Missing Believed Killed
Encyclopedia
Missing Believed Killed is the eleventh episode of the fourth series of the period drama
Upstairs, Downstairs
. It first aired on 23 November 1974 on ITV
.
were filmed at Waddesdon Manor
in Buckinghamshire
on 13 August. Waddesdon Manor had also been used for the French
château
scenes in the earlier episode If You Were The Only Girl In The World
. In this episode, Gareth Hunt made a what was then one off appearance as James's batman
Trooper Norton. However, he impressed the programme makers and was offered a regular part and in series five returned to become the footman
.
, Trooper Norton, delivers his belongings to Eaton Place. However, days later he turns up at Georgina's hospital in France
. A piece of shell
is removed from just above his right knee, which went slightly gangreneous
and the shell also grazed his forehead. Richard and Hazel travel out to France and intend to bring him home with a private ambulance hired by Lady Southwold, Lady Marjorie's
mother. Georgina thinks James will not survive the journey and argues with Hazel and Richard, but they take him back anyway.
Once back at Eaton Place, James has private nurse to look after him. One night he feels hungry, having previously lost his appetite, and a delighted Hazel and Mrs Bridges make him a snack. To thank the servants for their hard work and support, Hazel treats them and pays for them to go and see a George Robey
show. On his father's birthday James makes it to the Morning Room to surprise him. He then tells his father about his ten days missing; a German
officer
was about to shoot him when he was injured in a shell hole, but for some unknown reason, he didn't, so James shot him. James also says that he felt his mother's presence while in the shell hole.
, also reviewed this episode in The Daily Mail
. His review was headed "Alas old friend, is it time to say farewell", and he said that Upstairs, Downstairs was "losing its grip". Usher said that it was becoming "victim to the television disease - familiarity" and criticised for "raising comic echoes".
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 23 November 1974 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
Missing Believed Killed was recorded in the studio on 22 and 23 August 1974. The outside scenes at the hospitalHospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
were filmed at Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon Manor is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire, England. The house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild . Since this was the preferred style of the Rothschilds it became also known as...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
on 13 August. Waddesdon Manor had also been used for the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
scenes in the earlier episode If You Were The Only Girl In The World
If You Were The Only Girl In The World
If You Were The Only Girl In The World is the seventh episode of the fourth series of the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. It first aired on 26 October 1974 on ITV.-Background:...
. In this episode, Gareth Hunt made a what was then one off appearance as James's batman
Batman (army)
A batman is a soldier or airman assigned to a commissioned officer as a personal servant.The term is derived from the obsolete bat, "packsaddle" + man....
Trooper Norton. However, he impressed the programme makers and was offered a regular part and in series five returned to become the footman
Footman
A footman is a male servant, notably as domestic staff.-Word history:The name derives from the attendants who ran beside or behind the carriages of aristocrats, many of whom were chosen for their physical attributes. They ran alongside the coach to make sure it was not overturned by such obstacles...
.
Cast
- Meg Wynn OwenMeg Wynn OwenMeg Wynn Owen is a Welsh actress, who is best known for her role as Hazel Bellamy, née Forrest, in the television series Upstairs, Downstairs....
- Hazel Bellamy - Jean MarshJean MarshJean Lyndsey Torren Marsh is an English actress, occasional screenwriter, and co-creator of the television series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott....
- Rose - 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 - 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 - Lesley-Anne DownLesley-Anne DownLesley-Anne Down is a British film and television actress, former model and singer.Down achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV drama series Upstairs, Downstairs...
- Georgina Worsley - 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... - 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 - Jenny TomasinJenny TomasinJenny Tomasin is an English actress best known for her roles in Upstairs, Downstairs and Emmerdale.-Career:Tomasin became well known in the early 1970s when she joined the cast of Upstairs, Downstairs as kitchen maid Ruby. She stayed with the series until the end in 1975, appearing in 41 episodes...
- Ruby - 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 - Patricia Macrae - Sister Menzies
- Celia ImrieCelia ImrieCelia Diana Savile Imrie is an English actress. In a career starting in the early 1970s, Imrie has played Marianne Bellshade in Bergerac, Philippa Moorcroft in Dinnerladies, Miss Babs in Acorn Antiques, Diana Neal in After You've Gone and Gloria Millington in Kingdom...
- Jenny - Gareth HuntGareth HuntAlan Leonard Hunt was an English actor, known as Gareth Hunt, best remembered for playing the footman Frederick Norton in Upstairs, Downstairs and Mike Gambit in The New Avengers.-Early life:...
- Trooper Norton - Brian Badcoe - Surgeon Major Rice
- Ann Martin - Nurse Wilkins
Plot
It is October 1917, and it has been a week since James was reported "missing believed killed" and his batmanBatman (army)
A batman is a soldier or airman assigned to a commissioned officer as a personal servant.The term is derived from the obsolete bat, "packsaddle" + man....
, Trooper Norton, delivers his belongings to Eaton Place. However, days later he turns up at Georgina's hospital in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. A piece of shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
is removed from just above his right knee, which went slightly gangreneous
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
and the shell also grazed his forehead. Richard and Hazel travel out to France and intend to bring him home with a private ambulance hired by Lady Southwold, Lady Marjorie's
Lady Marjorie Bellamy
The Lady Marjorie Helen Sybil Bellamy was a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs...
mother. Georgina thinks James will not survive the journey and argues with Hazel and Richard, but they take him back anyway.
Once back at Eaton Place, James has private nurse to look after him. One night he feels hungry, having previously lost his appetite, and a delighted Hazel and Mrs Bridges make him a snack. To thank the servants for their hard work and support, Hazel treats them and pays for them to go and see a George Robey
George Robey
Sir George Edward Wade , better known by his stage name, George Robey, was an English music hall comedian and star. He was marketed as the "Prime Minister of Mirth".-Early life:...
show. On his father's birthday James makes it to the Morning Room to surprise him. He then tells his father about his ten days missing; a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
was about to shoot him when he was injured in a shell hole, but for some unknown reason, he didn't, so James shot him. James also says that he felt his mother's presence while in the shell hole.
Reception
Shaun Usher, who had previously given good reviews for the episode News from the FrontNews from the Front
News from the Front is the second episode of the fourth series of the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. It first aired on 21 September 1974 on ITV.-Background:...
, also reviewed this episode in The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
. His review was headed "Alas old friend, is it time to say farewell", and he said that Upstairs, Downstairs was "losing its grip". Usher said that it was becoming "victim to the television disease - familiarity" and criticised for "raising comic echoes".