I, like other reviewers, found some "unique" audio and video effects to be a bit distracting - the series starts out in color, then to switches to black and white, then back to color. I am left to wonder, primarily based upon the fact that it started out in color and immediately went to black and white, if the producers "assumed" the series would be short-lived, therefore it was not cost-effective to continue filming in color. There are a few other video oddities sprinkled about - a strange, albeit very small, bar that reminds me of the "this is a test" signal bar one sees (or used to see) on the old analog stations - it was usually up in the top right corner, noticeable only because I suspect I was paying keen attention to such things given some of the other reviews. I worried my new TV was experiencing some color/tone issues, but when I moved the same disc to another TV/DVD, same thing. None of these "issues" are deal-breakers - but I must admit I was a bit disappointed that with all the amazing editing tools used these days, no one felt it necessary (or worthwhile/cost-effective perhaps) to "clean up" some of these little items. The audio quality seems to ebb and flow - sometimes crystal clear, other times I found myself rewinding to replay - now, these audio snips could have been less than crystal clear simply due to the location of the particular scene (e.g., racing scene, outdoors vs. indoors, party scene with many "chatters"), still, not a deal-breaker......besides, it's not as though this series was recently filmed :)

The series itself is wonderful - lessons in social classes and the economic impact thereof remind me of history lessons - without the homework :) The attention to the smallest period details is impressive, from clothing to cookware, from food to architecture, from healthcare (or the lack thereof really) to amenities such as transportation and communication, "someone did their homework", and I appreciate the effort (the historical research,and recreations, must have been an significant undertaking unto itself).

The Thomas and Sarah "series" leaves me indifferent - if anything, it seems to be a rather disjointed collection of the two main character's ongoing achievements followed immediately by some sort of horrible failure - somewhat predictable (make some money, lose that money, secure a job, lose that job, find some lodging, lose the same). However, both are fine actors and the same attention to period details carries over in this "mini series" - a nice "bonus" feature, but on it's own, I'd say this series would garner a generous 3 star rating, not bad, but not wonderful.

This collection is one in which I'm sure I'll find myself watching again and again, even if just a disc or two, even out of sequence - enjoyable just the same. No regrets on the purchase and yes, I'd recommend it to others and would definitely make the identical purchase - were I offered a "do over" :)

Overall: 4.5 stars (the "ding" is due to the video/audio "issues")

I'd been hearing about Upstairs Downstairs for years. Somehow I never saw it when it was aired on PBS and the discs were a bit pricy for a 'hope it's good' purchase.

Finally I found this 40th Anniversary set -- produced by Acorn -- at an irresistible price and took the plunge.

My wife and I sat down and watched episodes 1 through 3 and each of us had the same reaction. What was all the fuss about? Upstairs Downstairs seemed to be a mediocre, low-budget, Brit sitcom and nothing more. We took a few days off and then decided to give it another go. And are we glad we did! For starting in episode 4 the entire feel of the series changed from a cheap sitcom to thoughtful human drama.

Okay, the "cheap" feeling stayed for somewhat longer. Only as the years went by did the production values start to go a bit upscale. Never near the level of something like Downton Abbey, mind you, but good enough to become invisible.

The production and mastering of the Acorn set is so-so at best, both as to image and sound quality and the interface. (Oh, the junk you have to sit through on each year's disc one before the program starts! Ugh!) And instead of defaulting to having no subtitles 4 out of the 5 sets defaulted to subtitles on. Grrr!

But the drama itself is the thing and all that technical stuff pales into insignificance once we got absorbed into the characters and the stories. This is human drama as real as life -- full of the complexities, ambiguities, triumphs, joys, disappointments and sorrows of real life and told with feeling and an underlying appreciation for what it means to be human. As such Upstairs Downstairs is highly recommended.

The Complete Series Upstairs, Downstairs is a beloved drama set between 1903-1930 in Great Britain at the London mansion of an aristocratic family and their staff of domestic servants. It contains 68 episodes on 20 DVDs, plus one DVD with quite a few bonus features The first season comprises 13 episodes and the first episodes seem spare, especially in the dialog--more like stage plays than video dramas of today's miniseries. Later episodes lose that stagey-ness and become very involved dramas. Since the original series broadcast in the US did not include the black-and-white episodes, I was not familiar with the development of the series and how it grew from a rather simple initial season to rather involved arcs. For that ALONE, I'd recommend this set of DVD's because seeing them all in series is fascinating. And I saw entirely new episodes (for me) as I'd missed a lot of the first seasons, being off at college and without a television for some years.

