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Interesting kiss at the abbey, plus the content of that letter
that edith was reading. All that and more coming up right now on
"manor of speaking." ‚ô™‚ô™ ‚ô™‚ô™ ‚ô™‚ô™ ‚ô™‚ô™ [00:02:43]
>> good evening and welcome to "manor of speaking," where we're
going to dissect the episode of "downton abbey" you just saw.
We'll be taking your comments and thoughtss also. You can
visit us on facebook at "manor of speaking" page or how about
on twitter, hashtag mos or manor speak. We have your thoughts,
our studio audience and our panel of experts. We start off
with wonderful and talented st. John flynn is here. >> Good
evening, good evening. >> Super star stylist and beauty expert
now with urban retreat, the one and only michael kemper. >> You
may have seen our next guest in the new york times or time
magazine, editor of xconomy texas angela shah. And the
always knowledgeable and entertaining, the lovely helen
mann. [ Cheers and applause ] >> they are here to share ideas and
thoughts on what happenod tonight's show. Before we get
into all that, we got to remind you what just happened on the
show. We'll take a look back at this episode of "downton abbey"
and a thing that is our newspaper, pay attention to the
headlines, it's time for the grantham gazette. ‚ô™‚ô™ ‚ô™‚ô™
>> congratulations, a place at the cooking class. That means
alford will say goodbye to downton. Mr. Carson is a hard
nut to crack, mrs. Hughes to the rescue and mr. Mosley gets the
job and comes home. Poor edith worry body mr. Grantham. There
is news, news she's pregnant. Uh-oh. In other relationship
news, it's date night for the bates, but a snooty maitre d' is
not keen on serving their kind. Cora to the rescue and he is put
in his place gently and the bates are served. Back at
masterpiece mystery plot line, isabelle finds what she thought
the gardener had stolen. She has apologized to the gardener and
rehired him. Back at the abbey, rosa arranges for the jazz band
to play for robert's birthday. The singer jack is black, but
they come to terms with it. Rose perhaps most of all, when she's
seen by mary kissing jack after the party. Oh, that girl. Mary
has her hands full with arrival of the government inspectors.
Mr. Napie r, an old friend and mr. Blake, a socialist who seems
to have issues with the manor house way of life. This could
spell trouble. [00:05:28] [ Cheers and applause ] >> yes, it
could spell trouble, it could spell other things. We're
curious what you think, being it is super bowl sunday we thought
the poll question should reflect that. This week's question is
which "downton abbey" inspired ad would you most want to see,
a, the magical mixer; b, pure pork sausage; dr. Clarkson's 80%
full proof medical elixir; and jack ross' greatest hits. If you
have a choice go to our website, houston dot org slash manor
speak. We will have the answer at the half-hour. 80%, you get
it? All right. Something else we'll definitely be winning
since that flopped. What did it say, we gave it away in the
headline in the grantham gazette. What does it say in the
letter that edith got? If you didn't pause your machine or
didn't catch it or can't read, the answer is "i am writing to
confirm my findings of our recent consultation, in that
your signs and symptoms are consistent with those of the
first trimester of pregnancy." I look forward to being of future
assistance to you. >> Poor edith. >> She's pregnant,
people. Edith is pregnant and he's nowhere to be found. That's
an old story, now isn't it? >> St. John, thoughts on that? >>
It doesn't say she is pregnant. >> Says consistent with
pregnancy. >> And what other conditions would that be
consistent with? >> I'm not a medical doctor, however -- >>
growth or something. >> Nah. >> Gives the writers a way out. >>
What do you snng >> I agree, although it kind of fits. Edith
can't be happy, it's not part of the story. >> Edith is the whole
episode, michael. >> I think it only takes one, i think she's
pregnant. [00:07:30] >> Oh, michael has been sitting on that
one, I'm sure. >> What is interesting, which is worse, is
it sybil marrying the chauffeur, lady mary or edith getting
pregnant? >> Right. >> It is covering all the bad things. >>
The wonderful family raised four daughters, one died, has a dead
man in her bed before marriage, not sure you should have one
after marriage either. You have one who gets pregnant out of
wedlock and one marries below her class. I think in this show,
that is the most upsetting. >> I agree. >> Marrying below the
class. The others you can hide. >> It can happen, but to have it
out of wedlock, the baby not having all of that. >> They did
the whole ethel the maid, who got pregnant by major and gave
the baby away. They have done that line, it is interesting
they introduce it again, especially edith is being
developed both as a character and as a person. It will be
interesting to see how she handles whatever they do to her
now. >> She's looking better this season. >> She looks a lot
better. >> You got on that one. You are excited. >> She looks,
the dowedy look is over, thank god. >> But she's always
wimpering. >> No, she's not. >> She's a victim. >> She's not. >>
I will read this, come to this side. The other thing that is
interesting, there is a lot of love in the air this time. We
had jimmy getting a little aggressive with ivy. >> Uh-huh.
