It is Throwback Thursday, My Fellow Book Dragons and that means our Gem is taking us back to a by-gone era. This Gem is beautifully cut, the most delicate Crystal, it’s points catch every ray of light and send them back to dazzle us as they light all the metallic surfaces in the room. My beautiful antique silver monocle chain shimmers in it’s presence, my golden cravat pin warms in it’s presence. Ah, what a classic Gem indeed!
Our Gem Maker is Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes,Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, actor, director, screenwriter, and a Conservative Peer of the House of Lords. He has written numerous screenplays, including Gosford Park and authored several-best selling novels. But he is probably best known for Downton Abbey, which ran from 2005 to 2010 on ITV in Britain and on PBS in the United States and other outlets around the world. Every week, men and women alike were glued to their tellies to see what happened next both upstairs and down to those in Downton Abbey, both the Crawley Family and their staff. Who can ever forget “FREE BATES!” ?
When the series ended in 2010, amid protests from fans, dear Julian hinted strongly at a movie. And so it became reality. And once again our great dear Julian did not disappoint. I am going to refrain from spoilers so if you haven’t seen it please feel free to read on. And let me add, I realize this isn’t a book, oh how I do wish our dear friend would write a series of Downton books to keep us fed until another movie comes along, how lovely that would be indeed!
The plot is simple but complex as Downton always was. There is no single story line, Julian would never do something so blase, there is a main plot with at least a half dozen little off shoots to keep us on our claws, er, toes. The story opens in 1927, approximately 18 months after the end of the last episode. King George and Queen Mary are on tour and are coming to Downton for a one night stay. We get to see what actually happened at a grand house when a royal visit took place. We also see that although we may see Downton as tremendous and grand, it is actually called something to the effect of, and I am paraphrasing here, ‘not a grand house’.. not a grand house? !! But I understand, Lord Grantham is a Peer of the Realm and as such not high up on the Social Ladder, but the honor is still a great one.
From the opening scene and the first few familiar notes of The Suite (the theme song) I got chills on my scales.. how wonderful. We see the busy household and the familiar faces come back to us. Dame Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and the rest. Then there is the main star suddenly filling the screen. Highclere Castle! Downton Abbey, herself! You must treat yourself. If you have never watched Downton, go anyway. Then catch up on the shows later. Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton have some of the best lines you have ever heard and their chemistry is perfect. And if you are a fan, go, but take tissues, you’ll need them.
I want to see this again..and again. And if you happen to run into Julian, please mention the book idea to him. Wouldn’t that be grand!
Drakon T. Longwitten, Your humble Book Dragon
I was taken to see this movie by our Nestling for my birthday, I received no incentive to give this review.
Tales From The Book Dragon 