The Grand - Both Seasons of Russell T. Davies' British Drama Come To USA DVD

THE GRAND: Complete Collection
Lust, greed, and gossip in a glamorous British hotel of the 1920s


As the most opulent hotel in Manchester, England, during the decadent Roaring '20s, The Grand is more than a building. It's a nexus for schemes, scandals, romance, and intrigue. For owner John Bannerman, The Grand symbolizes a tradition of luxury and elegance begun by his father. For Marcus Bannerman, it becomes a risky investment and a way to entice his brother's wife into bed. And for the maids and porters employed there, it represents a possible escape from their hardscrabble pasts - and an endless source of backstairs gossip.

Written by Russell T Davies (Casanova, Touching Evil) and featuring three-time Emmy®-winner Susan Hampshire, this is addictive period drama in the tradition of Upstairs, Downstairs and The Duchess of Duke Street. Divided by class and circumstance or tied together by love and loyalty, the myriad characters who populate The Grand prove unforgettable.

• Disc 1
  • Series 1, Episode 1
    On New Year's Eve 1919, the Bannermans celebrate the reopening of their family's hotel and the return of their son, Stephen, from World War I. But Stephen has trouble adjusting to civilian life and a tragedy soon reveals the shocking state of the hotel's finances. Faced with losing The Grand, Sarah reluctantly turns to Marcus for help.
  • Series 1, Episode 2
    Thrown into an uproar by Marcus, the hotel proves inhospitable to a former maid now in desperate circumstances. Monica befriends Miss Harkness and discovers the elegant older woman's true profession.
  • Series 1, Episode 3
    Stephen steals money from the family safe so he can impress his beguiling new girlfriend, Celia, who turns out to have a shocking past. Mary confronts Miss Harkness, while Monica becomes her protégé.
  • Series 1, Episode 4
    After meeting soldiers who served with his son, an agitated Mr. Collins must confront his ambivalence over his son's death. Kate and Stephen bond but staff gossip stymies their budding friendship. Monica continues to have ideas above her station.
  
  
• Disc 2
  • Series 1, Episode 5
    Adele's childhood friend stays at The Grand while recuperating from surgery and drags Adele and the servants into her antics. The anniversary of their daughter's death drives a wedge between John and Sarah, which Marcus uses to his advantage.
  • Series 1, Episode 6
    Worried that he might have been exposed to a deadly disease, John makes a surprising confession to Sarah. Monica dines with a hotel guest and makes an impulsive decision that will irrevocably change her life.
  • Series 1, Episode 7
    When James gets called back to London, Monica finds herself with no place to stay, leading to a horrifying turn of events. Anticipating their wedding, Marcus and Ruth move into The Grand, much to Ruth's dismay.
  • Series 1, Episode 8
    As Monica waits to meet her fate, wedding preparations continue at The Grand and the staff rebels. Speculation runs rampant about who financed Monica's defense.
  
  
• Disc 3
  • Season 2, Episode 1
    Isobel Crawford arrives to help care for her granddaughter Ruth and quickly becomes a pernicious presence. While Kate is preoccupied with the romantic attentions of Stephen, new housemaid Lark gets herself into trouble.
  • Season 2, Episode 2
    Stephen must choose between loyalty and the law when an ex-army friend he hires mugs a club patron. After Kate dares her to perform at an amateur night, Lynne tries to leave The Grand for a singing career. John attempts to reconnect with Sarah, but Marcus interferes.
  • Season 2, Episode 3
    Ruth faces a crisis and resorts to the black market to resolve it. Stephen begins dating a beautiful young woman named Christina. The staff girls lobby to attend a government lecture, and Sarah acts on her desires for her brother-in-law.
  • Season 2, Episode 4
    One of the men who assaulted Monica returns to The Grand, and the staff refuse to serve him-except for Fred, the hall porter, who acts surprisingly sympathetic. John confronts Marcus and Sarah, precipitating an explosive showdown between the brothers.
  
  
• Disc 4
  • Season 2, Episode 5
    With Marcus now managing the hotel, the staff worry about their future. Meanwhile, a mysterious guest creates a stir during her stay, offering Kate a job and seducing Marcus. When the guest turns up murdered, Marcus becomes the prime suspect.
  • Season 2, Episode 6
    Clive gets a promotion, but his liaison with a guest forces him to acknowledge some painful truths about himself. Stephen and Christina become engaged.
  • Season 2, Episode 7
    With her expected delivery date already past, Ruth escapes to London and demands that Dr. Curzon induce the surrogate mother's labor. Alarmed by his wife's sudden disappearance, Marcus follows her. Miss Harkness's first love returns to woo her, and Clive tries to unionize the staff.
  
  
• Disc 5
  • Season 2, Episode 8
    As Miss Harkness begins planning her business venture with Marcus, a rival attempts to lure her away. Kate suffers an injury on the job, spurring Stephen to reconsider his engagement and make a public confession.
  • Season 2, Episode 9
    Baby Charles's birth mother forces Ruth to give her a job at The Grand. After Kate's promotion to assistant housekeeper, Mrs. Harvey walks out, leaving Kate to direct the staff on an exceptionally busy night.
  • Season 2, Episode 10
    Kate introduces Stephen to her parents, but his involvement with the club threatens their relationship. On the morning of Charles's christening, Mr. Collins tells Marcus the baby's true parentage, and Marcus suffers a crisis of conscience.

18 episodes; approx. 15 hours
Letterboxed; color; stereo
©1997 and 1998
DVD 5-Vol. Boxed Set
$59.99 U.S./$72.99 CAN
Street: May 27, 2008