it. I wish it was a better transfer. I would (throw it out) if a restored, and improved version came out. USDS fans will have to have it. Buy it for the marvelous story. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Anglophiles rejoice: the Bellamys are back in their upscale London home, and the servants are again ensconced below stairs. The characters are endearing and the writing bittersweet as the story follows the lives of this aristocratic family and its helpers from 1904 into the 1930s. Nine new-to-video episodes of this seminal British series have been included in a seven-video boxed set. (It aired in the States under the auspices of Masterpiece Theatre.) Of the 13 episodes, 5 are rare black-and-white shows never broadcast in the U.S. All are clean and clear and as enjoyable as when they first aired in the early 1970s. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (30)

The beginning of a great series
I watched this set over the Christmas holiday in a 3 day mini-marathon (having just watched the 5th and final series in a 4 day marathon a few days before). I was surprised to learn how few of the first season episodes I'd actually seen and how long it took for the children, James and Elizabeth, to be introduced and developed as characters. And if you 've always wondered why James ended up getting parlor maid Sarah pregnant, the beginning of their relationship is here. If you're an Upstairs Downstairs fan, this shouldn't be missed. If you've never seen the series, but enjoy British drama and/or Masterpiece Theatre on PBS, this set (and the entire series) is an absolute must. And you simply have to buy it to see the episodes that were never shown in the U.S. (a couple of these were absolutely brilliant!)

Even though these will soon be 30 years old (the series debuted in 1971), they're still better than most things on television today. A true classic -- highly recommended.

Master Piece Theather in true form indeed....
I was just a toddler when the series first aired in the 70's, but from earing about the masterpiece theather references on PBS always wandered what all the fuzz was about.

This is a definite work of art, it should be considered a gem of the british television history. The acting is superb and the dialogues between the characters are fascinating in the emotional highs and lows that are transmitted in each episode.

My advise for the potential viewer is to view the series from episode 1 in order to fully appreciate how the characters develop and mature. There are some that grow and others that decay over time, but very interesting to see the dynamics of it.

Hudson, the buttler, for me is the best, with it's total devotion to the old order and his place in the social structure prevalent at the time, he seems to signify the DOWNSTAIRS. I imagine that is how the real buttlers acted at the beginning of the past century.

Finally, Lady Marjorie's character is exquisite in her representantion of the quintesential high class lady (UPSTAIRS) she is serene, classy and totally controlled in her behavior and emotions (altought sometimes she lets go letting us know that she is human after all).

Definite classic....

Still holding up well
This series holds up well after all these years. Sure, there are some minor problems with creaky dollys, hearing the camera tape rolling--hey, this was 1971 and it was a low budget make! But even with that it's a wonderful look at Edwardian England. Some of the best writing on either side of the "Big Pond." By far, this is one of the best series out there.

rose.christie@latis.net.au
I now own the entire series - absolutely fabulous portrayal of an intriguing era of history. The snobbishness of the 'lower'classes is brilliantly portrayed by the servants of Eaton Place. Even better, the 'real' events of the period and the effects are excellently covered.

High Class - Low Tech
Through the years I have watched PBS Masterpiece Theatre for its remakes of Classic Novels, but British TV didn't interest me because I normally don't watch "Typical TV" until I got married & started watching romantic movie comedies with my wife. Some of our favorites: "You-re Got Mail" & "Sleepless in Seattle" always had references to older Romantic classic movies or novels. Therefore we found ourselves watching & loving many Jean Austin remakes including several A&E DVD's. This lead to a British invasion within our house starting with "Darling Buds of May" & "All Creatures Great & Small". "Darling Buds of May" was a little racy for our taste & "All Creatures Great & Small" started out rather slow, but in the end we have been watching these 2 British TV Classics over & over. I then told my wife about "Upstairs Downstairs" & we decided not to buy the whole series, but to test out the first season. The series is rather racy for our tastes (as was "Darling Buds of May"), normally at a PG level, but at times travels up to a R rating & just when you think it will go too far, it jumps back to PG just in time. We were both surprise to see Pauline Collins of "No, Honesty" as a maid named Sarah in the first Black & White series. For my review, I will not write about the plots & characters because other people before me have done a great job & we need not repeat them here. As a professional photographer (wedding photographer for 15 years) & owner of a better than avg 5.1 audio video system (NHT 5.1) the Black & White series has better photography & sound: all very clean & clear. The color series on the other hand, is a wreak both sight & sound. There are at times late 1960ish TV lines that invaded the screen that throw off the timing of the sound. This must be a straight no edited copy that has no value as a piece of photography art, but a run through just to get the product out. In fact, there is a VHS hum throughout, something I never experienced with a DVD. As a British TV series with the actors & plot, I would rate this as a 4, but as a DVD a 2, therefore the avg out is 3. Both me & my wife will not continue with the series because there were no moral outcomes within the first season. Maybe this is not the place to start the series, but then again, where does one start if not the beginning? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Beloved by audiences in more than 70 countries, this seminal British television series is just as enjoyable now as when it first aired in the 1970s. Richard, his son James, and James's wife, Hazel, comprise the aristocratic Bellamy family that resides upstairs while their loyal servants maintain the London household from downstairs. These episodes, set in 1914 to 1918, during the Great War, follow the upper class family's troubles in changing times and the ongoing lives of their resilient staff. The fourth season is more soapy than the previous ones and is best viewed in order. Outstanding cast performances and the dramatic backdrop of the war give this season its reputation as the best of the five.

