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Summary: Awesome, captivating drama!
Review: I loved this show in the 70s and the reruns in the 90s. My parents and I would watch it together. I've long awaited its release on DVD and soon my parents and I will enjoy it again in absolute pristine quality! I'm very pleased.A note on the program -- The characters were so vivid: they felt very real, almost as if you knew them. The scripting seems to be faithful to the time period. This show can't even spell cheesy.
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Summary: rose.christie@latis.net.au
Review: I now own the entire series - absolutely fabulous portrayal of an intriguing era of history. The snobbishness of the 'lower'classes is brilliantly portrayed by the servants of Eaton Place. Even better, the 'real' events of the period and the effects are excellently covered.
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Summary: An old favorite returns--beautifully
Review: I pre-ordered this set when it appeared on the website and recently received my copy to get me through the summer re-runs. I was so thrilled to see the superb boxed set, and was doubly impressed at the quality of the recording both visually and in terms of sound. Upstairs, Downstairs is the saga of the Bellamy family and their household staff in the early 20th century. Throughout the series their lives, loves, tragedies and triumphs are portrayed. This set of 13 episodes includes the COMPLETE first season as seen in Britain, including some black and white episodes never seen on tv in the US. In the first episode we are introduced to the colorful Sarah (Pauline Collins), in the second (B&W episode) Lady Marjorie has her portrait painted only to discover at the Royal Academy Show that the artist has also painted two half-naked maids in an attic room (possibly Bellamy maids?). In episodes 3 and 4 (B&W) we are introduced to the children, James and Elizabeth Bellamy. Episodes 5 and 6 show us the romance between Elizabeth Bellamy and a German Baron (and it's dark underside), and the pregnancy of the new maid, Mary. More familiar episodes to the US audience come in #7 and #8, Lady Marjorie is spellbound with a young army captain who is friends with her son James, and Emily (the annoying kitchen maid) falls for a neighboring family's footman, with disastrous results. Episodes 9 and 10 have Mrs. Bridges, the cook, behaving in a most improper way and stealing a baby, and the erstwhile Sarah returns with a new plan to improve her social standing. The two penultimate episodes in this set include the further adventures of Sarah the housemaid with a Swedish valet, and the further adventures of the Bellamy's daughter, Elizabeth, with a group of young Socialists. Finally we are left with the now estranged Elizabeth Bellamy and her relationship with a leftist poet, Lawrence Kirbridge--and a great eagerness to own the next 13 episodes, now also available. Upstairs, Downstairs is the classic "Masterpiece Theater" series, with costumes, drama, comedy, and riveting characters that we take to our hearts. If you are a fan of more recent costume dramas on A&E and PBS, you will very much enjoy this early series which holds up remarkably well, after nearly two decades. Treat yourself--you won't regret it. And, the set is very reasonably priced here at Amazon.com (I saw the same thing in a catalogue for $149.99)
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Summary: Master Piece Theather in true form indeed....
Review: I was just a toddler when the series first aired in the 70's, but from earing about the masterpiece theather references on PBS always wandered what all the fuzz was about. This is a definite work of art, it should be considered a gem of the british television history. The acting is superb and the dialogues between the characters are fascinating in the emotional highs and lows that are transmitted in each episode. My advise for the potential viewer is to view the series from episode 1 in order to fully appreciate how the characters develop and mature. There are some that grow and others that decay over time, but very interesting to see the dynamics of it. Hudson, the buttler, for me is the best, with it's total devotion to the old order and his place in the social structure prevalent at the time, he seems to signify the DOWNSTAIRS. I imagine that is how the real buttlers acted at the beginning of the past century. Finally, Lady Marjorie's character is exquisite in her representantion of the quintesential high class lady (UPSTAIRS) she is serene, classy and totally controlled in her behavior and emotions (altought sometimes she lets go letting us know that she is human after all). Definite classic....
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Summary: The beginning of a great series
Review: I watched this set over the Christmas holiday in a 3 day mini-marathon (having just watched the 5th and final series in a 4 day marathon a few days before). I was surprised to learn how few of the first season episodes I'd actually seen and how long it took for the children, James and Elizabeth, to be introduced and developed as characters. And if you 've always wondered why James ended up getting parlor maid Sarah pregnant, the beginning of their relationship is here. If you're an Upstairs Downstairs fan, this shouldn't be missed. If you've never seen the series, but enjoy British drama and/or Masterpiece Theatre on PBS, this set (and the entire series) is an absolute must. And you simply have to buy it to see the episodes that were never shown in the U.S. (a couple of these were absolutely brilliant!) Even though these will soon be 30 years old (the series debuted in 1971), they're still better than most things on television today. A true classic -- highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: First season excellent
Review: I'd never seen this series before - it came highly recommended to me by my husband, who really wanted to own the set. Needless to say, he got it for Christmas this year but I confess a certain self-serving motivation for giving it to him: I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, being a huge fan of "Masterpiece Theatre" for years. We completed the First Season last night and I'm hooked. The writing is terrific and all the performances are enchanting. My particular favorites are Mr. Hudson, the butler, and Rose, played by the gifted and gorgeous Jean Marsh. The print quality of the videos is excellent overall, but I know that I shall be buying the series again when it comes out on DVD, as I'm sure some jerking of the picture (mostly in the credits, never in the performance itself) and other flaws will be removed as far as possible. The social structures of both the wealthy class and the servant class are jarring, especially to an early 21st-century viewer. We have come quite a long way from that time when a servant must "know his place". Yet, it wasn't just they who had to know who they were and what place they occupied in the world: in many ways, the wealthy were just as trapped in their positions - if not moreso - than the servants who ran their lives. And make no mistake - the servants DID run things if this series is to be believed. This is a series the whole family will enjoy and one which can provide a wonderful introduction to social customs and structures of early 20th century England. Well worth the financial investment. We start the Second Season in our house tonight!
