Upstairs Downstairs: 40th Anniversary Collection

Upstairs: the wealthy, aristocratic Bellamys. Downstairs: their loyal and lively servants. For nearly 30 years, they share a fashionable townhouse at 165 Eaton Place in London's posh Belgravia neighborhood, surviving social change, political upheaval, scandals, and the horrors of the First World War.
The most popular and successful British drama series in television history, Upstairs, Downstairs won seven Emmy® Awards, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody. This epic saga of life and love in Edwardian England captivated viewers for five heart-tugging, humorous, and satisfying seasons. Seen by a billion people in over 40 countries, it's beloved around the world.
The ensemble cast of top British actors includes Jean Marsh (Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse), Pauline Collins (Shirley Valentine), David Langton (The Spoils of War), Gordon Jackson (The Professionals), Simon Williams (Sword of Honour), and Lesley-Anne Down (North and South). "One of the brightest gems ever to come over the ocean from the British" -The Washington Post.

Due to the age of these programs and the improved resolution that DVD provides, you may notice occasional flaws in the image and audio on this DVD presentation that were beyond our ability to correct from the original materials.

Disc 1
On Trial
November 1903. There's a new face downstairs: a pretty parlor maid with a fictitious past. She calls herself Clemence, but Lady Bellamy names her Sarah.

The Mistress and the Maids
June 1904. Lady Marjorie sits for a portrait by an avant-garde artist. Sent to his studio on an errand, Sarah makes a decision that creates a humiliating scandal for the Bellamys.

Board Wages
August 1904. With the Bellamys and their senior servants on holiday, the junior servants run wild. Son James returns home unexpectedly and is drawn to the free-spirited Sarah.

BONUS Alternate pilot episode

Disc 2
The Path of Duty
May 1905. Home from abroad to make her society debut, 17-year-old Elizabeth Bellamy shocks the household with her radical political views and nonconformist behavior.

A Suitable Marriage
December 1905. Eager to marry Elizabeth off, the Bellamys are relieved when she falls in love with a young German baron-until they make a shocking discovery.

Magic Casements
Summer 1906. Swept off her feet by Charles Hammond, a handsome, cultured young friend of James, Lady Marjorie falls passionately in love.

A Cry for Help
October 1906. Sir Richard finds a young housemaid crying. He offers to help with her secret dilemma, but soon learns he is risking his political career.

Disc 3
I Dies from Love
April 1907. The woebegone kitchen maid Emily falls deeply in love with a footman. When they are forbidden to see each other, she takes drastic action.

Why Is Her Door Locked?
November 1907. In the depths of a guilt-induced breakdown, Mrs. Bridges, the cook, steals a baby. The Bellamys' efforts to help only make matters worse.

A Voice from the Past
Autumn 1908. James and Elizabeth find their former servant Sarah starving in the East End. Elizabeth reinstalls her in the household, where she causes trouble upstairs and down.

Disc 4
The Swedish Tiger
October 1908. James has a guest at Eaton Place, a Swedish army officer with a dashing valet. Valuable objects start disappearing, and Sarah becomes an unwitting pawn.

The Key of the Door
Winter 1908. Elizabeth falls under the influence of a group of bohemians that includes a handsome poet, Lawrence Kirbridge. Her behavior alarms the servants and infuriates her parents.

For Love of Love
June 1909. On the eve of her wedding to Lawrence, Elizabeth wonders if she's doing the right thing. James takes up with Sarah, now a music-hall sensation.

BONUS The Making of Upstairs, Downstairs, Part 1
Disc 5
The New Man
New bride Elizabeth already doubts if her marriage to the poet Lawrence Kirbridge will last. Downstairs, Lawrence's Welsh manservant, Thomas Watkins, flirts with Rose.

A Pair of Exiles
Mired in debt, James learns that Sarah is pregnant with his child. He confesses all to his horrified parents, who make decisions that shatter the family but protect their name.

Married Love
Lawrence's sexual failings are threatening his marriage to Elizabeth. He subtly suggests that his publisher, Sir Edwin Partridge, step in, and Sir Edwin willingly agrees.