Due to limited filming budgets, the war is largely seen through home-front activities. While James and Edward serve on the frontlines, the rest of the family participates in the war effort as best they can, busy with tea parties for wounded officers, charity shows, and attempts to shelter refugees. Surprising everyone, Ruby even leaves to build munitions, only to return after an explosion at the factory. Marriages and tragedies ensue, affecting both upstairs and downstairs at 165 Eaton Place. As the Great War concludes, and things begin to settle down, England celebrates the Armistice and the Bellamy family contemplates the end of an era and the changes to come. --Tara Chace ... Read more

Reviews (6)

the War Years at 165 Eaton Place...
The acclaimed fourth season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS focuses on the turbulent years of World War One, with the Bellamy's fighting to keep control of an ever-changing world, shattered asunder...

"A Patriotic Offering" - Lady Prudence (Joan Benham) convinces Hazel (Meg Wynn Owen) to take in a family of Belgian refugees, resulting in a major upset for the servants.

"News From the Front" - Whilst on leave, James (Simon Williams) finds himself drawn into a political situation which might affect his future in the army.

"The Beastly Hun" - An anti-German feeling sweeps through Eaton Place following the sinking of the Lusitania, with Hudson (Gordon Jackson) spreading scare stories about the local baker and his family, who are discovered to be of German origin.

"Women Shall Not Weep" - Edward (Christopher Beeny) and Daisy (Jacqueline Tong) decide to get married before Edward leaves for the draft. Georgina (Lesley-Anne Down) vows to become an army nurse after witnessing the dead and injured soldiers returning to London; while Ruby (Jenny Tomasin) surprises everyone when she announces she is to leave her position to go and work in a munitions factory.

"Tug of War" - Georgina discovers that nursing isn't all she thought it would be, while James becomes frustrated with his staff-army job.

"Home Fires" - Rose (Jean Marsh) once again bumps into her former fiance, Australian sheep farmer Gregory Wilmot (Keith Barron) who has joined the army. They decide to get married again, but will Hudson ruin it all?...

"If You Were the Only Girl in the World" - At a tea-party for wounded officers, bored Hazel meets a charming young airman, Jack Dyson (Andrew Ray). Slowly, a gentle courtship begins and Hazel experiences her first true romance.

"The Glorious Dead" - A time of personal tragedy at Eaton Place. Rose receives word about Gregory, whilst Hazel discovers the fate of Jack.

"Another Year" - A shellshocked Edward returns to Eaton Place, a shadow of his former self. Hazel meets the aquaintance of Mrs Virgina Hamilton (Hannah Gordon), the charming widow of a naval officer. Following an explosion at the munitions factory, Ruby returns to Eaton Place.

"The Hero's Farewell" - Lady Prudence and her society friends decide to stage a 'historic tableaux' at Eaton Place. The situation turns deadly when a zeppelin raid begins and bombs start falling nearby...

"Missing Believed Killed" - James is still missing at the front, and the entire household is thrown into shock.

"Facing Fearful Odds" - Virginia once again seeks the help of Richard (David Langton) when her oldest son is about to be court-martialled.

"Peace Out of Pain" - Richard proposes to Virginia, with whom he has fallen in love, whilst Hazel becomes seriously ill with a deadly strain of the flu virus...

Highly-recommended. Most people single out the fourth season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS as the strongest out of the entire series. Excellent writing, expert direction as well as top-notch performances from Gordon Jackson, Meg Wynn Owen, Christopher Beeny, Angela Baddeley and Simon Williams.

Also featuring Mel Churcher, Raymond Huntley, Barrie Cookson, Christopher Good, Joyce Heron, Celia Imrie, Patricia Macrae, Elma Soiron, Karen Glaser, Cyril Cross, Lala Lloyd, Ian Hoare, Lisa Moss, Edward Underdown, Miles Bennett, Ena Baga, Timothy Peters, Gertan Klauber, Freda Dowie, Robert Swann, Giles Watling, Keith Jayne, Neville Barber, Dennis Blatch, James Woolley, Edward Hammond, Barbara Atkinson, Kevin Moran, Mike Fields, Valerie Lush, Betty England, Betty Romaine, Polly Williams, Richenda Carey, Auriol Smith, John Lyons, Julia Sutton, Robert McBain, Audrey Joyce, Neville Hughes, Richard Owens, Venetia Maxwell, Sarah Twist, Brian Nolan, Kenneth MacDonald, William Ashley, Eileen Way, Helena McCarthy, Graham Leaman, Robin Bailey, Phyllida Law, Fanny Rowe, Alfred Maron, Gareth Hunt, Brian Badcoe, Ann Martin, Richard Reeves, Hilary Minster, Laurence Harrington, Anthony Nash, Peter Whitaker and Anthony Woodruff.

4 single-sided, dual-layer discs.

The Best Season of Upstairs Downstairs So Far
I am new to the world of Upstairs Downstairs, but this (the fourth) season is the best season I've watched so far. For those of you who are new to the world of Upstairs Downstairs, this series is a character driven drama which focuses on the disparate (but yet entwined) lives of the rich Bellamy's and their servants.

Character growth, loss, tragedy and triumph are the themes of this season, as the characters are greatly affected by the trials of world war I. I highly recommend this for fans of this time period, or fans of BBC drama. I particularly liked the character arc involving Edward the footman, and the arc involving Hazel Bellamy. This is truly an excellent series, I am sorry that it was ended after the fifth season.