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Summary: A Treat to be Watched Over and Over
Review: If you have never seen this exceptional British television series, or if it has been many years since you have, you must take a look and I guarantee you will be captivated. This is possibly the highest quality television soap opera ever produced, detailing the lives of those living both upstairs and downstairs in one of London's most aristocratic houses at the beginning of the 20th century. The characters are diverse, the storylines beautifully written and the detailed attention to costuming and set design are impeccable. I was absolutely enthralled and have now purchased all seasons of this magnificant series and will watch them again and again.
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Summary: Magic Casements
Review: If you're reading this you don't need to be convinced as to the quality and worth of this series. However, you do need to be told that both the picture and sound quality of this new DVD release are EXCELLENT, and a marked improvement over both the previous A&E video release and syndication copies which have aired on various PBS stations over the years. While a previous review printed here mentions queer "green tints" and audio problems, NOTHING of the sort was in evidence in the copy I viewed. Quite simply, a beautiful job was done in remastering the original video elements for this DVD presentation, and you're likely to see and hear many details that have previously gone unnoticed. Don't hesitate to purchase this fine set for a moment, and let's hope that the remaining four seasons will follow shortly. Ruby would be proud!
Rating: 
Summary: First Season not shown USA
Review: In the 1970's the first season was not shown in America because it was thought to be inferior to the other four seasons that came after. I'm still going to buy it, but buyer should beware. U/D is one of the best soap operas of all time.5 stars.
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Summary: An All-Time Classic British Period Drama!
Review: It is no exaggeration to say that this classic early 70's British period drama is one of the all-time best series of its sort ever produced; in fact, it is the yardstick against which all other period dramas have been measured ever since. Five series were produced in total (on five boxed sets), and the entire series covers a time span of nearly 30 years (from early Edwardian England in 1903, through the horrors of the First World War, the Roaring 20s, and finally concluding with 1929's stock market crash). The setting is the household of the Bellamy family at 165 Eaton Place, London. Upstairs live Richard Bellamy, MP, and his beautiful, aristocratic wife, Lady Margery. The Bellamys have two adult children, Captain James and Elizabeth, who come and go much like a recurring motif (though recurring nightmare might be more appropriate, for they are the source of much grief (albeit unintended) for their society parents). I don't wish to give the storylines, scandals and surprises away. Suffice it to say that as the series progress, there are lovers, marriages, births and deaths (not to mention the arrival of a beautiful young niece) which impact on the relationships and alter the composition of the group above stairs. Downstairs we are privy to the lives of the servants in the Bellamy household. First and foremost is the devout, inflexible and regimental head butler, Angus Hudson, the staff overlord. Then there is the curmudgeonly but good-hearted cook, Mrs. Bridges. Other memorable characters to whom we are introduced in the first series include the efficient but sheltered head house/parlour maid, Rose Buck; the religious but simple footman, Alfred; the not-overly-bright scullery maid, Emily; and Lady Margery's prim and snobbish lady's maid, Miss Roberts. Of course, one simply cannot forget the sassy, vivacious new under house/parlour maid, Sarah (Pauline Collins), who is a real dreamer and schemer. Like the family upstairs, the downstairs "family" too has its share of comings and goings, what with lovers, marriages, deaths, hirings, and firings. The first through fourth boxed sets cover series one through four respectively, and each set contains thirteen 50-minute episodes on seven tapes. The final boxed set (series five) contains sixteen 50-minute episodes on eight tapes. Series one and two cover the Edwardian period from 1903 to King Edward's death in 1910. There is little change in the household throughout these two series, and although the entire series is spectacular, these first two sets are my favourite. Series three covers the period from 1912 to the start of WWI. Series four covers the war (1914-1918), and its depiction of the realities of war from the human standpoint is unsurpassed, making series four a very, very strong series indeed. Series five covers the twenties. In conclusion, this is quite simply an outstanding dramatic series. I would, in fact, go so far as to say that it is required viewing for anyone who enjoys first-rate period drama. But its appeal is broad enough to be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys compelling, captivating, and often thought-provoking drama; and if you enjoy a dramatic series with lots of "goings on," scandal, and so forth, you'll enjoy it all the more! I usually recommend buying the first boxed set and then, if you like it, buying the rest. This is one series about which I have no hesitation in recommending that you go ahead and purchase the lot; you won't regret it--it's simply THAT good! And those who've enjoyed Upstairs Downstairs, will surely enjoy The Duchess of Duke Street (both of which were produced by John Hawkesworth). Extremely highly recommended!
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