Top 10 Things The Gilded Age Gets Factually Right & Wrong
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- čas přidán 28. 03. 2022
- How much did "The Gilded Age" get right and wrong? For this list, we’ll be looking at events and plot points from this HBO period drama that are historically accurate, as well as the creative liberties taken by creator and writer Julian Fellowes. Our countdown includes the Statue of Liberty’s hand, “Downstairs” Happenings, a thriving Black elite, and more! What do YOU think of "The Gilded Age?" Let us know in the comments!
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I loved the costumes, the houses, the headstrong Mrs. Russell, and of course the portrayal of a female, African American in a different light other than poor and uneducated 👏👏👏
AMEN 🙏💛🥲
When Marian shows up at Peggy's family home in BK with old shoes, I was dead.
I truly enjoyed the show - seeing a Black American Woman in the late 1800’s that was upper class dark skin was such a treat . More please.
Agreed! Peggy was the highlight of the show.
Exactly!
In Atlanta, there are descendants of an influential, 1700s, wealthy aristocracy of pre civil war black freedmen and woman who owned enormous tracts of land, major investments, one being the founder in the early 1900s of the largest black life insurance company in the nation. They are pedigreed, cliquish, rich, educated in the finest schoools cultured, powerful and anonymous to all unaware. A similar one in New Orleans, Andrew Young, former Mayor, Ambassador to the,UN was a progeny of that group.
I agree. One of my only complaints about the show is that Marian only ever introduced Peggy as her aunt's secretary rather than her friend. I felt like like kept too much space between the women and could have pushed an actual friendship publicly more. Hopefully we'll see that in season 2.
@@dsandy131 ok!
About the fact that we didn't see the servants doing the more manual work, is simply because the show focuses on a group of servant characters who occupy a higher position in the service hierarchy. The butler, housekeeper, footman, cook and head housemaid are not the ones who do the washing and the menial work. There must be other servants that weren't shown on screen yet.
Why on earth would you want to devote time to portray servants or anyone else doing menial work.
We got a mix of both in Downton Abbey but in TGA it focuses more on the various families instead of the servants and I like that shift, gives a different feel.
@@xenon8117 I see it as they trying to emulate the spark of the Downstaires from Downton Abbey without giving them many real plot, but I only watched 2 episodies, so I dont know
I love this show. The way they talk, snide but disguised as a compliment, the clothes and homes. The air of anyone can make it in this time period. The true showing of prominent black society.
I know not a lot of people find this show “exciting” or arguably “good,” but watching this show every Monday w/ my mom has been such a highlight of my year so far! It’s entertaining, educational & overall a good distraction from all the misery of everything happening in the world. & if something like that gives you healthy joy & distraction, what’s wrong w/ that? ☺️🎩❤️
I love this show! Truth be told, a little bit dry in the beginning, and now bummed season 1 is over.
@@jennibennecke669 Totally valid & agreed! 😁
I find it a fascinating show. Glad you’re able to enjoy it with your mom.
I agree, it’s not necessarily exciting but there’s just something in it that made me want to continue watching…
I couldn't have said it better 🙏💛☺️💯
Love, love, love this show! I hope Marion Brtoks & Larry Russell are the next couple.
@Mari I'm Rooting for Larry Russell & Marian Brook too.
i concur 😍
Julian Fellowes writing’s so exquisite, he likes a slow burn on romantic relationships, remember how long it took for Matthew and Mary to get together? I’m still traumatized over his death 😢
Marion and Larry are going to happen but it’s going to take time and I’m here for it!
Except in the trailer Larry is in bed with a woman I didn’t recognize. Dark hair. Hope it’s not that mean maid… but it was hard to tell. Might be a new character…
Yes! And Marian can stick it to Mr. Raikes!
I read that the Van Rhijn family is Quaker in The Gilded Age. If so, Agnes would have had a more modern perspective on race and racism than the general population. That makes it more reasonable that she should hire Peggy.
I 😮don't know of a more racist group than the quakers.