The Best of all Upstairs Downstairs!
This series is my favorite in the Upstairs Downstairs canon. The residents of 165 Eaton Place face the loss and hardships of World War I bravely. Several important themes, such as duty, honor, love and loss are explored through the lives of several characters. War comes home, literally, when a Zeppelin drops a bomb on Eaton Place. James, Edward, Georgina, and most tragically Rose and Hazel are all victims of the war's bloodlust. There are some extremely fine moments, such as when Georgina sees some wounded soldiers and realizes her playgirl life has to stop, and some extremely funny ones, as in the episode when the Bellamy's drawingroom is commandeered for a dreary charity event. With this series the writers and artists reached their height!

Great Production, Poor DVD
This is a wonderful classic. I have purchased each season as it has become available on DVD. I am usually very happy with A&E's DVD's, but I am not sure what went wrong with, "Upstairs, Downstairs". Season Four had some very long periods where the picture was so blurred that it bothered my eyes to watch it. Overall, I am quite disappointed with the results on DVD. I know I will continue to purchase each season, because I really enjoyed the series when it was on television, but I wish the quality was better.

Great Story - Mediocre Production Values
As usual I will not spend much time on the plot. The story line is one of PBS's best presentations of life in London from 1900 - 1930's. The story is about the below stairs staff who serve a very class conscious family called the Bellamys. The production values on this DVD set are about the same as in the first three series (which are none too good). The problem it seems is that there aren't any good masters from which to make the DVDs. I thank A & E for giving us this series. Every diehard USDS fan will want to add this DVD to their library. The VHS tapes will only continue to deteriorate. Let's hope that more recent Masterpiece Theatre series make it to DVD before the deterioration sets in. Upstairs Downstairs is worth a buy in spite of reproduction weaknesses. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This seminal British television series is just as enjoyable now as when it first aired in the early 1970s. Richard, Lady Marjorie, and their son James comprise the aristocratic Bellamy family that reside upstairs while their loyal servants maintain the household from downstairs. The series follows the upper-class family's troubles as times change and the ongoing lives of their resilient staff. Clean, clear, and presented in order, the third season's 13 episodes follow the London household through the prewar years (1912-1914).

In these episodes, Hudson (Gordon Jackson) gives notice over James's (Simon Williams) luncheon with his father's typist, Miss Forrest (Meg Wynn Owen), who helps run the household after Lady Marjorie dies aboard the R.M.S. Titanic. Tensions again erupt when another family strives to hire Hudson away and Miss Forrest refuses James's marriage proposal, afraid of a past secret. Former servant Alfred reappears, taking a hostage when Hudson discovers he is wanted for murder, and a French countess is romantically interested in Richard's money until James exposes the truth.James's new wife, Hazel Forrest, resolves a stock-trading scandal, but remains uneasy with her new society position, particularly while fox hunting at Lord and Lady Newbury's country estate. A disregard for class differences nearly ends in disaster during Georgina Worsley's (Lesley-Anne Down) holiday visit, and a casual remark by the Bellamys' footman Edward erupts into a scandal that threatens Parliament's Tory constituency. Rose (Jean Marsh) almost marries an Australian sheep farmer, and James's rocky marriage must survive Hazel's miscarriage. In July 1914, when war looms, James looks to rejoin his regiment to escape his troubled marriage; Mrs. Bridges (Angela Baddeley) has a suitor and two servants, Edward and Daisy, defy the downstairs' rules by falling in love.--Tara Chace ... Read more

Reviews (9)

yet another superb season
The third season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS continues the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place. The time is now 1912, and the Edwardian era is over and the new age of ragtime and the 'flying machine' is on the horizon...

"Miss Forrest" - It is a time of change at Eaton Place. We learn that Elizabeth has moved to America, and James (Simon Williams) has broken off his engagement to Phyllis Kingman. Richard (David Langton) is busy writing a political biography of Lord Southwold, and he has employed the services of Hazel Forrest (Meg Wynn Owen) to help in the assignment. Lady Marjorie (Rachel Gurney) is preparing for a journey to Canada...on the Titanic.

"A House Divided" - The entire house is thrown into shock with the news that Lady Marjorie did not survive the sinking of the Titanic, along with Miss Roberts (Patsy Smart). Richard sinks deep into depression. However, the servants get the shock of their lives when a bedraggled Miss Roberts turns up on the doorstep..

"A Change of Scene" - James is invited for a weekend party at Bunny Newbury's (John Quayle) estate. Hudson (Gordon Jackson) accompanies him in the position of valet, but soon he is caught up in a moral dilemma that will rock his sense of duty.

"A Family Secret" - James, still trying to deal with his mother's death, impulsively proposes to Hazel. However, Hazel tearfully declines the marriage. What is the deep dark secret that prevents her from marrying him?...

"Rose's Pigeon" - Rose (Jean Marsh) gets a huge shock when she discovers ex-footman Alfred (George Innes) on the doorstep, on the run after murdering his male lover..

"Desirous of Change" - Richard is pursued by Countess Lili de Ternay (Angela Browne) who is beautiful but penniless. A touch of romance fills the air as Richard smiles for the first time since the death of his wife. Adding further complications is the new maid Gwyneth (Janet Lees Price) who is a good worker but given to gossip and devious stories.

"Word of Honour" - Richard finds himself in a moral dilemma as he refuses to betray a confidence in the eyes of the law. Once again, Sir Geoffrey Dillon (Raymond Huntley) is called to get the Bellamy's out of trouble.

