Downton Abbey – A New Era – (The Film)

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Alix Cohen in Playing Around

It’s 1928. Tom Branson (Allen Leech), the Earl of Grantham’s former chauffeur, also the widowed son-in-law, is marrying Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton), heir to the Bagshaw Estate – not his motivation. Festivities are lavish, genteel, painterly. We pan the grounds focusing on familiar faces often posing for an event photographer. Many of the names and positions float back into consciousness like old friends. Sentimentality is as natural as exhaling.

Welcome back. Locations, cinematography, costumes and acting are all grand. Beloved characters move forward, situations change. Historically developed personalities hold fast. In context, everything is more or less credible. Nothing drastic occurs. I’m pleased to say writer Julian Fellowes is back in form after The Gilded Age in which many were disappointed. Only a stolen plot line from Singin’ in the Rain mars originality.

Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith), facing the end of her life tired, but not disappointed, unexpectedly inherits a villa in the south of France from recently deceased Marquis de Montmirail. The couple spent an idyllic few days there in the 1860s when he was single and she a new bride. (Circumstances are conveniently omitted.) Besotted, he told her he’d leave her the villa. She thought no more about it. The family is very curious. Violet bequeaths the estate to Tom’s young daughter, Sybie, by her granddaughter.

The Marquis’ widow threatens to sue, but his son and executor wants only to carry out his father’s wishes. He invites the family to visit. Lord and Lady Grantham (a slimmed down Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern), Tom and Lucy, Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael), Lord Grantham’s literary daughter, and her husband Bertie (Harry Hadden-Patton), tag along. Also in the group are Lord Grantham’s valet, Bates (Brendan Coyle), Lady Cora’s’s maid, Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) and ex-head butler now retired Mr. Carson (Jim Carter).

Timing couldn’t be better. Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) has rented Downton to Lion Films in order to secure sufficient funds to fix the roof. Carson volubly objects and everyone else would just as soon be absent. The New Era goes back and forth from Downton to the south of France.

In England, both Lady Mary and Molesely – former footman, now village schoolteacher (Kevin Doyle) – surprisingly get involved with and manage to save The Gambler, a silent film starring snobby Myrna Dagliesh (Laura Haddock) and nice guy Guy Dexter (Dominic West). Kitchen assistant Daisy (Sophie McShera) plays matchmaker, resulting in one couple; two other liaisons occur.

In France, Carson ruffles feathers telling the French staff how to do things, Edith writes, everyone else enjoys the generosity of the new Marquis and endures the sarcasm of his mother. Lord Grantham discovers something that might irreparably soil his reputation. The group returns home in time to see the last filming. Lord Grantham must find out whether what’s suspected is true.

A lot happens, little happens. For Downton Abbey fans, this is a must-see. Characters and relationships hold up and continue to be endearing. The plot is sufficient. Most additions to the cast work well – Nathalie Baye as the Marquise is splendid, while Hugh Dancy, as the director Jack Barber, comes off thinly realized. Resolutions are satisfying.

Go, relax, have a vicariously good time.

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