Return to Downton

Last week, my husband and I attended an early preview of the new Downton Abbey movie. I have been fascinated by all things British since I first read Pride and Prejudice in fourth grade. My discovery of Downton Abbey, the PBS series centering on the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their country estate, was a mere fluke. Preparing for a lengthy plane trip, I was scrolling through selections to add to my iPad for watching. It was listed as under the category of “something you may be interested in.” And, interested I was. I downloaded the entire season and didn’t wait for the plane to watch the first episode. I was hooked, and shortly after that the rest of my friends were.

My fascination with the Crawley family coincided with my fascination of Edwardian and Art Nouveau jewelry and fashions. Downton Abbey featured both in endless numbers as the series documents an era where it was considered the rule to dress for dinner even if you were dining at home with family. I marveled at the fashions and jewelry in the show for all six seasons and was disappointed when the series ended in 2015. I hadn’t had enough of the Crawleys and their rambling estate.

That was when the costumes came to Chicago as part of an exhibit at the Driehaus Museum, a restored Gilded Age mansion steps from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. My two best friends and I braved the February snow to visit and take in the grandeur of both the museum and the costumes. The exhibit allowed an up close and personal look at the lavish costumes created for the series, including the red evening gown worn by Lady Mary when she meets Mr. Parmuk or the beaded dress that Lady Cora wore to a hospital concert. And, of course the pink beaded dress worn by Lady Rose when she danced with jazz singer Jack Ross.

The costumes were displayed with accompanying jewelry and evening gloves so they appeared as if still worn in the show by the character. I marveled at the detail of each dress as I listened to the accompanying narrative provided by the pre-recorded headset. Costume designers scoured antique stores, fabric shops and attics for era-appropriate materials. In the example below, they used an embroidery pattern from a tablecloth to construct Lady Cora’s dress.

A vintage tablecloth inspired the detail work on Lady Cora’s dress.

And, they shared how we could view history through the dresses, and you can see the progression. Lady Mary’s red dress was worn around 1912 when Edwardian fashions were still popular so it is longer than Lady Rose’s pink dress which was known as the Flapper Age.

When the news surfaced that there was
going to be a Downton Abbey movie, I knew I would be among the first to attend.
Then I received the email inviting me to the advance premiere, I bought my
tickets right away. Upon arrival, the theater offered us a limited edition
keychain. During the opening credit shot of Downton Abbey, I felt as if I
returned home.

The new movie is set a few years after
the series ended and brings back many of the series regulars. The estate is
running smoothly in the hands of Lady Mary and her brother-in-law Tom Branson. When
word arrives that King George V and Queen Mary are coming to Downton,
excitement and trepidation stir both above and below stairs. Not trusting new
butler, former footman Thomas Barrow, Lady Mary enlists retired butler Mr.
Carson to return to Downton. This is an uplifting moment. I have always enjoyed
Lady Mary’s relationship with Mr. Carson as it shows her more softer side.

Various plots ensue at an almost
frenetic pace as if to ensure all characters had their moment except oddly
enough for Lord Grantham and Lady Cora. While this format of multiple
storylines worked in the episodic TV show, it felt rather off in a long-form
movie. It was if there was too much being crammed in that all needed to be
concluded at the end.

With that being said, the king’s visit and
the respondent behavior does not disappoint. The downstairs staff has their
moment even with a zinger from long-suffering Mr. Molesley. Upstairs the
Crawleys are in their element and Dowager Countess Violet continues to deliver
the best lines which elicit laughter in the theater before she can finish.

Long-time fans of the series will
appreciate the movie as it provides a nostalgic return to Downton Abbey. I
wanted to like it more than I did but found that it fell flat. As I said above,
I don’t think the show’s format transferred to the big screen. Although the
costumes and jewelry were still spectacular, the various plots seemed too
rushed so that there was not one central plot among the many mini plots.

I feel traitorous saying that I didn’t
love the film, especially when I wanted to so much. I did enjoy it and will
definitely watch it again when it is available for home viewing. Perhaps it
will improve on subsequent viewing. And my disappointment in the film won’t
stop me from admiring Mary’s dress and tiara in the last scene.