"The Bolter" - James and Hazel, newly-married, are invited to the Newbury estate for a hunting weekend. James forbids Hazel to take part in the foxhunt, but devious Lady Diana (Celia Bannerman) has other ideas...

"Goodwill to all Men" - It's Christmas, and the entire household is in high spirits. Dowager Lady Southwold (Cathleen Nesbitt) has come for a visit, bringing Lord Southwold's young ward Georgina Worsley (Lesley-Anne Down). Trouble starts brewing when Georgina befriends new maid Daisy (Jacqueline Tong)...

"What the Footman Saw" - Edward (Christopher Beeny) accidentally lets slip some rather-scandalous stories. Refers to events that occurred in "The Bolter".

"A Perfect Stranger" - On her afternoon off, Rose meets handsome Australian sheep farmer Gregory Wilmot (Keith Barron). Romance soon blossoms, but will Rose ever consider leaving Eaton Place in order to marry him?

"Distant Thunder" - Tensions are running high in the Bellamy household. Hazel is in bed recovering from the loss of her baby while James thoughtlessly takes Georgina to a ball, leaving poorly Hazel in the care of Richard.

"The Sudden Storm" - Hazel arranges for the servants to spend the Bank Holiday at the seaside, while World War One looms heavily on the horizon.

Also starring Angela Baddeley, Jenny Tomasin, Joan Benham, Anthony Ainley, Tony Bateman, Arthur Brough, Anthony Dawes, Elisabeth Day, John Flint, Helen Lindsay, Leonard Trolley, Richard Vernon and Valerie White.

Third Series, Still Great!
In the third season of Upstairs Downstairs we say goodbye to Lady Marjorie, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Thomas, who all depart the show, but welcome Hazel Forrest, a shy middle class girl whom James has fallen in love with after enduring great sorrow. Hazel is my favorite character in all of Updown. The aristocrats sneer at her, but she's worth fifty of any of them! Another newcomer is Georgina Worsley, ward of Richard Bellamy and soon to be the object of James' wandering eye. Below stairs we meet Daisy, the new parlor maid and soon to be wife of Edward, the footman. Rose continues to serve faithfully, as do Mrs. Bridges and Hudson. This series has a couple of episodes away from Eaton Place, two at Somerby Park, the aristocratic country home of some of James' worthless friends, and one, the final episode, by the sea as the staff takes a holiday. By the time this series ends it is August 1914 and World War I is about to start. The Bellamys and their staff prepare to soldier on.

Unwatchable. I want my money back
I am not financially challenged. I buy lots of A&E stuff. I read reviews that the first two series were bad in the dvd transfer. OK. I tried the third series.

If this is deemed acceptable, then the first two series must be absolutely horrible. The picture is unwatchable. Do not buy this under any circumstances. Imagine watching a third or fourth generation video tape copy when lightning is going on messing up your electricals. Well, this is how your screen is going to look like. I have seen better with bootlegged pirated Malaysian vcds.

If you are into English accent, stick to the A&E romantic series, Pride and Prejudice and so on. There is no English subtitling in this horrid third series. But you can accept Pride and Prejudice because the widescreen version is so much clearer than the local TV broadcast of the same.

Sorrell and Son from Granada is about as bad as one can take. Buy Sorrell and Son first. If you can accept the low quality, then downgrade to the Flambards. And if you are half blind, you may then try Upstairs, Downstairs.

Hey, nobody is expecting Gosford Park standard. We know the stuff is aged. But this? Buyer beware!!! after this review, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Just Hitting their Stride...
Amazingly enough, I must admit that this series only improves with time. The first two seasons were riveting, but the third had me hooked; I watched every episode nonstop. The character development of James Bellamy is refreshing, as is the new blood introduced by Hazel. I can't wait to get my hands on season four, but I'll just have to be content to savor the first three seasons in the meantime. Why can't current writers and producers get it through their jaded Hollywood skulls that this is the kind of entertainment that most thinking people long for?

Wonderful, Wonderful
We are enjoying this series as the newer DVD formats become available - about every 4 months. The 3rd series is particularly wonderful because it develops the characters in marvelous ways. The two country outings of James Bellamy, one alone and one with his new wife - reminds one of Gosford Park, with the same sorts of scheming, intrigues, trysts and fun. Hudson, Edward, James and Hazel are further developed. Christmas 1913 comes in with a two new actresses - one upstairs and one down, both providing color and adventures in both areas of the house. Although we give this series 5 stars, our feeling was that the first two episodes sufferred a little with video fidelity.
Still - it was wonderful. We have not seen the Upstairs Downstairs series in years, and can hardly wait til the 4th series (WWI) is available - hopefully in June or July. ... Read more

Description

It has been praised by critics and fans alike.It has won 9 Emmys, aGolden Globe and a Peabody award, and been seen by more than one billion peopleworldwide.UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS is one of television's true masterpieces.For thefirst time, all 13 episodes from the second season of the landmark series Time Magazinetrumpeted as ""perennially fascinating"" are available together on video.Follow theBellamys and their servants through some of the most memorable moments in TVhistory.From the narrowly-averted scandal of Elizabeth's pregnancy to a visit from theKing, the enchanting saga of life and love in Edwardian England continues. Journey backonce more to 165 Eaton place, and own a piece of television history. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great series, poor DVD
I love the series, but the DVD quality is really bad. I'm only on the 3rd of 4 disks and one episode was so bad I could only listen to the sound. Trying to watch the screen gave me a headache. The last episode I watched had large yellow bands across the screen. It was just like watching it on a bad color TV set back when the series was released. Since I also purchased the First season and thought the video quality on it was very good, this Second season is a particular disappointment. Stay away unless you are a hardcore fan who has to have it.