>> Thoughts on that? Too aggressive? >> Well, ivy thought
it was. >> She obviously did, but you know why, I'm setting
this up to where I'm going now. You have to know the movie they
went to it see to understand that aggression, I think. They
went to see the movie "the sheik," what was the story
behind that? What made that movie pivotal? We will tell you
in history continue1. ‚ô™‚ô™ ‚ô™‚ô™ [00:09:44] >> silent
screen star rudolph valentino thought he had arrived when he
starred in this film, one of the first films to ever make a
million dollars. Soon he was back to playing bit parts, all
that changed when he switched studios and was cast as lead of
"the sheik," co-starring agnes. Based on romance novel by edith
maud hall. The film was tamer in romantic depiction from the
novel. The story followed sheik portrayed by valen tlt tinowho,
selects lady dianna to become his wife. Lady dianna is
resistant at first, but the sheik wins her heart. Valentino
is the star and cata puts his career into iconic status,
making him the first male movie star sold on sex appeal. The
sheik became so popular it transformed the words meaning
from arabic elder to a young man on the prowl. It led to the
sequel "son of sheik," valentino played the sheik and his son.
The success of the sheik spawned over the years including elvis
presley's film. The sheik is mos cot of hollywood high school.
That is history 101. [ Cheers and applause ] >> so see,
basically what the movie was telling poor jimmy, be
aggressive and win the woman you love. He went to follow. I think
jimmy is okay. >> I think -- >> no, no, not. >> Helen doesn't
agree. >> He made a point to tell her he wanted something in
return for what he spent on her. A movie? Uh-huh. >> I did for
you, and now -- >> exactly. This is not nice. >> Yeah. Still the
movie set him up for it. If you want it, go after it and take
it. >> It is not all his fault. >> We will leave that alone.
What we want to let you know, our studio audience filled us in
to let us know it is possible to have other symptoms from other
illnesses, we have a doctor in the house tonight. You know what
else there is in the house? A butler. He brings your
communications via our internet. Hello, mr. Rogers. [00:11:58] >>
Good evening, my lord. >> We were talking about product. What
do you have for me? >> I have tweets, my lord. >> Thank you.
>> Before you wander off, we were talking about prada,
anything you would like to take to mark snet >> I have no
possessions, my lord, you own everything. >> Well, trained.
Let's hear it for mr. Rogers, everyone. [ Cheers and applause
] >> what do you do. Our first tweet, can't remember anna and
bates ever go og a date and visits in prison don't count. >>
Oh. >> We're getting a groen on that one. >> Anna gone again.
Ringing the bell is so 1921. >> What is this with the gong? In
the other seasons we never had it, now the gong, my lady. What
is that about? >> That was -- you have an hour before dinner.
>> Why did we never hear it before? >> They just bought it.
>> All right. >> Five-minute warning. >> That is right. >>
Another tweet, why doesn't tom just go back to ireland, instead
of all the talk? >> Tom just can't go back to ireland -- >>
he's sort of wanted. Terrorism. >> They had to work the deal to
get him to england and he would be safe if he stayed at the
house. That is not an option for him. He can't run back, what do
we think about poor tom? He's becoming toor tom. >> I think he
processed too much. He likes it, he's used to it. >> No, no, he's
delightful. >> This is home. >> I think tom also has in mind not
just his own position, but what will be the position of his
daughter. >> We have talked about inheritance, what does
become of the family structure? Is she anything? Because -- >>
she would be an heir, no doubt. >> Mary's son would take
everything. [00:13:59] >> Yes. I don't think she's got a formal
role in the hierarchy. Being part of the family and if
grantham wants to stay on. >> She has a right to live in the
house forever and be taken care of by the family. >> I would
leave that behind, wouldn't you? >> We have other comments, other
things happened in the show. There was the whole
conversation, which I thought was very touching and sweet,
about love between mary, tom and isabelle. >> Yes, that was a
beautiful scene, gentleness and sweetness that was very
touching. >> I thought it was great that they, obviously they
loved and they should have been grateful they found a great
love, lots of people never find that. >> Right. >> Aren't we
lucky. >> Yes, I thought because they had each experienced it. >>
They end today with mary smiling about it, instead of mary being
sad about, she could see the good in there. >> I think also,
it helps to solidify tom within the family. >> Uh-huh. >> That
is true, too. Talking about the house and who would live there
and have rights to live there. We have the opportunity to speak
with lady canava, and she lives at high clear castle, the house
they used for "downton abbey," that is her sitting room, the
dining room you see on the show. She has a new book out about
lady catherine, the earl and real "downton abbey." We thought
we would ring her up across the pond. ‚ô™‚ô™ ‚ô™‚ô™ >> hello,
lady. >> Hello there. >> A pleasure to have you back with
us again. >> Thank you very much for asking me. >> I will tell
you from seeing the series, the house looks fabulous, as always.
