Upstairs, Downstairs (TV Series) Magic Casements (1972) User Reviews

Not to be missed

[lewis-51 · 10/10 · 1 September 2015]

Wow.

With a bit of a lull in late summer 2015, with Mad Men over and a few months to go for Downton to start again (here in the US), my wife and I decided to watch all of Upstairs, Downstairs again. Ten years ago we watched the entire opus, and I wrote then on a review here that the series is the finest thing that's ever been on television. A bold statement. What about now, after so many good series, what would we think?

You can tell that the actors and writers were feeling their way, getting settled in during the first couple shows. The episode previous to this was very good.

Then this one. I vaguely remembered the main plot element, an affair of Marjorie's, but that's all.

Wow. Absolutely superb. It adds to the enjoyment that I'm a fan of Keats and the opera scene that is the backdrop near the end. Profoundly deep, so very real. A pure 10. Not to be missed.

Lady Marjorie takes a 'toy boy'!

[arrival · 8 July 2010]

This was in fact the 'sixth' episode of 'Upstairs, Downstairs' in the series - not the seventh as listed here on IMDb. It was later 'shunted' to episode 'seven' to 'conform' to lotting all the black and white episodes together in one batch - this being made in colour caused problems with continuity - not by story, but by 'viewing' quality. It stood out like a sore thumb between two black and white episodes. However; anyone who is left in any doubt about this can have it confirmed simply by watching the date in the story on the opening 'captions' at the beginning of the episode. It clearly states: 'Summer 1906' - where the preceding episode 'A Cry For Help' (as listed here on IMDb only that is) is in fact four months later in the story, dated: 'October 1906'.

The story 'Magic Casements' would have shocked the viewers even more than it did do, had it been an episode from the second season when everyone had become even more familiar with the characters and their personalities - as it was, it still came pretty much as a 'surprise' for die-hard fans like ourselves who were well into the story and characters - even by this time! Lady Marjorie falls for a handsome young man 'Captain Charles Hammond' young enough to be her son! A thing not unheard of today - but certainly not common back then! He's a friend of her son James (and the same age too!) brought home whilst on leave from India. It's almost 'love at first sight' for the pair, but recalling at the time, it really was a case of; 'will she, or won't she' leave her family, Eaton Place, and indeed the series for good! We had the great fortune to have Rachel Gurney play 'Lady Marjorie' for another six years in the series until 1912 when she went down in 'The Titanic' on her way to visit Elizabeth in America. However; the affair does come back to haunt her a few years later when some love letters turn up! This episode introduces us to the new footman, Edward. He replaces 'Alfred' who left in the previous episode, and went on to remain as part of the staff for the rest of the entire five seasons.

Magic Casements

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 17 September 2022]

Opera is the name of the game. Lady Marjorie has an affair with a young dashing soldier from India, Captain Charles Hammond.

He is a friend of her son James and both share a love of the opera. It leads to a passionate affair with the servants downstairs gossiping about it.

The affair seems to have been spurred with Lady Marjorie disagreeing with her husband over an Education Bill at Parliament. Richard Bellamy plans to vote against it, which might affect his career with the party now they are in opposition.

Over time after an accident at a regatta. It dawns on Richard Bellamy that his wife might be doing more than just watching opera.

I did find hard to fathom that a disagreement over politics was the catalyst for the affair. It might have been better with the children getting older, Richard's party out of government that Lady Marjorie just got bored. A young soldier paying her some amorous attention would be just the tonic she wanted.

I did like the look from Mr Hudson at the end when the Bellamy's reconciled. It would have been hard for the staff to deal with a marriage breakup.