I absolutely love Downton Abbey! My wife finds it amusing that I'm such a fan, because "it's a soap opera." And I haven't watched a real soap opera since Luke and Laura were together on General Hospital. Pretty much everyone watched that.
And yes, it's a bit soapy. It's also got a great theme song, a fascinating upstairs-downstairs dynamic, and Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess. How can you go wrong? Plus, I'm a sucker for a well-done historical period drama. In the new movie, it's the Roarings 20s. Specifically, it's 1927; and the Great Depression is still a couple of years away. King George V and Queen Mary will soon be paying a visit to Downton, as part of a royal tour through the countryside. It's truly a big honor, but also... yikes! That's some serious preparation, and everything has to be perfect.
The movie is actually based on a real life tour that the Royal Family took during the early 20th century., including a stop in Yorkshire, the setting for the Downton Abbey series. If only it had been just the king and queen, but royals tend to take a few people along wherever they go. And during the king and queen's actual tour, their entourage required 76 bedrooms. And if that's going to cost a fortune, so be it. You do not say no when the King and Queen say they're dropping by. When Queen Elizabeth I would visit an estate back in the 1500s, it could cost upwards of $600,000/day in today's dollars. So start feeling sorry for Lord Grantham and the household budget.
The Downton Abbey Castle Is Now Available To Rent On Airbnb
By Emily Lee
The movie officially opens on Friday, September 20th, including at the Crescent Theater in Downtown Mobile. But if you want to be among the first to see it, check to see which theaters are actually opening Downton Abbey tonight.
The reviews for Downton Abbey are in, and unlike so many TV shows that have failed to translate to the big screen (looking at you, Sex & The City), the 83% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes is a sure sign that fans of the series will feel right at home.