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Gosford Park
- 568 statements
- 111 feature instances
- 26 referencing feature instances
| Gosford Park | type |
TVTItem | |
| Gosford Park | label |
Gosford Park | |
| Gosford Park | page |
GosfordPark | |
| Gosford Park | comment |
2001 film directed by Robert Altman, set in a large country house in 1930s Britain. The film features an all-star ensemble cast (see Characters).Sir William McCordle, a rich guy, invites some more of his rich friends to a shooting party at Gosford Park. They also bring all their servants.A few days later, Sir William gets murdered.More than just a basic murder mystery story, Gosford Park focuses more on the servants and the division between both ends of the British class system than the rich murdered guy and his rich "friends". The whodunnit plot is used as a device to examine the characters and their relationships with one another, and as a reason for the film to come to an end.Many of the scenes feature the ensemble improvising dialogue in character, and since the camera is seldom still, the audience drifts from conversation to conversation like an eavesdropper. There are also a lot of sub-plots, which would take forever to cover here.The screenplay is by Julian Fellowes, who would later create the popular British television drama Downton Abbey. Like Gosford Park, it would be set in an English manor house and star Dame Maggie Smith. | |
| Gosford Park | fetched |
2024-02-22T07:30:27Z | |
| Gosford Park | parsed |
2024-02-22T07:30:27Z | |
| Gosford Park | processingComment |
Dropped link to Blackmail: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| Gosford Park | processingComment |
Dropped link to CharlieChan: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| Gosford Park | processingComment |
Dropped link to HistoricalDomainCharacter: Not a Feature - IGNORE | |
| Gosford Park | processingComment |
Dropped link to StealthInsult: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| Gosford Park | processingComment |
Dropped link to TheLodger: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| Gosford Park | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| Gosford Park / int_143939c1 | type |
Trailers Always Spoil | |
| Gosford Park / int_143939c1 | comment |
Trailers Always Spoil: The film's main trailer doesn't exactly hide that Denton is actually an actor. | |
| Gosford Park / int_143939c1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_143939c1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_143939c1 | |
| Gosford Park / int_19ebe383 | type |
Never Trust a Trailer | |
| Gosford Park / int_19ebe383 | comment |
Never Trust a Trailer: The trailers and posters for the film made it seem like a somewhat light-hearted Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, when in fact the murder doesn't happen until very late in the film, is resolved just as quickly, and could hardly be called the focus of the film anyway. | |
| Gosford Park / int_19ebe383 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_19ebe383 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_19ebe383 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1bf0adc6 | type |
Did You Think I Can't Feel? | |
| Gosford Park / int_1bf0adc6 | comment |
Did You Think I Can't Feel?: Mrs. Wilson plainly and calmly admits to Mary the fact that she murdered Sir William to prevent Parks from killing the old sod. She tells Mary that it was just a matter of when it would happen. Later, alone in her room, Mrs. Wilson crumbles in tears for what she had to do to prevent the boy she gave away from becoming a murderer, and is about to start wailing when Mrs. Croft comes to console her. | |
| Gosford Park / int_1bf0adc6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1bf0adc6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_1bf0adc6 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1c21e3fb | type |
The Place | |
| Gosford Park / int_1c21e3fb | comment |
The Place | |
| Gosford Park / int_1c21e3fb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1c21e3fb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_1c21e3fb | |
| Gosford Park / int_1da5941e | type |
The Quiet One | |
| Gosford Park / int_1da5941e | comment |
The Quiet One: Robert Parks. In the DVD Commentary the director comments that actor Clive Owen said of his character that he would always say as little as possible, followed by the director's astonishment that it was the first time he had ever heard of an actor demanding fewer lines. | |
| Gosford Park / int_1da5941e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1da5941e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_1da5941e | |
| Gosford Park / int_1df0cf05 | type |
Mutual Envy | |
| Gosford Park / int_1df0cf05 | comment |
Mutual Envy: the Earl of Carlton's two eldest daughters, Sylvia and Louisa, "cut cards" (equivalent to flipping a coin) to see which of them would get to marry the wealthy Sir William McCordle. Sylvia won, and Louisa eventually married Lord Raymond Stockbridge, who was also rich, if not as rich as William. By the time of the film, both of them are convinced they'd have been happier with the other's husband: Sylvia despises William for his vulgar manners, his lack of breeding, and the fact that his money comes from industry, while coveting a man with Raymond's aristocratic upbringing and his status as a genuine war hero. Louisa, on the other hand, is bored out of her mind with a husband as correct and well-bred (i.e., stiff and unimaginative) as hers, and she and William openly enjoy flirting with each other. Unfortunately, neither of them envy their younger sister Lavinia, the only one of their father's daughters who's Happily Married, to a poor man who the rest of society dismisses as a loser. | |
| Gosford Park / int_1df0cf05 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1df0cf05 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_1df0cf05 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1ed05659 | type |
No Hero to His Valet | |
| Gosford Park / int_1ed05659 | comment |
No Hero to His Valet: Cleverly invoked and subverted, since Sir William's valet, Probert, just adores him. | |
| Gosford Park / int_1ed05659 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| Gosford Park / int_1ed05659 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_1ed05659 | |
| Gosford Park / int_21d47bb7 | type |
Nouveau Riche | |
| Gosford Park / int_21d47bb7 | comment |
Nouveau Riche: Mabel's family were working class, but her father made money in business. Her husband squandered it all, so she's not only out of place among the aristocrats, but she doesn't even have the money to pretend that she's on their level. | |
| Gosford Park / int_21d47bb7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_21d47bb7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_21d47bb7 | |
| Gosford Park / int_22cf536c | type |
Chekhov's Gun | |
| Gosford Park / int_22cf536c | comment |
There are still a lot of Chekhov's Gun, and a few visual hints that Parks did it : He puts out a cigarette in the same bucket that the murderer took his knife from. Sure, other people might use it, but he's the only one seen doing so. When the police leaves, the camera lingers on him smiling. Sure, they are all making fun of Thompson, but especially him. Before the murder occurs, several people move away from the main living room and don't come back until the murder is done. There is an explanation for all of them, except him (Nesbitt delivering a note to Isabel, Meredith going for marmalade, George going for a cigarette and later to refill a milk carafe). He just pretends he was getting a hot-water bag, which doesn't take that long if it was prepared. | |
