New Upstairs Downstairs Movie coming to PBS Masterpiece Series in 2011!

I have recently watched and enjoyed many of the recent Masterpiece Theatre Specials on PBS... from Cranford, Return to Cranford, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, etc...

Upcoming Specials are -
Sharpe's Challenge - March 28, 2010, 9pm
Sharpe's Peril - April 4, 2010, 9pm
The Diary of Anne Frank - April 11, 2010, 9pm
Small Island - April 18-25, 2010, 9pm

Next year, 2011, there will be many more Great Productions on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, including Upstairs Downstairs, Sherlock, and three Aurelio Zen mysteries.

For anyone who watched the original series, Upstairs Downstairs... this is exciting news! I know because I am one of them... I recall being quite captivated with this series when our family watched it (I believe) in the late 1980's or maybe, early 90's. However, the shows were originally created in the 1970s... but that didn't matter to us... we still enjoyed them emmensely! I was also excited to read that the screen-writer for this upcoming series also wrote for Cranford! That's terrific news, because I adore the Cranford Series!

A little about Upstairs Downstairs...
(from Wikipedia)

Upstairs, Downstairs is a BAFTA and Emmy award-winning British drama television series set in a large townhouse in Edwardian, First World War and Inter-War London, that depicted the lives of the servants "downstairs" and their masters "upstairs".

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PRESS RELEASE from PBS:

Masterpiece on PBS and BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution, Americas have announced a major co-production deal that includes a new production, with the BBC, of Upstairs Downstairs — one of the most-loved and honored television series of all time. Upstairs Downstairs will air in the U.S. in 2011 as part of Masterpiece's 40th anniversary season on PBS.




The deal also includes Sherlock, a 21st-century spin on Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes novels, and three Aurelio Zen mysteries, adapted from the bestselling novels by Michael Dibden set in Italy.





"I'm so proud of this particular group of programs," says Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton. "These three series say everything about what Masterpiece aims to be: iconic, rich with wonderful actors, witty, literate, and timeless. I can't wait to see them all."





"These three co-productions offer a new spin on well-known, treasured stories and we're thrilled to be working with Masterpiece to bring them to life," says Matt Forde, EVP Sales & Co-Productions, BBC Worldwide, Americas. "A valued, long-standing production partner, our past collaborations with Masterpiece produced a number of critically acclaimed, award-winning-series — a testament to the success of our partnership."





An enormous success worldwide, the original Upstairs Downstairs won seven Emmys® during its run on Masterpiece Theatre in the mid-1970s — including Best Actress for Jean Marsh, who will reprise her role in the new three-part series as Rose, the parlor maid. Dame Eileen Atkins, the co-creator of the original program, will also star. Screenwriter Heidi Thomas (Cranford) is setting the new Upstairs Downstairs in the same house at 165 Eaton Place in 1936, during the period leading up to World War II.


The thrilling new Sherlock series is a fast-paced, witty take on the legendary crime drama, now set in present day London and starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, The Last Enemy) as the eponymous detective. Martin Freeman (The Office UK, Hot Fuzz) plays his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson, and Rupert Graves (God on Trial, The Forsyte Saga) is Inspector Lestrade. Co-created by Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Coupling, Jekyll) and Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Crooked House), the iconic details from Arthur Conan Doyle's original books remain: same address, same names — and somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting.
 Rufus Sewell (The Eleventh Hour, Middlemarch, John Adams) will star as Italian detective Aurelio Zen in three episodes based on the popular mysteries by Michael Dibden. The series is being shot on location in Italy by Left Bank Pictures, the production company behind the acclaimed Wallander television series.





Upstairs Downstairs is a BBC/Masterpiece co-production; Sherlock is a Hartswood Films (Jekyll, Coupling) and Masterpiece co-production; Aurelio Zen is produced by Left Bank Pictures for the BBC in association with RTI (Mediaset Group), Masterpiece and ZDF with additional funding from BBC Worldwide, Ingenious and Lipsync.

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Updates - Family TV Schedule / Hallmark Valentines Day Movie Marathon, New Movies - Elevator Girl, Uncorked, and More!!!

UPDATES:

FAMILY TV SCHEDULE

*Updated with more Family Movies, plus Romantic Movies & Specials for Valentine's Day.

*Includes a Hallmark Channel Valentine's Day Movie Marathon of Romantic Love Story Movies!






