The international success of Downton Abbey has led to a revived interest in period dramas, with older programs like The Forsyte Saga being rediscovered by a new generation of fans whose tastes also include grittier fare like Ripper Street. Though often criticized as a form of escapist, conservative nostalgia, these shows can also provide a lens to examine the class and gender politics of both the past and present.In Upstairs and Downstairs: British Costume Drama Television from The Forsyte Saga to Downton Abbey, James Leggott and Julie Anne Taddeo provide a collection of essays that analyze key developments in the history of period dramas from the late 1960s to the present day. Contributors explore such issues as how the genre fulfills and disrupts notions of “quality television,” the process of adaptation, the relationship between UK and U.S. television, and the connection between the period drama and wider developments in TV and popular culture. Additional essays examine how fans shape the content and reception of these dramas and how the genre has articulated or generated debates about gender, sexuality, and class.In addition to Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs, other ... [Read More]

The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria's (Academy Award winner Judi Dench) remarkable rule. When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen's Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.

How the best of them were made, by those who were there As seen on public television "The costume drama remains the greatest of escapes." —Daily Mail (U.K.) Peer behind the ornate clothing, sprawling manors, and addictive story lines that have riveted millions of television viewers. Featuring interviews with the writers, directors, and stars of iconic productions, this series reveals how the often controversial sagas altered the television landscape and launched the careers of many young actors. From 1955’s fanciful Adventures of Robin Hood to 2007’s racy Fanny Hill, costume dramas have toppled taboos and quickened pulses. Programs like Edward & Mrs. Simpson ruffled establishment feathers, while popular series Upstairs, Downstairs and The Forsyte Saga emptied pubs, wrecked social calendars, and forced vicars to revise parish schedules. Narrated by Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters) and seen on PBS, it’s required viewing for any fan of British television. Featuring stars and scenes from Brideshead Revisited; I, Claudius; Pride and Prejudice; The Jewel in the Crown; Poldark; Horatio Hornblower; Elizabeth I; Sharpe; Edward the King; Lillie; Moll Flanders; Doctor Zhivago... [Read More]

Costume dramas such as Chariots of Fire, A Room with a View, Sense and Sensibility, and Shakespeare in Love were vital to the success of British cinema in the 1980s and 1990s. This is the first book-length study of these important films, and the debate about their politics and their meanings, and about their relationship to the heritage industry. It maps the extent of the production trend, and looks in detail at the commercial context in which the films were funded, marketed and exhibited, in both the UK and the USA. There are also extensive case studies of two key films, Howard's End and Elizabeth.

Finally, all the rules of English grammar in one comprehensive book, explained in simple terms.The grammar book for the 21st century has arrived, from the language experts at Farlex International and TheFreeDictionary.com, the trusted reference destination with 1 billion+ annual visits. Farlex brings you the most comprehensive grammar guide yet: all the rules of English grammar, explained in simple, easy-to-understand terms. Over 500 pages of proper grammar instruction—2X more than the leading grammar book! Whether you're an expert or a beginner, there's always something new to learn when it comes to the always-evolving English language. Don't rely on multiple incomplete textbooks that contradict each other—fill in all the gaps in your grammar knowledge with one go-to guide. Only Complete English Grammar Rules gives you key exceptions, common grammar mistakes, thousands of real-world examples, and hundreds of grammar quizzes designed to help you retain what you've learned.With Complete English Grammar Rules, you'll be able to: • Quickly master basic English grammar and tackle more advanced topics.• Properly use every type of noun, verb, and even the most obscure grammar ele... [Read More]

Romance becomes psychodrama in Alfred Hitchcock s elegantly crafted Rebecca, his first foray into Hollywood filmmaking. A dreamlike adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel, the film stars the enchanting Joan Fontaine as a young woman who believes she has found her heart's desire when she marries the dashing aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter (played with cunning vulnerability by Laurence Olivier). But upon moving to Manderley her groom s baroque ancestral mansion she soon learns that his deceased wife haunts not only the home but the temperamental, brooding Maxim as well. The start of Hitchcock's legendary collaboration with producer David O. Selznick, this elegiac gothic vision, captured in stunning black and white by George Barnes, took home the Academy Awards for best picture and best cinematography. TWO-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack - Audio commentary from 1990 featuring film scholar Leonard J. Leff- Isolated music and effects track - New conversation between film critic and author Molly Haskell and scholar Patricia White- New interview with special effects historian Craig Barron on the visual effects... [Read More]

British Cinema Collection: 8 Acclaimed Films

Nothing says classic entertainment like a good, ol' fashioned mystery! Join Sherlock Holmes, Mr. Wong, Dick Tracy, Bulldog Drummond and more as they tackle all kinds of cases in this 50-feature collection. If you've been a fan of Sherlock Holmes til now, here's your chance to be entertained by him and by even more great names in the mystery

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