Upstairs, Downstairs 

The trials of the British aristocratic Bellamy family and their household staff.

Stars:

Gordon Jackson, David Langton, Jean Marsh

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 13 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Gordon Jackson	...	Hudson 60 episodes, 1971-1975
David Langton	...	Richard Bellamy 56 episodes, 1971-1975
Jean Marsh	...	Rose 54 episodes, 1971-1975
Angela Baddeley	...	Mrs. Bridges 53 episodes, 1971-1975
Christopher Beeny	...	Edward 46 episodes, 1971-1975
Jenny Tomasin	...	Ruby 41 episodes, 1972-1975
Simon Williams	...	James Bellamy 38 episodes, 1971-1975
Jacqueline Tong	...	Daisy Peel 32 episodes, 1973-1975

Storyline

The series follows the lives of both the family and the servants in the London townhouse at 165 Eaton Place. Richard Bellamy, the head of the household, is a member of Parliament, and his wife a member of the titled aristocracy. Belowstairs, Hudson, the Scottish butler directs and guides the other servants about their tasks and (sometimes) their proper place. Real-life events from 1903-1930 are incorporated into the stories of the Bellamy household.

---

Plot Keywords:

butler | 1930s | 1920s | 1910s | wealth | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Haus am Eaton Place

Filming Locations:

65 Eaton Place, Belgravia, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (68 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Langton (Richard Bellamy), Gordon Jackson (Hudson), Angela Baddeley (Mrs Bridges) and Jean Marsh (Rose Buck) are the only actors to appear in both the first and last episodes of the series.

---

Goofs

Hamish and Dorothy Matthews' names are spelt Mathews in the credits of episode 3.11 and Matthews in episode 4.6

---

Quotes

Edward Barnes, footman: Arabella? That's a COW'S name!

---

Connections

Featured in The Story of the Costume Drama: Picture Perfect (2008)

User Reviews

the finest thing that has ever been on television

My wife and I are just starting the fifth and last season. Last fall we started going through all the episodes on DVD in order. We do around 3 per week.

I never saw the series in the 1970s, though I heard of it. Some time in the mid 80s the local PBS station in New York showed most of them in order, a couple per week. I was absolutely enthralled. It's been about 20 years so we decided to have another look.

They absolutely stand up well. Better than well. I will emphatically repeat the judgment I made twenty years ago: this series is the finest thing that has ever been on television.

Yes, I know, you can't compare "apples and oranges" like that. I suppose the single ONE best thing that's ever been on television (in the sense of a one day or briefer event) in my experience was the moon landing in July 1969.

Still, in spite of that, all in all, if I had to pick, Upstairs-Downstairs is the best PROGRAM that has ever been on television. Far and away. If you are new to it, I envy you. I am already mourning the last episode, which I will see again in a few weeks at most. My only consolation is that in twenty years, I can watch it all again.