ELEVATOR GIRL

*(Hallmark Movie)- More Movie Pictures Added






UNCORKED

*(Hallmark Movie)- Added to the Family Schedule
and Movie Pictures Added

StarStruck

*(Disney Movie)- Added to the Family Schedule
and Movie Pictures Added







MOVIE REVIEWS

*Cranford

*Return to Cranford

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PBS Masterpiece - Cranford

MOVIE REVIEW

Cranford

Network: PBS

Original Air Date: May, 2008

CAST:

Judi Dench ... Miss Matty Jenkyns
Julia McKenzie ... Mrs. Forrester
Imelda Staunton ... Miss Octavia Pole
Lisa Dillon ... Mary Smith
Deborah Findlay ... Miss Tomkinson
Barbara Flynn ... Mrs. Jamieson
Alex Etel ... Harry Gregson
Alex Jennings ... Reverend Hutton
Jim Carter ... Captain Brown
Emma Fielding ... Miss Galindo
Adrian Scarborough ... Mr. Johnson
Andrew Buchan ... Jem Hearne
Claudie Blakley ... Martha
Debra Gillett ... Mrs. Johnson
Francesca Annis ... Lady Ludlow
Emma Lowndes ... Bella Gregson
Simon Woods ... Dr. Harrison
Rosy Byrne ... Lizzie Hutton
Kimberley Nixon ... Sophy Hutton
John Bowe ... Dr. Morgan
Selina Griffiths ... Caroline Tomkinson
Philip Glenister ... Mr. Carter
Lesley Manville ... Mrs. Rose
Hester Odgers ... Helen Hutton
Julia Sawalha ... Jessie Brown
Greg Wise ... Sir Charles Maulver
Hannah Hobley ... Bertha
Hannah Stokely ... Bessie
Bessie Carter ... Margaret Gidman
Dean Lennox Kelly ... Job Gregson
Andrew Byrne ... Malachi Gregson
Joe McFadden ... Jack Marshland / ...
Finty Williams ... Clara Smith / ...
Tom Hiddleston ... William Buxton
Eileen Atkins ... Miss Deborah Jenkyns
Lesley Sharp ... Mrs. Bell
Jodie Whittaker ... Peggy Bell
Matthew McNulty ... Edward Bell
Jonathan Pryce ... Mr. Buxton
Michelle Dockery ... Erminia Whyte
Haydon Downing ... Walter Hutton
Nicholas Le Prevost ... Mr. Peter Jenkyns
Alistair Petrie ... Major Gordon
Michael Gambon ... Mr. Holbrook
Adam Henderson Scott ... Assistant Auctioneer
Roger Ennals ... Mulliner
Patricia Leach ... Gypsy Woman
Andrew Westfield ... Farmer Graves
Imogen Byron ... Kate
Philippa Burt ... Villager

PLOT:

Cranford has an all-star cast including Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, Eileen Atkins, Imelda Staunton and more come together in this BBC/Masterpiece Classic drama adapted from the works of Elizabeth Gaskell.

1842. Cranford, a market town in the North West of England, is a place governed by etiquette, custom and above all, an intricate network of ladies. For spinsters Deborah Jenkyns (Atkins), the arbiter of correctness in Cranford, and her demurring sister Matty (Dench), the town is a hub of intrigue where little goes unnoticed. Everyone - from charming rogue Dr. Marshland to Mrs. Jamieson and her lap dog - talks, and is talked about.

However, the town still has its secrets, despite the most vigilant eyes and ears. While it seems that life has always been conducted according to social rules, Cranford is on the cusp of change...


DVD Description-
The BBC drama series adapted from Elizabeth Gaskell's classic novels of small town gossip, secrets and romance. 1842. Cranford, a market town in the North West of England, is a place governed by etiquette, custom and above all, an intricate network of ladies. It seems that life has always been conducted according to their social rules, but Cranford is on the cusp of change… For spinsters Deborah Jenkyns, the arbiter of correctness in Cranford, and Matty, her demurring sister, the town is a hub of intrigue - a handsome new doctor Frank Harrison from London has arrived; a retired Captain and his daughters have moved in to a house opposite and the preparations for Lady Ludlows garden party are underway. Everyone - from charming rogue Dr Marshland to mean Mrs Jamieson and her lap dog talks, and is talked about, behind closed doors. The town also has its secrets which it slowly reveals: Mattys encounter with an old flame at the garden party; Lady Ludlows gardener, Mr Carter, teaching a gypsy lad to read and write; the wild expectations of the May Day celebrations and - news that shakes the town when it is revealed - a railway line from Manchester is coming to Cranford.

Movie Review:

If you love Period Movies like Anne of Green Gables, Pride & Prejudice, and Little Women, etc... then you should also enjoy Cranford and Return to Cranford.

Both, a part of PBS's Masterpiece Series. They take you to a different class of time when Men were Gentlemen and Women were Ladies... and if they were not, they were looked down upon by all proper society. I watched these shows with my family on PBS in May of 2008 and this December/January 2010... and was delighted to learn my dear Aunt had been watching and enjoying them, as well. It is a series, that people of all ages can enjoy (exception for very small children who would most likely would not understand or be completely entertained).


In many ways it is deeply moving and tells not only a story, but is very detailed in telling of the lives of this inhabitance titled Cranford, where life is not always perfect, there is happiness and sadness, death and life, tragedy, romance, and great happiness! Very Entertaining!


See or Skip:

See, there are many Beautiful and Touching Stories throughout.

Click Here for my Return to Cranford Review.