Downton Abbey (2019)
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As a royal visit to a stately home in Yorkshire is prepared, the household must contend with both the demands of the monarchy and a hidden assassin.
The story
Set in 1927, the film follows the Crawley family and their staff as they prepare for a royal visit by King George V and Queen Mary during their tour of Yorkshire. The atmosphere is tense as the household must manage the arrival of the royal entourage, who are often demanding and dismissive of the local staff. Amidst the frantic preparations and the logistical challenges of hosting royalty, a hidden threat emerges: an assassin has arrived with the intent to target the monarch. The staff and family must navigate the complexities of royal protocol while ensuring the safety of the guests and the integrity of their home.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1927, the Crawley family and their staff prepare for a visit from King George V and Queen Mary. Lady Mary recruits the retired butler Carson to assist the current butler, Barrow, in managing the royal visit. As the royal staff arrives, they prove to be arrogant, and items begin to disappear from the house. Meanwhile, a mysterious man named Major Chetwode is identified as an assassin; he is thwarted by Tom and Lady Mary during a parade. Tom later comforts Princess Mary, who is struggling with her marriage. The staff eventually takes control of operations, outmaneuvering the royal staff. Later, a plot involving a secret gay club leads to a rescue of the butler by the King's valet. The film concludes with the revelation that the Dowager Countess is ill, and the discovery of a budding romance between Tom and Lucy, while the King expresses his gratitude to Tom for his role in thwarting the assassination.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 122
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Engler
- Writers
- Julian Fellowes · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Hugh Bonneville · Lord Grantham; Jim Carter · Mr Carson; Michelle Dockery · Lady Mary; Elizabeth McGovern · Lady Edith; Maggie Smith · Dowager Countess of Grantham; Imelda Staunton · unknown; Penelope Wilton · unknown; Simon Jones · the King; Geraldine James · the Queen
- Genres
- historical drama
- Themes
- social class; tradition vs. change; loyalty
- Tone and mood
- resplendent; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- royal visit; historical drama; period piece
- Source material / true-story basis
- television series of the same name
- Franchise connections
- Downton Abbey
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was noted for its high production value and faithful adaptation of the source material's atmosphere.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · scale: percentage; Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 42; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 4.5 · scale: 5
- Production trivia
- The film's costumes utilized some of Queen Mary's real wardrobe.; The plot is based on an actual royal visit by King George V and Queen Mary in 1912.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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