Second Time Around, Just as Good
In the second season of Upstairs Downstairs most of the main characters return. Once again Sarah and Elizabeth are the main players. Elizabeth is unhappily married to an aesthete who shudders at every day things like sex, which leads eventually to her humiliating return to Eaton Place with a baby in tow. Sarah renews her romance with James, the wastrel son of the house, but eventually finds love and true happiness below stairs. James continues on his rackety course and eventually gets packed off to India. Through it all Lady Marjorie remains serene and unflappable. The high light episode of this series is Guest of Honor, which depicts a visit to 165 Eaton Place by King Edward VII. Of course Sarah has to show up and nearly ruin things! This series ends in 1910 with the death of King Edward and the Bellamys and their staff hoping for calmer days ahead. (Boy were they wrong!)

the saga continues
The second season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS continues the saga of the Bellamy family of Eaton Place; their loves, losses and everyday life.

At the end of the first season, young Elizabeth Bellamy (played by Nicola Pagett) was publicly humiliated at the hands of political activist Evelin Larkin (Georgia Brown), before marrying the handsome Lawrence Kirbridge (Ian Ogilvy) in a lavish ceremony...

Season 2 includes the following episodes -

"The New Man" - Elizabeth and Lawrence return from their honeymoon in Europe, and set up housekeeping in Greenwich. Rose (Jean Marsh) is on hand to make sure Elizabeth is well looked-after, but all is not well in their marriage.

"A Pair of Exiles" - The erstwhile Sarah (Pauline Collins) confesses to her lover James Bellamy (Simon Williams) that she is carrying his baby. Sarah is then shipped off to Lady Marjorie's estate at Southwold for her confinement...

"Married Love" - Elizabeth is angry and hurt that her marriage to Lawrence is still unconsummated, so Lawrence orgainises a discreet tryst between her and his publisher, Sir Edwin Patridge (Charles Gray).

"Whom God Hath Joined.." - Elizabeth demands a divorce from Lawrence, but discovers that she is pregnant with Edwin's child.

"Guest of Honour" - King Edward VII (played by Lockwood West) dines with the Bellamy family in this special episode, and Sarah makes a dramatic return to Eaton Place.

"The Property of a Lady" - Thomas (John Alderton) and Sarah resort to drastic measures in order to help Lady Marjorie (Rachel Gurney) and the explosion of a secret from the past. This episode refers to events that took place in the season 1 episode "Magic Casements".

"Your Obedient Servant" - Hudson (Gordon Jackson) has to think quickly when his brother and sister-in-law come to visit from India. Richard Bellamy (David Langton) endures a visit from his pompous elder brother (John Nettleton).

"Out of the Everywhere" - Elizabeth gives birth to Edwin's child, and Nanny Webster (Daphne Heard) is sent up from Southwold to look after it.

"An Object of Value" - When Lady Southwold (played by Cathleen Nesbitt) comes to visit, the servants get into an uproar when her antique brooch goes missing.

"A Special Mischief" - Rose suffers a horrifying ordeal when she is mistakenly arrested as a suffragette. Elizabeth meets Julius Karekin (Donald Burton).

"The Fruits of Love" - A sudden financial crisis threatens the Bellamy's gilded world, and Julius Karekin offers a solution for the future of Elizabeth.

"The Wages of Sin" - Sarah is pregnant again, and this time Thomas is the father, though he cleverly avoids the blame and exploits the situation to his own advantage.

"A Family Gathering" - Elizabeth breaks off her relationship, James returns from India with a new fiancee, Phyllis Kingman (played by Delia Lindsay), and Lady Marjorie's birthday celebration is interrupted by Thomas and Sarah. King Edward dies and the Bellamys all join together to mourn his passing. (This is the final episode for Elizabeth, Thomas and Sarah).

Also starring Angela Baddeley, Patsy Smart, Christopher Beeny, Jenny Tomasin, Joan Benham and Dorothy Frere.

Defective DVDs in this series
The third DVD in Series 1, was defective.
Now I find that the second DVD in Series 2 is also defective.
I wonder how many others I'll find defective in the five seasons I purchased.
Not at any price should such poor quality merchandise be sold, and I resent A&Es continuing to produce these defective DVDs.

Upstairs Downstairs 1,2,3 Seasons
Short and sweet here. This is an incredible screen play and I very much looked forward to the release on DVD. All three seasons have some type of problem be it audio, shadowing, discoloration untimely skips and pauses. The 3rd season is the best in video transfer, however during certain episodes the above information I listed still applies. I have contacted the distributor and they offered to replace all 3 seasons. I was told there is a recall from the first person then a supervisor told me they had no knowledge of any recall. The story line is priceless to bad the copies are not. I am betting down the road in a year or two they will release all new copies leaving us folk to fork out another bundle. My rating is not based on the story I can only give it 3 stars because A&E New Video should be ashamed of themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