Whom God Hath Joined...
Elizabeth's marriage lies in ruins and she's carrying another man's child. The Bellamys arrive at a costly but face-saving solution, and Thomas joins the staff at Eaton Place.

Disc 6
Guest of Honour
A landmark episode in the saga: His Majesty King Edward VII comes to dinner, and Sarah arrives at the back door in dire distress.

The Property of a Lady
Lady Marjorie's former lover, Captain Hammond, is dead. Torrid letters she wrote to him have fallen into the wrong hands. Thomas offers to serve as a go-between-for a price.

Your Obedient Servant
Both Sir Richard and Hudson the butler are visited by their brothers. Sir Richard suppresses ill feelings, while Hudson exaggerates his status in the Bellamy household.

Disc 7
Out of the Everywhere
Elizabeth arrives home with her infant daughter, Lucy, and the Bellamy family nanny, now elderly and disagreeable. New nursery maid Sarah is more than happy to take over.

An Object of Value
After Lady Marjorie's father dies, her mother, the Countess of Southwold, spends a few days at Eaton Place. When her diamond brooch goes missing, everyone is a suspect.

A Special Mischief
Elizabeth gets involved with the suffragette movement. Trying to protect her, Rose ends up in prison. Elizabeth seeks help from Julius Karekin, a wealthy Armenian financier.

Disc 8
The Fruits of Love
Elizabeth becomes Karekin's mistress, and her parents don't approve. But when the Bellamys are faced with a financial crisis, they must accept his assistance or lose their home.

The Wages of Sin
Sarah is pregnant and Lady Marjorie is furious. Thomas offers to marry her, but her Ladyship won't allow it. Clever Thomas turns the situation to his own advantage.

A Family Gathering
Elizabeth leaves Karekin, and James returns from India with his new fiancée, Phyllis. A birthday celebration for Lady Marjorie gets interrupted by a surprise visit and sad news.

BONUS The Making of Upstairs, Downstairs, Part 2 and Simon Williams and Alfred Shaughnessy in Conversation
Disc 9
Miss Forrest
Sir Richard has hired a secretary, Hazel Forrest, who catches James's eye. Lady Marjorie plans to visit Elizabeth in America and books passage on the Titanic.

A House Divided
A survivor of the Titanic disaster, Lady Marjorie's maid returns to Eaton Place. Hazel assumes some of Lady Marjorie's former duties, incurring the wrath of upstairs and downstairs.

A Change of Scene
Hudson accompanies James to a weekend party at a lavish country estate. While there, James renews his acquaintance with an old girlfriend, Lady Diana, and Hudson considers a job offer.

A Family Secret
It's been six months since Lady Marjorie's death, and Lady Prudence thinks Sir Richard should remarry. James also feels in the marrying mood and proposes to Hazel.

Disc 10
Rose's Pigeon
When a former servant of the Bellamys appears at the back door, shabby and starving, Rose gives him food and shelter. Her kindness puts the entire household in grave danger.

Desirous of Change
A widowed foreign countess wrangles an invitation to dinner, and Sir Richard smiles for the first time since Lady Marjorie's death. A new housemaid has romantic fantasies of her own.

Word of Honour
When Sir Richard unwittingly acts on an insider's stock tip, he jeopardizes his political career. His daughter-in-law, Hazel, helps to clear his name but undermines his word as a gentleman.

Disc 11
The Bolter
James takes Hazel to the country for a fox-hunting weekend. In her first real encounter with the upper crust, a practical joke puts her life in danger and her marriage at risk.

Goodwill to All Men
Sir Richard's new ward, Georgina, and new parlor maid, Daisy, try to bring Yuletide cheer to Daisy's impoverished family. Georgina is shocked by the squalor of their lives.

What the Footman Saw
Loose lips cause problems when the Bellamys' footman, Edward, gossips at a pub. His drunken talk of hanky-panky at a house party makes him a key witness in a messy divorce.

