Harry Gordon Selfridge: A great day, Mr. Crabb. A great day.
Mr. Crabb: As a spectacle, Mr. Selfridge. As a spectacle.
Mr Selfridge appears to be the amazing Andrew Davies's answer to the equally amazing Julian Fellowes's show, Downton Abbey.
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| The real Harry Gordon Selfridge, on whom the show is based. |
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| The real Rose Selfridge. |
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| Lady Mae (a backer), Mr. Selfridge and Rose Selfridge. |
The two shows are different, with Selfridge revolving around a large department store and Downton set in a large manor house, but there are a lot of similarities. Both feature large ensemble casts. They take place in England at around the same time (Selfridge begins in 1908, Downton in 1912). They both explore the different classes and evolving world order at the time.
Mr Selfridge didn't start out as quickly as Downton, which hooked me right from the beginning. It takes a few episodes to establish the characters and really catch your interest, but it's worth the wait. By episode 4 I was really enjoying it and eagerly anticipating the next episode (there are 10 episodes in season 1).
Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) is the lead character. He has risen from poverty and become a successful business man in the United States. At the beginning of the show he has come to London with his wife Rose (Frances O'Connor) and their 4 children to open a department store and to try to change the way Londoners shop. Much of his innovation in retail sets the scene for the emergence of the modern shopping experience as it exists today. Selfridge is an interesting character, energetic and forward-thinking and eager, sometimes to the point of recklessness. In spite of his love for his wife, he has a wandering eye, which is tempted by an actress, Ellen Love. His character becomes more complicated as the show progresses.
The show also follows the workers in the store, with an emphasis on Agnes Towler, a salesgirl with a passion for her job, but problems at home. There are many characters, and watching them interact with each other, and learning their stories, is a lot of fun.
It has been renewed for a second season, but it'll be a bit of a wait. Still, I'm very glad there will be more episodes to enjoy -though perhaps not quite as good a Downton Abbey, I think it was far superior to other similar offerings (Call the Midwife, the new Upstairs Downstairs, etc.).
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| King Edward VII visits Selfridges. |
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| Photo of the real Edward VII. |
Hi Kaleena how are you? I'm glad to find more information about Harry Selfridge at google but I need more official information about his business life. I started to watch the series maybe I can find more details about his way to sell not only products but dreams and satisfaction (specially for women).
ReplyDeleteThere's some details that I'm not sure that really happend like the visit of King Edward VII and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the Selfridge's store. Do you know if this is really happened or some websites about his way to management the store?
The big thing is I'm making a research about some interesting business men for a College work and Selfridge is my favorite. Sorry about my bad english and greeting from Brazil.
Thank you for your time,
Maria Nunes.
Sorry I didn't see this before! It's been awhile since I've been on. I don't know how accurate the show is, and unfortunately I don't personally know much, but the show is based on a book, which should have lots of information: Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead.
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