"Gosford Park"

Image Credit: Barnes and Noble

If you love whodunits or upstairs/downstairs movies, you'll love "Gosford Park." I'm an Anglophile and love movies about the English monarchy, class system or as I call them, “talkie English things.” Written by Julian Fellowes of "Downton Abbey" fame, there are plots, subplots and schemes in every scene. Similar to Agatha Christie mysteries, everybody has a motive for murder and everything happens in one location in one weekend. The movie takes place in 1932 at an English country weekend shooting party. Gosford Park is an actual park located in Coventry, England.


Characters

There's a very large and star studded ensemble cast, most of whom have issues with the soon to be dispatched patriarch, Sir William McCordle, played with delicious, evil glee by Michael Gambon.  McCordle is the polar opposite of his best known character, the kindly Professor Dumbledore of the “Harry Potter.” I had to set up a spreadsheet to keep track of the thirty or so characters to sort out who is related to whom, who is married to whom, and their motives for murder. I’ve included my own observations and put a detailed cast list at the end of this article for your reference.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Maggie Smith has terrific tart commentaries throughout the movie. 

This was the first time I ever noticed Clive Owen, laying in bed reading a book wearing a tank tee shirt.

Ryan Phillippe was beyond smarmy as an American actor that played both sides of the fence and upstairs/downstairs.

Major actors in key supporting roles include Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Northam, Tom Hollander, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bob Balaban, Alan Bates and many more. 

Writer

I thought that Julian Fellowes was an actor and writer. In addition to “Gosford Park,” he has written “Downton Abbey,” “Young Victoria,” “Vanity Fair” and “Picadilly Jim”. I was surprised to find that he is actually a Baron and member of the House of Lords. This certainly explains why he writes so knowingly about the English class system. That knowledge garnered him an Academy Award for the screenplay of this movie.

Director

Another surprise is that Robert Altman, of all people, directed this very English movie. He is better known for directing “all American“ movies, like ‘MASH,” “Nashville,” and “A Prairie Home Companion.” According to the 2014 documentary by Ron Mann, “Altman,” the director had trouble getting financing because of the large ensemble cast and the ambiguous ending. Altman just went to London and contacted almost every major English actor to make the movie. At the last minute, he obtained funding from the UK National Lottery Premiere Production Fund. The Fund also helped to finance two other great period movies, both written by Oscar Wilde, “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “An Ideal Husband.”

Altman encouraged his actors to improvise. I'm sure that many of the Shakespearean actors had to do some adjusting.  The scene of the sisters, Helen Mirren and Eileen Atkins, comforting each other is a master class in improvisation. Below, check out the interview with Stephen Fry about working with Altman and a great Maggie Smith quote. 

Robert Altman won Best Director from the Golden Globes and was nominated for Academy Award for this movie.

Stephen Fry discussing Robert Altman

Locations

The locations are absolutely stunning. English country houses are opulent beyond compare. Several different stately homes provided the luxurious settings. The exterior of the house is located at Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire. Wrotham Park, in Middlesex provided the dazzling drawing rooms.  The bedroom scenes were filmed at Syon house near London.  The exquisite garden folly used for the hunting lunch scene is supposed to be at Hall Barn, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire but I can't find any images to support that claim. Sets were built at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, for the “downstairs” scenes. The downstairs felt like a claustrophobic rabbit warren to me. 

Costumes 

The costumes are positively exquisite! Jenny Beavan, the Costume Designer, won the BAFTA award for Best Costume Design and was also nominated for an Academy award for "Gosford Park." Lady Sylvia’s slinky white with black trim gown is to die for. Clive Owen’s tee shirt isn’t bad either. Ms. Beavan has done spectacular costumes for many period movies including “The Remains of the Day”, “Sense and Sensibility,” “The King’s Speech,” and many more.

Music

Renowned British composer Patrick Doyle wrote the score. Very wisely, he also used six songs composed by Ivor Novello, who wrote for British theatre, as did Noel Coward. The songs sung by Jeremy Northam, who played Novello are:

• "Waltz of My Heart" - sweetly romantic song
• “And Her Mother Comes Too" - cute little ditty that was often played by Bobby Short
• "I Can Give You the Starlight" - lovely sentimental ballad
• “What a Duke Should Be" - comedic tune poking fun at the aristocracy
• “Why Isn't It You?" - spritely up tempo piece
• “The Land of Might-Have-Been" - absolutely haunting melody

Mr. Doyle has also done the scores for a wide variety of films including “Sense and Sensibility,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” “Brave” and Kenneth Branaugh’s “Hamlet.”

Quotes and Zingers

“If there's one thing I don't look for in a maid, it's discretion. Except with my own secrets, of course.” Maggie Smith (Constance, Countess of Trentham).

