Downton Abbey 2

[Seadog]

OMG what an improvement!! ---- Bring it on

Norman

[BJanman]

"Light hearted"! anything but if the 272 comments and the 9,400 views are anything to go by.

Yes, and I’m sure doctors cringe when Casualty is on, and the police when The Bill in on, and teachers when Waterloo Road in on, etc. All mumbling to themselves “what a load of rubbish, that wouldn’t happen”.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the writers defended their storyline on getting Matthew back from the front so quickly by saying they have evidence that soldiers arrived in England the day after they were wounded, and they would be right some soldiers did get back quickly.

Taff has defended the “‘Stray’ Downtown RAMC Bearer” on Harry Ellis’s personal war diary stating (amongst other things) “4th Division goes over the top and capture the chemical works. Myself and another bearer go with them.” and he may well be right. However it wasn’t the norm. I certainly haven’t read anything that states it was the role of the RAMC to go with the regiments “over the top”. It is the same as trying to explain that the RAMC did not carry arms when there is evidence that an officer of the RAMC carried and used one - not worth the hassle really.

[Seadog]

After seeing the excellent Harry Hill parody I look forward to the official ITV production Xmas Special "Downton the Musical" or for that time of year "Downton on Ice! A Panto version starring X Factor cast-offs and Ann Widdecombe in the lead role.

I think I am on to something here!

Norman

[Steven Broomfield]

Strictly Come Downton?

I propose that when the boxed set DVD appears, as it will as sure as night follows day, we all club together and buy Norman the Collector's Edition, de luxe, surround-sound, 3D, Director's Cut, redux, with all the deleted scenes and out-takes, full cast commentary, director's overview and complete cut out and keep Daily Tottygraph press coverage.

Ten we'll all club together for a de luxe, redux, etc, etc, straitjacket.

[Seadog]

Great news fans!, Downton the 3D Movie is to be shot starting 2012 in Albania where a complete replica of Downton Castle will be constructed. A minor change to the title is proposed to appeal to a wider audience “The Countess”, a story of infidelity, lust and murder all set against the backdrop of WW1 1917-1918. To ensure authenticity Col Brad P Haganswier Junior the 3rd (Rtd) of the US Marine Corps will personally oversee the battle scenes. A draft cast list leaked out of the studio:-

Earl of Grantham - Mel Gibson

Countess of Grantham - Joanna Lumley

Lady Edith Crawley - Lulu

Matthew Crawley - Sting

Lady Mary Crawley - Janet Street-Porter

Dowager Countess of Grantham – Helen Mirren

Mr Carson - Robert de Niro

John Bates - Timothy Spall

Chloe Atkinson - Carol McGiffin

Mrs Patmore (Cook) - Dawn French

Daisy (Maid) – Lindsay Lohan

A Don A Shuster Production

In association with

Shark Films (Albania) Inc

And

David Popoff Associates Inc

Plus

Channel 4 Films

Not Forgetting

The British Film Board

And finally a big thanks to Lulu

And

The dog Rex

Catering by:

Burgers r Us

Miss Lumleys costumes by : Primark

Historical Advisor:

Mr Dan Snow

Norman

Edited to add:

Latest from D Mail

Language?

Members can rest assured that the movie will adhere strictly to proper Englandshire as she is spoken!!

[auchonvillerssomme]

Yes, and I’m sure doctors cringe when Casualty is on, and the police when The Bill in on, and teachers when Waterloo Road in on, etc. All mumbling to themselves “what a load of rubbish, that wouldn’t happen”.

You are right, my wife thinks all those on here picking fault with Downtown Abbey should get a life, but cannot watch any medical related program, especially where it concerns A&E without picking it to pieces.

[Sue Light]

Yes, and I'm sure doctors cringe when Casualty is on, and the police when The Bill in on, and teachers when Waterloo Road in on, etc. All mumbling to themselves "what a load of rubbish, that wouldn't happen".

I wouldn't be surprised if the writers defended their storyline on getting Matthew back from the front so quickly by saying they have evidence that soldiers arrived in England the day after they were wounded, and they would be right some soldiers did get back quickly.

I'm not sure that the situation can be compared with modern police or hospital series. The general public have a very good idea of how the police and hospitals work today so can make their own judgement about quite a lot of the detail - personally I've found programmes like Casualty pretty accurate. And as there are such a broad range of police series, there are a lot of conflicting storylines which even each other out.

