Downton Abbey (2019)

Downton Abbey - 2019

Our next film comes in the form of 2019's "Downton Abbey".  Any fans of the TV series will be extremely familiar with the setting and characters.  In this installment, the Crawleys and Downton Abbey are set to play hosts to King George V and Queen Mary, and their staff must deal with the intrusion of the Royal Household, while members of the family become embroiled in a plot to assassinate the King.

The huge ensemble cast includes Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Penelope Wilton, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Nichol, Sophie McShera, Rob James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leach, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, Michael Fox, Douglas Reith, Matthew Goode, Harry Haddon-Paton, Tuppence Middleton, Imelda Staunton, Kate Phillips, Stephen Campbell Moore, Mark Addy, Max Brown, Geraldine James, Simon Jones, Andrew Havill, and James Cartwright.

Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, gets the news that King George V and Queen Mary are coming to stay for a night at Downton Abbey during their Yorkshire tour.  He's thrilled.  Lady Mary's been concerned about rising costs on the estate, but she's just as excited for the visit.  Son-in-law Tom Branson, whose politics differ from the family he married into, keeps his views quiet.

While the Crawleys are busy preparing, the Royal Household is in preparation mode as well.  Lady Bagshaw, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary, doesn't want to go to Downton.  She would prefer going on to their next stop.  She is a cousin of the Crawleys, and old Lady Grantham wants Lady Bagshaw to name Robert as her heir.  Lady Bagshaw has no intention of doing this.  Queen Mary tells her that if their hopes are to be disappointed, they ought to know.  Lady Bagshaw reluctantly agrees.

Tom Branson gets a visit from a Major Chetwode, whom he assumes is from the Royal Household wanting to check up on his politics and make sure he won't do or say anything to embarrass anyone.  The Major feels Tom out, trying to decide which side he's on: republican or monarchist.  He and Tom agree to meet later and have a chat.

Downstairs, the Royal Household has infiltrated and told the Downton staff that while the King and Queen are at the house, they are to remain in the background.  The Royal Household staff will do everything that the Downton staff does, even cook.  The Downton staff is told to do nothing, and that doesn't sit well with them at all.

Meanwhile, Lady Mary doesn't think current butler Barrow is up to the task, and so she prevails upon retired butler Carson to take over for the Royal Visit.  He's thrilled at the chance.  Barrow is told to lie low for the duration of the visit.

Mrs. Patmore, the cook, causes quite a commotion at the local grocery store, as Mr. Bakewell, the grocer, is thrilled that he will actually be feeding the King and Queen from his shop.  Mrs. Patmore's order is large.  She is there to cancel it because of the Royal Household's orders, but under-chef Daisy convinces her to not disappoint Mr. Bakewell and they store the groceries out of sight.

The day before the Royal Visit, Lady Grantham and her daughters are invited to Harewood House by Princess Mary.  Her marital unhappiness is revealed when her older husband comes in and makes difficulties regarding their sons.

More of the Royal Household arrive, and even Carson can't control what's happening.  His status as butler and authority figure seems to have been ripped out from under him.

Tom is subjected to another chat with Major Chetwode, however, he begins to question the Major's own position and is left with more questions than answers.

After a rainy night involving the setting up of chairs for a military parade, the King and Queen arrive at Downton on a glorious day full of sunshine.  "Well, the day has dawned, and the weather proves conclusively that God is a monarchist," beams Lady Mary.

Tom meets Lady Bagshaw's maid, who's come a bit after the others.  He's smitten as soon as he sees her.

After being suspicious of Tom's movements, Lady Mary follows him when he's arranged to meet Major Chetwode.  Tom's own suspicions are confirmed when he finds the Major ready to shoot the King.  He intervenes without the King even knowing, with Lady Mary as a witness.

The military parade goes off without a hitch.  The full Downton staff and the Crawley family are all in attendance.

One person who is not happy at the parade is Queen Mary.  Her daughter has arrived without her husband, and the rumors are that a divorce is on the horizon for the couple.  The King and Queen are anxious to have them appear as a happy, united family.

A person who is very happy at the parade is Lady Bagshaw, who is constantly smiling and waving at her maid, which irritates old Lady Grantham to no end.

Her maid, Lucy, talks with Tom again.  She asks him about what it was like fitting into a family above his station.  He tells her it was hard, but he's found his way.  He's again left smiling after their conversation.  Lady Edith notices his newfound happiness.

Meanwhile, things are brewing downstairs.  The Downton servants have mobilized in the wine cellar, and are planning a coup over the Royal Household staff.  They want to wait on the King and Queen themselves.  They hatch an ingenious plan that foils all the Royal Household preparations, and triumph on a night that is rightfully theirs.

While taking a stroll in the afternoon, Tom comes across Princess Mary crying quietly on a bench.  She doesn't reveal who she is, and he only surmises that she is another house guest.  He talks with her a bit, and she comes to learn that his views are different than his in-laws.  "You can love people you disagree with," he says.  The chat gives her the newfound confidence to make her marriage work.

Lady Edith realizes she is expecting a baby.  The joyful news is somewhat stifled when her husband reveals he's been asked by the King to accompany the Prince of Wales on a months-long foreign tour.  Both husband and wife are at a loss to know what to do.

Over dinner, Tom tells Lady Edith that he likes Lady Bagshaw's maid.  "Good," she says.  "Don't let them put you off."  She refers, of course, to the family.

