Gonna miss 'Downton Abbey'? Fill the void with these 5 older shows

March 4, 2016 at 12:00AM
Gordon Jackson as butler Angus Hudson in “Upstairs, Downstairs.”
Gordon Jackson as butler Angus Hudson in “Upstairs, Downstairs.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

"Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971-75): (above) Spy games and sordid love affairs bring disorder to the house in this edgy phenomenon based on the maid's memoirs that inspired "Downton."

"Brideshead Revisited" (1981): Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud popped by to add class to this adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel.

"A Room With a View" (1985): James Ivory and Ismail Merchant took on E.M. Forster's novel about women trying not to melt under repression and the snobbish airs of Daniel Day-Lewis.

"The Remains of the Day" (1993): Anthony Hopkins makes Mr. Carson look downright progressive as a loyal butler. The film was nominated for eight Oscars.

"Manor House" (2003): Hoping to capitalize on the rising popularity of reality TV, this British export challenged an upper-class family and volunteer servants to imagine life in an Edwardian mansion.

about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

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