The Sudden Storm (26 Jan. 1975)

A downstairs dalliance and a happy outing to a seaside resort divert the staff as war looms on the European continent.

Director:

Bill Bain

Writer:

John Hawkesworth

Stars:

Jean Marsh, Angela Baddeley, Meg Wynn Owen

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Marsh	...	Rose
Angela Baddeley	...	Mrs. Bridges
Meg Wynn Owen	...	Hazel Bellamy
Simon Williams	...	James Bellamy
David Langton	...	Richard Bellamy
Gordon Jackson	...	Hudson
Frank Middlemass	...	Albert Lyons
Christopher Beeny	...	Edward
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Georgina
Jenny Tomasin	...	Ruby
Jacqueline Tong	...	Daisy Peel
Paul Alexander	...	Hon. Billy Lynton
Raymond Barry	...	Mr. Lyon's Friend
Peter Honri	...	Pierrot: Uncle Claude
Paul Haley	...	Pierrot: Uncle George

Storyline

Hazel and James marriage seems to have come to and end. She tells Richard that should James' expected appointment to his company's holdings in India come through, she will not accompany him. Richard is understanding and agrees with her that it's the best course of action. The political situation in Europe is unraveling and Richard is concerned that they could soon be at war. His own views seem at odds with the general population where war fever has taken hold. Richard is convinced that the war will last a long time - the general view is that it'll all be over by Christmas - and cost many lives. Below stairs, Hudson is all for a war against what he sees as the evil Hun. Mrs. Hudson is occupied by other things, particularly Albert Lyons who supplies them with game and fish. It's quite obvious he has his eye on her and she fully anticipates a proposal is forthcoming. On a trip to the seaside however, she sees a different side of him. War is soon declared and James is called up by his ...

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Plot Keywords:

seaside resort | reference to waterloo | strauss waltz | hoarding | alliance | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1975 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT), Sagitta Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

52 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

On the eve of World War I TV aerials can be seen from the open air theatre at Herne Bay along with a halogen floodlight and an extra wearing contemporary (1970s) spectacles.

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Quotes

James Bellamy: [to Hazel] ... and now we've got to win - otherwise the world won't be a fit place for human beings. Let's do it properly while we're about it and smash or be smashed - the war to end all wars.

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Soundtracks

"A Bicycle Built for Two"
("Daisy") (uncredited)
Written by Henry Dacre (1893)
Heard on seashore calliope

User Reviews

War breaks out!

August, 1914, The house and family appear to be falling apart... Hazel is about to divorce James Bellamy, when the emergence of World War I ensues.

Hazel agrees to stay with James for the duration - mainly for Richard's sake, and that of holding the house together. It appears that Hazel's role as 'support' is being repeated, which was the very thing that had brought her to Eaton Place a couple of years earlier when Lady Marjorie had died. It is clear that she and James' marriage was a mistake - both from the class point of view, and the fact that Hazel is not bearing children.

Edward and Daisy become 'an item', and Daisy is worried about the approaching of war and the possibilities this holds for Edward. A young man has become attached to Georgina, 'Billy Lynton' who seems excited by the prospect of war, but this would be just one of many meaningless relationships to Georgina, who views life as simply 'a lark'. Mrs. Bridges is about to get married to Albert Lyons, with the possibility of leaving the Bellamy's without the Cook they've had for so many years.

It is the end of an era with this, the closing episode to the third season of 'Upstairs, Downstairs'. It would never be the same again...