Downton Abbey: The Movie has had a brilliant opening way above expectation in terms of box office. The reviews were less effusive, talking of same old, same old and no plot. But the punters clearly just want familiarity and not too much nerve-stretching jeopardy.
It started Principal Photography on 31 August 2018 with a confidently successful Jupiter Pluto Neptune mini-Grand Trine; and a business-like Earth Grand Trine – so it did get off onto the right foot.
Gareth Neame, the producer who suggested Downton Abbey in the first place, oversaw its spectacularly successful television run, and was co-producer of the film, is the fourth generation of a family steeped in the cinema and TV business. He was born 8 March 1967, and in addition to Downton, he brought winners like Spooks, State of Play, Hustle, New Tricks amongst others to the screen.
He has a super-talented chart with a creative Water Grand Trine of a Pisces Sun trine Jupiter in Cancer trine Neptune, formed into a Kite by Sun opposition Pluto Uranus – very much on the cutting edge. He’s got a successful tr Pluto trine his Sun/Jupiter midpoint exactly now as it launches; with tr Pluto moving to form a confident opposition to his Jupiter in 2020/2021 which will push his Grand Trine and life onto a different track. Plus a Solar Arc Jupiter opposition his Sun in 2020 which will also bring a triumph or two, followed in subsequent years by Solar Arc Jupiter conjunct his Pluto and then Uranus – he’ll be on a roll.
Julian Fellowes, the writer of Downton Abbey, 17 August 1949, Cairo, Egypt, is an influential and entertaining Sun Pluto in Leo; with a showbizzy Mars in patriotic Cancer square Neptune and in an exuberant opposition to Jupiter; and a hard-working, communicative Mercury Saturn in Virgo. His Sun is quincunx Jupiter in socially ambitious Capricorn. He’s had an illustrious career winning awards for his screenplay of Gosford Park; and penned many others; and clearly has a special feeling for the aristo lifestyle of bygone days.
I’ve never seen Downton Abbey but can say with certainty that any production involving Dame Maggie Smith is bound to be enchanting. The woman is a goddess.
Absolute perfection in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”. “My gels” in her Edinburgh trill!
Oh I loved her as Jean Brodie, Mrs. Bhali. “Crème de la crème”.
The film was like a comforting cashmere blanket which we all need sometimes and particularly with all this bad news and confusion everywhere
I watched the TV series on DVD back in 2015…was entertaining and held my interest w/o being over-the-top with dry conversation.
You’re so right Marjorie, I’m going to see the film to enjoy beautiful clothes and faces, lovely houses and settings, and an idealised evocation of a lost England. To hell with squalor and dull reality! I can watch those on the news.