I think it's fair to aim criticism at Downton. Some inaccuracy would have been acceptable, but it's quite obvious the writer has done little or no research into UK military hospitals - there is barely anything correct about the portrayal. Last week I did take a step back and look at it as a drama rather than a historically correct interpretation, and can understand why some of it was done. But this is such a high profile production, and there is nothing similar around to balance out inaccuracies, so it will be taken as a model for correctness in the future. Even where the dialogue could have been changed without any effect, a lack of knowledge/research is still evident. This week William was, apparently, languishing in the 'Leeds General Infirmary' (or perhaps it was 'Royal Infirmary'). There were no military beds at Leeds General Infirmary, but it was home to one of the largest Territorial Force General Hospitals in the country - the assumption has to be that Lord Fellowes knows nothing about it. And any officer with spinal injuries would never have been sent home in 1918 - he would have had the best treatment possible in France until well enough to be transferred. And as his return was crucial to the storyline, I wonder why, as heir to Downton, Matthew was pushed into that ghastly cattle-shed of a ward. Even the rampaging Major was taken up to a single room in a previous episode.

Looking at the outside of Downton (Highclere) there must be rooms by the score - are we all thought so stupid that we imagine that both staff, patients and family would crowd into screened-off sections of the same room? Obviously yes. Despite Major Clarkson's insistence, Downton could never have been a 'military hospital'; could never have been staffed by the RAMC; would never have been set up and staffed as in this portrayal. It's really not nit-picking, it's not just a little bit wrong - drama or not, it's all totally wrong.

Sue

[Seadog]

Sue, relax and wait for the movie where accuracy is virtually guaranteed and all in 3 D.

Norman

[Sue Light]

By that time pigs will be flying, and I hope they'll be able to fit my wheelchair in the aisle!

Sue

[Guest exuser1]

Have been reading all the comments to this thread and one thing that strikes me is are we going down the guess what i can spot this week avenue ? As some one who has passing intrest in Military and historical movies and can rember some of the big blockbusters first time around and the passion with which they were recived ,for instance The longest Day made less than 20 years after the event ,when released in the States huge release in times square with veterans marching from the units involved 29th, 1st Infantry ect and the film was met with huge aclaim on both sides of the Atlantic as a fine memorial to those involved ? well you could probbly produce a weighty tombe on the things that are wrong and volume 2 would not be to slim either ? Dambusters is almost the same with no end of faults and even Battle of Britian which when the orginal production almost falterd the British goverment was considering injecting money in to the movie as it was seen as a politicaly important film and a tribute to all involved ,and that faults in that film many easy ones to solve ie RAF uniforms ,haircuts ect ,but overall they give a fine impression of the events they emulate ,Downton is at the end a drama and with that in mind they have given a good impression of the events ,on listining to the people who watch the programe here and it seems to be ladies of a certin age they think its brilliant ?

[auchonvillerssomme]

There should also be a thread of incorrect comments about the subject, someone on the Daily Mail forum states confidently that British Army Officers only wore cuff rank during WW1 and didn't wear shoulder rank until 1920, so who polices the correction police?

[Seadog]

Quite so, of course there should be a thread on incorrect corrections unless when corrected these also prove to be incorrect in which case another thread must be started to include corrections to these (incorrect) corrections unless of course these are proved without doubt to be incorrect in which case.......................................Ah!

Norman

[auchonvillerssomme]

Norman you are getting my drift. It might be a full time position.

[BJanman]

I think it's fair to aim criticism at Downton.

Sue

I agree with you, I made fun of it myself.

I don’t think anyone could be more disappointed with the way the RAMC have been portrayed than me in this programme. Taff highlighted that RAMC Stretcher-Bearers were awarded many gallantry awards, and I have recently been reading about RAMC runners - Col Blackham RAMC wrote “ The runners kept the Field Ambulance informed of the number of squads required to clear the wounded. These runners were often called upon to cross open country under a heavy barrage, and no officer who has passed through the Great War can fail to remember with reverence those gallant lads. They had nothing but their loyalty and courage to urge them on through the hell of battle, but their messages were, through some special Providence, nearly always delivered.”

