Gosford Park
From Freepedia
Gosford Park is a 2001 film, directed by Robert Altman. The screenplay was written by Julian Fellowes, based on an idea by Altman and Bob Balaban.
A period piece, the film is set in 1932 at an English countryside manor. A group of wealthy Britons and their two American guests--all accompanied by their servants--have gathered at the home of Sir William McCordle for a weekend of pheasant shooting. A murder occurs in the middle of the night. The plot then follows a traditional whodunit format, combining elements of the British murder mystery with those of a comedy of manners.
The film's true central theme, however, is a study of the British class system during the 1930s. In that regard Gosford Park follows in the tradition of Jean Renoir's 1939 film La règle du jeu, as well as the 1970s British television series Upstairs, Downstairs. Many intertwining subplots detail the complex relationships among the characters, both above stairs and below, and a number of secondary themes are also explored. For example, the film takes a subtle look at sexual mores during the 1930s, and touches on gay issues as well. The film also mentions the decline of the British Empire and the peerage system.
While the story is completely fictional, the character of Ivor Novello is based on the actor of the same name.
The film stars Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jeremy Northam, Bob Balaban, Ryan Phillippe, Stephen Fry, Kelly Macdonald, Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Eileen Atkins, Emily Watson, Camilla Rutherford, Alan Bates, Derek Jacobi, and Richard E. Grant.
It won the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Helen Mirren), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Maggie Smith), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Director and Best Picture. It also won the "Alexander Korda award for the outstanding British film of the year" at the British Academy Film Awards in 2002.
The pheasant shooting scene is an homage to the 1939 film La règle du jeu.
Tagline: Tea At Four. Dinner At Eight. Murder At Midnight.
Soundtrack: Composed by Patrick Doyle and Ivor Novello. Novello was portrayed by Jeremy Northam in the film.
Contents |
Relationships between the characters (spoilers)
- Sir William McCordle is married to Lady Silvia
- Isobel is the daughter of Sir William and Lady Silvia
- Lieutenant-Commander Anthony Meredith is married to Lady Lavinia
- Raymond, Lord Stockbridge is married to Lady Louisa
- Lady Silvia, Lady Lavinia, and Lady Louisa are sisters.
- Freddie Nesbitt is married to Mabel
- Mary Maceachran serves Lady Constance Trentham who is Lady Silvia, Lavinia, and Louisa's aunt.
- Elsie is head housemaid and one of Sir William's lovers
- Robert Parks serves Lord Stockbridge
- Henry Denton serves Morris Weissman, but is really an American actor pretending to be Scottish.
The two young men who arrive late to dinner are Rupert Standish, who is interested in Isobel, and Jeremy Blond, who later sleeps with one of the kitchen staff.
Some plot elements (spoilers)
- Anthony Meredith has a business deal with Sir William.
- Freddie Nesbitt is looking for a job.
- (inferred) Freddie Nesbitt and Isobel had an affair, and now Isobel is pregnant.
Cast
- Maggie Smith - Constance, Countess of Trentham
- Michael Gambon - Sir William McCordle
- Kristin Scott Thomas - Lady Sylvia McCordle
- Jeremy Northam - Ivor Novello
- Bob Balaban - Morris Weissman
- Alan Bates - Jennings
- Richard E. Grant - George
- Helen Mirren - Mrs Wilson
- Eileen Atkins - Mrs Croft
- Emily Watson - Elsie
- Stephen Fry - Inspector Thompson
- Kelly MacDonald - Mary Maceachran
- Clive Owen - Robert Parks
- Ryan Phillippe - Henry Denton
- Tom Hollander - Lieutenant-Commander Anthony Meredith
- Geraldine Somerville - Louisa, Lady Stockbridge
- Charles Dance - Raymond, Lord Stockbridge
- Sophie Thompson - Dorothy
- Derek Jacobi - Probert
- James Wilby - Freddie Nesbitt
- Camilla Rutherford - Isobel McCordle
- Claudie Blakley - Mabel Nesbitt
- Natasha Wightman - Lady Lavinia Meredith
- Teresa Churcher - Bertha
- Jeremy Swift - Arthur
- Ron Webster - Constable Dexter
Track listing
- Waltz Of My Heart by Ivor Novello
- Mr. Parks by Patrick Doyle
- Gosford Park by Patrick Doyle
- Bored To Sobs by Patrick Doyle
- The Shirt by Patrick Doyle
- And Her Mother Came Too by Ivor Novello
- Walking To Shoot by Patrick Doyle
- No Smoke Without Fire by Patrick Doyle
- Scherzo In G by Patrick Doyle
- I Can Give You The Starlight by Ivor Novello
- What A Duke Should Be by Ivor Novello
- Inspector Thompson by Patrick Doyle
- Pull Yourself Together by Patrick Doyle
- Life Goes On by Patrick Doyle
- Secrets To Hide by Patrick Doyle
- Only For A While by Patrick Doyle
- Rather A Pasting by Patrick Doyle
- Love Jam by Patrick Doyle
- Why Isn't It You? by Ivor Novello
- The Way It's Meant To Be by Patrick Doyle
- Carpe Diem by Patrick Doyle
- Good Luck by Patrick Doyle
- Your Boy's Alive by Patrick Doyle
- The Land That Might-Have-Been by Ivor Novello
External links
- Gosford Park at the Internet Movie Database
- Anatomy of a Scene: Gosford Park, from the Sundance Channel website