Disc 12
A Perfect Stranger
A chance encounter with an Australian sheep farmer leads to first love for Rose. Will she marry Gregory Wilmot? Her friends are skeptical of their whirlwind romance.

Distant Thunder
When Hazel suffers a miscarriage, a callous James consoles himself by escorting Georgina to a ball. Tensions mount upstairs and downstairs in the Bellamy household.

The Sudden Storm
As war looms, Hazel treats the servants to a holiday. James is recalled by the army, Mrs. Bridges receives a proposal, and Hazel tells Sir Richard that her marriage was a mistake.

BONUS The Making of Upstairs, Downstairs, Part 3 and Russell Harty Plus with Gordon Jackson
Disc 13
A Patriotic Offering
1914: War has begun. James fights in the trenches of France, Edward feels pressure to enlist, the servants draw the curtains tight, and Hazel takes in a family of refugees.

News from the Front
On leave from the Western Front, James carelessly complains about shortages and is drawn into a political intrigue. Daisy and Edward announce their engagement.

The Beastly Hun
The sinking of the Lusitania fuels anti-German sentiments. The servants are forced to examine their feelings when a local tradesman's store is burned and his family beaten.

Women Shall Not Weep
Edward and Daisy marry. Georgina trains as a volunteer nurse, and kitchen maid Ruby takes a job at a munitions plant. James is unhappy with his posting as a staff officer.

Disc 14
Tug of War
James longs to rejoin his regiment along the Western Front, and Hazel pulls some strings. Rose becomes a bus conductor, and Georgina finds nursing less glamorous than she expected.

Home Fires
Rose is reunited with the Australian Gregory Wilmot, now an Anzac sergeant. Lady Prudence wants Hazel to host a tea party for wounded officers. Hazel says no, but Hudson says yes.

If You Were the Only Girl in the World
At the tea party for wounded officers, Hazel feels drawn to Jack Dyson, a shy young pilot. Rose and Daisy await news about their soldier sweethearts, while James and Georgina meet in France.

The Glorious Dead
Eaton Place is rocked by tragedy: Rose's fiancé has been killed in battle, and pilot Jack Dyson is dead. James comes home on leave and takes a walk in the park with Hazel.

Disc 15
Another Year
Ruby and Edward return to Eaton Place, the latter suffering from a severe case of shell shock. Sir Richard tries to help him and also gets appointed Viscount Bellamy of Haversham.

The Hero's Farewell
Lady Prudence commandeers the Bellamys' drawing room for a charity matinee, but her plans are disrupted when a bomb falls nearby. A telegram brings bad news about James.

Missing Believed Killed
Is James alive or dead? A message arrives from the military hospital where Georgina is working. Hazel and Lord Richard travel to France to bring their wounded loved one home.

Disc 16
Facing Fearful Odds
When young widow Virginia Hamilton learns that her son is to be court-martialed, she asks Lord Richard for help. Edward goes into hiding to avoid being sent back to France.

Peace out of Pain
Lord Richard proposes to Virginia Hamilton. James is sullen and difficult, especially with Hazel. London rejoices when the armistice is declared, but Eaton Place experiences one more tragedy.

BONUS The Making of Upstairs, Downstairs, Part 4 and Russell Harty Plus with Jean Marsh and Angela Baddeley
Disc 17
On with the Dance
Summer 1919. Upstairs, Lord and Lady Bellamy make plans to leave Eaton Place. Downstairs, the servants fear for their jobs. Fortunately, Virginia's young children save the day.

A Place in the World
February 1920. Medically discharged from the army, James enters politics but refuses any guidance from his father. Also striking out on their own, Edward and Daisy have left service but are struggling to survive.

Laugh a Little Louder Please
Summer 1921. The Viscount and her Ladyship travel for their honeymoon. While they're away, Georgina throws a wild party at Eaton Place that ends in tragedy.

The Joy Ride
Autumn 1921. James buys a small airplane and takes his young stepmother for a spin. When the plane disappears, the household prepares for the worst and the press has a field day.

Disc 18
Wanted-A Good Home
Spring 1922. Virginia's son goes to boarding school, and her daughter gets a puppy. The imperious new governess is not pleased, and soon Eaton Place is in an uproar.