Yes, the Quakers had a much more inclusive view of African Americans. I learned a lot about this in James Michener's novel. 'Chesapeake'. (Great read, btw.)
Thank you for teaching me about the quakers
It seems very farfetched. She’s on the side of old NY money focusing on family names and breeding strongly against newly rich white people but doesn’t think twice having a black employee living in her home.
A very good point, thank you.
As this show doesn't include ghosts, vampires, werewolves, aliens, monsters, or space travel I wouldn't usually watch it. But for some reason I did, and I loved it. Christine Baranski is rare form. It's in one of those shows where you absolutely hate some (all?) characters, but absolutely love them at the same time.
@David Agree re:Christine Baranski. Knew I would love this when I saw whould have a starring role. That upper-crust voice and demeanor are brilliant.
Those sound like my kind of shows 😂
You miss out on so many good shows when you limit yourself to these things...
@spirals 73 Yes! Waiting for Season 2.
Christine Baranski was everything in this. When Aunt Ada asked if it's possible shes wrong and she replied 'Its possible a hurricane might blow in and destroy new York tomorrow, but not likely' 🥵
I like the singled-minded tenacity of Mrs. Russell (Vanderbilt).
I really love this show!! I love all the theatre actors! It’s also a joy to watch my wonderful and talented friend Claybourne Elder as John Adams!
I spotted a glaring mistake: in one episode, the Russells have a luncheon that was supposed to be overseen by the English butler, because he was supposed to be better-versed in British etiquette. Then they show the luncheon table and it had a whole bunch of lit candles on it --at a daytime event. The butler should have caught that faux pas. The florist who styled the event should have known better. Julian Fellows should have caught it, since he is supposed to be a stickler for detail. I also spied several flower varieties throughout the series which did not exist in the 19th century.
No mention of how the Russells are based from the real life Vanderbilt family?
I thought this was going to be a big point in this video!
Yes I was waiting to hear that as well, good call out
Especially ironic since the Vanderbilts *had been* in the area since 1730 or so, and that Cornelius made his fortune twice, first with steamships in the 1840s and then railroads in the 1860s/70s. How were they considered “new money”?
I think so too. Bertha is definitely holding Gladys back for a Duke or second son prince. Season 2?!?!?
@@123bgmiller, I could totally see Gladys becoming one of the Dollar Princesses. And Julian Fellowes based Lady Grantham one of those brides too.
I LOVE the opening theme music of the show! It's perfect!
Anderson Cooper was profiled on 60 Minutes a few months ago after writing a book about his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and her family heritage. What I found most amusing was that the first Vanderbilts did come to New Netherland (now New York) from the Netherlands at least 40 years before the Revolution and that Cornelius made his money first in the 1840s with steamships. He then made an additional fortune in railroads in the 1860s and 70s. His son had continued to make money, but died only 7 years after his father.
It was the grandsons and their wives that went spend-happy after Granddad and Dad died (1877 and 1884). They built elaborate mansions and spent money without caring about continuing to make it. And in all of that, THEY were considered the “new money”. Ironic since they’re lineage had been in the NYC area for almost 150 years, just like the “old money”, and that many of the fortunes made by other families surely had depended on Cornelius’ steamships and railroads.
I wonder why that was the case
Because Vanderbilt money was only 2 generations old. The society of Patriarchs required FOUR generations of wealth. Chalk it up to Mrs William Astor (Caroline) ... whose husband only received an inheritance of 1 million while bro John received 50 million.
I just binged the entire first season! I loved it! Especially loved the Peggy Scott character and story line.
I saw it two months ago.
peggy scott shouldn't even be there bye
I ADORE this show! I love all of the characters…it’s so glamorous and beautifully done! I love how all of the women are dressed so feminine and classy!! I’ve always loved watching documentaries about 1800/early 1900’s New York. This show captures all of my wildest imagination about that era perfectly! 🥰 #favoriteshow
I'm so enthralled with this show! There are some historical inaccuracies, but it's still incredibly enjoyable!