| Gosford Park / int_22cf536c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_22cf536c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_22cf536c | |
| Gosford Park / int_23c132d9 | type |
Beneath Suspicion | |
| Gosford Park / int_23c132d9 | comment |
Beneath Suspicion: All the working class characters are considered this by the detective since the murder victim was upper-class and the detective is only interested in anyone who had "a real connection" with the victim. Had he bothered to question any of the servants, he might have learned that the victim had slept with some of them. Not only that, he delivers that particular line to the person who actually committed the murder. | |
| Gosford Park / int_23c132d9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_23c132d9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_23c132d9 | |
| Gosford Park / int_267ce120 | type |
Dirty Old Man | |
| Gosford Park / int_267ce120 | comment |
Dirty Old Man: Sir William, who's having an affair with the much younger Elsie. | |
| Gosford Park / int_267ce120 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_267ce120 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_267ce120 | |
| Gosford Park / int_297ab1b9 | type |
Parental Abandonment | |
| Gosford Park / int_297ab1b9 | comment |
Parental Abandonment: Mrs. Wilson, but under duress. | |
| Gosford Park / int_297ab1b9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_297ab1b9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_297ab1b9 | |
| Gosford Park / int_2d1d46bb | type |
Lotsa People Try to Dun It | |
| Gosford Park / int_2d1d46bb | comment |
Lotsa People Try to Dun It: The murder victim was stabbed while sitting in a dark room alone. He had already been killed by poison. | |
| Gosford Park / int_2d1d46bb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_2d1d46bb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_2d1d46bb | |
| Gosford Park / int_2fd1d68a | type |
Cool-Down Hug | |
| Gosford Park / int_2fd1d68a | comment |
Cooldown Hug: From Mrs. Croft to Mrs. Wilson, finally reconciling after decades of sisterly enmity, having witnessed the lengths Mrs. Wilson had to go through to prevent her removed son from becoming a murderer. | |
| Gosford Park / int_2fd1d68a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_2fd1d68a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_2fd1d68a | |
| Gosford Park / int_323fd510 | type |
Everyone Is a Suspect | |
| Gosford Park / int_323fd510 | comment |
Everyone Is a Suspect: To the audience, anyway. There are murder weapons (bottle of poison, etc.) all over the house. Quite often, the camera cheekily lingers on them when they're in shot. | |
| Gosford Park / int_323fd510 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_323fd510 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_323fd510 | |
| Gosford Park / int_34dcfc96 | type |
Kick the Dog | |
| Gosford Park / int_34dcfc96 | comment |
Kick the Dog: Literally, by Lady Sylvia. | |
| Gosford Park / int_34dcfc96 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_34dcfc96 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_34dcfc96 | |
| Gosford Park / int_35b241c0 | type |
Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping | |
| Gosford Park / int_35b241c0 | comment |
Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: In-Universe. Parks notices that there's something off about Denton's accent, and Mary, who's actually Scottish, realizes that Denton isn't. Also, Denton briefly forgets and talks with his natural American accent to Lady Sylvia. | |
| Gosford Park / int_35b241c0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_35b241c0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_35b241c0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_403b6f3 | type |
Fainting | |
| Gosford Park / int_403b6f3 | comment |
Fainting: Lady Lavinia faints when she catches sight of the dead body. | |
| Gosford Park / int_403b6f3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_403b6f3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_403b6f3 | |
| Gosford Park / int_421ae215 | type |
Mysterious Past | |
| Gosford Park / int_421ae215 | comment |
Mysterious Past: Parks, Mrs Wilson and, to a lesser extent, Mrs Croft. It's all revealed near the end. | |
| Gosford Park / int_421ae215 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_421ae215 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_421ae215 | |
| Gosford Park / int_438ed383 | type |
The Name Is Bond, James Bond | |
| Gosford Park / int_438ed383 | comment |
The Name Is Bond, James Bond: Mr. Parks identifies himself as "Parks. Robert Parks" at the beginning of the film. | |
| Gosford Park / int_438ed383 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_438ed383 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_438ed383 | |
| Gosford Park / int_44f5d199 | type |
Pretty in Mink | |
| Gosford Park / int_44f5d199 | comment |
Pretty in Mink: Most of the upstairs women. | |
| Gosford Park / int_44f5d199 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_44f5d199 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_44f5d199 | |
| Gosford Park / int_45d22aad | type |
Sweet and Sour Grapes | |
| Gosford Park / int_45d22aad | comment |
Sweet and Sour Grapes: Elsie gets to tell Lady Sylvia off but ends up dismissed as a result. However the Americans offer to give her a lift to London, implying she'll become an actress in Hollywood. | |
| Gosford Park / int_45d22aad | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_45d22aad | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_45d22aad | |
| Gosford Park / int_4712bc4f | type |
Exact Eavesdropping | |
| Gosford Park / int_4712bc4f | comment |
Exact Eavesdropping: Plentiful, as most of the characters are Gossipy Hens. | |
| Gosford Park / int_4712bc4f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_4712bc4f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_4712bc4f | |
| Gosford Park / int_47fea76b | type |
Butt-Monkey | |
| Gosford Park / int_47fea76b | comment |
Butt-Monkey: Mabel Nesbitt, who comes from a working class background and now no longer has any money. Constance makes a point to make fun of the fact that she brought only a single off-the-rack evening dress. And Denton to the servants after they find out what he really is. | |
| Gosford Park / int_47fea76b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_47fea76b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_47fea76b | |
| Gosford Park / int_4ba29ebb | type |
Lost Him in a Card Game | |
| Gosford Park / int_4ba29ebb | comment |
Lost Him in a Card Game: Constance mentions at one point that Sylvia and her sisters cut cards (that is, split the deck to see who got the higher number) to determine who would marry William. | |
| Gosford Park / int_4ba29ebb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_4ba29ebb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_4ba29ebb | |
| Gosford Park / int_50ca4422 | type |
Unresolved Sexual Tension | |
| Gosford Park / int_50ca4422 | comment |
Unresolved Sexual Tension: Robert and Mary. | |
