'Upstairs Downstairs'

[MichaelBully]

Any other Great War Forum pals will admit to watching 'Upstairs Downstairs' Great War episodes on ITV Player ? I would like to explain that I am researching how the Great War was portrayed in the 1970's and that there is some sort of intellectual justification for this, but will have to be honest and admit that it has become what the Kids these days would call a 'guilty pleasure'.

[Steven Broomfield]

Nothing guilty about it. ITV4 seems to shw it from time to time, along with those other great 70's TV items, The Sweeney and Minder.

However, at the risk of railroading this strainght into Skindles, I would say that the portrayal of the GW and its aftermath (with "The Major" ending up topping himself) was actually pretty good. Not maudlin, and the portrayal of Edward and Daisy, and Rose's doomed romance, with Mr Hudson as an auxiliary policeman - all spot on.

Great. Come out of the closet, old chap. It was and is damned good TV.

[Kate Wills]

So it was. Apparently Jean Marsh's mother or grandmother, who had been in service, was mystified as to why she didn't take the part of one of the toffs.

The series has been mentioned on the GWF before. Try this

[Guest exuser1]

I will also admit watched it as a kid first time in the 70s ,and thought the Great War section was excellent , when it was shown on Sky watched all series stright through ,and yes no one appeard to get older over a 30 year period but rember the producers had lived through the real thing as children including the Kings visit for dinner ,and all the dialoge was checked against period Punch ,were else through a drama would you get a 5 min explanation of the navy bill ? and various politiocal issues of Edwardian England , all in all a excellent drama ,and while on the subject Sky also showed back to back When The Boat Comes In ,and i had completley forgotten how strong the theme of the war was all through the series right through untill his death in Spain ,and as a starter for 10 the regiment which Jack served in was .....?

[CarylW]

....... It was and is damned good TV.

Certainly is and The Duchess of Duke Street was another fine series from the 70's, apparently from the same producers

Based on the true story of Rosa Lewis, an excellent cook and owner of London's venerable Cavendish Hotel,

Also parts of it covered the Great War period (can't remember what exactly, it's a while since I watched it)

More about Rosa Lewis Here and a book about her life on Amazon

Here

Caryl

[SteveMarsdin]

I vaguely remember one episode of (I think) Upstairs Downstairs which featured Belgian refugees but I can't recall much more than that from all those years ago (i haven't watched the re-runs)

[Gunboat]

I vaguely remember one episode of (I think) Upstairs Downstairs which featured Belgian refugees but I can't recall much more than that from all those years ago (i haven't watched the re-runs)

I saw that episode a couple of months ago on a wet Saturday morning. Mr Hudson and the others were hostile until the tragedy of the families rtory became known. Well written well acted.

[Gunboat]

I vaguely remember one episode of (I think) Upstairs Downstairs which featured Belgian refugees but I can't recall much more than that from all those years ago (i haven't watched the re-runs)

I saw that episode a couple of months ago on a wet Saturday morning. Mr Hudson and the others were hostile until the tragedy of the families rtory became known. Well written well acted.

[MichaelBully]

Yes I am glad that I came out as a watcher of 'Upstairs Downstairs'. I think that the portrayal of Major James Bellamy going through some harrowing experiences in the Great War , and never managing to escape them, not being able to find any stability or direction in his life, is very moving. Also the life of Edward the Footman, getting shell shock ,going AWOL, then later being unemployed after the 'War, was well done.

I always like the strings that Lord Richard Bellamy manages to pull during the 'War , a happy chap to know.

EDIT I mean a 'handy ' chap to know re. Lord Bellamy, Not necessarily a 'happy' chap to know !

[Chris Foster]

I Watched it with my nan first time around during the 70's. My nan, grandfather, and great grandfather had worked in service so she was keen to view it. I bought the whole series on DVD a couple of Christmases ago, and along with ny wife who'd never seen any of the original episodes had an Upstairs Downstairs fest over the winter period. Classic TV in my humble opinion.