Dinner goes off with only one hitch.  When the King remarks on the tastiness of the food, Molesley proudly addresses him directly, which sends the room into silence.  He tells the King that the food was prepared and is being served by the Downton Abbey staff.

When the Queen tells him to pass their compliments on to Mrs. Patmore, Molesley panics and sinks into a curtsy, which gives both amusement and mortification.  Queen Mary tells Lady Grantham, "I can assure you, Lady Grantham, we are quite used to people behaving strangely when we are near."

Later in the evening, when old Lady Grantham and Lady Bagshaw are finally having it out over the subject of her heir, Lady Bagshaw informs them that her heir will be her maid, Miss Smith.  "How like you.  A word of resistance and you slash with your saber," says Lady Bagshaw.  "It is lucky for Miss Smith that I do not own a saber," replies the Dowager Countess.  Lady Merton, who's been watching, feels there is more to the story than meets the eye.

Before going to bed, Lady Merton goes to see Lady Bagshaw.  Lady Bagshaw reveals the Miss Smith is in fact her daughter from an extramarital affair.  Lady Merton sympathizes, and tells Lady Bagshaw to inform the Dowager Countess.  Once she knows, old Lady Grantham will stop fighting her.

Tom meets Miss Smith (Lucy) in the upstairs hall.  She tells him she has such a feeling that he can understand what's going on inside her head.  She tells him that Lady Bagshaw's named her as her heir.  Tom wishes her all the luck in the world.  After agreeing to write to each other, they share a kiss.

Downstairs, the servants share a toast as they celebrate the coup they pulled off in getting rid of the Royal Household.  They congratulate each other on a job well done.

The next morning, Lady Edith is still very upset that her husband won't be there for the birth of her child.  She walks back into the house after sitting in one of her favorite places.  Inside, her mother asks what's bothering her, maybe she could help her.

Lady Mary has a surprise in store for her that morning.  Her husband, who's been in America for a long business trip, has returned to surprise her.

Harewood House is the scene of a ball that night.  And the entire Crawley family has been invited.

Princess Mary tells her parents that she intends to stay with her husband because of something Tom told her about deciding what matters.  The King later goes to Tom and tells him he believes he has more than one reason to be grateful to him.

Tom discovers that it was Princess Mary with whom he spoke on the bench at Downton Abbey, and they share a knowing smile.

Old Lady Grantham, Lady Merton, and Lady Bagshaw sit down and come to an understanding.  The Dowager Countess finds out that Tom and Lucy have decided to write to one another and is thrilled.  She tells Lady Merton that they'll have Miss Smith to Downton Abbey, so they can get Lady Bagshaw's estate for him and Miss Smith together.

Lady Edith is thrilled when the King releases her husband from his obligations on the Prince of Wales's tour, but she can't figure out how it happened.  Lady Mary wants to know why Lady Edith encourages Tom with Miss Smith, and Lady Edith asks her if she wants Tom to have a proper establishment.  They smile together.

Lady Mary finds an opportunity to question her grandmother about a mysterious trip to London she took earlier on.  The Dowager Countess tells her she's dying and hasn't long to live, but she's not sad because she knows that Downton will be in Mary's capable hands.

Lady Edith finds out how her husband's been let off the hook when she talks with her mother.  "Simple," says Lady Grantham.  "Bertie asked the King.  I asked the Queen."

Tom finds Lucy and they share a more intimate dance on the terrace while the rest of the guests dance in the ballroom.

The film ends as Carson and Mrs. Hughes walk home together.  "Elsie," says Carson, "a hundred years from now Downton will still be standing and the Crawleys will still be here.  And that is a promise."  "We'll see, Charlie," says Mrs. Hughes.  "We'll see."

Cast rundown:

   Hugh Bonneville...............................Robert, Earl of Grantham

   Elizabeth McGovern..........................Cora, Countess of Grantham

   Maggie Smith..................................Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham

   Michelle Dockery..............................Lady Mary Talbot

   Laura Carmichael.............................Edith, Marchioness of Hexham

   Penelope Wilton...............................Isobel, Lady Merton

   Jim Carter.......................................Mr. Carson

   Brendan Coyle.................................John Bates

   Phyllis Logan...................................Mrs. Hughes

   Lesley Nichol...................................Mrs. Patmore

   Sophie McShera...............................Daisy Mason

   Rob James-Collier.............................Thomas Barrow

   Joanne Froggatt...............................Anna Bates

   Allen Leech......................................Tom Branson

   Kevin Doyle.....................................Joseph Molesley

   Raquel Cassidy.................................Phyllis Baxter

   Michael Fox......................................Andy Parker

   Douglas Reith...................................Lord Merton

   Matthew Goode................................Henry Talbot

   Harry Haddon-Paton..........................Bertie Pelham, Marquess of Hexham

   Tuppence Middleton...........................Lucy Smith

   Imelda Staunton...............................Maud, Lady Bagshaw

   Kate Phillips.....................................Princess Mary

   Stephen Campbell Moore...................Major Chetwode

   Mark Addy.......................................Mr. Bakewell

   Max Brown......................................Richard Ellis

   Geraldine James...............................Queen Mary

   Simon Jones....................................King George V

   Andrew Havill..................................Henry, Viscount Lascelles

   James Cartwright.............................Tony Sellick

And that's a wrap for Downton Abbey.  It works very well in conjunction with the TV series.  The locations are beautiful.  Highclere Castle serves as Downton Abbey, and Harewood House serves as itself.  The costumes were beautifully done, too, and I was very gratified to see that Queen Mary's jewels were done right.

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