| Gosford Park / int_50ca4422 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_50ca4422 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_50ca4422 | |
| Gosford Park / int_50f66629 | type |
Crazy-Prepared | |
| Gosford Park / int_50f66629 | comment |
Crazy-Prepared: Mrs Wilson poisoned Sir William's coffee but, when he knocked the cup to the floor and asked for a different drink, she had brought the poison with her and was able to use it. | |
| Gosford Park / int_50f66629 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_50f66629 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_50f66629 | |
| Gosford Park / int_5501256b | type |
Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated | |
| Gosford Park / int_5501256b | comment |
Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: Robert says his mother is dead. It turns out that his mother isn't dead, because she's Mrs. Wilson. | |
| Gosford Park / int_5501256b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_5501256b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_5501256b | |
| Gosford Park / int_56515a39 | type |
Artistic License – History | |
| Gosford Park / int_56515a39 | comment |
Artistic License – History: Constance makes a snide comment about how Ivor Novello's career is in the crapper now that The Lodger bombed. The problem is that 1) this film is set a full five years after The Lodger was released, and 2) it was actually a smash hit that made the reputation of its director, Alfred Hitchcock. | |
| Gosford Park / int_56515a39 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_56515a39 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_56515a39 | |
| Gosford Park / int_5714d5c | type |
Sneakers of Sneaking | |
| Gosford Park / int_5714d5c | comment |
Sneakers of Sneaking: The murderer is seen wearing slippers before sneaking up on his victim. | |
| Gosford Park / int_5714d5c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_5714d5c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_5714d5c | |
| Gosford Park / int_59907e4f | type |
Police Are Useless | |
| Gosford Park / int_59907e4f | comment |
Police Are Useless: Inspector Thompson is. PC Dexter is not, but is outranked. | |
| Gosford Park / int_59907e4f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_59907e4f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_59907e4f | |
| Gosford Park / int_599ad6d5 | type |
Contrived Clumsiness | |
| Gosford Park / int_599ad6d5 | comment |
Contrived Clumsiness: After a man posing as a servant reveals himself to be an actor and moves from "below stairs" to "above stairs". To punish him for his deception, George (a footman) spills hot coffee in his lap. He immediately accuses the servant of doing it on purpose, but it's futile at that point. His fellow servants quickly hide their smiles, and the aristocrats think it's pretty funny, too. | |
| Gosford Park / int_599ad6d5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_599ad6d5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_599ad6d5 | |
| Gosford Park / int_5e2e55e4 | type |
The Casanova | |
| Gosford Park / int_5e2e55e4 | comment |
The Casanova: Sir William slept with female workers of his factory, often getting them pregnant and then forcing them to either give up their baby to keep their job or to let them keep the baby and then fire the woman. Although it's debatable how consensual some of those dalliances were. | |
| Gosford Park / int_5e2e55e4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_5e2e55e4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_5e2e55e4 | |
| Gosford Park / int_61375e57 | type |
BigDamnKiss | |
| Gosford Park / int_61375e57 | comment |
Big Damn Kiss: Parks to Mary and Colonel Meredith to his wife. | |
| Gosford Park / int_61375e57 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_61375e57 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_61375e57 | |
| Gosford Park / int_62f9d08e | type |
Freeze-Frame Bonus | |
| Gosford Park / int_62f9d08e | comment |
Freeze-Frame Bonus: When Henry is trying to rape Mary, a "Fox Film" label can be seen on his pants. This is a quick hint that Henry is actually an actor. | |
| Gosford Park / int_62f9d08e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_62f9d08e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_62f9d08e | |
| Gosford Park / int_6627695f | type |
Author Appeal | |
| Gosford Park / int_6627695f | comment |
Author Appeal: The presence of Ivor Novello as a character and the use of his songs in the film came about because Robert Altman was a fan of Novello's music. | |
| Gosford Park / int_6627695f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_6627695f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_6627695f | |
| Gosford Park / int_6b2b3b59 | type |
The Reveal | |
| Gosford Park / int_6b2b3b59 | comment |
The Reveal: A lot of things are revealed in the end. Mary deduces a lot of the murder, and Parks and Mrs Wilson fill in the rest for her. | |
| Gosford Park / int_6b2b3b59 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_6b2b3b59 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_6b2b3b59 | |
| Gosford Park / int_6cc2137b | type |
The Scream | |
| Gosford Park / int_6cc2137b | comment |
The Scream: De Rigeur for a murder mystery; when Louisa discovers William in his study. The irony remarked upon later is that Louisa is the only member of the upstairs or downstairs group who's actually sorry he's dead; had anyone else discovered his body, including his own wife, he or she would likely have shrugged, walked outside and casually announced the news. | |
| Gosford Park / int_6cc2137b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_6cc2137b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_6cc2137b | |
| Gosford Park / int_6ceb0471 | type |
UnrequitedLove | |
| Gosford Park / int_6ceb0471 | comment |
Unrequited Love: Dorothy towards Jennings, who is very reluctant. This leads to her giving Colonel Meredith the following epiphany-inducing and love-affirming revelation. | |
| Gosford Park / int_6ceb0471 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_6ceb0471 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_6ceb0471 | |
| Gosford Park / int_6d7fb55 | type |
Fake Brit | |
| Gosford Park / int_6d7fb55 | comment |
Fake Brit: In-Universe as Henry Denton isn't actually Scottish, but American. | |
| Gosford Park / int_6d7fb55 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_6d7fb55 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_6d7fb55 | |
| Gosford Park / int_7360806f | type |
In-Series Nickname | |
| Gosford Park / int_7360806f | comment |
In-Series Nickname: The valets and maids who arrive at the mansion with the guests are referred to by their masters' titles. For example Parks, as Lord Stockbridge's valet is referred to as "Stockbridge", Mary, as Lady Trentham's maid, is called "Miss Trentham", and so on. | |
| Gosford Park / int_7360806f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_7360806f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_7360806f | |
| Gosford Park / int_73dd919c | type |
Genteel Interbellum Setting | |
| Gosford Park / int_73dd919c | comment |
Genteel Interbellum Setting | |
| Gosford Park / int_73dd919c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_73dd919c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_73dd919c | |
| Gosford Park / int_73f79f91 | type |
Released to Elsewhere | |
| Gosford Park / int_73f79f91 | comment |
