"To the Manor Born" (1979) TV series 1979-1981

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creator:

Peter Spence

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

25 March 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is sad when her husband dies but is shocked when she realises that she has to...

Plot Keywords:

Manor | Butler | Supermarket | Lodge | Mother

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Penelope Keith	...	Audrey / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Peter Bowles	...	DeVere / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Angela Thorne	...	Marjory / ... (20 episodes, 1979-2007)
John Rudling	...	Brabinger (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Daphne Heard	...	Mrs. Polouvicka (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Michael Bilton	...	Ned / ... (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Gerald Sim	...	The Rector (13 episodes, 1979-2007)

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Singapore:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Cricket St. Thomas Estate, Nr. Chard, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Originally written by Peter Spence as a pilot for BBC Radio in 1968 starring Penelope Keith and Bernard Braden.

Quotes:

Audrey fforbes-Hamilton: This is one of the wettest counties in England, you know.
Richard DeVere: I don't mind so long as it doesn't shrink. I didn't pay nearly a million to end up with a bonsai bowling green.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: To the Manor Born (#4.5)" (2006)

Shameful.

Unfortunately, this is one of those series that portrays the English as being a nation of foppish aristocrats. We all know this is not the case - our country is, after all, the origin of the word 'chav' - and yet some of my American friends are calling this a 'true British sitcom,' etcetera.

This is a largely forgettable series that should appeal to the upper-middle classes and Tory voters. It focuses around Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton and the trials and tribulations of being so fantastically rich that you never need to do anything, besides being generally obnoxious and judgemental to everybody around you, and Richard DeVere, who is constantly being lampooned for his non-English heritage.

To The Manor Born shares The Royle Family's amazing variety for place and people, as well as its stereotypical portrayal of an English societal class, using its subject of upper class for 'comedic' racism and the development of inferiority complexes.

Having watched a good few episodes from the series, I find it to be unforgettable and often rather boring. It is suitable for background viewing, if you can stand Audrey's shrill voice.

I advise you to steer clear. An acquired taste for sure.