Product Details

• Actors: Jean Marsh, Gordon Jackson, Angela Baddeley, Cathleen Nesbitt, David Langton
• Directors: Bill Bain, Christopher Hodson, Cyril Coke, Derek Bennett, Lionel Harris
• Writers: Alfred Shaughnessy, Anthony Skene
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 7
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 27, 1999
• Run Time: 663 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000JGDT
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,204 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #32 in	Video > Boxed Sets > Television
  #45 in	Video > Television > A&E Home Video
  #54 in	Video > Drama > Television

• This is item 3 in The Upstairs Downstairs Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This seminal British television series is just as enjoyable now as when it first aired in the early 1970s. Richard, Lady Marjorie, and their son James comprise the aristocratic Bellamy family that reside upstairs while their loyal servants maintain the household from downstairs. The series follows the upper-class family's troubles as times change and the ongoing lives of their resilient staff. Clean, clear, and presented in order, the third season's 13 episodes follow the London household through the prewar years (1912-1914).

In these episodes, Hudson (Gordon Jackson) gives notice over James's (Simon Williams) luncheon with his father's typist, Miss Forrest (Meg Wynn Owen), who helps run the household after Lady Marjorie dies aboard the R.M.S. Titanic. Tensions again erupt when another family strives to hire Hudson away and Miss Forrest refuses James's marriage proposal, afraid of a past secret. Former servant Alfred reappears, taking a hostage when Hudson discovers he is wanted for murder, and a French countess is romantically interested in Richard's money until James exposes the truth. James's new wife, Hazel Forrest, resolves a stock-trading scandal, but remains uneasy with her new society position, particularly while fox hunting at Lord and Lady Newbury's country estate. A disregard for class differences nearly ends in disaster during Georgina Worsley's (Lesley-Anne Down) holiday visit, and a casual remark by the Bellamys' footman Edward erupts into a scandal that threatens Parliament's Tory constituency. Rose (Jean Marsh) almost marries an Australian sheep farmer, and James's rocky marriage must survive Hazel's miscarriage. In July 1914, when war looms, James looks to rejoin his regiment to escape his troubled marriage; Mrs. Bridges (Angela Baddeley) has a suitor and two servants, Edward and Daisy, defy the downstairs' rules by falling in love. --Tara Chace

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Upstairs Downstairs: The Third Season, December 13, 1999

By	Josh Hitchens (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The third season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS opens in a midst of social change. It begins with a two part story, MISS FORREST, and A HOUSE DIVIDED, which deal with the tragedy of Lady Marjorie Bellamy perishing on the Titanic. One thing that made Upstairs Downstairs so good was the real life effect. People died and left, and the others in the house struggle to carry on, a theme which runs through this season. It covers the pre war years (1912-1914) in which James meets and marries the secretary, Hazel Forrest, who is one of the best characters that was created. Rose also meets a man whom she intends to marry, and naive but sweet Georgina Worsley also arrives, along with Daisy, a maid who falls in love with Edward. Season three is stronger than the previous installment, partly because of its subject matter of the changing times. James and Hazel's troubled marriage is heartbreaking to watch, as is the Titanic episode. Season Three ends with another two parter, DISTANT THUNDER and THE SUDDEN STORM, which deal with the beginnings of World War One, which would change everything the Bellamy's and their servants believed in. Richard Bellamy sums it up in THE SUDDEN STORM, "This war marks the beginning of the end of everything I've loved and lived for. We'll never be the same again." These two episodes are probably the best of the entire series. This season is one of the best things ever on television, and builds up nicely to the fourth season, not yet on video, which deals with The Great War. Another good episode is GOODWILL TO ALL MEN, which deals with Georgina trying to help Daisy's starving family. WHAT THE FOOTMAN SAW, which shows the beginning of Edward and Daisy's romance, is highly touching. A very highly recommended series.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Hitting their Stride..., May 14, 2002

By	Eve Starr (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Upstairs Downstairs - The Complete Third Season (DVD)

Amazingly enough, I must admit that this series only improves with time. The first two seasons were riveting, but the third had me hooked; I watched every episode nonstop. The character development of James Bellamy is refreshing, as is the new blood introduced by Hazel. I can't wait to get my hands on season four, but I'll just have to be content to savor the first three seasons in the meantime. Why can't current writers and producers get it through their jaded Hollywood skulls that this is the kind of entertainment that most thinking people long for?