Released to Elsewhere: William McCordle fathered many illegitimate children in his lifetime, especially on the girls who worked in his factories during World War I. He persuaded them to give up their babies (and keep their jobs) by promising that he would have them adopted by affluent families. In reality, he dumped them at a second-rate orphanage. Subverted in that many of the girls saw through the lie, but clung to the illusion rather than lose their jobs, especially since McCordle showed he would not hesitate to fire a girl who refused to give up her child. This eventually brings about his own death, when one of these children grows up, learns about his origins, and comes back for revenge. | |
| Gosford Park / int_73f79f91 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| Gosford Park / int_73f79f91 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_73f79f91 | |
| Gosford Park / int_7a0374eb | type |
Impoverished Patrician | |
| Gosford Park / int_7a0374eb | comment |
Impoverished Patrician: Oh so many. In both his foreword to the screenplay, and the DVD commentary, Julian Fellowes said, "the British aristocracy will tell you that they never talk about money, when in truth they think about nothing else." Elsie informs Mary that Sylvia, Louisa and Lavinia's father is the Earl of Carton - "which sounds good except he didn't have a pot to piss in." | |
| Gosford Park / int_7a0374eb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_7a0374eb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_7a0374eb | |
| Gosford Park / int_7febc23b | type |
Establishing Character Moment | |
| Gosford Park / int_7febc23b | comment |
Establishing Character Moment: In the opening scene; unable to open a thermos herself, Constance has her driver pull over, and her maid, Mary, exit the front passenger seat (in pouring rain) and turn to the back compartment to open it for her. | |
| Gosford Park / int_7febc23b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_7febc23b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_7febc23b | |
| Gosford Park / int_83b44e80 | type |
Straight Gay | |
| Gosford Park / int_83b44e80 | comment |
Straight Gay: Novello, Weissman and (probably) Arthur. | |
| Gosford Park / int_83b44e80 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_83b44e80 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_83b44e80 | |
| Gosford Park / int_88a97dd4 | type |
Stiff Upper Lip | |
| Gosford Park / int_88a97dd4 | comment |
Stiff Upper Lip: Upstairs is somewhere between this and Cosy Catastrophe. Even after the discovery that Sir William wasn't murdered by a burglar but instead poisoned by someone else in the house, no-one seems particularly concerned. It helps that everyone hated him, of course. It's actually pointed out by the characters it was fortunate that there was at least one person actively mourning Sir William, Louisa Stockbridge (who was in love with him and possibly having an affair), and thus helping deflect some of the suspicion for the rest of the group. | |
| Gosford Park / int_88a97dd4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_88a97dd4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_88a97dd4 | |
| Gosford Park / int_89ed9b94 | type |
Gentleman Snarker | |
| Gosford Park / int_89ed9b94 | comment |
Gentleman Snarker | |
| Gosford Park / int_89ed9b94 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_89ed9b94 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_89ed9b94 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ae880f7 | type |
Deconstruction | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ae880f7 | comment |
Deconstruction: Of Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries which take place in grand, aristocratic circles and focus on very wealthy and important people. The plot prefers instead to focus on the relationships between these people and their servants and play with several of the common character types who appear in these stories, with the actual murder being more of a background event. Also, the detective is a blundering incompetent who ignores or destroys important evidence; it's suggested that because of this, Sir William's murderer will never be identified. | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ae880f7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ae880f7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_8ae880f7 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8b606a51 | type |
There Is No Kill Like Overkill | |
| Gosford Park / int_8b606a51 | comment |
There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Sir William got poisoned, then stabbed. | |
| Gosford Park / int_8b606a51 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8b606a51 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_8b606a51 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8cb66c2f | type |
Who Murdered the Asshole | |
| Gosford Park / int_8cb66c2f | comment |
Who Murdered the Asshole: Though the victim as we see him is portrayed relatively sympathetically, seeming to be a fairly nice old duffer with a horrible harpy of a wife (she tears chunks out of him at dinner in front of all their friends), his past is not so clear and when he is murdered it turns out everyone had a motive. Though in fact all the people with real, personal motives are ignored as they are only the servants. | |
| Gosford Park / int_8cb66c2f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8cb66c2f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_8cb66c2f | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ed5c6e4 | type |
Asshole Victim | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ed5c6e4 | comment |
Asshole Victim: Sir William. Very few people in the house, above or below stairs, lack some reason to kill him. | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ed5c6e4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8ed5c6e4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_8ed5c6e4 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8fd7af48 | type |
Sir Swears-a-Lot | |
| Gosford Park / int_8fd7af48 | comment |
Sir Swears-a-Lot: Weissman, in his phone calls back to Hollywood. | |
| Gosford Park / int_8fd7af48 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_8fd7af48 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_8fd7af48 | |
| Gosford Park / int_93399c3c | type |
Patricide | |
| Gosford Park / int_93399c3c | comment |
Patricide: One of the motives for the murder. | |
| Gosford Park / int_93399c3c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_93399c3c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_93399c3c | |
| Gosford Park / int_95c2a9dd | type |
Outliving One's Offspring | |
| Gosford Park / int_95c2a9dd | comment |
Outliving One's Offspring: Mrs. Croft's son with Sir William died of scarlet fever. | |
| Gosford Park / int_95c2a9dd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_95c2a9dd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_95c2a9dd | |
| Gosford Park / int_96144372 | type |
Aristocrats Are Evil | |
| Gosford Park / int_96144372 | comment |
Aristocrats Are Evil: Most of the aristocrats come off as selfish and arrogant. | |
| Gosford Park / int_96144372 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_96144372 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_96144372 | |
| Gosford Park / int_97926168 | type |
Rewatch Bonus | |
| Gosford Park / int_97926168 | comment |