[rumplestiltskin]

Nothing wrong with that a very fine series from start to finish well acted good story lines.

Unlike today which seems nothing but old tat the odd good thing but mostly dross.

I am a grumpy old man sorry,cannot help myself.

[Guest]

I never saw it first time round, but have been catching up. Am now an avid fan. It's a pity it's not being shown in sequence. It jumps from 1916 to 1910, to 19?? I watched the one where James Bellamy's wife uses her influence to get him back to blighty, after he was wounded, was that likely?

Cheers Mike

[Staffsyeoman]

It does seem to be on a constant loop at the moment on ITV2 (?) - goes from start to finish and start again. I always watch the episode where Lady Bellamy is injudicious (with hindsight) in her choice of conveyance to the United States.

I always thought they pulled a punch by portraying James Bellamy's regiment; sort-of hinting at Guards but never being definitive.

Portrayal of the returning experience: don't forget the early episodes of 'When The Boat Comes In' when the war hero Jack Ford comes home, in uniform, with his Military Medal for all to see, to the 'land fit for heroes'...

[Chris Foster]

Portrayal of the returning experience: don't forget the early episodes of 'When The Boat Comes In' when the war hero Jack Ford comes home, in uniform, with his Military Medal for all to see, to the 'land fit for heroes'...

And another classic drama series well worth another viewing . If any pals subscribe to Lovefilm they have the full series to loan .

[MichaelBully]

I read somewhere that the actress who played Lady Bellamy wanted to leave the show, so the scriptwriter decided to send her off to the 'States by sea in 1912.

The Belgian refugees episode set in 1914 was thoughtful and well acted ; though didn't the Belgian refugees claim to have been attacked by air during the invasion of Belgium? Not sure if there are any records of Belgian civilians being targeted by German planes in 1914, but could be wrong.

The 1915 episode with the German bakers getting driven out of their shop by a mob after The Lusitania sinking was another thought provoking piece of drama.

Watched the episode set in Spring 1918 yesterday, with Operation Michael at its height, and I thought that conveyed the real sense of war weariness that I have also picked up from reading local papers of this time.

Remember 'When The Boat Comes In' very vaguely as a nipper in the 1970's. Will have to watch it again.

It does seem to be on a constant loop at the moment on ITV2 (?) - goes from start to finish and start again. I always watch the episode where Lady Bellamy is injudicious (with hindsight) in her choice of conveyance to the United States.

I always thought they pulled a punch by portraying James Bellamy's regiment; sort-of hinting at Guards but never being definitive.

Portrayal of the returning experience: don't forget the early episodes of 'When The Boat Comes In' when the war hero Jack Ford comes home, in uniform, with his Military Medal for all to see, to the 'land fit for heroes'...

[Guest exuser1]

ok hans up i do rember the Great war for this one Saturday evening ,rember when war declared the Kaisers signed picture going in the toilet ! ,also all staff being made to wear medals ,a good Sudan group on display but thought the old butler with the Crimea group up and talking about the Light Brigade just pushed it ,but the episode just post armistce when the hotel was going bust and was due to Louisa not asking for the bills to be paid of officers killed in action was very good ,and also when her lover who has come back from ST Dunstans and is sitting in the room with Louisaand sheis talking about the future,whilst behind her he finally dies was handled very well.

[Guest exuser1]

The regiment jack serves in ....is Northumbland Fusilers mentioned a few times ,but not sure how accurate as he talkes about being over in 14 and of course serves in Russia in 1919 ,also his final death scene in Spain he gives the names of his mates and when they died and then includes post war the IRA bloke shot on the station by the Auxilleries ,and the WO who shoots himself aftergetting the underage girl pregnant ,after watching them recently i was amazed at how strong the Great war content was ,including a very funny scene when they go to breakup a group of blackleg strike breakers and Jack asks the lads with him to read out their old regiments.and also when poaching is useing his old trench raiding skills !

