Film Review: Downton Abbey - A New Era (2022)

Downton Abbey - A New Era

Carnival Films

Focus Features

Release date 

May 20, 2022

#whatonwhatsgood Express Review: by: Jovin Tardif

This is the first time I ever watched Downton Abbey.  My wife is a huge fan.  I asked her to give me some information about the characters before we watched it.

In Downton Abbey - A New Era there are a few storylines going on.  One is that a film crew is looking to make a silent movie called "The Gambler" on their property.  Will Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) allows it?  How do the others feel about this arrangement? Can the staff act appropriately when they see actors Guy Dexter (Dominic West) and Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock) arrive on the property?  

Another concern that is addressed is silent films versus “talkies”.  Will director Jack Barber's (Hugh Dancy) need to make changes?  Can Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock) handle the pressure of being in a talkie or is she more suited for silent films?  Will there be drama if things have to be revised?  

The other topic in the film is that Violet (Maggie Smith) inherited a French villa from a man she knew decades ago.  Will Robert (Hugh Bonneville) be able to figure out why?

For someone who has never seen Downton Abbey, I thought this movie was quite entertaining. The characters are quite funny.  I might have to watch the television series in the future or at least the first movie.  

The cast and others discuss “Downton Abbey: A New Era”

Allen Leech - "Tom Branson"

One of the great treats has always been when you get a new script for Downton.  When we were filming the show as a series and then the first movie we were like, how is he going to make this cinematic?  And of course, he did beautifully, and then you're like kind of do it again. 

I love what happens to Tom. The movie opens with Tom finding happiness again. with Lucy.

Basically, Tom's journey is about finding acceptance and accepting himself.

So Tom has gone from a very revolutionary Socialist to a very, very distraught widow, to a State manager, to definitely now part of the family.

Elizabeth McGovern - "Cora Grantham"

I was very, very pleased when I read this particular one. It's so fun.  I mean that's really the the big word for me. It's just an absolute enjoyable escape, and really witty.

To do an ensemble show like this, you need patience.  You have to be a total star.   

Hugh Bonneville - "Robert Grantham"

The movie world comes to Downton Abbey.  A film is going to be filmed at the castle and Robert, of course, can't bear the idea of this.

Julian Fellowes - Writer / Producer

Lesley Nicol is a very funny actress. I'd seen her in projects before she got the part, but it didn't show what she was capable of in comedy terms. The more I realized she was funny, the more I wrote for the fact.

I want people to watch Downton and enjoy it.  I want them to go to this movie and have a nice time and laugh and cry. Go out and have a decent dinner and get back and feel they've had a good evening.

Downton Abbey - A New Era (2022) 

Directed by

Simon Curtis

Written by

Julian Fellowes

Based on

Downton Abbey by Julian Fellowes

Produced by

Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge

Starring

Nathalie Baye as Madame Montmirail

Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley

Samantha Bond as Lady Rosamund Painswick

Laura Carmichael as Edith Pelham

Jim Carter as Charles Carson

Raquel Cassidy as Phyllis Baxter

Jonathan Coy as George Murray

Brendan Coyle as John Bates

Hugh Dancy as Jack Barber

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot

Kevin Doyle as Joseph Molesley

Michael Fox as Andy Parker

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates

Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow

Harry Hadden-Paton as Herbert "Bertie" Pelham, Marquess of Hexham

Laura Haddock as Myrna Dalgleish

Sue Johnston as Miss Denker

Allen Leech as Tom Branson

Phyllis Logan as Elsie Carson

Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley

Sophie McShera as Daisy Parker

Tuppence Middleton as Lucy Branson

Lesley Nicol as Beryl Patmore

Douglas Reith as Richard "Dickie" Grey, Lord Merton

David Robb as Dr. Richard Clarkson

Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley

Imelda Staunton as Maud

Dominic West as Guy Dexter

Penelope Wilton as Isobel Grey

Jonathan Zaccaï as Marquis de Montmirail

Alex Macqueen as Mr. Stubbins

Charlie Watson as Albert

Cinematography

Andrew Dunn

Edited by

Adam Recht

Music by

John Lunn 

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