“I suppose that life must go on.” Kristin Scott Thomas (Lady Sylvia),as she prepares to go to bed with Ryan Phillippe on the night that her husband is murdered. 

“When was the last time you stabbed a corpse?” Clive Owen (Robert Parks) to Kelly Macdonald, (Mary Maceachren).

“I’m not interested in the servants, only someone with a real connection to the man.” Stephan Fry (Inspector Thompson)

Site Gags

There are quite a few site gags, typical of Robert Altman’s style. My favorites include:

Maggie Smith with cucumber slices on her eyes.

Kristin Scott Thomas wearing a heavy layer of cold cream and thick white moisturizing gloves while setting up a rendezvous with Ryan Phillippe.

Ryan Phillippe’s reaction to having hot coffee poured on his “man parts” and covering up with a pillow.

Teresa Churcher fixing a wedgie after one of her assignations with Mr. Blond. 

Try It, You’ll Like It

Escape to a different time and place watching "Gosford Park." Even at 137 minutes in length, I didn't want the movie to end. I was astounded when the murderer and murder weapon were revealed. No, I’m not going to say who it is. Watch the movie and find out!

About the movie: 

Available for download on iTunes for $9.99
Available on DVD from Barnes and Noble for $9.49
Run time: 2 hours 17 minutes
Released in 2001 by USA Films, now known as Focus Features

Movie Trailer

**Spoiler Alert** - many plot details revealed 

Cast List - Upstairs

Maggie Smith

• Constance, Countess of Trentham 
• Aunt of the three sisters: Sylvia, Louisa, and Lavinia
• Dependent on an allowance from Sir William, which he has threatened to cut off

Michael Gambon

• Sir William McCordle, husband to Lady Sylvia
• “Hard-hearted randy old sod” as described by Mrs. Croft

Kristin Scott Thomas

• Lady Sylvia McCordle, Sir William's wife/widow 
• Cut cards with her sister, Lady Louisa, to see which one of them would marry Sir William for his money

Camilla Rutherford

• Isobel McCordle, daughter of Sir William and Lady Sylvia
• Blackmailed by the not so Honourable Freddie Nesbitt
• Romanced by Lord Rupert for her money

Geraldine Somerville

• Louisa, Lady Stockbridge, Sister of Lavinia and Sylvia, wife to Lord Stockbridge
• Flirts constantly with Sir William

Charles Dance

• Raymond, Lord Stockbridge, Baronet, husband to Lady Louisa
• Classic aristocratic snob

Natasha Wightman

• Lady Lavinia Meredith, sister of Louisa and Sylvia, wife to Anthony Meredith
• Angry with her sisters for not persuading Sir William to change his mind about a business deal with her husband

Tom Hollander

• Lieutenant-Commander Anthony Meredith, husband to Lady Lavinia
• Having severe financial problems. Sir William won’t invest in a scheme to provide boots to the Sudanese army
• Quite a different character to Cutler Beckett, whom he played in “Pirates of the Caribbean”

Jeremy Northam

• Ivor Novello, an actor, Sir William's cousin
• Real person, well known tenor and composer for the theater
• Beautiful singing voice, recorded live on the set
• Under utilized in this film
• Loved him in “Emma” and “An Ideal Husband”

Bob Balaban

• Morris Weissman, a Hollywood producer
• Listed as a producer for this movie
• Chicagoans may know him by his family connections to the Balaban and Katz movie theatre chain which included the iconic Chicago, Esquire and Uptown theatres

Ryan Phillippe

• Henry Denton/Mr. Weissman, valet to Morris Weissman and Ivor Novello
• American actor pretending to be a Scottish valet to observe servants to research for a new Charlie Chan film
• Implied to be bisexual and Weissman’s lover
• Tries to rape Mary and seduce Elsie

James Wilby

• The Honourable Freddie Nesbitt, husband to Mabel
• Married Mabel for her money, spent it and now hates her
• Blackmailing Isobel so she’ll help him get a job from Sir William

Claudie Blakley

• Mabel Nesbitt, Freddie Nesbitt's wife
• Not accepted by aristocracy because her father made gloves
• Many snide comments made about her wardrobe and lack of a lady’s maid

Laurence Fox

• Lord Rupert Standish, younger son of a marquess
• Wants to marry Isobel for her money as he will inherit none

Trent Ford

• Jeremy Blond, Lord Rupert's friend
• Trysts with Bertha interrupted by Mary and George on separate occasions
• Isobel hears him tell Lord Rupert that “he can do better”

Cast List - Downstairs

Helen Mirren

• Mrs. Jane Wilson (née Parks), housekeeper
• Mother of Robert Parks, sister of Mrs. Croft
• Previously a factory worker/conquest of Sir William