>> It actually looks pretty fabulous today, the sun came out
and I went for a ride on one of my horses at lunchtime. I was
pretty lucky today. >> When you look at it, do you think back
about those who have been there before and look at the house,
such as the folks in your book? >> For sure I do. As well they
planted the trees, which are so beautiful. The trees my husband
and I have planted today are maybe 10 foot high, but it's
going to stay 150 years and they will look something like you see
on television. You do, you get a wonderful sense of continuity.
[00:16:12] >> Now last year when we talked, you were entertaining
us with wonderful stories of lady elmina, now we're talking
about lady catherine, you found another rich history to share
with us. >> That was amazing, her story, IT IS A STORY OF 20s,
OF Parties, of royalty. There is a scandal, as well, and a
beautiful american girl. There we go, wasn't I lucky. >> An
interesting fact about the house that I didn't realize, in world
war ii it was a place for american airmen. >> Well, it did
actually and children. Yeah, there is general passing to it,
I found amazing not bad. >> How do you find history? Where do
you search it out? >> There is an archive room and there is a
couple of rooms and there is kind of things which sort of
slightly scattered, which I sort of nose around and see where it
leads me and many letters of people have written and
regaining different -- my husband's grandfather with their
memory of what it was to work here in the '20s and '30s and
that was my piece of luck, i found some wonderful letters
from gladys the house maid, she would come to the gallery and
look over and see the beautiful women, the duchesses, actresses,
admiring the gowns and the champagne. You really got a
feeling what it was to live there. >> We hear there is
another season of "downton abbey," will there be another
book from you? >> Yes, I'm trying, starting with a couple
books at the moment. I can't decide what to do, I'm pushing
both books forward. I'm doing a book at the moment, which I've
been working on, which is I'm taking it to the cast and he
will dining at the real "downton abbey." I'm doing stories of the
shoots that went out today or in the past and how we cooked and
the anecdotes and we had to look after the house, what we used to
care for it. There is a different story from the cricket
in july and cricket lunches, recipes and anecdotes scattered
throughout it. There is a lot there and I'm trying to figure
out what to do and lots of photographs, that i haven't been
able to share. [00:18:25] >> We hope next year at the next
season, we're back on the air and you'll be able to tell us
about a new book. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much, lady. >>
Thank you so much. [ Cheers and applause ] >> friendly visit
with our friend. Now as we always say, we are interested in
what you have to say. Join us on facebook or twitter or come and
be in the live studio audience. Get tickets by going to houston
pbs. We have live studio audience. Mr. Rogers relocated
there. What do you have? >> A question from lady norra, my
lord. >> Good evening. My question, we all love edith --
>> well, some more than others. >> Most of us. I was very happy
she had found love, but then at last episode michael seemed kind
of shady, really cheating the other man at cards, I can't
remember his name. Now he disappears, was he deceiving her
from the get go, was he trying to get back at the family? Is
there some shady past besides just wife in an asylum? >> First
of all, I will react, she thought she found love. She
found love for one night so far we know. The question is what
was his real, who is he beyond -- we know he was a successful
businessman. He had built up quite a newspaper business and
he was running that. There is question, what did she sign off,
where did he go, what is going on? >> Financial difficulty, as
well. >> What did she sign? That will come back to haunt her. >>
The fact he was a card shark who could outshark a shark, that is
something. >> Yeah. >> To america with wife that
supposedly in an asylum. >> He's gone with a crazy woman. >>
Interesting plot. >> Edith is, if she marries him, marrying
below her class? >> She would. She would be lucky to get
married at all at this point. The other thing to keep in mind
is that grayson doesn't know she's pregnant, his business
can't find him. As we heap dirt upon him, remember he doesn't
know this thing, we can't be mad at him for that. [00:20:42] >>
What is the end game, i wonder? If he wants money, he should
mary tallory into the family first, what does he want with
her if he's run off with the wife. >> Few more episodes. We
will find out that question. >> Question from lady beverly, my
lord. >> My question is, everyone seems so surprised to
see jack the singer arrive at downton, i was just wondering
what was happening racially in england at that time with
african americans? >> Britain was still a very heterogenous
society, no, homogenous site. We had the colonies, so there was a
strata of society that was used to being around people of color,
but there weren't that many people of color living in
britain at that time. The great waves of immigration STARTED IN
THE LATE '50s. >> '50s AND '60s. >> So there weren't a lot of
people of color for the good old white english. >> Exposure in