I love love love The Gilded Age! I think it's perfectly presented!
I was a street sweeper, you can see me in two episodes. They had me unshaven, puffing a cigarette. My job was to keep those streets clean!
Ha! That was almost literally the first thing I thought when they showed the New York streets. TOO CLEAN - where is the massive coal pollution? Oh well, it looks real pretty. You did an excellent job, sir!
If you like the show, you must listen to the podcast about the show. They discuss everything about the show and its very interesting and addictive. I loved the show.
Yes I did it after every episode on the HBOMAX app. The actor who played Raikes kinda spoiled his turn to money.
I almost stopped after the first episode. It felt soooo slow. However, I kept watching and now I cannot wait for season 2! Staggeringly beautiful sets and costumes.
For Agnes to hire Peggy as a social secretary would indeed have been unusual. But then, Agnes was an unusual woman. As a member of Old New York society, she embraced her responsibilities as much as her privileges. Her openness toward Peggy anticipates her generosity toward Jack when he needs money for a patent application.
I enjoy the show. I really enjoy seeing black family upward mobility portrayed. It reminds me of my own family and the struggles and triumphs they experienced.
The costumes, sets and the manners are always interesting. All the details on the dresses like the lace, buttons, contrast of fabrics and use of tule. Also the social connections are very important to the story line, and l love the snubs. So very important to how the characters interact, helps us to stay focused on the show.
Thank you for highlighting my comment from two months ago.
Does anyone else love the opening as much as I do? Love the music and how the video transitions.
No mention of how the address of the Russells’ house is the current Metropolitan Club…?
There’s a 1940s film of a slightly earlier book, Dragonwyck. It really shows how strong the Dutch influence still was at this time. And remember when that book and film were new it was all within living memory.
Thank you for sharing I looked this up and it's with Gene Tierney one of my favorite actresses!! Going to watch right now!
The racism towards Peggy is what I found interesting as well. There were no slaves working in homes in New York as far as I know. Yet, the people of the North were just as prejudice as those in the South where slavery was commonplace.
Well there was no slavery in the United States at this year anyway.
@@davidclarke6951 "slavery"
There were never any slaves on the British Isles, but racism still exists here.
what's interesting is how they try to insert her and follow Marion around like little slave... they said themselves that they can't find any example of black people being a part of the upper crust or in the upper crust society
@@greatbritishmaleunless you count the Irish
Protect Aunt Ada at all cost!
Love this new series enjoy the fiction and the historical facts, brings a new point of view to a time we didn't understand fully hope to see much much more of this and will watch all of it. Thank you to the writers, actors and all the many people that make it happen. You lifted me up out of a depressing time in my life and gave me something to look forward to. Sadly I just saw the last episode of the second season, and I have no more to see so I will be waiting on pins and needles for season three please don't keep me waiting long. Thank you again.
Peggy Scott seems to be based on famous + major US African.American,
woman journalist Ida, Wells.
so she stayed with livingston?💀
I got instantly hooked on the drama of this show! Started reading everything I could find on that era
This was an excellent one, thank you
It was common at that time for the aristocrat class to carry smelling salts with them. Because the stench of sewage and manure in NYC was overwhelming. Needless to say the people all smelled bad too, even the rich.
I super love this show!!! Not too heavy to watch and kept me really hooked! Oh how I love a Christine Baranski and Maggie Smith team up! Perhaps a cross over? 😂 Do their timelines align?
I did a bit of research😁so GA season 1 takes place in 1882 (30 years before the start of DA) at which time Violet would still be the Countess of Grantham, mother to a bachelor Robert in search of an American heiress probably haha (as Robert's father died in 1900 and Robert met Cora in 1888 and got married in 1890). So given Violet's age at the start of DA I'd say her and Agnes would be roughly the same age in the 1880s - so a crossover would be delightful to watch😂
My only issue with this show in terms of production value is it does feel very claustrophobic. The set design and costume work is immaculate but almost every scene takes places indoors. When they do go outside its always central park or the street they made up. Hopefully with a bigger budget from HBO they will be able to expand a bit.
