Customer Reviews

The Duchess of Duke Street - The Complete Collection

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Duchess of Duke Street is based on the real life of Rosa Lewis, Gemma Jones portrays Louisa Leyton Trotter. Cockney Louisa Leyton wants to better her position from scullery maid and decides to do that by becoming a top cook and feeding the rich and famous.

Series One (15 Episodes) - Sees Louisa take a position as a scullery maid in an upper class house. She quickly finds out that there is only one way improve her life and that is to learn how to be a great cook. Along the way she becomes London's premier hostess and owner of Bentinck's. But even with all this sucess, she cannot have the man she loves.

Series Two (16 Episodes) - Louisa continues her success through the great war and into the the Roaring Twenties. But Louisa's kind heart (during the war she opens Bentinck's to soldiers but never cashes their checks) brings her to the brink of financial ruin.

Gemma Jones gives a fantastic performance and the series is worth watching just for this. But this show is superbly written and directed. Series was created by Upstairs, Downstairs producer John Hawkesworth.

But when you watch it, plan on spending the entire weekend infront of you TV with a running time of over 27 hours!!

DVD EXTRAS - Bio of Rosa Lewis, Edwardian period background, photo gallery and cast filmographies.

The Duchess of Duke Street was a BBC period drama set in London circa 1900-1925. The lead character, Louisa Trotter, was played by Gemma Jones, an actress who made the role her own, and mesmerised audiences in the role of a maid who works her way up to becoming a famous cook and eventually the proprietress of the Bentinck Hotel in London. This story is loosely based on the real-life Rosa Lewis who managed the Cavendish Hotel in London.

In the first season, we are introduced to the cast of characters, with Gemma Jones in the lead role of Louisa Trotter. She plays a fiercely determined, independent, strong-willed woman who is bent on making a success of herself. She wants to be the most famous cook in London, and gets employed in the household of Lord Henry Norton, to the detriment of his French chef. But Louisa's determination sees Monsieur Alex relenting and eventually developing a grudging admiration for her cooking skills. Louisa's attractiveness garners her the attentions of many men - ranging from her employer's nephew, Charlie Tyrrell[Christopher Cazenove], to the household's butler, Gus Trotter [Donald Burton], and even the Prince of Wales himself!

The first season sees Louisa's struggle to get to the top - she is pressured to marry the butler, Gus, a disastrous union, and eventually finds herself getting the lease on the Bentinck Hotel, and making a name for herself as a famous hostess in London society. There are many light-hearted episodes here, and also poignant ones - and the wonderful co-stars make the show truly enjoyable - there is the porter, Starr [John Cater] who insists that his little terrier Fred works alongside him, the very old but steady waiter, Merryman [John Welsh], Louisa's steadfast friend and employee, Mary Phillips [Victoria Plucknett], and Major Toby [Richard Vernon], a gentleman who has fallen on hard times, but is brought into the fold of the Bentinck family.

Season 2 continues where season 1 left off - Louisa Trotter [the magnificent Gemma Jones, who may be more familiar to some as Mrs Dashwood in the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility] has established herself as the proprietress of the Bentinck Hotel in London. There are many interesting developments in this second season - Louisa's great love, Charlie aka Lord Haslemere finds himself trapped in a loveless marriage, Louisa finally meets her daughter Lottie, given up for adoption in Season 1, Mary Phillips the Welsh maid falls in love, and there are plenty of plot twists. Also, WW I looms at the beginning of this season, and Charlie goes off to war. Louisa's hotel gets bombed, and she even goes off briefly to run a canteen for soldiers with Mary and Mrs Cochran, the cook at the Bentinck.

There are many tragedies, and a number of deaths in this season, and indeed the second season seems to be a lot more subdued and somber than Season 1, but it makes for riveting viewing. I would recommend new viewers watch Season 1 first, as the series is choronological, and many key characters are introduced in the first season.

Those who love period dramas will love this series, and not just for the high quality of the acting. The attention to period details is wonderfully authentic, and the sets and location shots are beautifully done, given the time this series was made, circa 1970s. All in all, highly recommended.

We first rented this entire series through Netflix and when we finished the last DVD, we both were caught up in the feeling that we could stay in this time period and with these characters forever they were that engaging. The production is based upon a real life character who lived pretty much as this story unfolds. Which made it twice as compelling.

So, when Amazon.com advertised that they were going to sell the DVD collection, I nailed it right away. I will revisit Duke Street and the charming, engaging and outrageous Louisa Trotter, as played by the peerless Gemma Jones as the Duchess/Cook/Chatelaine, again and again. The entire casting is absolutely superior in the acting as is the story telling. It is typical British fare, elegant, classy, sly, dignified, restrained, stoical within a convoluted story line and fascinating characterizations by the actors. Even the irresistable dog Fred that the doorman Mr. Starr kept as his buddy and to fill his lonely heart. The series first appeared on Masterpiece Theater. And, in my opinion, it is true to the reason as to why this production is considered a timeless Masterpiece.

I didn't think that I could like anything better than Upstairs Downstairs but I was so wrong. This series is so much more visually appealing. The detail of the furnishings and period clothing alone make it worth viewing.

Gemma Jones who plays Mrs. Trotter, The Duchess of Duke Street, is good, to be sure, but we all have our favorite characters and mine is Merriman the butler played by John Welsh. His understated manner and wit had me chuckling as I viewed each episode. As in Upstairs Downstairs, though, there is one servant who is treated badly. In UD, it was Ruby; in the DODS, it was Merriman. Granted, some of it was good-natured teasing but much of it was not. The disrespect that was shown to an octagenarian is disgraceful.

