For those addicted to “Downton Abbey” the wait is over. “Downton Abbey” the movie opens in general release in theatres and multiplexes across America on Friday allowing Americans to again follow the twists and turns and ups and downs of the Crawley Family and that small army of servant’s downstairs who keep the machine upstairs from faltering.

I may have been one of the last persons in America to find out that there was a “Downton” movie coming, but once I did, I made every effort to find out as much as I could about it.

The saga of the Crawley family jumps ahead from 1923, where the PBS series ended, to the year 1927 when a letter arrives at Downton Abbey informing Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham that King Edward the Fifth and Queen Mary are coming to Downton as part of a royal tour. A “royal tour” is something British royalty has been doing since time immemorial as a way of sponging off their nobles. In modern times they probably sponge off the nobility as a way of stretching out the yearly stipend they receive from Parliament for food and drink.

As part of my diligent in-depth research I viewed photos of King Edward and Queen Mary, taken about the time they would have visited Downton Abbey and noted that in all their public appearances they appeared stiff, serious and unsmiling. In addition, the King was said to be a rather strict parent with his children. So, I hope that for the sake of the Crawleys and their other guests that the King and Queen are able to loosen up a little after a few stiff whisky and sodas.

I was quite surprised to find that former duplicitous footman and all around sneaky character Thomas Barrow is now the Crawley’s butler. While I am no expert on footmen Thomas was probably an adequate one but becoming butler following in the footsteps of Mr. Carson, well you have to wonder who made that decision.

Knowing that Thomas is probably not up to the job of supervising preparations for the royal visit and dealing with the royal family’s servants, we find Lady Mary heading to the home of now retired Mr. Carson and asking him to return to Downton to ensure the success of the royal visit. Carson who can never refuse a request by Lady Mary agrees. In the trailer we have a shot of Carson striding up the path to Downton to take charge. How will Thomas react, what conflicts will arise, and will the royal servants be put in their place?

Movie-goers will be introduced to long lost relative Lady Bagshaw, one of Queen Mary’s Ladies-in-Waiting and widow of Robert Crawley’s Great-Uncle. Lady Bagshaw is portrayed by Imelda Staunton, the real-life wife of Jim Carter. Fans of the Harry Potter movies may remember her as Dolores Umbridge in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” where she was planted at Hogwarts by the Ministry of Magic to make Harry’s life miserable. In that movie she and Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall sparred back and forth, and based on an exchange between the two in the trailer, it’s a good bet that they will square off in “Downton Abbey.” Will blood flow and will the following question be answered: just who and what do Ladies-in-Waiting, wait for?

It has never ceased to amaze me how supposedly egalitarian Americans can get caught up in the lives of the “obscenely” rich, and totally divorced from real life English landed nobility of Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey. What I find especially interesting is the way that American progressives who would tax America’s own rich down to their last penny are enthralled by and fall in love with the “obscenely” rich British landed nobility.

Television shows and movies like “Downton Abbey” go to great lengths to ensure historical accuracy by dressing actors in the correct period costumes, providing historically accurate automobiles and carriages and even ensuring that the correct foods of the period are served in the correct manner. But what draws us in to the story is that it is basically a soap opera using the same formula that has been used for years on stage, radio and television.

If Downton Abbey was the story of the real day-to-day existence of an actual family of nobles living on their huge country estate and served by loyal retainer’s downstairs in 1927, it might be good for one hour on the Smithsonian Channel. But add family infighting, personality clashes, illegitimate offspring, any manner of illicit love affairs among the nobility, the downstairs staff or between upstairs and downstairs, throw in a few long lost relatives, surly or dishonest servants and you have created living history that grabs us and holds onto us for more than 50 television programs on PBS and now a movie.

Finally, after writing three columns about “Downton Abbey” I want to confess that shortly after it was first broadcast, I began calling the show “Downtown” Abbey to the point where I once had a most annoying relative pull me aside to tell me “Tom its Downton Abbey.” To this I replied, “Yes, I know that, but if Winston Churchill could call the Nazis ‘Narzies’ I can call ‘Downton Abbey’ ‘Downtown Abbey’ and anyway doesn’t that sound more 21st century?”

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com