"Downton Abbey" Season Two DVD / Blu-ray Feb. 7th - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-07-2012, 03:17 AM

Last season opened with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, which had dire consequences for Downton Abbey.

The new season picks up in the middle of another disaster, World War I, which affected every aspect of life in England, accelerating the social change that was already transforming an age-old system of class and privilege.

As the Great War rages across Europe, discord is sown even into the serene Yorkshire countryside. Simmering tensions behind the gates of Downton Abbey are beginning to come to a boil as the men and women of Downton do their part on both the front lines and the home front.

What's more, the brutality and intensity of war seem to inflame more familiar passions - love, loss, blackmail, and betrayal - leaving family and staff alike to struggle in an ever-changing world, against a host of new demons.

Special Features:

- "House to Hospital":

This eight-minute bonus feature briefly recaps where viewers left the house, a grand venue for evening soirees and garden parties.

It is now 1916, times have changed and so has the house. Viewers are given a closer look at the changes that take place within the Downton house and shown how news of war impacts life at Downton and the lives of those that live there.

In "House to Hospital," viewers see how Downton is physically changed into a convalescent home and what this means in terms of the social changes taking place at that time.

This special feature delves into the archives of Highclere Castle (which is Downton Abbey in the series) to see how houses of this period offered themselves to the war effort.

Interviews:

Alastair Bruce (historical advisor
Julian Fellowes
Lady Carnarvon (lives at Highclere Castle)
Donal Woods (production designer)
Hugh Bonneville
Elizabeth McGovern
Jessica Brown-Findlay
Michelle Dockery
Laura Carmichael
Jim Carter
Phyllis Logan
Rob James-Collier

- "Romance in a Time of War":

This 13-minute special feature takes a look at the relationships that blossom in this series and why the war was a catalyst to love. The main focus is on: Branson and Sybil, Bates and Anna, Mary and Matthew, and William and Daisy.

Interviews:

Julian Fellowes
Dan Stevens
Michelle Dockery
Laura Carmichael
Allen Leech
Jessica Brown-Findlay
Joanne Froggatt
Brendan Coyle
Sophie McShera
Thomas Howes
Maria Doyle Kennedy
Zoe Boyle
Iain Glen

- "Fashion and Uniforms":

This 11-minute bonus feature takes a detailed look at costumes.

Costume designer Susannah Buxton takes us on a detailed journey through the changing fashions of 1916. Viewers get an inside look at how the war has impacted fashions and of course introduced military uniforms to the wardrobe. Interviews with the cast explain how each of the key costumes comes into play.

"Fashion and Uniforms" also explores the nature and role of uniforms, and the etiquette involved in their use. The feature shows the changing fashions - talking with both make-up and costume teams about the arrival of "the hobble skirt," new hairstyles, and the curling irons that were introduced at the time.

Interviews:

Susannah Buxton (costume designer)
Anne 'Nosh' Oldham (make-up designer)
Jessica Brown-Findlay
Hugh Bonneville
Dan Stevens
Rob James-Collier
Elizabeth McGovern
Alastair Bruce (historical advisor)

02-07-2012, 03:17 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	"Downton Abbey" Season Two DVD / Blu-ray Feb. 7th Last season opened with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, which had dire consequences for Downton Abbey. The new season picks up in the middle of another disaster, World War I, which affected every aspect of life in England, accelerating the social change that was already transforming an age-old system of class and privilege. As the Great War rages across Europe, discord is sown even into the serene Yorkshire countryside. Simmering tensions behind the gates of Downton Abbey are beginning to come to a boil as the men and women of Downton do their part on both the front lines and the home front. What's more, the brutality and intensity of war seem to inflame more familiar passions - love, loss, blackmail, and betrayal - leaving family and staff alike to struggle in an ever-changing world, against a host of new demons. Special Features: - "House to Hospital": This eight-minute bonus feature briefly recaps where viewers left the house, a grand venue for evening soirees and garden parties. It is now 1916, times have changed and so has the house. Viewers are given a closer look at the changes that take place within the Downton house and shown how news of war impacts life at Downton and the lives of those that live there. In "House to Hospital," viewers see how Downton is physically changed into a convalescent home and what this means in terms of the social changes taking place at that time. This special feature delves into the archives of Highclere Castle (which is Downton Abbey in the series) to see how houses of this period offered themselves to the war effort. Interviews: Alastair Bruce (historical advisor Julian Fellowes Lady Carnarvon (lives at Highclere Castle) Donal Woods (production designer) Hugh Bonneville Elizabeth McGovern Jessica Brown-Findlay Michelle Dockery Laura Carmichael Jim Carter Phyllis Logan Rob James-Collier - "Romance in a Time of War": This 13-minute special feature takes a look at the relationships that blossom in this series and why the war was a catalyst to love. The main focus is on: Branson and Sybil, Bates and Anna, Mary and Matthew, and William and Daisy. Interviews: Julian Fellowes Dan Stevens Michelle Dockery Laura Carmichael Allen Leech Jessica Brown-Findlay Joanne Froggatt Brendan Coyle Sophie McShera Thomas Howes Maria Doyle Kennedy Zoe Boyle Iain Glen - "Fashion and Uniforms": This 11-minute bonus feature takes a detailed look at costumes. Costume designer Susannah Buxton takes us on a detailed journey through the changing fashions of 1916. Viewers get an inside look at how the war has impacted fashions and of course introduced military uniforms to the wardrobe. Interviews with the cast explain how each of the key costumes comes into play. "Fashion and Uniforms" also explores the nature and role of uniforms, and the etiquette involved in their use. The feature shows the changing fashions - talking with both make-up and costume teams about the arrival of "the hobble skirt," new hairstyles, and the curling irons that were introduced at the time. Interviews: Susannah Buxton (costume designer) Anne 'Nosh' Oldham (make-up designer) Jessica Brown-Findlay Hugh Bonneville Dan Stevens Rob James-Collier Elizabeth McGovern Alastair Bruce (historical advisor)