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Upstairs and Downstairs

  • 1959
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
500
YOUR RATING
Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
Comedy

When a young man marries the bosses daughter, the young couple must now do the company entertaining. But it isn't easy getting good help, as they go through a procession of strange and stran... Read allWhen a young man marries the bosses daughter, the young couple must now do the company entertaining. But it isn't easy getting good help, as they go through a procession of strange and stranger servants.When a young man marries the bosses daughter, the young couple must now do the company entertaining. But it isn't easy getting good help, as they go through a procession of strange and stranger servants.

  • Director
    • Ralph Thomas
  • Writers
    • Frank Harvey
    • Ronald Scott Thorn
  • Stars
    • Michael Craig
    • Anne Heywood
    • Mylène Demongeot
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    500
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ralph Thomas
    • Writers
      • Frank Harvey
      • Ronald Scott Thorn
    • Stars
      • Michael Craig
      • Anne Heywood
      • Mylène Demongeot
    • 9User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos62

    Claudia Cardinale in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Claudia Cardinale in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Michael Craig and Mylène Demongeot in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Michael Craig and Mylène Demongeot in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Michael Craig and Mylène Demongeot in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Michael Craig and Mylène Demongeot in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Mylène Demongeot in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Mylène Demongeot and Anne Heywood in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
    Michael Craig and Anne Heywood in Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Craig
    Michael Craig
    • Richard Barry
    Anne Heywood
    Anne Heywood
    • Mrs. Kate Barry
    Mylène Demongeot
    Mylène Demongeot
    • Ingrid
    • (as Myléne Demongeot)
    James Robertson Justice
    James Robertson Justice
    • Mansfield
    Sidney James
    Sidney James
    • P.C. Edwards
    Madge Ryan
    Madge Ryan
    • Policewoman
    Jean Cadell
    Jean Cadell
    • 1st Old Lady
    Barbara Everest
    Barbara Everest
    • 2nd Old Lady
    Claudia Cardinale
    Claudia Cardinale
    • Maria
    Joan Hickson
    Joan Hickson
    • Rosemary
    Daniel Massey
    Daniel Massey
    • Wesley Cotes
    Nora Nicholson
    Nora Nicholson
    • Edith Farringdon
    Joan Sims
    Joan Sims
    • Blodwen
    Reginald Beckwith
    Reginald Beckwith
    • Parson
    Gaylord Cavallaro
    • Rocky, the Sailor
    Cyril Chamberlain
    • Guard
    Margalo Gillmore
    Margalo Gillmore
    • Mrs. McGuffey
    Irene Handl
    Irene Handl
    • Large Woman
    • Director
      • Ralph Thomas
    • Writers
      • Frank Harvey
      • Ronald Scott Thorn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dirk Bogarde was asked to play Richard.
    • Quotes

      McGuffey: [describing the new baptismal font in church] The water is thermostatically controlled. Never goes below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

      Mrs. Kate Barry: I agree with the principle. Never lay a nice warm baby on a cold marble slab.

      Richard Barry: [chokes on his drink]

    • Soundtracks
      Upstairs and Downstairs
      Music by Philip Green

      Lyrics by Sonny Miller

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Formulaic until Mylene Demongeot subverts it
    This is not by any means a very good film, but it is quite a good film. What almost ruined it for me was the class differences, and how basically the well-off couple played blandly by Michael Craig and Anne Heywood seem to think it is their 'due' to having servants to fulfill their basic needs. And of course the servants have to be either thieves, alcoholics or plain stupid. Downstairs quite literally is their home in every sense of the word. This fortunately was blown more or less out of the water in 1960 when the case for the prosecution depended on the premise of ' would you want your wife or servants to read this book? ' The book being the unexpurgated version of ' Lady Chatterley's Lover'. But in this film the D. H. Lawrence book even expurgated is nowhere in sight. The only time any sense of reality and a class threatening sexuality appears is when Mylene Demongeot enters the house, and sexual hypocrisy is totally thrown out of the window. All the well-off husbands with servants fall for her, take her out and then blame their wives for not understanding them. Demongeot is intelligent as well as being a fine actor, and gently demolishes them by reminding them of their double standards. It is only when Michael Craig has sex and maybe love on his mind as well that the film goes into some sort of genuine emotion and disquiet. No spoilers as what happens but all I can say is it holds up a harsh light on the morality, so called, of the time. After this French woman (although Demongeot is ridiculously supposed to be Swedish) takes over life is not quite the same, although to me a false ending calms England's murky sexual desires, and I did not believe in it. Claudia Cardinale delightfully plays the first sexual intruder and Demongeot continues where Cardinale left off, but Demongeot is more incisive. Daniel Massey and James Robertson Justice are also very good in their roles, but then there was an edge to their acting that the UK never properly explored.
    helpful•2
    3
    • jromanbaker
    • Jun 30, 2021

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2, 1959 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Treppauf - Treppab!
    • Filming locations
      • Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • The Rank Organisation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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