They filmed this series during the pandemic....so it made sense it was almost entirely film indoors?
No during a pandemic you film out doors. Less confined space.
I think it would have to be a significantly larger budget to create more outdoor spaces that pass as the late 1800's. Indoor spaces are a little easier because they're smaller and some locations have been preserved to look like the 1800's. Outdoors, you can't find anywhere that has been preserved like that. Even parks have things like modern lights, signage, etc.
Ultimately it’s very costly to do outdoor historic location shoots, much cheaper and easier to use indoor sets. If you have your sets look good then it’s less of an issue and every time the Russell’s palace was on screen I was excited to take it all in.
Maybe that was done deliberately. To convey the propriety, exclusivity and expectations that were placed upon those who were part of the upper class. They existed in their own bubble of wealth, saw the same people moving in their circles etc.
No wonder I’m struggling. I thought the gilded age begin in 1900s, not late 1800s. I am Native American so this wouldn’t of been my life but it’s pretty fascinating to see. The beginning of the rich getting richer, and the poor staying poor.
Rich getting richer and poor staying poorer has been around for centuries. Everyone focuses on the hight tax years after WWII where things were so booming that everyone did pretty well and doesn’t realize that was the exception not the rule.
Read the actual truth, Read the book, " Fortune's Children, the Fall of the house of Vanderbilt " There were no 'indians, and no one would ever mention the perverts (LGBTQ's), or they'd have ended up in Prison as they should have.
Julian Fellowes show Downton Abbey takes place in the 1900s. It literally starts when the Titanic sank.
Loooove the show! Can’t wait for season 2
I agree about Agnes hiring a black secretary. She is such an unpleasant person and very touchy about the old money situation that I cannot see her actually hiring a black person. Other than that I very much enjoy the show.
I'm really enjoying the show! But my husband noticed in the first episode one of the characters, I believe Carrie Astor, speaks about seeing Dvořák conduct. Apparently he didn't come to NYC until 1892. Dope.
What an easy mistake to avoid.
The hoity toity ways of the super rich disgust and fascinate me, fell in luv with this show.
Fellowes seems to have borrowed some of gilded age storyline from MGM film Mrs. Parkington.
Thank you for sharing I love classic movie!! I'm going to watch this movie Right now.
Excellent video…enjoying the time period this takes place. Innovation in full swing with the industrial revolution …And the high stakes business drama, with a look into black upper classes…yes please! Can’t wait for the next season!
After seeing a couple episodes I realized it was Downton Abbey USA. Same everything. No surprise since Fellowes was creator of both.
I'm glad they got him to write it. He knows his stuff...
Yes! Love the GILDED AGE.. I sure hope it is watched so we can have Season 3.
Or: "Gilded Age Top Ten Fact or Fiction?" as they know exactly what they are doing.
The costumes are simply divine!
I found it very amusing how Bertha,s "French chef" is found out to be from Kansas. Lol
Imagine the shame, the embarrassment, the scandal. But she kept him on because his food is truly delicious.
The lighting of Time Square is just mesmerizing!
I legitimately really loved it. Which is good, because I just binge watched it in a single day. I particularly enjoyed Mr. Russell, if you know what I mean 🔥 🔥🔥
If the show goes on into third or 4th season ,I am certain there will be a Downton reference. May be a younger Cora and Mrs. Levinson and oh lord, I cannot contain, may be even a young Dowager Countess !!!!!!
Oh yes let us please have mention of the Dowager.
not a lot of time since Cora married Robert in 1888
Unfortunately they tore down the Academy of Music was torn down so the Academy of Music in Philadelphia stood in for the Age of Innocence opening scenes. The only extant building of that era for that purpose
Mrs Russell is actually Mrs Vanderbilt
My husband and I visited the Newport Mansions 20 years back. What a time in History!
