3 reasons for ‘Downton Abbey’ fans to leave the house this month
It’s a great time to be a “Downton Abbey” fan.
Season four is hurtling toward its conclusion in which Lady Mary is murdered by a young Adolf Hitler. (Sorry, I mean in which SPOILER ALERT Lady Mary is murdered by a young Adolf Hitler.)
And three of February’s four weekends boast new movies featuring members of the Crawley family in key roles.
Here’s a look.
What: A group of museum directors, artists, architects, curators and art historians hit the front lines of World War II to rescue thousands of pieces of art looted by the Nazis.
When: Feb. 7
“Downton” Tie-in: Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham) portrays a British academic, fallen on hard times thanks to his fondness for drink, who was so moved by seeing Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child” as a young man that he joins the fight to save it.
Would Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess Approve?: Possibly. She’d likely appreciate the quest to save fine things, and she’s been known to approve of war heroes. But she’d most certainly turn up her nose at all that manual labor and the shame that that much drinking brought to his family.
What: According to press notes, “Set in a mythic New York City and spanning more than a century, ‘Winter’s Tale’ is a story of miracles, crossed destinies and the age-old battle between good and evil.” Whatever that means.
When: Feb. 14
“Downton” Tie-in: Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil) is the female lead. Presumably she’s also part of a “crossed destiny” or two.
Would Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess Approve?: Surely. In all of that spanning of more than a century, Findlay’s character, at least based on the trailers, easily could have rubbed elbows with Lady Sybil.
What: An air marshal (Liam Neeson) gets a text message claiming that a passenger on his transatlantic flight will be killed every 20 minutes until the sender receives $150 million.
When: Feb. 28
“Downton” Tie-in: Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) plays a flight attendant.
Would Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess Approve?: Hardly. Forget the fact that she’s — gasp! — serving other people. In the trailer, Dockery unleashes what looks like a Superman punch on a passenger. Not very ladylike at all.