An Old Flame
Spring 1923. Bored with life, James takes up with his best friend's wife. When they spend a weekend together in a cottage, the Bellamys barely avert a scandal.

Disillusion
Spring 1924. Georgina returns from America with news of Elizabeth. Hudson stuns the household when he falls in love with Lily, a young house maid, and gives notice.

Such a Lovely Man
Summer 1925. Seeking an important government post, Lord Richard courts influential millionaire Sir Guy Paynter. But Guy is more interested in Virginia. Meanwhile, Ruby has a suitor.

Disc 19
The Nine Days Wonder
May 1926: Britain's General Strike of 1926 rattles the Bellamy household. Lord Richard is dismayed, James takes a job as a bus conductor, and Hudson struggles to keep order downstairs.

The Understudy
September 1926. Eaton Place hosts an important dinner party for the French ambassador. When Hudson falls ill, someone must take his place, causing a crisis downstairs.

Alberto
June 1927. James takes Lady Prudence to Ascot. Georgina's friendship with Lady Dolly Hale, a wild society girl, leads to an ugly scene and the departure of a key servant.

Will Ye No' Come Back Again?
On a household holiday in the Scottish Highlands, Hudson confronts a poacher. James reveals his feelings for Georgina, but when she doesn't return his ardor, he leaves abruptly for America.

Disc 20
Joke Over
Summer 1928. Georgina's out-of-control behavior causes more trouble for the Bellamys. When a joyride proves fatal, Lord Robert Stockbridge comes to Georgina's aid.

Noblesse Oblige
Summer 1929. Georgina and Robert want to marry. His parents agree, with a catch: the pair must not see each other for a time. Downstairs, Mrs. Bridges and Ruby are at odds.

All the King's Horses
October 1929. Home after making a killing on Wall Street, James urges the Bellamy household to get on the gravy train, and Rose trusts James to invest for her.

Whither Shall I Wander?
Summer 1930. Eaton Place is sold, and James's debt means Georgina inherits nothing. Will Robert return for her after all? As the saga ends, upstairs and downstairs go their separate ways.

Disc 21
BONUS DISC

The Making of Upstairs, Downstairs Part 5
Upstairs, Downstairs Remembered
Russell Harty Goes Upstairs, Downstairs
Sandy's Last Stand

 

Hudson	---	Gordon Jackson
Richard Bellamy	---	David Langton
Rose	---	Jean Marsh
Mrs. Bridges	---	Angela Baddeley
Edward	---	Christopher Beeny
Ruby	---	Jenny Tomasin
James Bellamy	---	Simon Williams
Daisy	---	Jacqueline Tong
Georgina	---	Lesley-Anne Down
Lady Marjorie Bellamy	---	Rachel Gurney
Hazel Bellamy	---	Meg Wynn Owen
Lady Prudence Fairfax	---	Joan Benham
Sir Geoffrey Dillon	---	Raymond Huntley
Sarah	---	Pauline Collins
Elizabeth Kirbridge	---	Nicola Pagett
Roberts	---	Patsy Smart
Virginia Bellamy	---	Hannah Gordon
Frederick	---	Gareth Hunt
Thomas Watkins	---	John Alderton
Lily	---	Karen Dotrice
Lawrence Kirbridge	---	Ian Ogilvy
Alfred	---	George Innes
Emily	---	Evin Crowley
Bunny Newbury	---	John Quayle
Pearce	---	Brian Osborne
Diana Newbury	---	Celia Bannerman
Alice Hamilton	---	Anne Yarker
Julius Karekin	---	Donald Burton
Doris	---	Maggie Wells

Directed by Bill Bain, Christopher Hodson, Raymond Menmuir
Written by Alfred Shaughnessy, Jeremy Paul, John Hawkesworth, Rosemary Anne Sisson
Produced by John Hawkesworth
Executive Produced by Rex Firkin
Original Music by Alexander Faris
Film Editing by Geoff Beames

"Great fun and marvelous television" -The New York Times