I loved this show and can’t wait for season 2💙
Yeah I totally love the show ❤
Also, It was interested that they never reslly mentioned neighborhood names, just streets. Central Park is almost irrelevant- when it’s right across the street. I love how the new money are basically dressed like somesort of trendy (just fabric thrown around/ lack of detail and much more variety in outfits.) Also, the actors sre mostly very well educated- from prestigious institutions in real life.
I just realized that the stark difference between the Van Rhijn and Russell houses are similar to the Bridgerton and Featherington houses
The Russells are modeled on the Vanderbilts, and the storyline about their relationships with the Astors, especially in Season One, sticks very closely to real events. Peggy seems loosely modeled on real-life journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett, although Wells-Barnett was originally from the South, and she did not grow up among the Black elites. It’ll be interesting to see whether Peggy goes on to fight against lynching, one of the evils Wells-Barnett exposed in her writings. Peggy’s impending visit to Alabama may set her on a similar path.
This show is excellent
I wonder if they will jump in years between seasons like Downton Abbey.
I quite enjoyed the show not jumping as much as DA did, the pacing for Bertha getting what she wanted felt right. Series 2 might change that up a bit though if they have other plans they want to spend time building, I can imagine it being to the benefit for showing off George building his company more.
When MOJO mentioned upstairs downstairs, I couldn't tell if narrator meant the show (which I enjoyed much more than Downton Abbey). UpDown's well developed scenes last way longer. D.A's scenes are half as long. Will Christine Baransky stay around? Will HBO continue to support the show? I bet the writer's don't want to leave a season incomplete wondering whether they'll return for the next season.
The line about toeing the line for the Republicans is incorrect though. At that time the party for emancipating black people was the Republican party. So he should've mentioned the Democratic party but clearly, people would find it hard to understand these days.
True!
Totally enjoy this show. Don't mind the few "wrong" facts. Chalk them up to artistic license which is allowed in all good artwork. There is so little truly good quality American TV, it is so nice to have it in this really good show!
Christine is the undisputed master of playing a condescending grande dame who usually still has a good heart.
Could you talk about Sanditon?
love this show its my favorite
I wonder if they’ll get into the dark side of Stanford White 😳
I just love this show❤❤
We greatly enjoy this series. I would also note some the inaccuracies of the horse drawn carriages featured in the background. Every carriage is perfectly maintained, every horse and team is in prime condition, and every carriage driver is meticulously uniformed. This would definitely NOT have been the case! Horse drawn vehicles and their drivers varied in appearance and condition just as much, if not more, than cars and trucks are today. Also - the horses do NOT make random whinnying noises when they are working! Horses whinny usually only whinny when they are anxious. These horses were well accustomed to working in NY all day.
I was impressed by the fact that a woman had a great impact on designing and building the Brooklyn Bridge. I had to google it, and found out that it is actually kind of true.
Greetings from Germany
FABULOUS.
I really wish a character would have been based on Ida B Wells.
Just like today, the few owns more than the many..
Gotcha
The majority of people lived in poverty and the gilded age cared not at all
Mrs Vanderbilt had the grand ballroom
Last I checked (check notes), the series was a work of fiction, and was not a documentary.
Such a good show!
do best new movies to watch from a streaming service (netflix, hulu, disney +, etc)
No thank you. Better to exercise use of one's own brain.
@@sodafeet sorry was just thinking of an idea for this channel to do
OMG!!!!! I thought "The Gilded Age" was a historical documentary and now you're telling me it was (GASP!) fiction?
Read the book, " Fortune's Children, the fall of the house of Vanderbilt" Commodore Vanderbilt was an illiterate greedy ignoramus, nothing more. Learn the truth, the TV fiction the guilded age is mostly just silly nonsense
FYI economists say we’re in a second gilded age…
It bothered me how much the servants were just sitting around.
People were very religious at the time. That aspect is completely absent in the show.
The introduction of current social and political ideas into the plot is problematic, as if we are willingly distorting truth to fit the newest fads.
