'Downton Abbey' A Fitting Continuation of Series

*** This is a review that I worked on for the Examiner in October 2019 for the first 'Downton Abbey' film. And make sure to check out the sequel, 'Downton Abbey: A New Era' at the Dietrich! ***

Between 2010 and 2015, the show "Downton Abbey" has maintained a steady viewing audience and everyone who has seen the show really cherished it. After the show's conclusion, there have been rumors of a possible feature film down the road. Now, everyone who has loved the series can now see the world of "Downton Abbey" on the big screen in the eagerly-awaited follow-up feature. In the Focus Features presentation of "Downton Abbey," excitement is high at Downton Abbey when the Crawley family learn that King George V and Queen Mary are coming to visit. As the Crawleys and their staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives, the royal visit will unleash scandal, romance and intrigue at Downton Abbey. Fans will definitely be pleased with the feature film follow-up to the beloved series. The film will really keep everyone who adored the series very entertained. Actress Maggie Smith really steals the show with her witty performance. The costumes from the period are really well-done and elegant. The film also still has the charm that everyone loved about the television series. From beginning to end, the "Downton Abbey" continuation will really keep viewers intrigued with its heart-warming moments and some very funny ones that will really give you a good laugh. Some of the cast include: Hugh Bonneville (Paddington 2) as Robert Crawley, Laura Carmichael (A United Kingdom) as Lady Edith, Jim Carter (Transformers: The Last Knight) as Mr. Carson, Racquel Cassidy as Miss Baxter, Brendan Coyle as John Bates, Michelle Dockery (Non-Stop) as Lady Mary Crawley, Kevin Doyle as Mr. Molesley, Mark Addy (Mary Poppins Returns) as Mr. Bakewell, Imelda Staunton (Finding Your Feet) as Maud Bagshaw, Allen leech (Bohemian Rhapsody) as Tom Brandon, and Maggie Smith (Sherlock Gnomes) as Violet Crawley, among many others. "Downton Abbey" is written by creator Julian Fellowes and directed by Michael Engler (The Chaperone). The original series ended in 2015 after 52 episodes were aired. In April 2016, the creator was considering a film adaptation and the script was distributed to the original cast members the following year. The royal visit of George V to Downton Abbey was based on his real-life visit to Wentworth Woodhouse, a mansion in Yorkshire which was used in the film for the ballroom scenes at Harewood House. Imelda Staunton, who portrays Lady Bagshaw in the film, is married to real life "Downton" actor Jim Carter (who plays Mr. Carson). After the film's release, creator Julian Fellowes and the cast stated that they already have ideas about doing a potential sequel. "Downton Abbey" is rated PG for thematic elements, some suggestive material, and language and has a running time of 122 minutes.