An Old Flame
Encyclopedia
An Old Flame is the sixth episode of the fifth and final series of the period drama
Upstairs, Downstairs
. It first aired on 12 October 1975 on ITV
.
called The Price of Rubies. The Price of Rubies was due to be made for broadcast on 28 September, but for an unknown reason it was dropped and replaced by the quickly-written episode The Joy Ride
. The plot of The Price of Rubies, was later taken over by John Hawkesworth
, who adapted it into An Old Flame.
. However, minutes after they meet the Police
raid the club, and James and Diana escape through a side room. Outside, they kiss passionately. Diana then asks James to stay with her in a cottage in Sandwich
that she had been given to use for a week by Major and Mrs Cochrane-Danby. James agrees, and Edward accompanies him as his valet
. Diana Newbury brings her lady's maid
Miss Violet Marshall, who flirts with a non-responsive Edward.
Diana soon confesses that she still loves James, and has done ever since she was 13 years old. They discuss the idea of her leaving Bunny, James's best friend, and going to live abroad. Diana suggests going to France immediately, and she has already left a note at Bunny's club saying she has left him. However, Bunny returns earlier than expected and finds it. Bunny then goes to see Richard, who has returned from Scotland
due to Andrew Bonar Law's resignation as Prime Minister
. Richard then telephones James, and he and Diana are forced to return to London.
Bunny and James then meet, and Bunny says he will not divorce
Diana, but he is happy to let Diana divorce him. However, James and Diana later agree they could not live together as they have both moved on. Diana then goes back to Bunny. Meanwhile, Violet delivers a note from Diana via Edward to James. It reads "Thank you for being such a saint. Bless you my darling. Goodbye. D". Once James had read this he screws it up.
Period piece
-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
. It first aired on 12 October 1975 on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
Background
An Old Flame was recorded in the studio on 20 and 21 March 1975. The plot of An Old Flame started as a script by Elizabeth Jane HowardElizabeth Jane Howard
Elizabeth Jane Howard, CBE is an English novelist. She was previously an actress and a model.In 1951 she won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for her first novel, The Beautiful Visit...
called The Price of Rubies. The Price of Rubies was due to be made for broadcast on 28 September, but for an unknown reason it was dropped and replaced by the quickly-written episode The Joy Ride
The Joy Ride
The Joy Ride is the fourth episode of the fifth and final series of the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. It first aired on 28 September 1975 on ITV.-Background:The Joy Ride was recorded in the studio on 20 and 21 February 1975...
. The plot of The Price of Rubies, was later taken over by John Hawkesworth
John Hawkesworth (producer)
John Hawkesworth was an English television and film producer and writer best known for his work on the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early life:...
, who adapted it into An Old Flame.
Cast
- Gordon JacksonGordon Jackson (actor)Gordon Cameron Jackson, OBE was a Scottish Emmy Award-winning actor best remembered for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs and George Cowley, the head of CI5, in The Professionals....
- HudsonAngus HudsonAngus Hudson was a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs, portrayed by actor Gordon Jackson from 1971 until 1975.-Biography:... - Angela BaddeleyAngela BaddeleyAngela Baddeley, CBE , born Madeline Angela Clinton-Baddeley, was an English actress best remembered for her role as Mrs Bridges in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs...
- Mrs Bridges - Simon WilliamsSimon Williams (actor)Simon Williams is an English actor known for playing James Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. Frequently playing upper-class roles, he is also known for playing Dr...
- James BellamyJames BellamyMajor The Honourable James Rupert Bellamy MC is a fictional character in the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, that was originally broadcast for five series from 1971 to 1975... - Celia BannermanCelia BannermanCelia Bannerman is an English actress and director, born 3 June 1944 at Abingdon, Berkshire, trained at the London Drama Centre. She started her professional career with Ralph Richardson as Dolly in Bernard Shaw’s You Never Can Tell and Lucy in Sheridan’s The Rivals at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket,...
- Diana Newbury - Georgina HaleGeorgina HaleGeorgina Hale is an award-winning English actress notable for many stage, film and television appearances; often in the works of director Ken Russell and writer Simon Gray...
- Violet Marshall - David LangtonDavid LangtonDavid Muir Langton was a British actor who is best remembered for playing Richard Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early years:...
- Richard Bellamy - Christopher BeenyChristopher BeenyBorn in London, Beeny began his career at the age of six when he danced for the ' Ballet Rambert. He spent several years at the ' Arts Educational School before later progressing to 'RADA.His first screen role was in the 1952 film The Long Memory...
- Edward - Karen DotriceKaren DotriceKaren Dotrice is an English actress known primarily for her role as Jane Banks in Walt Disney's feature film adaptation of the Mary Poppins book series. Dotrice was born in Guernsey to two accomplished stage actors...
- Lily - Jacqueline TongJacqueline TongJacqueline Tong is an English actress who is best known for playing Daisy Barnes in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs from 1973 to 1975. In 1975, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in the Primetime Emmy Awards.-Early life:Tong was born in Bristol,...
- Daisy - John QuayleJohn Quayle (actor)John Quayle is an English actor who is best remembered for his roles in many sitcoms including All Gas and Gaiters, Terry and June, Steptoe and Son and The Liver Birds.-Career:...
- Bunny Newbury - Tom ChattoTom ChattoTom Chatto was a British actor. He made some 28 appearances between 1957 and his death. Chatto appeared mostly in films, including Oscar Wilde in which he played the Clerk of Arraigns ....
- The Waiter - Mike McKenzie - The Pianist
- John Caesar - The Policeman
Plot
It is May 1923, and by chance James meets Diana Newbury at a club in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. However, minutes after they meet the Police
Policing in the United Kingdom
Law enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland ....
raid the club, and James and Diana escape through a side room. Outside, they kiss passionately. Diana then asks James to stay with her in a cottage in Sandwich
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
that she had been given to use for a week by Major and Mrs Cochrane-Danby. James agrees, and Edward accompanies him as his valet
Valet
Valet and varlet are terms for male servants who serve as personal attendants to their employer.- Word origins :In the Middle Ages, the valet de chambre to a ruler was a prestigious appointment for young men...
. Diana Newbury brings her lady's maid
Lady's maid
A lady's maid is a female personal attendant who waits on the lady of the house. The position is very similar to a gentleman's valet. Traditionally, in eras past, the lady's maid was not as high-ranking as a lady's companion, who was a retainer rather than a servant, but the rewards included room...
Miss Violet Marshall, who flirts with a non-responsive Edward.
Diana soon confesses that she still loves James, and has done ever since she was 13 years old. They discuss the idea of her leaving Bunny, James's best friend, and going to live abroad. Diana suggests going to France immediately, and she has already left a note at Bunny's club saying she has left him. However, Bunny returns earlier than expected and finds it. Bunny then goes to see Richard, who has returned from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
due to Andrew Bonar Law's resignation as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. Richard then telephones James, and he and Diana are forced to return to London.
Bunny and James then meet, and Bunny says he will not divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
Diana, but he is happy to let Diana divorce him. However, James and Diana later agree they could not live together as they have both moved on. Diana then goes back to Bunny. Meanwhile, Violet delivers a note from Diana via Edward to James. It reads "Thank you for being such a saint. Bless you my darling. Goodbye. D". Once James had read this he screws it up.