[rumplestiltskin]

The actress Rachel Gurney chose to leave as she was afraid of being typecast.

When the boat comes great show bonny lad it starts with Jack walking up the road in his uniform just been demobbed.

I read somewhere that the actress who played Lady Bellamy wanted to leave the show, so the scriptwriter decided to send her off to the 'States by sea in 1912.

The Belgian refugees episode set in 1914 was thoughtful and well acted ; though didn't the Belgian refugees claim to have been attacked by air during the invasion of Belgium? Not sure if there are any records of Belgian civilians being targeted by German planes in 1914, but could be wrong.

The 1915 episode with the German bakers getting driven out of their shop by a mob after The Lusitania sinking was another thought provoking piece of drama.

Watched the episode set in Spring 1918 yesterday, with Operation Michael at its height, and I thought that conveyed the real sense of war weariness that I have also picked up from reading local papers of this time.

Remember 'When The Boat Comes In' very vaguely as a nipper in the 1970's. Will have to watch it again.

[auditman]

I recall a line from the Duchess of Duke Street that has always stuck in my mind.

It was when the "Duchess" hands a well dressed gentleman in the foyer a white feather, he takes it from her and says "Thank you, I shall keep it with the medal I won at Mons"

[MichaelBully]

I remember the ' Duchess of Duke Street' very vaguely as a nipper. I see this series has been mentioned already on this thread. The subject of the white feathers has been covered on this thread

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=115829&st=0&p=1106216&fromsearch=1entry1106216

I don't remember that the women with the white feathers ever getting mentioned in 'Upstairs Downstairs' and certainly were not written into a plot concerning the main characters.

The more I think about 'Upstairs Downstairs' , the programme seemed to feature quite a challenging view of the Great War ; casualties and the impact on the bereaved ( which is expected) but also , anti-German riots, bombing, a seventeen year old getting court-martialled for cowardice after a particularly harrowing naval raid, shellshock, post war disenchantment both upstairs and downstairs. Probably quite a typical 1970's view.

Michael Bully

I recall a line from the Duchess of Duke Street that has always stuck in my mind.

It was when the "Duchess" hands a well dressed gentleman in the foyer a white feather, he takes it from her and says "Thank you, I shall keep it with the medal I won at Mons"

[Kate Wills]

I recall a line from the Duchess of Duke Street that has always stuck in my mind.

It was when the "Duchess" hands a well dressed gentleman in the foyer a white feather, he takes it from her and says "Thank you, I shall keep it with the medal I won at Mons"

I recall that as "I'll keep it with the foot I left at Mons".

Mind you, it was a long time ago.

[Guest exuser1]

Also as you mention in some ways a changelling aspect of the Great war the yong midshipman courtmartialed is later killed at Zebbruge ,his father already being killed at Jutland ? later on Lord Bellamy marries the young lads mother played by Hanna Gordon , also the episode covering the Zepplin shot down over London observed by Bellamys ward and son her comment as the crowds cheer "oh think of those poor young men what a terrible death " everyone else thinking whish you had spent a bit more on the special effects as it looked like a model kit burning on string on your bed room ceiling !

[auditman]

I recall that as "I'll keep it with the foot I left at Mons".

Mind you, it was a long time ago.

May not have stuck in mind mind as well as I thought.

Jim

[Steven Broomfield]

Maybe he said I'll keep it with the medal I received in exchange for leaving a foot at Mons. Snappy, and easily forgotten.

[Guest exuser1]

in a simlar story line from a 1944/5 film a working class boy is sent to upper class private school belive the film was called The Experiment ? young working class lad played by Richard Attenbrough , knocks in to one of the masters who is walking with a limp and with a stick ,he says "sorry sir had a accident " master replys " i dont think the German sniper shooting at me at Dunkirk ,would call it a accident ?"