Originally produced as a British television series in 2010./ Participants: Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Siobhan Finneran, Joanne Froggatt, Thomas Howes, Rob James-Collier, Rose Leslie, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens, Penelope Wilton.
Contents:
Disc one, Part one:; News at breakfast -- The new valet -- A question of inheritance -- A chance -- Exploring -- Changing lives /; directed by Brian Percival; (66 min.); Part two:; A lawyer in the family -- The compliment of a visit -- An unhidden past -- Playing parts /; directed by Ben Bolt; (48 min.); Special features: The making of "Downton Abbey" (13 min.); A house in history (10 min.); Great British heritage pass (1 min.); PBS.org [text feature].; Disc two, Part three:; English hospitality -- The grip of madness -- Keeping secrets -- A lack of control /; directed by Ben Bolt; (48 min.); Part four:; Seeking unlikely legal counsel -- A night at the fair -- A difficult situation -- Lost souls /; written by Julian Fellows and Shelagh Stephenson ; directed by Brian Kelly; (46 min.); Part five:; In Lady Mary's bedroom -- Things unsaid -- Daisy sets down her burden -- Fighting fire with fire /; directed by Brian Kelly; (48 min.).; Disc three, Part six:; Unrest in Ripon -- News from London -- Sybil's disobedience -- Having faith /; written by Julian Fellowes and Tina Pepler ; directed by Brian Percival; (47 min.); Part seven:; A surprise pregnancy -- About Mr. Bates -- Preparing for war -- Change -- An accident in the bath -- At the garden party /; directed by Brian Percival; (63 min.).
Summary:
Downton Abbey--a sprawling Edwardian mansion and park nestled in the lush North Yorkshire countryside--needs an heir. A tragedy at sea has claimed the life of the presumed heir, and Lord Grantham is faced with the possibility that the house he's loved his whole life might one day belong to a distant cousin he's never met. Before he can worry about that, he must deal with his scandalous daughter, Lady Mary, who many believe to be the rightful heir to Downton. Even the staff have opinions: while many are devoted to the family, there are others whose selfishness and scheming do more than disrupt the well-oiled workings of the estate. As hundreds of years of British aristocratic privilege are battered by the tides of social upheaval and technical progress, as World War I looms, what does fate have in store for Downton? How will the troubles of its family--above and below stairs--be resolved? Or will life be altered so dramatically that its master no longer matters?
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.