Rewatch Bonus: The scene where Mrs Wilson meets Robert is a lot more understandable when you know that he's her long lost son. Similarly, Mrs. Croft stops in her tracks when she hears Robert's name. Denton asking Robert lots of questions. On the first watch he just seems to be making friendly conversation. On the rewatch he's doing research. | |
| Gosford Park / int_97926168 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_97926168 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_97926168 | |
| Gosford Park / int_97d54bb0 | type |
Tragic Keepsake | |
| Gosford Park / int_97d54bb0 | comment |
Tragic Keepsake: Robert keeps a photograph of his mother on his nightstand as the only thing he has of her. | |
| Gosford Park / int_97d54bb0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_97d54bb0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_97d54bb0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9bcd82c0 | type |
Took a Level in Badass | |
| Gosford Park / int_9bcd82c0 | comment |
Took a Level in Badass: Mabel, who is the Butt-Monkey of the entire "upstairs", including her own husband, for much of the film, decides she just doesn't care anymore, shrugs off Constance's snobbish comment about Mabel wearing the same dress two nights in a row, and confronts her husband in the middle of the evening company, saying she'll "scream this house down" if he doesn't give her the cheque he just blackmailed out of Isobel. | |
| Gosford Park / int_9bcd82c0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9bcd82c0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_9bcd82c0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d080c44 | type |
Ice Queen | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d080c44 | comment |
Ice Queen: Lady Sylvia. You can practically feel the cold aura around her - yet despite this, she keeps up an impenetrable façade of charm and manners. The stone cold houskeeper Mrs Wilson is this for the downstairs, barely showing an inch of emotion even to her own son. In a way she is almost acting as a mirror of Lady Sylvia. | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d080c44 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d080c44 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_9d080c44 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d12bbc1 | type |
Foreshadowing | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d12bbc1 | comment |
Foreshadowing: When talking about his murder mystery, Weissman refuses to reveal the murderer. And the others never find out who killed Sir William. Likewise Lady Trentham says "None of us will see it" (referring to the movie). The murderers were both people they didn't expect. There are still a lot of Chekhov's Gun, and a few visual hints that Parks did it : He puts out a cigarette in the same bucket that the murderer took his knife from. Sure, other people might use it, but he's the only one seen doing so. When the police leaves, the camera lingers on him smiling. Sure, they are all making fun of Thompson, but especially him. Before the murder occurs, several people move away from the main living room and don't come back until the murder is done. There is an explanation for all of them, except him (Nesbitt delivering a note to Isabel, Meredith going for marmalade, George going for a cigarette and later to refill a milk carafe). He just pretends he was getting a hot-water bag, which doesn't take that long if it was prepared. Before the murder, George is asked about Sir William's whereabouts and he says "He's still in the library. He won't be out again tonight." Or any other night, as it turns out. | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d12bbc1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9d12bbc1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_9d12bbc1 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9f970427 | type |
Secret-Keeper | |
| Gosford Park / int_9f970427 | comment |
Secret-Keeper: Stockbridge reveals to Meredith that he knows that Meredith shot at Sir William, and says that he'll lie for him at the inquest by saying his height prevented him from seeing the birds properly. | |
| Gosford Park / int_9f970427 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9f970427 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_9f970427 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9fb5d589 | type |
Not Now, Kiddo | |
| Gosford Park / int_9fb5d589 | comment |
Not Now, Kiddo: | |
| Gosford Park / int_9fb5d589 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_9fb5d589 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_9fb5d589 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a2484b0e | type |
The Beautiful Elite | |
| Gosford Park / int_a2484b0e | comment |
The Beautiful Elite: Played With. Julian Fellowes' script makes clear that the British aristocracy is in its twilight; to the older generation of servants, such as Lady Sylvia's maid Lewis and Sir William's valet Probert, they are literally gods among men, but the younger generation, including Elsie, have no stars in their eyes. Lampshaded by Elsie while she and Mary are sharing a tidbit of gossip picked up from Constance: | |
| Gosford Park / int_a2484b0e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a2484b0e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_a2484b0e | |
| Gosford Park / int_a39d6056 | type |
NiceToTheWaiter | |
| Gosford Park / int_a39d6056 | comment |
Nice to the Waiter: A small example. Lady Trentham is considerably nicer to her servant Mary than she is to the rest of the cast. She often behaves more like a bossy mother or aunt towards her. If Lady Trentham gets anything resembling a Pet the Dog moment, it usually involves Mary. | |
| Gosford Park / int_a39d6056 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a39d6056 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_a39d6056 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a431b0e6 | type |
The Butler Did It | |
| Gosford Park / int_a431b0e6 | comment |
The Butler Did It: Invoked and Averted. A valet did stab Sir William, but his mother figured it out and poisoned Sir William ahead of time. There's no law against stabbing a corpse. Mr. Weissman is heard discussing this trope over the phone. He argues that a valet is a better suspect, because there's only one butler - but a valet would have more access. | |
| Gosford Park / int_a431b0e6 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a431b0e6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_a431b0e6 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7016efe | type |
Lonely Rich Kid | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7016efe | comment |
Lonely Rich Kid: Isabel | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7016efe | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7016efe | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_a7016efe | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7850fbf | type |
Only Known by Their Nickname | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7850fbf | comment |
Only Known by Their Nickname: A variation. The visiting downstairs staff are referred to by their master and mistresses's names. | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7850fbf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7850fbf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_a7850fbf | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7aef9ff | type |
Obfuscating Stupidity | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7aef9ff | comment |