This is interesting. I'm finding much the same hardships in my own Irish family. Might have been a few decades earlier however it was the same slander, bully, an degradation thats experienced in this era. 😮 just saying. I was born to a family that did not recognize this/those prejudices. Thank you God 😀
I enjoy this show knowing some of story lines are not actually historical.
What was America's religion in 1880s? I find it amazing how religion didn't at all play anything in the plot which is good.
Cynthia Nixon got a hit show... Please don't leave... but ur character should get married....LOl
I hope they renew for season 2
from what I read, a casting call went out and they were going to be filming season 2 from May onward.
Love the show! Irony What was important to the women of that time is frivolous and ridiculous just shows they really didn't have anything better to do in life.
still true today
@@samanthasmith61 AMEN SISTER!
exactly, they worried about the dumbest things that no one today would think twice about. The class status they had was insanity at its peak. Your right, they had too much time on thier hands to be worried over this crap.
It’s just hard to believe a woman like Aunt Agnes so focused on family names and breeding would jump through hoops to employ Peggy living in her home in those times like she flat out doesn’t care. It’s ridiculous but I still like the show.
Not really, makes perfect sense. She would have a massive issue with it if Peggy and her son tried to get married, yes, but she's got no issue with Peggy being independent and working. Rich people have always had servants, of every skin tone
@@RandomName-my2uo This is the 1800’s and old NY money types like Agnes don’t even like whites with new money around them. If historically accurate isn’t it strange all the servants of the rich families on the show are white even Agnes? Unless it’s just the show being PC.
She was a terrible snob and thought most white people didn't pass muster, so it seems unlikely she would employ someone like Peggy so easily.
0:52 the Gilded Age is actually not a historical drama
your knowledge is quite limited do more research ----- just because we didnt see people washing clothes doesnt meant that they didnt. we all know that this is understood ---we dont want to watch it nor do we like to watch people sitting on the toilet and yet we all know that they did -- questioning fellows integrity is not the way to go
Its watchmojo, they don't do much research past a quick google search.
This is a work of fiction based on some real-life characters...It never presented itself as a nonfiction so stop the bashing...
like downton abbey, the gilded age is a period drama, not a historical drama
❤
It’s a slow-burning show, the difference between Gilded Age and Downton Abbey is that there’s no overarching plot that necessarily connect the whole main character. By the end of the Season, Bertha already achieved what she strive to achieve, so there’s not much left to achieve for her storyline unless they’re going for the Consuelo Vanderbilt route which won’t showcase American society and should be a spin-off with Cora Levinson as the main character.
how can they make gilded age more boring than Downton Abbey is beyond me..... oh wait the wokeism! they focus so hard to insert 1 black character in white upper crust to the point they destroy the actual gilded age elite.
Is mojo racist? When the new Rings of Power show started, people who commented that hobbits and elves weren’t black in the books are racist (same with House of Dragon and the sea snake). Mojo is saying black people wouldn’t have been secretaries, isn’t this racist? I’m asking because the lines confuse me, is commenting on things like this racist, even if not expressing an opinion either way, or would someone who isn’t racist just ignore things like this? Alternatively, the source material for The Gilded Age is history, whereas the others are Novels. Is this the distinction? (Please don’t think I’m trying to excuse racism, I just genuinely want to understand)
Here
The Russels head maid I found to be soooo annoying.
Was thinking of subscribing to watch this: a black woman playing a non-servant character, Christine Baranski . . .but then saw Cynthia Nixon . . .🙄🙄🙄
Oh? Care to spill some tea about Cynthia Nixon? 👀
I'm British and saw the first episode the other day and am surprised to say I enjoyed it. I tend to avoid American series particularly ones that are based so long ago mainly bcause Americans take too many liberties with the subject and make it all wonderful and lovely when in reality it was not.
I really dislike it when American do a British period drama. Like Bridgrton. Awful, awful, dumbed down, full of cliche. But this show was actually decent and well written.