Starring:
Maggie
Smith, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Jeremy Northam, Bob Balaban, Charles
Dance, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emily Watson, Alan Bates, Stephen Fry,
Clive Owen, Ryan Phillippe , Richard E. Grant, Tom Hollander, Derek
Jacobi, Kelly Macdonald.
Summary:
Gosford
Park is the country estate of Sir William McCordle and his wife Lady
Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas). Following an invitation for friends and
relatives to join them for a weekend of shooting, the film begins with
the arrival of the various guests and their servants. With so many characters
to become acquainted with, much of the early gossip amongst staff and
guests is difficult to disseminate. But slowly the identities become
clear, none more so than the bad-tempered Constance, played with wicked
glee by Maggie Smith, who takes great pleasure in belittling the esteemed
actor Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam) and his Hollywood producer friend
Morris Weisman (Bob Balaban, who is there doing research for his next
movie. Below stairs things are run by Jennings (Alan Bates), the redoubtable
Mrs Wilson (HelenMirren and her rival, Mrs Croft (Eileen Atkins, all
of whom hold more respect for their positions than those they serve.
Allegiances and conflicts are established so that when someone is murdered,
there are plenty of suspects if little evidence, certainly none that
is of help to the bumbling Inspector Thompson (Stephen Fry).
Activities
for E.O.I. students
1st
level:
Write
down the names of some people in the film.. Make as many sentences as
you can about them. For example: " Lady Sylvia is William Mc Cordle’s
wife"
2nd
and 3rd levels:
Think of adjectives to describe the characters in the film.
3rd, 4th and 5th levels: write a review about the film you’ve just
seen. Would you recommend it to a friend?
4th and 5th levels:
"Americans seem even more obsessed with the British class system
than the British themselves. The film explores with equal parts fascination
and humour, the strict rules of etiquette and protocol that governed
life in England's stately homes during the early part of the last century".
Discuss.