Obfuscating Stupidity: Inspector Thompson is interrogating the "upstairs" population one by one, and excitedly thinks he's found a motive for the murder when he hears that the victim threatened to cut off Lady Trentham's allowance. When questioning Lady Trentham, she pretends ignorance, and he calls in Mary to corroborate it. Mary very politely says she has no idea what the Inspector is talking about, and besides, the "upstairs" people would never discuss such sensitive matters in her hearing (which is two Blatant Lies for the price of one). Inspector Thomas is stymied, and Constance later tells Mary that she'll be getting a big raise once they get home - not only is she profoundly grateful, but she has quickly come to appreciate that Mary is both sharp and loyal, a rare combination in any servant. | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7aef9ff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7aef9ff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_a7aef9ff | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7ddc88e | type |
The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7ddc88e | comment |
The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes: William is a master gunsmith, and it's implied that he made his fortune making munitions during the War, but as Elsie says, if he actually shoots at anything, he "can't hit the side of a barn." | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7ddc88e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_a7ddc88e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_a7ddc88e | |
| Gosford Park / int_ae3d6438 | type |
Deadpan Snarker | |
| Gosford Park / int_ae3d6438 | comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Lady Constance. Also Mrs Wilson. | |
| Gosford Park / int_ae3d6438 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_ae3d6438 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_ae3d6438 | |
| Gosford Park / int_aed65980 | type |
All for Nothing | |
| Gosford Park / int_aed65980 | comment |
All for Nothing: A subplot concerns Mary being instructed to clean a soiled shirt that Lady Constance wants to wear the following day. Mary goes to a huge amount of trouble to get it done in time, and is attacked by a fellow member of staff along the way, only for Constance to decide not to wear the shirt after all. What makes this more poignant and futile is that Constance didn't do any it out of meanness; in fact she's actually surprisingly friendly with her in other scenes. She just has no idea the lengths of effort it would take Mary to clean her shirt. A far more serious example occurs with Mrs. Croft. She lost her job after deciding to keep her child and a year later he died of scarlet fever. | |
| Gosford Park / int_aed65980 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_aed65980 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_aed65980 | |
| Gosford Park / int_af696bef | type |
Fish out of Water | |
| Gosford Park / int_af696bef | comment |
Fish out of Water: Poor Mabel...no longer a commoner, because she married an aristocrat. But said aristocrat squandered all of Mabel's money. Now she's poor again, accepted by no one, certainly not the fancy people at Sir William's house. | |
| Gosford Park / int_af696bef | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_af696bef | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_af696bef | |
| Gosford Park / int_b58c51d8 | type |
My Beloved Smother | |
| Gosford Park / int_b58c51d8 | comment |
My Beloved Smother: Lady Sylvia to Isobel. It's an especially sad example considering Sylvia is incredibly controlling of her daughter (even picking out her clothes for her and ridiculing them once she's wearing them), but without any of the warmth that this trope sometimes implies. | |
| Gosford Park / int_b58c51d8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_b58c51d8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_b58c51d8 | |
| Gosford Park / int_b6cc7fc0 | type |
Dysfunctional Family | |
| Gosford Park / int_b6cc7fc0 | comment |
Dysfunctional Family: The McCordles are one big happy family. Well, if you ignore Sir William's affairs, Lady Sylvia's affairs and, for that matter, the likelihood that their daughter is having an affair. Not to mention Lady Sylvia's contempt for her child. | |
| Gosford Park / int_b6cc7fc0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_b6cc7fc0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_b6cc7fc0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_b707726f | type |
Hypocritical Humor | |
| Gosford Park / int_b707726f | comment |
Hypocritical Humor: | |
| Gosford Park / int_b707726f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_b707726f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_b707726f | |
| Gosford Park / int_bd0230fb | type |
Ambiguously Bi | |
| Gosford Park / int_bd0230fb | comment |
Ambiguously Bi: Henry Denton, who sleeps with Lady Sylvia, tries to seduce Mary, and is implied to have a relationship with Mr. Weissman. | |
| Gosford Park / int_bd0230fb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_bd0230fb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_bd0230fb | |
| Gosford Park / int_bec0417c | type |
Happily Married | |
| Gosford Park / int_bec0417c | comment |
Unfortunately, neither of them envy their younger sister Lavinia, the only one of their father's daughters who's Happily Married, to a poor man who the rest of society dismisses as a loser. | |
| Gosford Park / int_bec0417c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_bec0417c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_bec0417c | |
| Gosford Park / int_c2d5b652 | type |
Playing Both Sides | |
| Gosford Park / int_c2d5b652 | comment |
Playing Both Sides: Averted, as it's made clear that "upstairs" never, ever meets "downstairs" (at least not publicly). Henry Denton joins the "upstairs" crowd after it's revealed that he's an American actor researching a role, not a Scottish valet. He complains that all the servants are treating him like a leper, when, unlike the rest of the "snobs" he actually spent time in their company, living like them. Mabel, the daughter of a working-class family that made good, has much more in common with the "downstairs" crowd than any other member of the "upstairs" crowd, but she is just as trapped "upstairs" with a group of snobs that all despise her. | |
| Gosford Park / int_c2d5b652 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_c2d5b652 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_c2d5b652 | |
| Gosford Park / int_c31dc964 | type |
Grew a Spine | |
| Gosford Park / int_c31dc964 | comment |
Turns into a Grew a Spine moment for Mabel, as the insult wasn't quiet or stealthy enough for Mabel not to notice, and she quips back "No, and I wouldn't want to be." | |
| Gosford Park / int_c31dc964 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_c31dc964 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_c31dc964 | |
| Gosford Park / int_c75df49a | type |
Shout-Out | |
| Gosford Park / int_c75df49a | comment |
The plot of the film and the setting was also a major Shout-Out to The Rules of the Game by Jean Renoir, a film that Altman often expressed his admiration for. | |
| Gosford Park / int_c75df49a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_c75df49a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_c75df49a | |
| Gosford Park / int_c8ce7b2d | type |
