"The Duchess of Duke Street" (1976) TV series

Creator:

John Hawkesworth
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

16 December 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Louisa Trotter works her way up from being a skivvy to being the Queen of cooks, cook to the King, and owner of the Bentinck Hotel...

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Historical Event | World War One | 1910s | Chef

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Gemma Jones	...	Louisa Trotter (31 episodes, 1976-1977)
Victoria Plucknett	...	Mary (26 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Welsh	...	Merriman (25 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Cater	...	Starr (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Richard Vernon	...	Major Smith-Barton / ... (18 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mary Healey	...	Mrs. Cochrane (17 episodes, 1976-1977)
Christopher Cazenove	...	Charles Haslemere / ... (15 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Directed by
Bill Bain		(11 episodes, 1976-1977)
Cyril Coke		(10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Simon Langton		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Raymond Menmuir		(3 episodes, 1976)
Gerry Mill		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Writing credits
John Hawkesworth		(27 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jeremy Paul		(8 episodes, 1976-1977)
Julia Jones		(4 episodes, 1976-1977)
Rosemary Anne Sisson		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Bill Craig		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Maggie Wadey		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Produced by
John Hawkesworth	....	producer (31 episodes, 1976-1977)
Mary Ridge	....	associate producer (15 episodes, 1977)
Anthea Browne-Wilkinson	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 1976)
Richard Beynon	....	executive producer (5 episodes, 1976)

Series Original Music by
Alexander Faris		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Cinematography by
Nat Crosby		(1 episode, 1976)
John McGlashan		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Film Editing by
Bob Rymer		(3 episodes, 1976)

Series Production Design by
Raymond Cusick		(16 episodes, 1976-1977)
Paul Joel		(7 episodes, 1976)
Victor Meredith		(7 episodes, 1977)

Series Costume Design by
Betty Aldiss		(31 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Makeup Department
Kezia De Winne	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (30 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Art Department
Sid Sutton	....	graphic designer (5 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Sound Department
Tony Miller	....	sound (14 episodes, 1976-1977)
Brian Hiles	....	sound (8 episodes, 1977)
John Gatland	....	sound / sound recordist (3 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Holmes	....	sound (3 episodes, 1976)
Tony Millier	....	studio sound (3 episodes, 1976)
John Hartshorn	....	sound (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Nigel Wright	....	studio lighting (11 episodes, 1976-1977)
Duncan Brown	....	lighting technician (9 episodes, 1976-1977)
Peter Winn	....	lighting technician (5 episodes, 1977)
Nigel Slatter	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Ken Willicombe	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Editorial Department
John Barclay	....	vision mixer (10 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Music Department
Alexander Faris	....	composer: theme music (29 episodes, 1976-1977)

Series Other crew
Marcia Wheeler	....	production unit manager (31 episodes, 1976-1977)
Edwina Craze	....	production assistant (13 episodes, 1976-1977)
Michael Smith	....	cooking advisor (10 episodes, 1976-1977)
Margot Hayhoe	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 1976-1977)
Douglas Watkinson	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1977)
Roselyn Parker	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1976)
Rosemary Crowson	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1977)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Time-Life Television Productions

Distributors

• Masterpiece Theatre
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

UK:50 min (31 episodes)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG | UK:U

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Featured in Maid in Britain (2010) (TV)

Better Than Upstairs Downstairs

To a veteran Masterpiece Theatre viewer the caption borders on heresy but I'm afraid its true. I really can't improve on the comments the other reviewers have offered. If you have seen Upstairs Downstairs and liked it, then you owe it to yourself to see this series.

I taped my copy ten years ago from Bravo's 'BBC Showcase'. It is formatted as a series of distinct one-hour episodes as opposed to 'blending' three episodes into one. Without having seen the 'blended' versions, I would think that having the episodes presented seperately is better if for no other reason than that is the way we all saw them originally back in the old days. Let's face it, nostalgia has a part to play in all of this. While I am on the subject of nostalgia, when those who have the rights to this series get around to producing a DVD, it would be good if they could find a way to include Alistair Cooke's appearances as well.