I was also able to look at the opening titles with the drawings from "Punch" (A British humor magazine) and admire how the producers selected amazingly apt drawings to fit the particular episode.

Some of the initial episodes, sadly, are recorded only in black and white due to a technicians' strike in the early 70's. It doesn't actually detract from the enjoyment, just makes it a bit sad we can't see the sets and costuming as they were filmed. The black & white are sharp and clear, but the color episodes can be somewhat lower in resolution. The colors can be dim as well, but it doesn't detract. The cropping is often odd. This is not a perfect conversion from the television to DVD, but it's adequate and probably a lot has to do with changes in technologies since the 70's and the early days of television-to-DVD remastering.

The extras are lavish:
Extras:

5-part documentary: The Making of Upstairs Downstairs
24 episode commentaries
Upstairs, Downstairs Remembered - with Gareth Hunt (51:50)
Russell Harty Goes Upstairs Downstairs (30:00)
Sandy's Last Stand with composer Alexander Faris (13:15)
Simon Williams and Alfred Shaughnessy in Conversation (22:50)
"Russell Harty Plus" Interview with Gordon Jackson (6:40)
"Russell Harty Plus" Interview with Jean Marsh (11:15)
"Russell Harty Plus" Interview with Angela Baddeley (9:40)
Alternate version of Episode 1 "On Trial"
Essay by star and co-creator Jean Marsh

It's nice to go visit old friends again and have all the episodes and extras. There is a lot of value here, plenty to watch and re-watch, especially if you are a fan of BBC historical drama series. If you are a fan of "Downton Abbey" and don't know this series, you are in for a treat.

Let me first begin by saying that I remember watching Up/Down when it first aired 40 years ago, as a then vulnerable and impressionable young lass of 17. I enjoyed the show immensely, it was really rather a first offering of PBS, then known primarily as a fledgling "artsy" station, presenting this hitherto unknown British series through WGBH in Boston. From its first episode, Up/Down oozed quality in every way: superb acting, writing, direction, production, with the added bonus of Alistair Cooke's introduction, while seated in a leather armchair next to a roaring fire prior to each episode, to the accompaniment of the famous Masterpiece Theatre theme, Mouret's Rondo, which added to the understated elegance and anticipation of each episode.

The characters of Up/Down were many faceted and always interesting, not merely presented as one-dimensional, i.e., rich versus poor. One could even sympathize with the clueless and wealthy Bellamy family on occasion, theirs was a cocoon of privilege and comfort, yet their breeding never eschewed vulgarity or crassness, but embraced kindness, concern and responsible humanity toward their Downstairs "family". Similarly, their Downstairs family, in turn, showed respect, warm feelings of pride of service and true concern for their "upstairs" family as well. The viewer was entwined in the lives of both "families", experiencing their joys, sorrows and frustrations. All within a 25 year framework encompassing the Victorian and Edwardian ages, culminating in the death of Edward VII, the sinking of the Titanic and loss of Lady Marjorie Bellamy, World War I and its aftermath, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, forever changing the world of the Bellamys first shown in 1904. Up/Down is, simply, a breathtakingly unforgettable series.

This 40th anniversary release is equal to the many superlatives written on these pages of reviews. I had VHS taped some of the original Up/Down episodes when they were re-shown on PBS in the 80's, which I still have. However, I wanted the DVD version, and decided to purchase this 40th anniversary set through Amazon. Let me say that it is simply superb in every way.

The episodes have been remastered to splendid effect, they are all excellent in both video and audio quality. I do not understand how some of the reviewers could state that they are not! They are all exceptionally good. There are 21 DVD's in this set, with an added 25 hours of extras, narrating the making of Up/Down,interviews with many of the characters who are still living, and they seem to enjoy reminiscing, sharing many little unknown facts about the particular episodes being presented. Priceless. There are also narratives and commentaries in the episodes by some of the actors, scene selection, and an enclosed brief written narrative by Jean Marsh, one of the co-creators who also portrayed Rose, the under-house parlor maid. The audio commentaries by the actors and writers on each episode are great fun, listening to Jean Marsh and Simon Williams' comments give one a marvelous insider perspective. This is the definitive collection, it just doesn't get much better than this. I urge all Up/Down devotees, new and old, to purchase it. Also, the price on Amazon is about the lowest I have seen anywhere. It is well worth the price for this timeless and iconic series, presented as grandly as the series itself. Don't miss it.

The video quality of the newly released set is an improvement over the original DVD set I bought years ago and I like having the English subtitles, which the original set lacked.