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars yet another superb season, July 14, 2003

By	Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Upstairs Downstairs - The Complete Third Season (DVD)

The third season of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS continues the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants of Eaton Place. The time is now 1912, and the Edwardian era is over and the new age of ragtime and the 'flying machine' is on the horizon...

"Miss Forrest" - It is a time of change at Eaton Place. We learn that Elizabeth has moved to America, and James (Simon Williams) has broken off his engagement to Phyllis Kingman. Richard (David Langton) is busy writing a political biography of Lord Southwold, and he has employed the services of Hazel Forrest (Meg Wynn Owen) to help in the assignment. Lady Marjorie (Rachel Gurney) is preparing for a journey to Canada...on the Titanic.

"A House Divided" - The entire house is thrown into shock with the news that Lady Marjorie did not survive the sinking of the Titanic, along with Miss Roberts (Patsy Smart). Richard sinks deep into depression. However, the servants get the shock of their lives when a bedraggled Miss Roberts turns up on the doorstep..

"A Change of Scene" - James is invited for a weekend party at Bunny Newbury's (John Quayle) estate. Hudson (Gordon Jackson) accompanies him in the position of valet, but soon he is caught up in a moral dilemma that will rock his sense of duty.

"A Family Secret" - James, still trying to deal with his mother's death, impulsively proposes to Hazel. However, Hazel tearfully declines the marriage. What is the deep dark secret that prevents her from marrying him?...

"Rose's Pigeon" - Rose (Jean Marsh) gets a huge shock when she discovers ex-footman Alfred (George Innes) on the doorstep, on the run after murdering his male lover..

"Desirous of Change" - Richard is pursued by Countess Lili de Ternay (Angela Browne) who is beautiful but penniless. A touch of romance fills the air as Richard smiles for the first time since the death of his wife. Adding further complications is the new maid Gwyneth (Janet Lees Price) who is a good worker but given to gossip and devious stories.

"Word of Honour" - Richard finds himself in a moral dilemma as he refuses to betray a confidence in the eyes of the law. Once again, Sir Geoffrey Dillon (Raymond Huntley) is called to get the Bellamy's out of trouble.

"The Bolter" - James and Hazel, newly-married, are invited to the Newbury estate for a hunting weekend. James forbids Hazel to take part in the foxhunt, but devious Lady Diana (Celia Bannerman) has other ideas...

"Goodwill to all Men" - It's Christmas, and the entire household is in high spirits. Dowager Lady Southwold (Cathleen Nesbitt) has come for a visit, bringing Lord Southwold's young ward Georgina Worsley (Lesley-Anne Down). Trouble starts brewing when Georgina befriends new maid Daisy (Jacqueline Tong)...

"What the Footman Saw" - Edward (Christopher Beeny) accidentally lets slip some rather-scandalous stories. Refers to events that occurred in "The Bolter".

"A Perfect Stranger" - On her afternoon off, Rose meets handsome Australian sheep farmer Gregory Wilmot (Keith Barron). Romance soon blossoms, but will Rose ever consider leaving Eaton Place in order to marry him?

"Distant Thunder" - Tensions are running high in the Bellamy household. Hazel is in bed recovering from the loss of her baby while James thoughtlessly takes Georgina to a ball, leaving poorly Hazel in the care of Richard.

"The Sudden Storm" - Hazel arranges for the servants to spend the Bank Holiday at the seaside, while World War One looms heavily on the horizon.

Also starring Angela Baddeley, Jenny Tomasin, Joan Benham, Anthony Ainley, Tony Bateman, Arthur Brough, Anthony Dawes, Elisabeth Day, John Flint, Helen Lindsay, Leonard Trolley, Richard Vernon and Valerie White.