In the mid-1970s, US network drama was basically cop shows, doctor shows, and The Waltons--and Upstairs, Downstairs would trounce them at the Emmys year after year. It was such a big deal: Pre-VCR stay-home-on-Sunday-night appointment TV. RIP Jean Marsh, a trailblazer. deadline.com/2025/04/jean... - ThreadSky

markharris.bsky.social • 1 day ago

In the mid-1970s, US network drama was basically cop shows, doctor shows, and The Waltons--and Upstairs, Downstairs would trounce them at the Emmys year after year. It was such a big deal: Pre-VCR stay-home-on-Sunday-night appointment TV. RIP Jean Marsh, a trailblazer. https://deadline.com/2025/04/jean-marsh-dead-upstairs-downstairs-willow-actress-1236367511/

Comments

markharris.bsky.social•1 day ago

You look at Upstairs, Downstairs now, and it's clear the episodes were made on a shoestring--someone slams a door and the wall of the set almost falls down. And the pacing is, by 2025 standards, somewhat...stately. Nevertheless, watch three episodes and you'll be hooked. It streams on Britbox.

jasongacek.me•1 day ago

Will check it out after I finish Ludwig!

johnwall57.bsky.social•1 day ago

She also was great as the "bad guy" in the otherwise forgettable "The Eagle has Landed" --shooting JR in the bargain.

rayanselmo.bsky.social•1 day ago

It's almost like good writing matters.

rjmourinha.bsky.social•1 day ago

And it’s still so much better than Downton Abbey.

johndavismalloy.bsky.social•22 hours ago

It relied not on production values but on acting and writing. It’s also free (with ads) on Tubi.

jakehwest1.bsky.social•11 hours ago

This. I'm rewatching the sequel series (very good and a worthy successor) from 2010' now, and noticed the original is there, too.

parkertron.bsky.social•1 day ago

A very funny, haughty performance by Jean Marsh as Mrs Ferrars in the BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Recommended.

She always worked. A long career. Very marvellous indeed.

melinda-moore.bsky.social•1 day ago

It was wonderful. Loved her. RIP Jean Marsh. (And thanks!)

jgdee.bsky.social•1 day ago

Properly villainous as Queen Bavmorda in Willow.

vinosmax.bsky.social•1 day ago

Memories.

gbeer.bsky.social•1 day ago

Downton Abbey, The Crown, Wolf Hall, Gilded Age etc. etc. All great in their own way. NONE of them exists without Upstairs, Downstairs. What Jean Marsh did was simply amazing.

kafkaesque2024.bsky.social•1 day ago

I rewatched it w/ my parents in the 2000s over cucumber sandwiches & sherry. It was compulsive viewing. Loved it. Jean Marsh was its heart, followed by Mr. Hudson & Richard Bellamy. So sad to hear Ms. Marsh had dementia- like my mom now.

TY for the memories you gave me/us, Ms. Marsh, incl H Elliott

picci0909.bsky.social•1 day ago

Fabulous Actor. Fare thee well and thank you.

bonniegrrl.bsky.social•1 day ago

Such a legend. ❤️

fjyule.bsky.social•1 day ago

Vale Jean Marsh

jfassler.bsky.social•1 day ago

Jean Marsh did one of my favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone, "The Lonely," in which she plays a robot companion to Jack Warden on an asteroid (which is really Death Valley.)

wscotgrey.bsky.social•1 day ago

I’ll be transported back to 14 years old and filled with magic at just the sound of her voice saying “Raziel”, with the perfect lilt of contempt. She was incredible.

awardsconnect.bsky.social•1 day ago

She was also devastatingly funny as Roz in the 9 TO 5 sitcom with Rita Moreno.

cmdrslappy.bsky.social•1 day ago

My first Jean Marsh experience was Return to Oz. She will live on forever in my head-swapping nightmares

ginagalway.bsky.social•1 day ago

My first was her lovely robot on the Twilight Zone episode "The Lonely."

ginagalway.bsky.social•1 day ago

One of the few things I ever sat and watched all the way through with my mother.

athomasson11.bsky.social•1 day ago

The OG Upstairs Downstairs is why I could never get into Downton Abbey. Mr. Hudson would never have allowed the shenanigans occur on his watch.

kafkaesque2024.bsky.social•1 day ago

Mr. Hudson would have kicked the Crawleys out of the castle in indignation and outrage! 😂

He was awesome. But Jean Marsh really stole the show and was its heart. I loved her & loved the show.

athomasson11.bsky.social•1 day ago

I loved Rose and always had a crush on Edward. He was so cheeky!

kafkaesque2024.bsky.social•1 day ago

I had a crush on James. And wanted to hug Mrs. Bridges.

gbeer.bsky.social•1 day ago

Don’t forget Ruby!

kafkaesque2024.bsky.social•1 day ago

Please, can we FORGET Ruby??! 😉

athomasson11.bsky.social•1 day ago

Exactly. None of this “haven’t we gotten past social positions? Let’s be friends.” A much more accurate portrayal of class. Even when Mrs Bellamy was having an affair Hudson was like “you all better keep your mouths shut” to the servants.

kafkaesque2024.bsky.social•1 day ago

Exactly! And he'd never have tolerated impudent shenanigans by the downstairs staff like in Downton. No blackmailing maids, no servants being pushy or presumptuous with the family. Sarah Moffat tried in U/D and didn't fare well.

victorbjohnson.bsky.social•1 day ago

In 1994’s “Fatherland”, Jean Marsh had a small role as Anna von Hagen. She scared me to death. What a performance!

blithedale.bsky.social•1 day ago

Arguably the root of prestige TV in the US and definitely a key force for the solidification of PBS in the 70s

nectar-vam77.bsky.social•1 day ago

May she rest in eternal peace. And our condolences to her loved ones.

bowiegrrl.bsky.social•1 day ago

Just watched The Eagle has Landed with her yesterday. Great actress! Loved her in Cleopatra and Frenzy, two of my fave films too

ilovevt.bsky.social•1 day ago

Masterpiece #pbs #GBH

aduralde.bsky.social•1 day ago

Can’t find it on her IMDb page, but I have a vivid memory of her hosting a weekly compilation of international animated shorts that I would watch on my PBS station in the 70s.

otherjimdonahue.bsky.social•1 day ago

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179025/

kvance.bsky.social•1 day ago

Oh nooooo.
Jean was the Bringer of Joy
😔

helenkennedy.bsky.social•1 day ago

It's still absolutely compulsive viewing. The production values are terrible, like everything in the 70s, but you forget in two minutes. I rewatch that show every couple of years and I never never get tired of it.