Smash to Black | |
| Gosford Park / int_c8ce7b2d | comment |
Smash to Black: Used for scene transitions. Many times throughout the film, instead of cutting from one scene to the next in the regular way, the film cuts completely to black for a second or two before starting the next scene. | |
| Gosford Park / int_c8ce7b2d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_c8ce7b2d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_c8ce7b2d | |
| Gosford Park / int_cbe687ab | type |
Corrupt Corporate Executive | |
| Gosford Park / int_cbe687ab | comment |
Corrupt Corporate Executive: Sir William, who slept with multiple workers in his factories. | |
| Gosford Park / int_cbe687ab | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_cbe687ab | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_cbe687ab | |
| Gosford Park / int_cdd676a3 | type |
Hyper-Competent Sidekick | |
| Gosford Park / int_cdd676a3 | comment |
Hypercompetent Sidekick: Constable Dexter, deputy to Inspector Thompson the bumbling idiot. Dexter has to remind his boss not to touch anything to avoid leaving fingerprints. Dexter also notices the shattered cup and the mud on the floor, which Thompson fails to understand. And while Thompson cannot even conceive of the idea that someone from "downstairs" might have interacted with Sir William, Dexter is correct in thinking the killer might be among the servants. It's implied that if Dexter had been able to investigate the crime himself, he might have found the guilty party. | |
| Gosford Park / int_cdd676a3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_cdd676a3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_cdd676a3 | |
| Gosford Park / int_dbca2c99 | type |
Red Herring | |
| Gosford Park / int_dbca2c99 | comment |
Red Herring: Several, as usual in Altman's movies : When the servants arrive, the camera lingers on the safe where the guests' jewellery is kept. But this doesn't figure in the story at all. Henry Denton raising suspicion as a weird servant, with a weird Scottish accent. Turns out he's not the murderer... Mary finding a suspicious cook wandering at night. Turns out she was just having an affair with Mr. Blond. Once we already know Parks only stabbed but did not poison his father, Constable Dexter finds some poison in Jennings' room and reveals that he is the only one in the house with a criminal record. That's because he was a conscientious objector during World War I, and was sent to prison for it. But he's only The Alcoholic, and among the few who wouldn't have any reason to kill Sir William. Lampshaded by Dexter, and Mr. Weissman's talk about valet or butler committing the crime: | |
| Gosford Park / int_dbca2c99 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_dbca2c99 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_dbca2c99 | |
| Gosford Park / int_deea2fb5 | type |
Idle Rich | |
| Gosford Park / int_deea2fb5 | comment |
Idle Rich: Most of the "upstairs" cast. | |
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Gosford Park / int_deea2fb5 | |
| Gosford Park / int_dfe57573 | type |
Historical In-Joke | |
| Gosford Park / int_dfe57573 | comment |
Historical In-Joke: A subtle one with Elsie. The film ends with Morris Weissman apparently inviting her to go back to Hollywood with him to appear in Charlie Chan in London. In the real Charlie Chan in London, there's a maid played by British actress Elsa Buchanan, whose birth name really was Elsie.note Elsa Buchanan lived to actually see Gosford Park for herself. | |
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Gosford Park / int_dfe57573 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e13156e1 | type |
Mama Bear | |
| Gosford Park / int_e13156e1 | comment |
Mama Bear: Mrs. Wilson to Mr. Parks, having to kill Sir William in order to prevent Parks from doing the deed. She could reconcile with the fact that she had to give Parks away decades ago, but she could not abide to him becoming a murderer, so she poisoned the old man before Parks reached him. | |
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Gosford Park / int_e13156e1 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e2a6ebc1 | type |
Closed Circle | |
| Gosford Park / int_e2a6ebc1 | comment |
Closed Circle: After the murder, none of the guests are allowed to leave. | |
| Gosford Park / int_e2a6ebc1 | featureApplicability |
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| Gosford Park / int_e2a6ebc1 | featureConfidence |
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Gosford Park / int_e2a6ebc1 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e2d457 | type |
The Ditz | |
| Gosford Park / int_e2d457 | comment |
The Ditz: Anyone who knows how the police are supposed to inspect crimes should know that Inspector Thompson clearly does not know how to do his job. His assistant on the other hand... | |
| Gosford Park / int_e2d457 | featureApplicability |
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Gosford Park / int_e2d457 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e323e01a | type |
Cultural Stereotypes | |
| Gosford Park / int_e323e01a | comment |
Cultural Stereotypes: The wealthy. Specifically, the titled wealthy; all but a handful of the Upstairs characters are absolutely awful people and dicks of the highest order (and those Upstairs characters who are more likeable tend to also be of 'lower' station). That said, the Downstairs characters aren't exactly pure as driven snow, but we're clearly encouraged to sympathise with them a bit more. | |
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| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_e323e01a | |
| Gosford Park / int_e34400ab | type |
Ambiguously Gay | |
| Gosford Park / int_e34400ab | comment |
Ambiguously Gay: It's implied that Mr. Weissman has a relationship with Henry Denton. | |
| Gosford Park / int_e34400ab | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e34400ab | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_e34400ab | |
| Gosford Park / int_e3cee2e7 | type |
Empathic Environment | |
| Gosford Park / int_e3cee2e7 | comment |
Empathic Environment: Inverted. It's raining before the murder and beautifully sunny afterwards. | |
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| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_e3cee2e7 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e4bb68b8 | type |
The Charmer | |
| Gosford Park / int_e4bb68b8 | comment |
The Charmer: Henry Denton, successfully with Lady Sylvia. Unsuccessfully with Elsie and Mary. | |
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Gosford Park / int_e4bb68b8 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e70127 | type |
The Mole | |
| Gosford Park / int_e70127 | comment |
The Mole: Denton acts as one of the servants when he is really an American actor who spies on the Downstairs for research for Weissman. He tells Jennings, and the word spreads in the Downstairs, causing all the servants to hate him. | |
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Gosford Park / int_e70127 | |
| Gosford Park / int_e9f7b815 | type |
Creepy Housekeeper | |
| Gosford Park / int_e9f7b815 | comment |
Creepy Housekeeper: Mrs Wilson. Robert Altman mentions on the commentary that the only direction he gave to Helen Mirren was to think about Mrs Danvers from Rebecca. Mrs Danvers served as the inspiration for the fact that Mirren often just suddenly appears in the frame. | |