Eileen Atkins

• Mrs. Elizabeth Croft (née Parks), head cook
• Sister of Mrs. Wilson
• Previously a factory cook/conquest of Sir William
• Had a son by Sir William that died from scarlet fever
• With actress Jean Marsh, created both “Upstairs, Downstairs” and “The House of Eliot”

Alan Bates 

• Mr. Jennings, head butler 
• Conscientious objector during World War I

Derek Jacobi

• Mr. Probert, devoted valet to Sir William
• Founding member of the National Theatre
• Played many Shakespearean leads such as King Lear, Richard II, Hamlet 
• Played the Emperor Claudius in “I, Claudius”

Meg Wynn Owen

• Lewis, Lady Sylvia’s lady’s maid
• Very loyal to Lady Sylvia 

Emily Watson

• Elsie, lady’s maid to Miss Isobel and Mabel Nesbitt
• One of Sir William’s dalliances
• Fired when she speaks out of turn while serving dinner

Richard E. Grant

• George, 1st footman, acting valet to Lord Rupert Standish
• Criticized by Jennings and Probert for disinterest in his job
• Pours hot coffee on Ryan Phiilippe to get revenge for Phillipe’s deception
• Also appeared in “Downton Abbey” as an art dealer trying to seduce Countess Cora

Kelly Macdonald

• Mary Maceachren, the Countess of Trentham’s lady's maid
• In a breach of protocol, Lady Trentham calls her Mary rather than Maceachran because she cannot pronounce the last name
• Born in Glasgow so her accent is authentic
• I didn’t feel any chemistry between her and Clive Owen when they kissed
• Also played Helena Ravenclaw in “Harry Potter, Evangeline in “Nanny McPhee” and a lady in waiting to the queen in “Elizabeth”

Clive Owen

• Robert Parks, Lord Stockbridge’s valet
• Raised in an orphanage outside London
• Illegitimate child of Mrs. Wilson and Sir William
• Went on to tremendous screen success in movies such as “The Bourne Identity,” “King Arthur” and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”

Jeremy Swift

• Arthur, footman, acting valet to Mr. Blond
• Implied to be homosexual, makes several attempts to become acting valet to Mr. Novello
• Also plays a butler to the Dowager Countess in “Downton Abbey”

Sophie Thompson

• Dorothy, maid
• Unrequitedly in love with Mr. Jennings
• Comedic talents showcased in “Relative Values” with Julie Andrews and Colin Firth

Teresa Churcher

• Bertha, kitchen maid
• Having an affair with Mr. Blond

Adrian Scarborough

• Mr. Barnes, Commander Anthony Meredith’s valet
• Disdainful of his employer

Local constabulary

Stephen Fry

• Inspector Thompson, a policeman
• An obsequious bumbler
• Terribly funny as usual

Ron Webster

• Constable Dexter, Thompson's assistant
• Very able, long suffering

"Evil Under the Sun" the Movie

Image Credit: Barnes and Noble

Hercule Poirot is my favorite Agatha Christie detective of the half dozen that she created and "Evil Under the Sun" is my favorite whodunit. The movies "Death on the Nile" and "Murder on the Orient Express" are terrific but "Evil" is the best of the three because of the music, costumes, scenery, and humor.

Costumes to Die For!

Academy Award and BAFTA Award winner Anthony Powell designed costumes that will take your breath away. His artistry can also be seen in "101 Dalmatians," "Death on the Nile" and "Hook." Many of the women's costumes have huge polka dots the color of gumballs or a Wonder Bread wrapper. Most of the jewelry is brightly colored and obvious costume jewelry, although the characters are wealthy. Even the "MacGuffin," a blue diamond that looks like the Hope Diamond, is paste. The plastic bracelets are piled on three or four at a time almost up to the elbow on Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith.

The women's hats are simply stunning. All are broad brimmed with large decorative doodads. The brims soar at all different angles like a cubist painting. My personal favorites are the Chinese red hat worn by Diana Rigg, the black and white hat worn by Jane Birkin after her transformation, and all of the hats worn by Sylvia Miles. There are a lot of turbans, typical of that period.

The women's costumes imply a couture origin, such as the form fitting jackets worn by Diana Rigg, Jane Birkin, and Maggie Smith. Diana Rigg's silver lame evening dress worn to the first dinner is a knockout. Perhaps the most amazing costume is worn by Jane Birkin. She appears to be the mousey little wife wearing headscarves and long flowing outfits in drab shades of brown and olive green. After her husband is accused by Poirot, the couple leaves the hotel. Her descent down the staircase in a wasp waisted black and white suit with a geometric hat literally causes jaws to drop.

