History Film / GosfordPark

--->'''Cooking girl:''' [[spoiler: Trust Sir William to [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill be murdered twice]] !]]

--->'''Constable Dexter:''' Sir, someone's traipsed a load of mud in down here.
--->'''Inspector Thompson:''' Not now, Dexter, please.

--->'''Dorothy:''' I believe in love. Not just getting it, but giving it. I think that if you're able to love someone, even if they don't know it, even if they can't love you back, then it's worth it.

More than just a basic murder mystery story, ''Gosford Park'' focuses more on the servants ([[spoiler:so much so, there's one in literally every scene]]) 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.

!!Provides Examples Of...

* SpoiledSweet: Lavinia

The screenplay is by Julian Fellowes, who would later create the popular British television drama ''Series/DowntonAbbey''. Like ''Gosford Park'', it would be set in an English manor house and star Maggie Smith.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Ivor Novello was an accomplished and much-loved movie star and songwriter in his time. The songs the character performs during the film are some of his most famous, although the real Novello reportedly considered his own voice very poor. As the film implies, he was homosexual.

** Not only is ''CharlieChan in London'' referenced as the real film that the fictional Morris Weissman is producing, the plot of ''Gosford Park'' has rough similarities to it (murder at a country estate, many suspects, class division between aristocrats and servants).

Sir William [=McCordle=] (Michael Gambon), a rich guy, invites some more of his rich friends to a shooting party at Gosford Park. They also bring all their servants.

2001 film directed by Creator/RobertAltman, set in a large country house in 1930s Britain. The film features an all-star ensemble cast, which includes Alan Bates, Creator/StephenFry, Michael Gambon, Creator/RichardEGrant, Derek Jacobi, Creator/HelenMirren, Creator/CliveOwen, Maggie Smith and Creator/EmilyWatson.

** The plot of the film and the setting was also a major ShoutOut to ''The Rules of the Game'' by Creator/JeanRenoir.

* BeneathSuspicion: ''All'' the [[AnAesop 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 [[spoiler:the victim had slept with some of them.]]

* ShoutOut: Not only is ''CharlieChan in London'' referenced as the real film that the fictional Morris Weissman is producing, the plot of ''Gosford Park'' has rough similarities to it (murder at a country estate, many suspects, class division between aristocrats and servants).

* RedHerring: At the start of the film the camera lingers on the safe where the guests' jewellery is kept, but this doesn't figure in the story at all.
** Mary finding a suspicious cook at night. Turns out she was just having an affair with [[spoiler:Mr. Blond.]]

* {{Foreshadowing}}: When talking about his murder mystery, Weissman refuses to reveal the murderer. [[spoiler: And the others never find out who killed Sir William]]. Likewise Lady Trentham says "None of us will see it" (referring to the movie). [[spoiler: The murderer(s) were both from people they didn't expect]].

*** [[spoiler: 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.]]
*** [[spoiler: When the police leaves, the camera lingers on him smiling. Sure, they are all making fun of Thompson, but especially him.]]
*** [[spoiler: 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). He just pretends he was getting a hot-water bag, which doesn't take that long if it was prepared.]]

** There's also Mary finding a suspicious cook at night. Turns out she was just having an affair with [[spoiler:Mr. Blond.]]

* AssholeVictim: Sir William.

->''Tea at four''

->''Dinner at eight''

->''Murder at midnight''

* BritishAccents

* CreepyHousekeeper: Mrs Wilson. Robert Altman mentions on the commentary that the only direction he gave to Helen Mirren was to think about Mrs Danvers from Film/Rebecca. Mrs Danvers served as the inspiration for the fact that Mirren often just suddenly appears in the frame.

More than just a basic murder mystery story, ''Gosford Park'' focuses more on the servants ([[spoiler: so much so, there's one in literally every scene]]) 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.

* AmbiguouslyBi: Henry Denton, who sleeps with [[RichBitch Lady Sylvia]], tries to seduce [[TheIngenue Mary]] and [[spoiler: it's implied he has a relationship with Mr Weissman]]
* AmbiguouslyGay: [[spoiler: It's implied that Mr Weissman has a relationship with Henry Denton.]]

* TheButlerDidIt: Invoked and Averted. [[spoiler: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.

The screenplay is by Julian Fellowes, who would later create the popular British television drama ''DowntonAbbey''. Like ''GosfordPark'', it would be set in an English manor house and star Maggie Smith.

Sir William [=McCordle=] (Michael Gambon), a rich guy, invites some more of his rich friends to a hunting trip at Gosford Park. They also bring all their servants.