7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous series!, June 18, 2011
This review is from: The Duchess of Duke Street Season 1 (Amazon Instant Video)
I had to write this review to counteract the other which gave only two stars -- not because it was bad -- but because they loved it and season 2 is not yet available. This really is a fabulous series -- which I watched by DVD on Netflix and I am happy to see it making its way to Amazon. Gemma Jones delivers a strong female lead in a time when women were supposed to keep to the kitchen.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gemma Jones delivers a consummate performance as the "Duchess", August 18, 2011
This review is from: The Duchess of Duke Street Season 1 (Amazon Instant Video)
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 mesmerized 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.
Those who love period dramas will love this series, and not just for the high quality of the performances. 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.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved this show!, October 13, 2011
This review is from: The Duchess of Duke Street Season 1 (Amazon Instant Video)
I watched the complete seasons 1 and 2 on netflix.
This was an amazing, stellar, program.
The acting not only superb, but believable.
I bonded with the main character, felt her pain, anger, sadness, success, joy,disappointment; all emotions she conveyed with excellence!
I strongly recommend.
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