Last night I went to see the film version of Downton Abbey at the AMC Theater on Broadway between 83rd and 84th and had a delightful time with the Crawleys and their servants. The film picked up where the series left off with plenty of good English wit and high drama. It would be nice to see new installments every several years. Viewing Downton Abbey is like going to a family reunion albeit a rather Victorian one.
Most of the cast appeared in the film, but there were some notable absences like Cousin Rose (Lily James). The absence that caught my eye was that of Dr. Clarkson (David Robb). Given that the health of Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) was one of the storylines. While Dr. Clarkson was generally a secondary character, he was often the voice of reason. So his absence stood out.
What I did not know was that Robb's wife actress Briony McRoberts committed suicide in 2013 and part of her motivation in so doing was that her husband's success made her feel worthless. Could it be the case that reprising the role of Dr. Clarkson would have served as a reminder of her suicide?
I hope it was merely another commitment which prevented him from appearing in the movie. If there are plans to make more Downton Abbey movies hopefully Dr. Clarkson will return to provide wide counsel and advice, medical and otherwise.
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