I've seen Downton Abbey: A New Era referred to as a gem and I have to agree. It's a cozy film that takes us back to the world of the Crawley's and their manor and all of the people that live and work there. I'll say upfront I enjoyed it a lot, but then I'm already a huge fan. Through 6 tv seasons and one previous film, we've had the chance to follow the stories of the upper-crust family and their downstairs staff. The whole story began with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and brings us to the present in the 1920s. In this movie's premise, there are two major plotlines. But, first, the movie opens with a bit of a goofy yet sentimental preamble by Arthur Moseley – butler-turned-schoolteacher who catches us up to the present day by directly addressing the audience. So something new for the series. It's a little strange but it does allow us to know what's going on.
One of the updated stories is Tom Branson's marrying his love, Lucy. Tom has an unusual back story. He used to be the Crawley family's chauffeur, married one of the family's daughters – Sybil, and lost his wife during childbirth. Now, he's come full circle and is considered a full member of the family and his daughter Sybbie is being raised right along with the Crawley children. His second marriage nicely ties up a story thread from the earlier movie. It also is the setting for one of this film's main plotlines. The Dowager Countess, Violet, of Downton Abbey has inherited a villa in the south of France which she intends to will to Sybbie. So, we see Robert (Earl of Grantham), his wife Cora, Tom, Lucy, Edith (daughter), and her husband Bertie, and the popular and loved butler Carson sail to Nice to check out this villa and the mysterious reason it was willed to Violet. I won't give the reason away, but needless to say, the family delicately thinks a liaison was had between Violet and the Frenchman in the 1860s.
Their time in France is marked by beautiful scenery, lavish costumes, and the joy of knowing Sybbie will inherit the villa one day. It's worth noting that the Crawleys come from generational wealth, and Tom Branson comes from a humble upbringing. He and his wife Lucy decide that Sybbie will remain unspoiled despite her inheritance.
In the meantime back at the Abbey, times have changed for the family and their ancestral home. Facing a leaking roof and needing money for the home's upkeep, Mary the eldest daughter and the one in charge of Downton decides to accept a movie company's hiring of the house and grounds for a silent film. This sets up the second plotline for the film with the mixing of the family, downstairs staff, and the movie people. Actors Myrna Dalgleish and Guy Dexter arrive along with Jack Barber which sees the return of Hugh Dancy in the role. Haven't seen Dancy in quite a while and he does a good job in this part. The silent movie allows the audience to see the difference between the well-heeled Crawleys and the delighted servants. It's fun to see how caught up in the Hollywood production the staff is and you get a chance to see some storylines tied up through the interactions. Working on the movie is one of the ways you see modernity introduced in Downton Abbey. Welcome to the 1920s.
It's a cozy, warm walk through a series that's well-loved. You get to look back some on where they've come from, where they are now, and hopefully, there will be another film down the road as the Crawleys enter the second half of the century. You can read two more reviews here:
I also want to mention a fabulous exhibition that may come to your town. It came through Atlanta and I went to see it twice it was that good! Check out the pictures and the write up at:
Downton Abbey Exhibition in Atlanta is Amazing.