The men's costumes are dashing. Roddy McDowell looks quite the sailor in his nautical attire, complete with neck scarf jauntily tied. James Mason's entire bespoke wardrobe screams elegance. The best men's costume is the bathing costume that was designed by Peter Ustinov himself. Who can forget the red rubber beret bathing cap or the wool bathing suit? The piece de resistance is the elephant print cover-up robe he wears to the beach.

Check out the costumes in this movie trailer for "Evil Under the Sun." Watch for Diana Rigg's silver lame gown, Maggie Smith's bracelets, Jane Birkin's drab toned outfit, and Roddy McDowell's sailor suit.

Zingers

The dialogue is witty, urbane and full of zingers. Maggie Smith presages the Dowager Countess of Downton Abbey with lines like: "Couldn't we make this a private investigation? You know how peculiar people can be about a spot of murder" and "I hope you haven't come here to practice your sleuthing games on my guests - they've all got far too many skeletons in their cupboards to join in with enthusiasm."

Playing the obligatory crass American, Sylvia Miles says to her husband, James Mason, "Hmmph, my hero. I swear, if you were a man I would divorce you." She also has the best sight gag crushing her cigarette into a carefully cut tomato. After being insulted by both Sylvia Miles and James Mason, Roddy McDowell spouts "Is coarseness a substitute for wit, I ask myself?"

Here's Dame Maggie Smith talking about her character in "Evil Under the Sun."

Location

The location of Majorca sparkles and glimmers in the sunlight. The plot places the island in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Albania. Location scouts couldn't find just the right island. Director Guy Hamilton suggested Majorca, where he just happened to be living at the time. Majorca Island is drop dead gorgeous. Majorca is located just east of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea and is the largest island in the Balearic Islands archipelago, which also contain Ibiza. Both are popular tourist destinations. The Raixa Estate serves as the setting for the hotel.

Two of my favorite scenes are there. The sight of Peter Ustinov "swimming" in that outrageous costume is hilarious. I also loved the dialogue between Maggie Smith and Peter Ustinov when he asks, "How many classes are there" when told he has received a medal, first class. It almost looks like an ad-lib from the reaction by Maggie Smith and other actors.

Plot and Dramatic License

I almost forgot that there's a great plot! The Diana Rigg character is murdered. Like most Agatha Christie mysteries, there are multiple suspects that are isolated to one location. Monsieur Poirot gathers the suspects together and announces the murderer.

The problem is that the evidence is purely circumstantial. As one character says to Poirot, “Where were you at the time of the murder?” After a plot twist, Poirot solves a previous murder based on evidence collected for this one.

Fans of the book and David Suchet know that a great deal of dramatic license has been used in the movie. Purists may not like the change of location or whodidit for the movie. While I'm sure that the Devonshire coast in England is just lovely, Majorca is sunny and spectacular.

The movie plot is a bit convoluted compared to the book. The murderer in the book is a logical choice, but then the movie would have fewer characters and costumes! The screenwriter, Anthony Shaffer, also wrote "Death on the Nile" and "Murder on the Orient Express."

Guy Hamilton, the director, easily deals with plot and character. After all, he directed four iconic James Bond films: "Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever," "Live and Let Die," and "The Man with the Golden Gun."

Music

Cole Porter's music evokes the time and mood of the era, between the two World Wars. The songs include many of Porter's most popular compositions: "In the Still of the Night," "You're the Top," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Night and Day," "Anything Goes," "Begin the Beguine," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Just One of Those Things," "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," "You Do Something to Me," and "It's De-lovely". These are just a few of the 881 songs written by Cole Porter, according to the Web site coleporter.org.

John Lanchbery arranged and conducted the exquisite music. Lanchbery is best known for orchestral arrangements for the ballet and converting operas into ballets, such as “Merry Widow” and “Die Fledermaus”. His movie work includes “Tales of Beatrix Potter” and “The Turning Point.” Unfortunately, the CD jacket does not list which orchestra performed under John Lanchbery.


Haven't I Seen That Face Before?

Many of the actors in "Evil Under the Sun" have appeared in "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Death on the Nile" In my opinion, Peter Ustinov is the best movie Poirot. He manages to walk in a mince despite his rotundity. I wish that he had played Poirot in “Murder on the Orient Express.”

Actors in Multiple Agatha Christie Movies

Actor	"Evil Under the Sun"	"Death on the Nile"	"Murder on the Orient Express"
Peter Ustinov	Hercule Poirot	Hercule Poirot
Maggie Smith	Daphne Castle	Miss Bowers
Denis Quilley	Kenneth Marshall		Foscarelli
Colin Blakely	Sir Horace Blatt		Hardman
Jane Birkin	Christine Redfern	Louise Bourget

About the movie

Available for download on iTunes for $9.99

Available on DVD from Barnes and Noble for $4.99

Run time: 1 hours 56 minutes

Released in 1981 by Lions Gate