LOVE this movie!!!!
I saw this in the theatre when it was first released, and the passage of time has done nothing to dim my love and fascination of this superb translation of the novel by Fielding. Of course, Albert Finney made a very dashing Tom Jones, and wqas so perfectly suited to the role; Susannah York great as his true love, Sophie, and the other roles, Hugh Griffith as Sophie's father, and hilarious in his part as a drunken, boisterous, lusty squire, and Dame Edith Evans as his rather disapproving, but very funny sister, reprimanding him with a trilling "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrother...." while he is wrestling some country maidens in the haystacks, straw in his hair and a pack of bulldogs surrounding him. The dinner scene with him eating a roast chicken with great gusto, so much so that he harangues Sophie with pieces of it in his nose, is delightful, as is his unscripted departure from Squire Allworthy's residence, on his horse, and turning so tightly that the horse rears and collapses with Hugh Griffith on top of him...so funny Richardson wisely decided to keep it in the film.
I also appreciated the performances of David Warner, as the disgustingly priggish tutor, Mr. Bliful, and Diane Cilento (once married to Sean Connery...) as Tom's sometime paramour. The entire cast is excellent, including Joan Greenwood as the predatory older woman after Tom at any cost. Watch for the Masquerade Ball and see Hugh Griffith in his elephant mask; what a great scene!
The peripheral players are superb, as is the setting of London in the eighteenth century, with the deplorable lack of sanitary conditions and the terrible poverty. The music is haunting, the scene at the Inn (yes, the food scene, of course, one of the more outstanding in the movie) but also the frenetic byplay of the characters winding up in each other's beds with different wives and lovers, it is such a classic melange of humor, drama and near tragedy, there simply isn't one moment of bad film or minute of tedium...you will be absorbed all the way through, and enjoy this rambunctious, joyful frolic with Tom and his supporting cast of finely drawn characters. One last comment: The scene of Tom and Sophie, running, taking turns rowing a boat and falling in love on the grounds of her father's estate, is absolutely beautiful; watch for the scene of them picking blossoms and Sophie laughing and the blossoms falling into her mouth; very sensual and exquisitely detailed, as is the entire production.

Pay No Attention to the One Star Voters
Just want to add my 2 cents worth. There is a reason this film won best picture. It WAS the best picture that year and one of the best for any year. The writing and direction is consistently inventive, clever, witty and intelligent. The massive old novel has been rendered down to its essence and filmed with wit and verve and played by a dream cast. The narration punctuates the humor and the depiction of 18th century England, both country life and London, is excellent. Tony Richardson and his cast had fun with the material, using every manner of technique (fast motion), asides to the audience, and so on to make a rollicking good modern comedy, that was much imitated (Woody Allen did the eating scene at least twice in his films). Comedy is definitely in the eye of the beholder, as witnessed by the negative reviews. All I can say is, they missed the point entirely. See Tom Jones and enjoy how much can be packed into a movie in under 2 hours.

A Masterpiece
Perhaps in 1968 there were fewer idiots in this world than in 2004? It's difficult to explain why this film has so many negative reviews. It is one of the best movies of the late 60s, and I have watched it so many times, nearly every scene has burned itself into my memory.
It is a perfect adaptation of Fielding's Tom Jones. Every minute of the film has so much joy, humor, excitement and hilarity that it's very difficult to sum up in this review.
If you have any taste in film at all, and are a patient and intelligent filmgoer, you'll want to buy this classic.

If there is a God...
...why does he allow people to suffer through this movie?

If you think it's funny to watch people kick dogs and have sex with their own parents, then this is the movie for you. Albert Finney looks about 15 years too old to portray the virile title character in this adaptation of the classic 18th century novel. The "plot," if you can call it that, is a little hard for me to describe since I am expending a tremendous amount of energy trying to block it from my mind. Suffice to say it plods along much like a typical episode of Three's Company, with it's misunderstandings, sexual escapades and slapstick humor. The difference of course being that a typical episode of Three's Company is better written, better directed and far easier to stomach. In particular, the last hour of the movie is a boringly boring bore. Sitting through it is like sitting through the end credits of the Olympics. I find it to be unbelievable that this movie was nominated for any Oscars much less win for best picture given the fact that it is as difficult to watch as footage of starving African babies with flies all over their heads. Wow, that is two hours of my life I can never get back.

Of its Time
Heavily influenced by Godard's 1959 mould-breaker "Breathless" (jump-cuts, hand-held camera, addresses to the viewer) this film is full of brilliant episodes, especially the stag-hunt. Contrary to the opinions of some reviewers, imho it does an outstanding job of presenting the uninhibited flavour of 18th century England; especially by bringing out the contrast between town and country, which incorporated one of the greatest and most far-reaching social changes which took place in that century. The luxury and squalor of London compared with the almost idyllic feeling that many had for the vanishing bucolic life is commented on by almost every notable writer of the age. However, the film doesn't seem to be well-paced, overall. The first part is too slow, and the second is too disjointed, and there is a sense of dissatisfaction in the end at the lack of balance and rhythm. It is not quite as good as I remembered from having seen it when it first came out, 1963. The leading performances are nevertheless superb, although Squire Western's boorishness is, let's face it, just a bit over-played. The dialogue is nonetheless excellent: not artificial in the slightest. The narrator's accent is not assumed, as somebody supposed: it was delivered by a very well-known Irish actor in his natural speaking voice. The use of a narrator in this instance makes for an intelligent transfer of Fielding's long, picaresque novel to the screen. The film expects a literate audience: which is not supplied by the negative reviews posted here. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Winner of four Academy Awards including best picture, director, screenplay, and music, this 1963 adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic novel is a rousing, bawdy comedy about a young man's ribald adventures in 18th-century England. Albert Finney is splendidly hilarious in the title role of a charming womanizer who was discovered as an abandoned infant in the bed of Squire Allworthy, a wealthy landowner who named the child Tom Jones and raised him as his own. As a young man, Tom yearns for the comely daughter (Susannah York) of a neighboring squire, but his amorous adventures (including an extended food orgy that becomes the film's funniest scene) lead him to London and to a duel with a jealous husband. He's sentenced to hang, but fate intervenes. A hit around the world, the film was expertly written by noted playwright John Osborne, and director Tony Richardson uses a variety of old-style movie techniques to heighten the lusty, good-natured fun. Don't miss this one! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (25)

