Downton Abbey: A New Era

This latest offering from Julian Fellowes presents two stories centred around the landed "Grantham" family. The first sees the dashing "Barker" (Hugh Dancy) come to Downton to make a film - that will pay for a much needed new roof - and soon makes friends with the absentee-husbanded "Lady Mary" (Michelle Dockery). Sadly, though, he soon discovers that silent movies are rapidly losing their charm -…

After all this time, I didn’t expect Julian Fellowes to mess with his formula and start having radical plot twists and unexpected tragedies and mayhem. It is a comfortable family viewing franchise. If anything, except for the same-sex relationship element, it is less adventurous than it used to be. But that is all fine with me. It is like the new All Creatures Great and Small series: I know what…

The elegant, grand cinematography seduces your soul and attention throughout the film. The august natural environs and splendid humin environs complement one another. The modest yet haute fashion is desirable. The sailing, soothing, splaying theme song --- which announces, "Quelque choses de magnifique arrive" --- returns to us and I am pleased. What a splendid cinematic jaunt to the British ar…