All that bravery and what do we get - Thomas, in the opening scene, pinned to a trench wall looking as if he is having some sort of demented panic attack, then he is putting his hand over the parapet to get a self-inflicted wound and blighty. The fact that he is running the convalescent home, as you have pointed out, is ridiculous, so by the time we get to the scene of the RAMC chap waiting to go over I had to laugh to stop myself from crying.

I understand your annoyance or frustration. I don’t know very much about the nursing side of things or about medical procedures, although I guessed that Matthew’s situation would have been diagnosed before he got back and he would have received specialist care. I would like to learn more but my point was, I personally, would not look to a period drama like Downton Abbey to get that information because I know it will be inaccurate, so when I watch these types of programmes I just go along with the ride. if I want to learn something then I read books or watch documentaries or attend lectures etc. Last night I attended a lecture about the Thomas Splint, it was really interesting and I learnt loads. Mostly because everyone in the audience, except me, had served in the RAMC and used one, so after the lecture they were all discussing their experiences - great stuff.

Barbara

[squirrel]

It is right to aim criticism at Downton Abbey - it has been trumpeted as a period drama with a wealth of research and experts consulted to get the period bit right which they have apparently failed to do. As for the drama bit, take it as you will....

[Seadog]

I have every confidence that the proposed 3D film “The Countess” will address members concerns such as, What year is this?, Who is this?, That baby is big for a week old!, WW2 gas masks?, etc. In fact I would go so far as to postulate that with the professional input of Col Brad K Haganswier Junior the 3rd (Rtd) of the US Marine Corps and the other expert (See Post 280) all these minor inaccuracies will be addressed and the film will be a proud record of the stresses suffered by and the somewhat dubious morals of a high-class Englandshire family during and slightly after the Great War One (1917-1918).

Assistant to the Producer

Norman

PS: Latest news is that Roman Polanski has agreed to Direct.

[Steven Broomfield]

If they need a recommendation for someone to play the perky wee Scottish under housemaid, I have a name in mind.

[Seadog]

I say steady on Steven, Lulu already has a role as Lady Edith, or perhaps you had someone else in mind?.

Norman

[auchonvillerssomme]

At the moment I am far more concerned about Sir Harry Pearce.

[Steven Broomfield]

I say steady on Steven, Lulu already has a role as Lady Edith, or perhaps you had someone else in mind?.

Norman

[Seadog]

Sorry Steven the part has already gone to this really wee Scottish actress!

[Moonraker]

Hesmond in post 285 provides some useful balance. A feature of the International Movie Database website is a Goofs section, where some of the contributions are very discerning/petty, with observations, for example, that a particular plant had not been introduced in to the area featured at the time of the story, and that the bird song in the background was that of a species not seen in the continent in question!

But to return to Thomas. Leaving aside his curious presence in the trenches,I don't know why he's been reintroduced to the second series. Apparently he's "in charge" at Downton Abbey, but of whom - the entire operation or just the domestic staff? Nothing has (yet) been made of his (no doubt) prickly relationship with the latter, apart from a couple of glowers from the butler. He's merely been shown smoking with the lady's maid and being sour.

Moonraker

[Steven Broomfield]

Sorry Steven the part has already gone to this really wee Scottish actress!

Oh B&gg&r

[squirrel]

Presumably Lulu will be singing "Shout" to the troops during a concert then?

[Seadog]

Although only in the early planning stage we have commissioned Mr Simon Cowell to produce an authentic sound track for “The Countess”. Some of most popular current acts will perform the old favorites of The Great War One (1917-1918) slightly updated for a younger audience such as:-

Keep the Home Fires Burning – Rihanna

It’s a Long Way to Tipperary – Goo Goo Dolls

Mademoiselle from Armentieres – Lady Gaga

If you were the only Girl in the World (Rap version) – Snoop Dogg

Amazing Grace (Trad remix) - The Rhythmix Girls (X Factor)

Etc

This is only a short proposed list as produced by the films music consultant Mr Ozzie Osborne and will be subject to change. The Producers are confident that Mr Cowell and Mr Osborne will ensure complete authenticity with every aspect of the soundtrack.

Latest News:

Lulu will perform a remix version of “Shout” at a concert for the wounded in Downton Castle whilst accompanied by an authentic String Quartet. (Note Miss Lulus performance will be pre-recorded and remixed as authentic reggae music in keeping with the time period).

Norman