Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Back
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro
Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Hugh Dancy, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Nicol, Douglas Reith, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Michelle Dockery, Harry Hadden-Paton, Laura Haddock, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Laura Carmichael, and Michael Fox in Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

Goofs

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Edit

Continuity

At the end of Downton Abbey (2010), Carson had to retire as butler because he developed a palsy in his hands, and the shaking made it impossible for him to wait at table. In this film, Carson's palsy has magically disappeared and he is seen pouring wine for the family at the chateau with no problem.

Factual errors

They show two separate pieces of dialogue being recorded on the same disc. This was not possible at the time as no sound editing was possible.
When the sound film is being shot, the cameraman is shown hand-cranking the camera. This was not possible. All cameras were electric motors so the film and soundtrack synchronize.
Lucy Smith, on her wedding day to Tom Branson, wears a bridal veil. However, at her wedding breakfast, the veil is removed in favor of a gilt, crosshatch headpiece. This is factually incorrect and goes against the etiquette of the time period. Brides did not remove their veils at the wedding breakfast but kept them on until they removed all of their bridal wear in favor of the honeymoon/getaway ensemble. The crosshatch headpiece is more suitable for nightwear at parties, balls, or theatre.
The film appears to be set in Spring/Summer 1928. Jack points to a cinema showing The Terror (1928) and says it is the first full sound film, as The Jazz Singer (1927) only had sound in a few crucial scenes. The Terror was first released in America in September 1928 and Britain in October. It is widely acknowledged that Lights of New York (1928), released in July 1928 in America, is the first wholly sound film.

Incorrectly regarded as goofs

Isobel, on marrying Lord Merton, became Lady Merton. She would sign letters and be known by her friends as Isobel Merton. The style Isobel Grey, Lady Merton would be used only in formal legal documents and on her tombstone. The credit list is therefore correct.

Revealing mistakes

As detailed in the trivia section, Robert and Carson look abnormally tan in the first scenes, before they go to France. This is because the scenes set in France were shot before the rest of the movie, and because of the pandemic quarantines, the actors had two weeks of free time, part of which was clearly spent in the sun.

Miscellaneous

Anachronisms

The orchestrations for the songs played and sung at the house party are several decades too early.
When Lady and Lord Crawley, and the Marquis de Montmirail are boating, the name of the boat is using Zapfino font. That typeface was created by Hermann Zapf in 1998 (based on a 1944 alphabet), while the movie is set in 1928.
The film company's catering van has white 'blackout' markings painted on its wheel arches. These were painted onto vehicles to help reduce accidents during wartime air raid precautions. However the film is set in 1928 - 11 years before the outbreak of world war 2.
Countess Violet asks someone who is puzzled by what she has just said, "What bit of it don't you understand?" This wisecrack did not exist until the later part of the 20th century.

Plot holes

In the family photo taken at the wedding at the start of the film, Lucy is standing with her mother. Tom's only family is that of his late wife. The photo doesn't include his mother or brother (the two family members who have been discussed).

Character error

It is doubtful that Jack Barber would recognise Myrna Dalgliesh's accent as something that audiences would not respond to. Talkies were still fairly new, and no one knew yet what audiences would or would not accept.

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More from this title

More to explore

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb app
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
Follow IMDb on social
Get the IMDb app
For Android and iOS
Get the IMDb app
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • License IMDb Data
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.