Product Description

The BBC miniseries about a cook's rise to hotel proprietess from her humble beginnings as a maid.
Genre: Television
Rating: NR
Release Date: 11-OCT-2005
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23877 in DVD
• Brand: JONES,GEMMA
• Released on: 2005-10-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Dimensions: 1.05 pounds
• Running time: 781 minutes

Amazon.com
From the golden age of Masterpiece Theatre comes this beloved 1976 British miniseries by the creators of Upstairs, Downstairs. Gemma Jones gives a performance for the ages in this rags-to-riches saga that charts the ascendancy of the indomitable Louisa Trotter, who rose from scullery maid to become "the finest cook in London" and Edwardian society's premier hostess. Inspired by the true story of Rosa Lewis, who held court at her renowned Cavendish Hotel, The Duchess of Duke Street is the video equivalent of a good read. Immerse yourself in this lavishly mounted BBC production that impeccably re-creates a bygone era at the turn of the century and captivates viewers with the tragedies and triumphs of Louisa's story, which includes an ill-fated affair with the Prince of Wales, an unhappy marriage, and struggles with bankruptcy and ill health. But Louisa, Cockney accent intact, prevails as the reigning mistress of Hotel Bentinck. --Donald Liebenson

Deseret News
The writing, directing, editing and performances are all first-rate. Like the best British programs, this one is addicting from the get-go, and both seasons are excellent.

Film Monthly
The Duchess of Duke Street evokes comparisons to the grand melodramas of Charles Dickens or Jane Austen with a hearty dash of Upstairs Downstairs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent series...but not a very good quality transfer
Shame that my favorite all-time BBC dramatic series wasn't (apparently) worthy of BBC video doing it up proper.

Although I'm really pleased to finally get this wonderful series on DVD (so far...only Series 1), Acorn Video's transfer quality is patchy to be sure. Episode 6 "For Love Or Money" is very burry.

When you put in a disc, you do not have the "play all" option, either.

You have to view each episode one at a time. That's a bad menu choice.

All in all, I'm happy to have the series, but the quality is not much better than the offical BBC VHS tapes.

An Outstanding British Period Drama!
Produced and co-written by John Hawkesworth (best known for his role as producer and co-writer of Upstairs Downstairs), The Duchess of Duke Street (which was produced between 1978 and 1980) tells the story of Louisa Leyton Trotter, a young Cockney woman from a working-class background with aspirations of becoming the finest cook in London. The series open in 1900, with Louisa landing a job as a cooking assistant to one of London's finest chefs. It's the chance of a lifetime for her, but her outspokenness threatens to be her downfall.

Nevertheless, she indeed rises to become a first-rate and much-sought-after cook and the proprietor of London's exclusive and very expensive Bentinck Hotel on Duke Street. Louisa owes much to Bertie, the Prince of Wales, with whom she has a brief affair. But she owes the bulk of her success to her own hard work and determination. The series spans some 30 years, throughout which we are privy to everything the hotel has to offer--from encounters involving aristocrats to the personal problems of the servants. Of course, it is Louisa's life that is at the forefront, and she must make some tough choices as she deals with crises of her own at both a professional and a personal level.

A feisty and independent young woman, Louisa is more than capable of taking care of herself, and she's played to absolute perfection by Gemma Jones. So convincing is she as Louisa Trotter that it's impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. As a point of interest, the character was based on a real-life individual named Rosa Lewis, a mistress of the Prince of Wales who set up a London hotel called the Cavendish. She died in 1952 and was personally known to John Hawkesworth.

Louisa is joined by a motley group at the hotel. The oldest servant, a butler named Mr. Merriman, came with the hotel when she bought it. He's a perennially wingeing old codger who one expects will keel over at any given moment. Then there's the new doorman, the mysterious Mr. Starr, with his trademark squeaky shoes and fox terrier Fred (upon whose supposedly unerring judgement Starr bases his opinion of potential guests!). Another fixture on the show is the Major (Richard Vernon of Sandbaggers), a decent and well-connected but destitute old war horse for whom the Bentinck has become home. Of course, one mustn't forget Louisa's right hand, the devoted Welsh servant, Mary; or Charlie Tyrrell, Lord Haslemere, a man with a permanent residence at the Bentinck and to whom Louisa owes much. In addition to the regulars, fans of British television will enjoy guest appearances by Robert Hardy (All Creatures), Anthony Andrews (Brideshead Revisited), and Joanna David, amongst others.

In conclusion, the entire series is available on two dvd boxed sets, and it is one of the best period dramas ever produced. Fans of British period dramas in general--of shows like Upstairs Downstairs, for example--are sure to enjoy it. But I'd go so far as to recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating, well-written, and consummately-acted series. This truly is quality entertainment at its very best!

Superb Series
This series is of the same story quality as Upstairs Doiwnstairs but of better technical quality. Enyoyed in our household for repeated viewing. Louisa is a gem of a character,fine details of the period are obvious in the sets and costumes.