With so many years of TV productions of classic British literature (Upstairs Downstairs, Onedin Line, Jane Eyre et al), the idea of yet another - this one called Downton Abbey - didn't generate much initial excitement in the Page-Purewal household.
But how wrong we were. Having now watched all 4 episodes of the series, I can say this is right up there with Gosford Park. In fact, I kept expecting GP characters to pop up in the busiest Downton Abbey scenes.
The story, strangely enough, doesn't really matter. A disgustingly wealthy Earl, his wife, 3 daughters, mother and household full of servants, go about their daily lives in the build up to World War 1. But so what? There have been hundreds of movies, plays and TV series around that basic storyline.
What separates this production from everything but Gosford Park is the fabulous wit, depth, and clarity of the script. The standout roles and lines come from Robert Crawley, The Earl of Grantham (played by Hugh Bonneville), Mr. Carson, the Butler (played by Jim Carter), and the fabulous Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham (played by Maggie Smith).
One example of how Maggie Smith's sarcasm is put to excellent use is when she's discussing with her daughter-in-law what can be done about finding a husband for her wayward grand-daughter: "One can usually manage to find an Italian who isn't too picky."
It's worth watching this whole 4-hour series, either on Comcast (or equivalent cable) on demand, or on DVD.
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