1 9 7 5 (USA)
1 x 120 minute episode
13 x 60 minute episodes
Blending drama, virtuoso acting, social commentary and soap opera, the British series Upstairs Downstairsdrew crowds of viewers to the American PBS channel. This short-lived but lavish period drama series from CBS was ostensibly an adaptation of the superb UK series but placed in an American setting.
The various storylines revolved around the lives of the wealthy Lassiter family in 1920s Boston and the members of their household staff of Irish immigrants – most prominently Brian Mallory (Paul Rudd), a brash lad who was determined to rise in the world in a hurry – led by head butler Mr Hacker (George Rose).
Ben Lassiter (Stephen Elliott) was a powerful industrialist and political boss who lived with his worry-prone wife, a suicidally depressed son, three daughters of widely differing personalities and various grandchildren.
The cast was huge (and recruited mostly from the Broadway stage), the sets, costumes and production values were the best, and a special two-hour advanced premiere on 2 August 1975 received top ratings.
But despite being a show of the highest quality, the audience shrank steadily, and the series (which aired on Tuesdays at 10:00 pm) was largely unsuccessful. CBS cancelled the programme after only 13 episodes.
Benjamin Lassiter
Stephen Elliott
Mary Lassiter
Nancy Marchand
Mr Hacker
George Rose
Mrs Hacker
Beatrice Straight
Trevor Bullock
Roy Cooper
Robert Lassiter
David Dukes
Richard Palmer
Edward Herrman
Maude Palmer
Maeve McGuire
Emily Bullock
Deann Mears
Giorgio Bellonci
Michael Nouri
Betsy Bullock
Linda Purl
Terence O’Hara
David Rounds
Brian Mallory
Paul Rudd
Harry Emmet
Barry Snider
Eleanor
Sydney Swire
Marilyn Gardiner
Holland Taylor
Fawn Lassiter
Kathryn Walker
William Piper
Richard Ward
Rosamond Lassiter
Kitty Winn