Some of the episodes were difficult to watch especially during the WWI episodes; a lot of death and tragedy but then, that's war, isn't it? I will say that the last 5 episodes took a turn that I didn't particularly care for but if I tell you what they are, it will spoil things for you. I can say, however, that the character of Lottie is most disagreeable. She has aspirations of becoming a professional singer and the woman who played her, Lalla Ward, *cannot* sing. Her voice is weak, thin and trembly and I should think that they could've cast someone better for the part. In my opinion, she dragged the series down but I still gave it a 5 star rating because she didn't enter the picture until close to the end. Had she been introduced earlier, I may not have liked the series so much.

I feel sad having come to the end and will definitely view this series again this winter during the cold, snowy months, sitting by the fire while sipping some English tea. A must see and worth every penny.

Knowing the work of John Hawkesworth's Upstairs, Downstairs, I was intrigued in finding that from the golden age of Masterpiece Theater this beloved British miniseries entitled "The Duchess of Duke Street" was available on DVD.
This miniseries consists of two series. The first series consisted of 15 episodes and the second series had 16 episodes.
Gemma Jones creates a role in which Louisa Trotter born to the servant class rises from a scullery maid to become a World Class Chef. In time she learns the rules of high society from powerful men. In all this she never loses her Cockney attitude or the Cockney accent. This story is based on the true epics of Rosa Lewis who was a World Class Chef at London's venerable Cavendish Hotel.
Louisa Trotter becomes the hostess and owner of Bentinik's. During her reign before and during World War I through to the roaring 20's we find Louisa dealing with the trials and tribulations of her guests as well as her rather eclectic staff. You will take comfort in the antics of the dear old Major as well as the dog Jack who greets the clientele at Bentinik's.
In the course of the miniseries, we see Louisa's story including an affair with the Prince of Wales, an unhappy marriage and monetary problems. Also along the way she has to deal with an out of wedlock birth and deal with the death of her one and only true love.
Through thick and thin Louisa maintains the proper British stiff upper lip. Gemma Jones is masterful. Great Series! Six Stars!! No Problem!!!

If you enjoyed the portrayal of the class system during the early 1900's, this saga will "knock your knickers off." As in Upstairs/Downstairs, the main story is made up of a central cast of characters with various sub-stories offering "stand alone" episodes. This series had many more characters than Upstairs/Downstairs because it was set in a private residential hotel, allowing a full range of people to enter the series then leave at the conclusion of a particular episode, either showing up in a later episode or disappearing... POOF!!!

Thoughtfully cast, designed, written and acted. Not a snooty piece of literature, it is the backbone of British TV entertainments.

I enjoyed every minute.

Nobody did drama like the BBC in the 1970s. Upstairs Downstairs, The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (which is not and should be available on DVD), The Pallisers, Edward the King, and Lillie are the gold standards for TV drama. The Duchess of Duke Street is one of the best.

Gemma Jones is superb as the hard-working, irascible and generous Louisa Trotter, whose single minded goal is to become the best cook in England and takes a job assisting the chef de cuisine at a great London house. She refuses to be distracted by superfluities such as the French chef's insistance that women cannot cook, the unwelcome attentions of the son of the house, and an unfortunate marriage brought about by pressure from the Prince of Wales. Time and time again, Louisa turns bad luck into opportunity and succeeds through determination and hard work.

Though Louisa faces devastating setbacks, she perserveres and creates an amazing and unconventional life surrounded by colorful characters and peppered with sparkling events and heartbreak. From the beginning, she insists on being independent and is fiercely loyal to her friends. This independence and loyalty as well as her cooking skills make for unforgettable stories within Louisa's story. I sat down to watch DDS 1 and 2 over the holiday weekend for the first time since they originally aired on PBS, and it's just as fresh and wonderful as the first time I saw it. Gemma Jones' amazing Louisa effortlessly carries the two series, though she is supported by excellent actors and, as always, the BBC's costuming, sets and props are flawless.

The story of Rosa Lewis, the real Louisa, is just as charming and colorful as told in The Duchess of Jermyn Street, which is well worth reading for fans of these two series. Edwardian society's excesses during the last days of the British Empire as well as its struggles to adjust to shifting conditions brought about by war and depression are of never ending fascination to me. The Duchess of Duke Street is the perfect antidote for 21st century tedium, and if nothing else, watching Louisa create all her dishes from scratch makes one appreciate modern kitchen appliances!

ETA: WOO-HOO!! The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes IS available on DVD, as of September. Yay!

Simply, this series (along with "Lillie", another BBC production) is arguably the best series for television I have ever seen. Painstakingly produced, it captures the rapt attention of watchers with an endless variety of interests. Within a fascinating story, it offers, wit, humor, politics, history (as well as "historical anecdote"), and burgeoning open sexuality against a background of semi-biographical human strife and struggle which never fails to draw me in and hold me. Watching it takes many, many hours, yet I find myself watching the entire series every few years, observing a new aspect and enjoying myself again. And always, once again, I am off to research both the era and the persons who lived the story represented by this enthralling piece. While I am not always a great BBC fan, I find that this remains the work for television I admire and enjoy most.

After quite a few years, I was given the entire CDs of Duchess of Duke Street as a birthday present. I knew that I had not seen all of the Episodes when it was presented on Masterpiece Theatre years ago. I just love the progress of the story and how it related to life in England and to the individuals involved with Mrs. Trotter and her progression in society. Most of all, I loved the honesty and caring person Mrs. Trotter was, despite the many trials and troubles she endured. I also thought that Charlie was a most decent and honorable person despite his station in society. I believe the actress who played the part was magnificent as was the actor who played Charlie.
Georgina M. Rowan

Love, love, love the Duchess. Enjoyed every minute of this series, hated to see it end. Made me wish I'd lived in that time period and known the woman who was the real Duchess in this series.

BBC at it's best.