Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) [PG] ****

Over the objections of her father, Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) agrees to allow Downton Abbey to be used as the set of a film titled The Gambler, produced and directed by Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) and starring Guy Dexter (Dominic West in Errol Flynn mode) and screen goddess Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock).

The servants, of course, are beside themselves with excitement, as many of their number subscribe to the fanzines of the day. Upstairs, the temperature is different. The Earl is none too pleased to have the agents of such a vulgar profession loitering around his palatial residence. It’s a horrible idea! he huffs. Actresses plastered in makeup and actors… plastered. But the family and Downton Abbey need the American dollars. The maintenance of such a large staff is proving crippling, and the roof is leaking, so funds have to be found. The unthinkable alternative is to open the house on a regular basis to draw tourists or to sell it and see it transformed into a college, hospital, sanatorium, retirement home, orphanage or Anglican Church facility.

Besides the financial problems at Downton Abbey, another revelation has raised its unforeseen head. The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) has discovered that the Villa of the Doves in the south of France has been bequeathed her in the will of an old paramour – and the Earl and his family have been requested to visit it before final documents are exchanged. So, while the Earl is off to France, his own estate is overrun by all the paraphernalia of a film crew, along with the glamorous movie stars.

Examining the cast of characters on IMDb as well as the film poster, there are two characters missing from the film. The first is Matthew Goode who played Henry Talbot, Lady Mary's second husband in seven episodes of seasons 5 and 6 of the original Downton Abbey TV series, and in the 2019 Downton Abbey film. The second is Lily James who played Lady Rose MacClare, a cousin of Lady Mary, in 21 episodes of seasons 3 to 6 of the TV series, but was not in the 2019 film.

Labels: drama, period, romance, rom-drama-faves
IMDb 75/100
MetaScore (critics=63, viewers=67)
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=69, viewers=94)

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The Bates Family - Anna (Joanne Froggatt) and John (Brendan Coyle)

Film producer and director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy)

Anna (Joanne Froggatt), Mrs. Patmore (Leslie Nicol) and Daisy (Sophie McShera) discuss film star Guy Dexter

Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton) marries Tom Branson (Allen Leech)

Actress Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock) and Downton Abbey Footman Andy (Michael Fox)

Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and film director Jack Barber

Is that Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle) in the middle of the shot?



Lord Bertie Pelham, Marquess of Hexham (Harry Hadden-Paton), Lady Edith Pelham born Crawley, Marchioness of Hexham (Laura Carmichael), Lucy (Tuppence Middleton) and Tom (Allen Leech)

Lord Bertie, Lady Edith, Lucy and Tom

A bit about peerage and titles in Great Britain. Here is a link to an excellent reference:

King and Queen

Prince and Princess

Duke and Duchess

Marquess and Marchioness

Earl and Countess

Viscount and Viscountess

Baron and Baroness