DOWNTON ABBEY : THE GRAND FINALE (without Dame Maggie Smith. (sob sob) ……) in movie theaters this Sept

Nine years ago the late (and very great) two-time Academy Award Winner Dame Maggie Smith was appearing on the Graham Norton TV Show when she was asked if she was happy that the multi-award winning TV period drama DOWNTOWN ABBEY was finally over after some 52 episodes.  “Yes‘ she promptly replied “as at the point her character The Dowager Duchess was probably 110 years old”.  This was the same occasion when she was asked if she had actually watched any espisodes, and with a wicked smile on her face, told Graham Norton “she owned the Box set.”  And left it at that.

Now it is 2025, and sadly Dame Maggie died last year aged 89, and missed out in appearing in DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE.  Its the story of the  Crawley family and their staff now  entering the 1930s. As the beloved cast of characters navigates how to lead Downton Abbey into the future, they must embrace change and welcome a new chapter.  It has its usual cast of characters sans the Dowager Duchess who we are sure will be looking down from the heavens with an enormous grin on her face.

Naturally we will be line at the movie theater come September 12th with everyone else, and as much as expect to love  this final film, BUT we will still miss the usual slew of Dowager witticisms……such as I was right about my maid. She’s leaving — to get married! How could she be so selfish?”

Focus Features will release DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE

in theaters on Friday, September 12th