Cast
John Gilbert
as Karl Schneider
Paul Lukas
as Albert
Virginia Bruce
as Anna
Hedda Hopper
as Countess De Marnac
Reginald Owen
as Baron 'Nicky' von Burgen
Olga Baclanova
as Baroness Eloise von Burgen
Bodil Rosing
as Sophie
Otto Hoffman
as Otto
Lucien Littlefield
as Françoise
Marion Lessing
as The Countess' Maid Antoinette
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1932
Runtime1h 17m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDrama
Votes18
DirectorMonta Bell
WritersMelville Baker, Lenore J. Coffee, John Gilbert
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.6 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsDownstairs
About Downstairs
In the Austrian manor of Baron and Baroness von Burgen, the relationship between the upstairs aristocracy and the downstairs staff is quite positive. The servants seem to enjoy their time together, and some even fall in love, as head butler Albert and maid Anna have done. But when lecherous new chauffeur Karl Schneider enters the house, affairs and blackmail follow, and the harmony of the home is slowly destroyed.
Directed by Monta Bell, Downstairs leans on a strong ensemble — John Gilbert, Paul Lukas, Virginia Bruce — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1932.
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