Watch 2nd Part here: • Dowager Countess - Bes... PART 1: Maggie Smith/Violet Crawley best moments from the first 4 episodes of series 3. WATCH IN HD. mrlikeandsubscribe
VC: "I'm so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I'm with her, I'm reminded of the virtues of the English." Man: "Isn't she American?" VC: "Exactly." LMAO
Finally, someone who understands that Maggie Smith is reading from a script and not just saying whatever comes to her mind. She and Mrs. Pattmore are my favorite characters, by the way :D
+maret a. I wouldn't be surprised if some of her lines are improvised, especially in tv shows. The thing about actors is that yes they are given a script but it's really their own personality and method to bring those lines to life.
'Edith is beginning her life as an old man's drudge.' and 'he looks as if he is waiting for a beating from the Head Master' just kill me. It's her delivery.
Yes and her expressions too! There is almost always a comedy figure in period dramas. In the televised Pride & Prejudice, Alison Steadman as Mrs Bennet was equally amusing with her histrionics and her sporadic dependence on her smelling salts. Not to mention the bumbling Mr Collins. It all adds to the absolute charm of these dramas!
"Sure she's made of money, and there's only Momma and Uncle Harold to share it when she's gone…" "We can't wait that long… she looks as if she'll bury us all, no we must act no." 😂😂😂
Dowager (to Cora) "I'm so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I'm with her, I'm reminded of the virtues of the English." Matthew "Isn't she American?" Dowager "Exactly." 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀!!!!!!!!!
So, it's official then: The Best Thing about "Downton Abbey" is The One and Only: DAME MAGGIE SMITH!!! And correct me if I'm wrong. But Lady Grantham's facial expressions and her surprised looks remind me of a certain Sheldon Cooper. You know, that stranger than strange guy from "The Big Bang Theory". The two of them are very much alike in that respect. Quite "off this world", but very loveable indeed. So I can see another series coming, wherein Maggie Smith as Lady Grantham plays the mother of this Sheldon Cooper character. And he then obviously plays her son. And then let's see, which of the two can keep a straight face the longest, as they embark on a journey where hilarious dialogues and situations are just around the proverbial corner. And the pitch might very well read as follows: "The Odd Couple" with a bit of "Harold and Maude" thrown in for good measure. I for one would be rubbing my hands with delight if such a belter of a comedy-series would eventually see the light of day. Lady Grantham: "Now put that in your pipe and smoke it!" Sheldon Cooper: "I don't have a pipe, and I don't smoke." Lady Grantham: "But nonetheless, you still manage to be quite one hell of a DRAG."
My favourite show. So well written! Superb acting and Maggie Smith is bae! Her little insults are what give the show a comedic presence! Love it love love it on season 5 right now
Cora had one good comeback that I remember in Season One. I have to paraphrase, but when her husband made some crack about not modernizing the house "like an American" Cora said, "It's true, we don't share your British hatred of comfort." I wish I had a better memory but I think that was the gist of it.
I'm actually looking forward to more scenes with the Dowager and Mary, they're both strong Crawley women who have similar experiences, there's some great material there.
damn. that i don't want to miss! perhaps dame julie andrews, sir ian McKellen could have a scene with Thomas, since he;s openly gay he wouldn't mind that!
While on a whole the dowager is one my favorite characters I was very disappointed with her and Mary in this season. I mean I get it Cora's mom is a little over the top but her her hus bands hard earned money is the only reason Downtown wasn't sold decades ago. Violet and Mary act like her only useful function is as a source of money to be called upon when needed. And as soon as the dowager finds out that Mrs Levinson can't help them in anyway she goes back to being rude and complain to Robert about when she's leaving. And the Mary spoke to her mother about her being an american and not understanding the intracicies of the English aristocracy was very disrespectful. Cora had a point. Why should her brother giveaway half of his fortune to savedownton for a SECOND time. Especially when this a mess entirely of Lord Grantham's making
Kamree Lyons-Chatman I know this comment is really old but it's so on point!! Mary is way too disrespectful to her mother and even her father at times and nobody ever seems to find it necessary to check her. She is allowed to get her own way with everything treating everyone else like dirt. She didn't even respect her husband Matthew and often disregarded his wishes and rights.
You forgot my favorite line -- when she says in re: Shirley MacLaine's character not being "overawed" by the Crowleys: "Was Napoleon overawed by the Bourbons?" That line killed me. I'm still laughing.
She's a Churchill, the Churchills are DIFFERENT. Comment: indeed. One of them turned down Queen Elisabeth when she wanted to create him 1.st duke of London.
PERFECTION Lady Grantham: "Lord Grantham wasn't taken, HE DIED!" That's akin to this so and so "passed" rather than DIED in an obituary. Makes me furious.
Robert: why dwell on that now?" Dowager: because I want the pleasure of saying I told you so..." BEST LINE, (of her's) EVER, I have been known to employ the same tactic; oops! ;)
I love the faces the director shoots at the actors when some funny quotes appear: When I'm with her, I'm reminded of the virtues of the English. . . but isn'tshe American? Exactly . . . .Or When Jimmy and Alfred are put to polish all the silvery: Have you seen Jimmy's face when Carson enters the room?
Proper British Matriarch + Eccentric American matriach = worlds collide and great fun to watch! Especially with Maggie Smith and Shirley McLane as the parts.
Dowager"How much do I owe you?" Edith "A Galleon." Dowager "This is Downton Abbey, not Harry Potter!" For those who don't know, Galleons are the currency at Hogwarts.😀
Different genres. How I Met Your Mother is a comedy... Downton Abbey is a costume drama. Clips like this from the Dowager Countess may be amusing, but she is deadly serious in all of them.