the military, but the average man on the street would have had
no exposure at all. >> You have talked about this before, I
think it is a little americanization, they are going
into the racial thing. Though you talked about that before. >>
We have been seeing things change around the abbey this
year, we have seen it with the characters that is come in, but
they have been going out and changing their look. We thought
in our behind the scenes package this week we'd look at costumes
and the set. ‚ô™‚ô™ ‚ô™‚ô™ >> it's one of the major
ingredients, appeal of the show, the look of the clothes. >> We
sat down at the beginning to talk about which year we're now
in, what the changes would be, sometimes julian wants to make
narrative point of change of costume. Otherwise we discuss
how we want the character to be reflected in what they are
wearing. [00:22:53] >> We had a fun minute in season three when
edith goes to the editor office and they whipped up this dress
where I had like a tie, a business tie and I loved it
because it sort of pushing the idea of going to work and edith
had her vision of that. >> The hemlines were rising for the
women, it didn't change for men much. They get dress envy
sometimes. >> The production design is critical. I think when
you work with a good production design he is a big partner. We
wanted movement, we wanted very much to have move in corridors
and gaps. Not too many doors out there, you can get the camera
through and people through and see that busy life out there
which keeps the people with what they are accustomed to. [ Cheers
and applause ] >> oh, we're still here discussing jimmy and
what went on there, we saw his picture. Okay. We have some is
time for some more tweets f. Mr. Rogers has some for us. >> Yes,
my lord. >> Thank you, sir. >> I don't think I'm supposed to call
him sir. Mr. Rogers, okay, last time nappier brought someone to
down tlt ton, he ended up dead in mary's bed. He brought mr.
Panuk to the house. That didn't turn out good. I don't know. If
I were mr. Bates, I would be worried right now. >> As far as
mr. Blake is concerned, starting to see a different side of mary.
Mary is coming out to be one tough cookie. >> She was before.
She was a tough cookie. >> I agree. She's in business now.
It's not just about the social thing. I think there will be an
affair there. >> Is that what you are thinking? >> Absolutely.
>> So you have seen them shifting business there and now
they are trying to get into pigs, trying to become their own
industry. How does that relate to what is going on? [00:24:59]
>> Well, it is interesting, we have problem with oil
investment. Will we have a texas connection? I don't know. The
american side of the family made a bad oil bet. We'll see what
happens with that and whether he's looking to england to bail
him out. >> That could be switching around. >> Has
spindletop already happen? Ed >> it's just happened. The oil
business, crazy wild west thing. It is interesting connection. >>
Another interesting thing is this question from our tweets.
Is it a considered bad luck to toast with water? Hash tag anna
and bates, they toast with water. >> It looked like wine.
>> I was curious about that. Everyone said it was clear. >>
No, slightly, it was wine. >> If it was water, that would imply
bad luck and damnation. I don't know if that was foreshadowing.
No one is with me and my thoughts today. I'm trying here.
>> I think it was wine. >> Whoever sent this tweet. Adjust
the color on your tv. There you go. >> I did like date night,
what did you think? >> It was a lovely idea. >> I thought it was
great. Again, very definite with the costume, not another lady in
the entire restaurant had a hat. >> Oh, good. >> Very to me very
definite about if their clothing setting them apart, even before
the snotty manager. >> Anna was wearing a day dress. >> The
question that came to mind, even if bates and anna had gone out,
would they have gone to the same establishment that lady cora
would have been at? >> Well, there was nothing stopping them.
>> It was a hotel, wasn't just a restaurant. They had gone to the
hotel restaurant. >> Right. Lady cora said she was going to this
dinner at the hotel. There was a slight question when she was
getting dress body how to dress. [00:27:04] >> Wait, hold, hold.
Since you mention cora and baxter. Don't say anything what
you just heard here. Excuse me, how is that going to go over? >>
Cora is clueless about what goes on downstairs. >> Is that what
you think? >> She showed wonderful color when she came
and spoke to anna and bates. >> We can wonder about color, but
right now, we will find out the poll results. We're at the end
of the show. Being super bowl sunday which "downton abbey"
super bowl ad would you want to see? Tom and mary, the doctor,
the record, it was...Magical mystery. I would love to see
that on the super bowl. Anyway, that brings us to the end of
this episode, again, we come with all these notes what we
want to talk about and never get to them. We want to thank angela
shah and st. John flynn for joining us. On the other side,
michael and helen, thank you both. >> Thank you. >> Thanks to
you for watching. Don't forget to come back here next week for
another episode and coming up right now it is the season
finale of sherlock. Watch that and come back and join us next
week for another "downton abbey." Bye-bye.