Best Costume Dramas (Part Two)

Here in the second instalment of our continuing series on the best costume dramas ever made, we take another look at some of the greatest examples of this classic genre which are well worth a watch.

Upstairs Downstairs

Before Downtown Abbey there was Upstairs Downstairs, and the original series of this much loved drama ran between 1971 and 1975 in a 68 episode run. The series, which is set in a large town house in London, tells the story of the servants of the house downstairs and the family of the house upstairs, and introduced audiences to a variety of memorable characters, including the enigmatic Mr Hudson.

The popular drama also became a landmark series in its own right, thanks to its rather insightful take on the changing social dynamics that occurred during the early 20^th century.

The Remains of the Day

No film does understated drama quite like the 1993 costume drama The Remains of the Day. This film is a poignant tale of loyalty and missed chances, and features a stand out performance from Anthony Hopkins as a butler who dedicates his life to service, only to realise too late how misguided his loyalties had been.

North and South

This 2004 BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel of the same name has plenty of heart and substance too. Unlike a number of other costume dramas focused on this era, the series has an intriguing element of social critique. The issue of workers’ rights are a central part of the story, which is set against the backdrop of Victorian England’s industrial north.

Jane Eyre

Throughout the years, there have been a number of adaptations of Charlotte Bronte’s acclaimed novel Jane Eyre. However, the best of these by far has got to be the BBC’s 2006 production, which perfectly captures the timeless appeal of its source material. The series benefits greatly from the performances of Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson, who embody their respective characters of Mr Rochester and Jane Eyre perfectly and are simply magnificent.

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