Our pick of the best quotes from the period drama Downton Abbey movies which continue the storyline from the popular TV series.
1. Downton Abbey (2019)
'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.' - Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey) Click To TweetDirected by Michael Engler with a script from Julian Fellowes. The story centers on the Crawley family and their staff as they prepare for a Royal Visit from the King and Queen of England that soon unleashes scandal, romance, and intrigue.
Robert Crawley: The king and queen are coming to stay.
Daisy: [moviequotesandmore.com] I agree with Mr. Branson. I don’t like kings either. I suppose that makes me a republican, too.
Andy: Are the English allowed to be?
Cora Crawley: But if I know anything about royal visits, we will never stop changing our clothes.
'I never argue. I explain.' - Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey) Click To Tweet
Daisy: I can’t think they’ll want simple food. With that sort, don’t they like sauces, and everything velouté, and frappé, and smothered in cream?
Mrs. Patmore: That sort? He’s the King of England. There’s only one of them in the world. “That sort,” indeed.
Daisy: This country needs a shake-up.
Andy: Ah, you should run for parliament. Why not? Lady Astor’s done it.
Daisy: And so an under-cook from Yorkshire is bound to follow her.
Andy: Well, you’ve got to have big dreams.
Daisy: But do you have big dreams, Andy?
'Everyone should know a total love at least once.' - Maud Bagshaw (Downton Abbey) Click To Tweet
Cora Crawley: [moviequotesandmore.com] Isn’t that what the monarchy’s for? To brighten the lives of the nation with stateliness and glamor?
Isobel Merton: To quote Tennyson, “Kind hearts are more than coronets, and simple faith than Norman blood.”
Violet Crawley: Will you have enough clichés to get you through the visit?
Isobel Merton: If not, I’ll come to you.
Isobel Merton: You’re plotting something. I see a Machiavellian look in your eye.
Violet Crawley: Machiavelli is frequently underrated. He had many qualities.
Isobel Merton: So did Caligula, not all of them charming.
Violet Crawley: Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
2. Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
'That's life, isn't it? Getting past the unexpected. And perhaps learning from it.' - Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey: A New Era) Click To TweetDirected by Simon Curtis and written by Julian Fellowes. The story follows the Crawley family as they go on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of Violet Crawley’s (Maggie Smith), the Dowager Countess of Grantham, newly inherited villa.
Maud Bagshaw: The thought of being warm in winter goes to my head like strong drink.
Lady Rosamund: There’s only one reason old ladies summon their lawyers.
'Time change, and we must change with them.' - Miss Baxter (Downton Abbey: A New Era) Click To Tweet
Violet Crawley: I feel like Andromeda chained to a rock with you lot hovering over me.
Violet Crawley: I’ve come into possession of a villa in the south of France. And now I’ve given it to my great-granddaughter Sybbie.
Lady Mary: What?
Violet Crawley: What bit didn’t you understand?
Lady Mary: I don’t understand any of it.
'Women like us fall into two categories, dragons and fools. You must make sure they think of you as a dragon.' - Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey: A New Era) Click To Tweet
Lady Mary: What villa? Where? This is too extraordinary for any words.
Murray: It’s called La Villa des Colombes, and it’s near Toulon.
Lady Edith: But why was it yours? And why have you never said anything about it?
Violet Crawley: Because I thought it was a joke.
Robert Crawley: Start at the beginning.
Lady Mary: You never thought to turn it down?
Violet Crawley: Do I look as if I’d turn down a villa in the South of France?
'They'd better be warned. The British are coming.' - Mr. Carson (Downton Abbey: A New Era) Click To Tweet
Violet Crawley: [referring to the late Montmirail leaving her the villa] You want me to tell you why he did it when the truth is I do not know. And with that, I will say good night and leave you to discuss my mysterious past.
Violet Crawley: Now, Denker, don’t steer me. I’m not a racing car.
Miss Denker: More’s the pity.
Violet Crawley: I beg your pardon.
'I should have thought the best thing about films is that you can't hear them. Be even be better if you couldn't see them either.' - Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey: A New Era) Click To Tweet
Robert Crawley: Mr. Barber turns out to be a producer and director. He wanted to practice chronophotography here.
Lady Edith: It’s not the Stone Age, Papa. You mean he wants to make a film at Downton?
Lady Edith: Is everything alright with Henry?
Lady Mary: He’s in love with cars. He’s in love with speed. He’s in love with adventure. He’s also in love with me, I think. But I don’t seem to cancel out the other three.
Lady Edith: And you thought you would?
Lady Mary: I suppose I did.
'Marriage is a novel, not a short story. Full of plot twists along the way.' - Lady Mary (Downton Abbey: A New Era) Click To Tweet
Robert Crawley: I think it’s a horrible idea. Actresses plastered in makeup, and actors just plastered, scrambling over our things. We’d have to keep counting the spoons in the pantry.
Robert Crawley: [referring to the attic] I haven’t been up here for years.
Lady Mary: [referring to the leaking roof] Well, this is the situation we’re in. With the money, we can bring the house up to snuff, to match what we spent on the estate, and enter the 1930s with our heads held high. But if you don’t want to…
Robert Crawley: No. No, you steer ahead. You’re the captain now. I am aware of that, even if you think I’m not.
Daisy Parker: I can’t believe it. To make a film here? Can they do that? Would there be film stars? Famous ones?
Mrs. Hughes: Oh, give her some water before she passes out.
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