Movies - Gosford Park

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	Movies - Gosford Park

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 country house. 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 (the noble guests) and below (the servants), 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 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, Tom Hollander, 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.

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
Meg Wynn Owen
- Lewis
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

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Gosford Park ]

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