LOVE this movie!!!!
I saw this in the theatre when it was first released, and the passage of time has done nothing to dim my love and fascination of this superb translation of the novel by Fielding. Of course, Albert Finney made a very dashing Tom Jones, and wqas so perfectly suited to the role; Susannah York great as his true love, Sophie, and the other roles, Hugh Griffith as Sophie's father, and hilarious in his part as a drunken, boisterous, lusty squire, and Dame Edith Evans as his rather disapproving, but very funny sister, reprimanding him with a trilling "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrother...." while he is wrestling some country maidens in the haystacks, straw in his hair and a pack of bulldogs surrounding him. The dinner scene with him eating a roast chicken with great gusto, so much so that he harangues Sophie with pieces of it in his nose, is delightful, as is his unscripted departure from Squire Allworthy's residence, on his horse, and turning so tightly that the horse rears and collapses with Hugh Griffith on top of him...so funny Richardson wisely decided to keep it in the film.
I also appreciated the performances of David Warner, as the disgustingly priggish tutor, Mr. Bliful, and Diane Cilento (once married to Sean Connery...) as Tom's sometime paramour. The entire cast is excellent, including Joan Greenwood as the predatory older woman after Tom at any cost. Watch for the Masquerade Ball and see Hugh Griffith in his elephant mask; what a great scene!
The peripheral players are superb, as is the setting of London in the eighteenth century, with the deplorable lack of sanitary conditions and the terrible poverty. The music is haunting, the scene at the Inn (yes, the food scene, of course, one of the more outstanding in the movie) but also the frenetic byplay of the characters winding up in each other's beds with different wives and lovers, it is such a classic melange of humor, drama and near tragedy, there simply isn't one moment of bad film or minute of tedium...you will be absorbed all the way through, and enjoy this rambunctious, joyful frolic with Tom and his supporting cast of finely drawn characters. One last comment: The scene of Tom and Sophie, running, taking turns rowing a boat and falling in love on the grounds of her father's estate, is absolutely beautiful; watch for the scene of them picking blossoms and Sophie laughing and the blossoms falling into her mouth; very sensual and exquisitely detailed, as is the entire production.

Pay No Attention to the One Star Voters
Just want to add my 2 cents worth. There is a reason this film won best picture. It WAS the best picture that year and one of the best for any year. The writing and direction is consistently inventive, clever, witty and intelligent. The massive old novel has been rendered down to its essence and filmed with wit and verve and played by a dream cast. The narration punctuates the humor and the depiction of 18th century England, both country life and London, is excellent. Tony Richardson and his cast had fun with the material, using every manner of technique (fast motion), asides to the audience, and so on to make a rollicking good modern comedy, that was much imitated (Woody Allen did the eating scene at least twice in his films). Comedy is definitely in the eye of the beholder, as witnessed by the negative reviews. All I can say is, they missed the point entirely. See Tom Jones and enjoy how much can be packed into a movie in under 2 hours.

A Masterpiece
Perhaps in 1968 there were fewer idiots in this world than in 2004? It's difficult to explain why this film has so many negative reviews. It is one of the best movies of the late 60s, and I have watched it so many times, nearly every scene has burned itself into my memory.
It is a perfect adaptation of Fielding's Tom Jones. Every minute of the film has so much joy, humor, excitement and hilarity that it's very difficult to sum up in this review.
If you have any taste in film at all, and are a patient and intelligent filmgoer, you'll want to buy this classic.

If there is a God...
...why does he allow people to suffer through this movie?

If you think it's funny to watch people kick dogs and have sex with their own parents, then this is the movie for you. Albert Finney looks about 15 years too old to portray the virile title character in this adaptation of the classic 18th century novel. The "plot," if you can call it that, is a little hard for me to describe since I am expending a tremendous amount of energy trying to block it from my mind. Suffice to say it plods along much like a typical episode of Three's Company, with it's misunderstandings, sexual escapades and slapstick humor. The difference of course being that a typical episode of Three's Company is better written, better directed and far easier to stomach. In particular, the last hour of the movie is a boringly boring bore. Sitting through it is like sitting through the end credits of the Olympics. I find it to be unbelievable that this movie was nominated for any Oscars much less win for best picture given the fact that it is as difficult to watch as footage of starving African babies with flies all over their heads. Wow, that is two hours of my life I can never get back.

Of its Time
Heavily influenced by Godard's 1959 mould-breaker "Breathless" (jump-cuts, hand-held camera, addresses to the viewer) this film is full of brilliant episodes, especially the stag-hunt. Contrary to the opinions of some reviewers, imho it does an outstanding job of presenting the uninhibited flavour of 18th century England; especially by bringing out the contrast between town and country, which incorporated one of the greatest and most far-reaching social changes which took place in that century. The luxury and squalor of London compared with the almost idyllic feeling that many had for the vanishing bucolic life is commented on by almost every notable writer of the age. However, the film doesn't seem to be well-paced, overall. The first part is too slow, and the second is too disjointed, and there is a sense of dissatisfaction in the end at the lack of balance and rhythm. It is not quite as good as I remembered from having seen it when it first came out, 1963. The leading performances are nevertheless superb, although Squire Western's boorishness is, let's face it, just a bit over-played. The dialogue is nonetheless excellent: not artificial in the slightest. The narrator's accent is not assumed, as somebody supposed: it was delivered by a very well-known Irish actor in his natural speaking voice. The use of a narrator in this instance makes for an intelligent transfer of Fielding's long, picaresque novel to the screen. The film expects a literate audience: which is not supplied by the negative reviews posted here. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 great episodes
This videotape presents two episodes from the third season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the fantastic television series detailing the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place. This is regarded as one of the finest-written seasons, with the events of the First World War only just around the corner...

