Upstairs, Downstairs, a timeless period drama that predates Downton Abbey and the BBC's Pride and Prejudice by decades, is still held up as one of the best. The show may not ring a bell for younger fans, but it was a global sensation and its influence shines most clearly in Downton Abbey.
Similar Themes, Different Eras
As the definitive period dramas of their respective eras, Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey share themes and even the same time period. Both are generational sagas about a well-to-do family and their servants against a backdrop of sweeping social change. Upstairs, Downstairs chronicled the turbulent lives of the aristocratic Bellamy family and their domestic staff in the early 1900s, spanning three decades across World War 1, World War 2, and the roaring twenties through to the Great Depression.
A Groundbreaking Production
The BAFTA award-winning ITV production set the gold standard for costume drama. Upstairs, Downstairs first aired in 1971 and ran for five years, predating Downton Abbey by a full 50 years. Nevertheless, the two series diverge in several significant respects. What's immediately obvious is the difference in production value. Upstairs, Downstairs' understated aesthetic will strike viewers as either charmingly nostalgic or off-puttingly low budget, depending how you see it. The scale and setting of Downton is grand and an essential part of the show. The Bellamy family live in a London townhouse, a world away from the Crawley family's opulent country manor, which became a central character in its own right.
Fans Weigh In
Fans have been comparing the two for many years now. In the ongoing online debate of which is best, one person said: 'They are very different shows from very different eras (70s vs 2010s). I loved Upstairs/Downstairs when it aired. I love DA. I don't think a show from 40 years ago should be compared to a modern one.' In contrast, another said: 'I like Downton Abbey better, but Upstairs, Downstairs is the better show. Julian Fellowes blatantly copied a few things from UD.'
In defence of both period dramas, a third wrote: 'Upstairs Downstairs, which first aired in the early 1970s, was probably the first show to get seriously into the lives of BOTH the servant and the family. Neither group were an after thought or subplot but equally important and intertwined.'
'If you have not watched Upstairs, Downstairs you owe it to yourself to check it out. I am too young to recall its original run but my parents and their generation were utterly enthralled with the show. Later on, though, I did watch it all and loved every second of it.'
'It takes a bit of getting used to, because as it it was shot from 1971 to 1975 the lighting, and the photography all resemble those of a soap opera of its era. But the acting, the writing, costumes, and the set designs are peerless!'
Upstairs, Downstairs is available to watch on ITVX.
