Tonight on TCM

I noticed that Mrs. Miniver is playing this evening on Turner Classics and couldn't let this showing go by without mentioning a little something. You surely noticed my recent post where I gushed about Downton Abbey and how excited I was that another season is in the works. Well, here's a little something I noticed whilst (and yes, I use this word all the time!) watching that final episode.

If you recall, The Countess of Grantham, the marvelous Dame Maggie Smith, is about to announce the winner of the annual flower show. It's already been established that she wins it every year. Mrs. Reginald Crawley, the equally marvelous Penelope Wilton, has let the countess know that she wins every year simply because of her social status. Of course, Maggie poo-poos this. Mrs. Crawley points out that that "lowly" Mr. Molesley's roses are far superior and he ought to win. While at the podium, the countess is handed the paper with the winner's name and it reads as it has read every year; it names her the winner. Quite surprisingly and surely out of character, the countess accedes and magnanimously awards the prize to the deserving Molesley.

In Mrs. Miniver, Lady Belden, played by another marvelous dame, May Whitty, is persuaded by Mrs. Miniver to present the award to Mr. Ballard, the stationmaster. He has bred a rose and named it after the exquisite Mrs. Miniver and has entered this rose in the annual flower show. Lady Belden, also at the podium, is handed paper and sees her name as winner, but realizes that Mrs. Miniver is right. Because of her status, Belden is always awarded the cup. It is here that she digs deep and gives away her own prize, thrilling all in attendance.

When the flower show scene on Downton Abbey unfolded and I saw the same plot line taking shape, I screamed, "The Belden Rose!!" Of course, no one in the room knew what I was talking about. Since then, I found there are lots of folks who picked up on this and wrote about it. Like I said, with Greer on tonight and Downton Abbey still fresh in the mind, I thought a mention was necessary.