"The Bolter" - James Bellamy (Simon Williams) and his beautiful new wife Hazel (Meg Wynn Owen) attend a fox-hunting weekend. An innocent practical joke where Hazel inadvertently makes fun of her husband gives way to a argument that could end their marriage.

"A Perfect Stranger" - On her afternoon off, Rose (Jean Marsh) meets a young Australian sheep farmer. Rose's new friendship quickly evolves into love, but will Rose really leave her position at Eaton Place to travel to Australia?

2 fantastic episodes. The third season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS is also available in its entirety on DVD and video. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 fantastic episodes
This videotape comprises 2 great episodes from the third season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the wonderful series detailing the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place.

"A Change of Scene" - James Bellamy (Simon Williams) is invited to a weekend party hosted by his good friend Bunny Newbury (John Quayle). Accompanying James to the party is Hudson (Gordon Jackson), whose values and loyalty are soon put to the test.

"Desirous of Change" - Richard Bellamy (David Langton), still grieving the death of Lady Marjorie, finds himself falling in love with a visiting French Countess, Lili de Ternay (Angela Browne).

Two marvellous episodes. The third season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS is also available in its entirety on DVD and video. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 great episodes from Season Five
This videotape includes 2 good episodes from the fifth and final season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the delightful series about the lives and loves of the Bellamy family (upstairs) and their servants (downstairs).

"Wanted, A Good Home" - The Bellamy household is thrown into chaos when Lady Virginia's (Hannah Gordon) young daughter brings home a stray puppy.

"An Old Flame" - James (Simon Williams) is still reeling from the death of Hazel, but finds himself back in the arms of Lady Diana Newbury (Celia Bannerman), when they bump into each other at a seedy club.

2 great episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a great collection of episodes
This videotape couples together the first and last episodes of the memorable first series of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, one of the greatest and most influential series ever made.

"On Trial" - Into the Bellamy household at Eaton Place comes Clemence (Pauline Collins) who is looking for a job. Kind Lady Marjorie (Rachel Gurney) takes her on a trial basis, after re-naming her Sarah. However, Sarah may find herself having to look for another position when its found that someone has been stealing from the kitchen...

"For Love of Love" - Elizabeth Bellamy (Nicola Pagett) reluctantly bows to her parents demands and marries Lawrence Kirbridge (Ian Ogilvy), and James (Simon Williams) takes up an affair with Sarah who is now a music-hall singer.

If you rather, all 5 seasons are available in their entirety on DVD and videotape. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 bittersweet episodes
This videotape comprises 2 episodes from the wonderful first season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the fantastic series about the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place.

"Magic Casements" - Lady Marjorie (Rachel Gurney) embarks on an illicit but tender affair with Captain Hammond (David Kernan). Their romance is touching and passionate, but will she leave her husband and children?

"I Dies From Love" - Young scullery maid Emily (Evin Crowley) falls in love with the handsome footman from another household, leading to dire and shocking consequences. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 excellent episodes
This great videotape comprises two fabulous episodes from the first season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the wonderful television series about the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place.

"Why Was Her Door Locked?" - Mrs Bridges (Angela Baddeley) has been acting strangely since the suicide of scullery maid Emily, and now she spends most of her time locked in her room. When Hudson (Gordon Jackson) discovers that Mrs Bridges has kidnapped a small baby, the entire household is thrown into chaos.

"A Voice From the Past" - Elizabeth Bellamy (Nicola Pagett) and James (Simon Williams) decide to help out in the soup kitchens feeding the homeless, when they discover Sarah (Pauline Collins), who is again down-and-out. They take her back to Eaton Place, but just how long will she last this time? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 great episodes
This wonderful videotape comprises two episodes from the excellent first season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the classic show about the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place.

"The Swedish Tiger" - Probably the most hard-to-follow episode ever written. Sarah (Pauline Collins) becomes embroiled in a plan to rob the Bellamy family of some of their most valuable antiques.

"The Key of the Door" - Elizabeth Bellamy (Nicola Pagett) gets involved with a group of political activists led by the beautiful but cunning Evelin Larkin (Georgia Brown). When Elizabeth invites her new 'friends' to Eaton Place, she exposes her family and household to a public scandal. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

an excellent episode
This videotape comprises the last episode from the memorable first season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, the classic series about the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place.

"For Love of Love" - Elizabeth Bellamy (Nicola Pagett) has fallen from grace at the hands of political activist Evelin Larkin (Georgia Brown) and is at the mercy of her parents. When she decides to move out and live with her friend Henrietta, the household is thrown into shock. Even more startling is her relationship with thoughtful poet Lawrence Kirbridge (Ian Ogilvy).

Hastily, she and Lawrence are talked into marriage, but will Elizabeth really be happy?...

This is one of the best episodes from the first season, with a great performance from Nicola Pagett (always a joy to watch). Highly-recommended. ... Read more