MovieChat Forums > The Edwardian Country House (2002) Discussion > questions, impressions

questions, impressions

posted 11 years ago by Rheli
5 replies | jump to latest

It came out in 2002, but no mention of 9/11? Especially considering all the talk of going to war around World War I.

Seemed like we never heard from Jessica except for a tiny bit at the very end. Why was that?

When they had the barons and dukes visiting, were they real barons and dukes or just actors?

Shouldn't there have been more help? There was no valet for the master of the house and no assistant butler. Shouldn't there also have been a second scullery maid?

Didn't get why the butler had to figure out all the planning for the pageant -- should have thought the lady of the house would do that.

My favorite characters were probably the chef and the first maid, the hair and dresses specialist. Also liked the kid -- so smart.

Not too crazy about Sir John, having his cake and eating it too. The sister and the tutor seemed to whine too much.

What's up with the special features on the DVD? Seems like they're just reruns of the episodes?

Where's your crew?
On the 3rd planet.
There IS no 3rd planet!
Don't you think I know that?

[–] Rheli 11 years ago

The single most interesting observation of Edwardian life was that the kids got almost zero parenting from their actual parents and grew up as useless, awful people. This seems to lead directly to the Monty Python spoof, the aristocrats olympics.

Where's your crew?
On the 3rd planet.
There IS no 3rd planet!
Don't you think I know that?

[–] borninthewrongcentury 8 years ago

Yeah I noticed that in a lot of these shows how the children are neglected and left to their own. Or raised by nannies or tutors/governesses.

In Downton though it is just a show the siblings all seemed to have much disdain for each other and it seemed commonplace and a common theme in books/stories of these times. Another mark of not being raised as a family. Where as in I believe Pride and Prejudice the mother remarks to someone that her girls were homeschooled and raised under the mother's care even if she was a bit nutty. And they were all very loving to one another.

But yes it seems they were really lacking in love and affection and attention from their parents. And others. As in the idea that children should be seen and not heard. Or rarely even seen at all really. Such a shame.

[–] abda53 10 years ago

I believe it was filmed in 2001, and might have been pre 9/11. I remember hearing references about 2001 a few times.

[–] jimpoz 10 years ago

From Mrs. Davies' exit interview:

We were all at Manderston on September 11th 2001 - a date that will go down in history as one of the most tragic ever. We were isolated in Scotland, without any newspapers and television. We were told briefly what had happened by the production team, but I saw few photos or reports that gave me the full picture, I felt stunned and wanted to go home and hear for myself.

One day, one of the footmen had been to the pub in Duns and came back to tell us that he'd seen a tabloid paper saying that 'World War III' was declared. I was sick with worry and I couldn't find out the truth. I felt sure that I would be confined to Manderston for a very long time, so for my own reasons I will never forget September 11th.

http://www.pbs.org/manorhouse/thepeople/mrs_davies_postthoughts.html

[–] donnaber 10 years ago

Yeah, I think they edited out one of the most extraordinary things they could have filmed and shared. I wonder who made that bad decision.