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Gosford Park / int_e9f7b815 | |
| Gosford Park / int_ea2e9f2d | type |
No Ending | |
| Gosford Park / int_ea2e9f2d | comment |
No Ending: Only the murder plot and a few others are concluded. All of the other plots are left up in the air, including Isobel's heavily-implied abortion and the altered relationship between Mabel and Freddie. The resolved plots include Isobel standing up to her blackmailer and sending him packing, Colonel Meredith fixing up his relationship with his wife, and Elsie (it's heavily implied) manages to go into show business. | |
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1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_ea2e9f2d | featureConfidence |
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Gosford Park / int_ea2e9f2d | |
| Gosford Park / int_eb8ec7c8 | type |
Jerkass | |
| Gosford Park / int_eb8ec7c8 | comment |
Jerkass: Just about everyone in the Upstairs, with some exceptions. | |
| Gosford Park / int_eb8ec7c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_eb8ec7c8 | featureConfidence |
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| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_eb8ec7c8 | |
| Gosford Park / int_ed43de19 | type |
Hunting "Accident" | |
| Gosford Park / int_ed43de19 | comment |
Hunting "Accident": One of the guests grazes Sir William during The Grand Hunt. | |
| Gosford Park / int_ed43de19 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_ed43de19 | featureConfidence |
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Gosford Park / int_ed43de19 | |
| Gosford Park / int_f243e0a7 | type |
Dangerous Deserter | |
| Gosford Park / int_f243e0a7 | comment |
Dangerous Deserter: Jennings, who lives with shame because of it. | |
| Gosford Park / int_f243e0a7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_f243e0a7 | |
| Gosford Park / int_f6b2bfb7 | type |
Gold Digger | |
| Gosford Park / int_f6b2bfb7 | comment |
Gold Digger: Freddie Nesbitt to his wife, Mabel; Rupert Standish is trying it with Isobel. Also, with the exception of the Stockbridges and Weismann's group, this is the real reason the guests are there: they all want money from Sir William, either though business deals, charity or blackmail. | |
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Gosford Park / int_f6b2bfb7 | |
| Gosford Park / int_f85354eb | type |
Attempted Rape | |
| Gosford Park / int_f85354eb | comment |
Attempted Rape: It's difficult to say how far it would have gone, but at the very least Mary is molested by Henry after she gets lost in the corridors. | |
| Gosford Park / int_f85354eb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_f85354eb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_f85354eb | |
| Gosford Park / int_f9f2c33 | type |
Running Gag | |
| Gosford Park / int_f9f2c33 | comment |
Running Gag: Inspector Thompson being interrupted every time he tries to introduce himself. "Take/Move that filthy/vile dog/animal out of here." People from Upstairs and Downstairs really don't like Pip. Except William, Robert and Elsie. | |
| Gosford Park / int_f9f2c33 | featureApplicability |
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Gosford Park / int_f9f2c33 | |
| Gosford Park / int_fb3576b2 | type |
The Dog Bites Back | |
| Gosford Park / int_fb3576b2 | comment |
The Dog Bites Back: After Freddie extracts a blackmail cheque from Isobel, Mabel confronts him in the middle of the drawing room and whispers for him to hand it over or else she'll scream bloody murder in front of everyone. He spitefully tears up the cheque and hands her the pieces, but she couldn't care less about the money; what she cares about is that she's stood up to her abusive husband, and watched him fold like a cheap tent. | |
| Gosford Park / int_fb3576b2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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Gosford Park / int_fb3576b2 | |
| Gosford Park / int_fbf4e2d1 | type |
Boring Insult | |
| Gosford Park / int_fbf4e2d1 | comment |
Constance is the queen of this trope—it'd be easier to list the scenes where she doesn't make use of it, but observing that Ivor has a "lovely long repertoire" is another rather crafty one. | |
| Gosford Park / int_fbf4e2d1 | featureApplicability |
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Gosford Park / int_fbf4e2d1 | |
| Gosford Park / int_fc024bb3 | type |
The Grand Hunt | |
| Gosford Park / int_fc024bb3 | comment |
The Grand Hunt: There's a hunt planned as part of the country house festivities. The women join an outdoor lunch after the shooting, and the American film producer (who is also a vegetarian) is clearly the odd man out. | |
| Gosford Park / int_fc024bb3 | featureApplicability |
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| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_fc024bb3 | |
| Gosford Park / int_fd0925ef | type |
Bitch Alert | |
| Gosford Park / int_fd0925ef | comment |
Bitch Alert: Lady Sylvia and the Countess of Trentham. | |
| Gosford Park / int_fd0925ef | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_fd0925ef | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_fd0925ef | |
| Gosford Park / int_fe91380c | type |
Nobility Marries Money | |
| Gosford Park / int_fe91380c | comment |
Nobility Marries Money: Sir William McCordle was a wealthy industrialist who married Lady Sylvia, the daughter of an Earl whose family was impoverished. Sir William pays an allowance to his wife's aunt, Constance, Countess of Trentham; he expresses his intention to stop paying this money before he is murdered. The Honourable Freddie Nesbitt married Mabel, who was the daughter of a glove manufacturer. Their marriage isn't happy. | |
| Gosford Park / int_fe91380c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Gosford Park / int_fe91380c | featureConfidence |
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| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_fe91380c | |
| Gosford Park / int_ff17ccf1 | type |
Innocently Insensitive | |
| Gosford Park / int_ff17ccf1 | comment |
Innocently Insensitive: Ironically considering she has no problem being deliberately insensitive to anyone else. But Lady Trentham has Mary clean a blouse for the hunting party the next day - only to decide at the last minute that she'll wear a different one. The fact that Mary had to go down into the kitchen in the middle of the night to wash it never crossed her mind. | |
| Gosford Park / int_ff17ccf1 | featureApplicability |
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| Gosford Park | hasFeature |
Gosford Park / int_ff17ccf1 | |
| Gosford Park / int_ff7f34c5 | type |
Pet the Dog | |
| Gosford Park / int_ff7f34c5 | comment |
Pet the Dog: The Countess of Trentham is revealed to have a softer side in her last line of the film. Lady Sylvia has ice-water in her veins, but is mindful enough to know that interrupting the servants while they're having their evening meal is an intrusion. She apologizes as she comes in and tells them to continue eating while she consults Mrs Wilson on a guest's dietary needs. | |
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| Gosford Park / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
| Gosford Park / int_name | comment |
||
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| Gosford Park / int_name | itemName |
Gosford Park |
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