Gosford Park: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''Tea at four''}}

{{quote|''DinnerMurder at eightmidnight''}}

More than just a basic murder mystery story, ''[[Gosford Park]]'' focuses more on the servants (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.

* [[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 likable 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 sympathisesympathize with them a bit more.

* [[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. {{spoiler|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.}}

* [[Dysfunctional Family]]: The McCordles are one big happy family. Well, if you ignore {{spoiler|Sir William's affairs}}, {{spoiler|Lady Sylvia's affairs}}, and, for that matter, the likelihood that {{spoiler|their daughter is having an affair.}} Not to mention Lady Sylvia's contempt for her child.

* [[Historical Domain Character]]: 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 reportlyreportedly considered his own voice very poor. The Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting and composing (The Ivors) are named after him. There is a [http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/42/35/1423568_f9403992.jpg statue] of him near Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff.

* [[The Mole]]: Denton acts as one of the servants when {{spoiler|he is really an American actor thatwho spied on the Downstairs for research for Weissman. He tells Jennings, and the word spreads in the Downstairs, causing all the servants to hate him}}.

* [[No Ending]]: Only the murder plot and a few others are concluded. All of the other plots are left up in the air, including {{spoiler|Isobel's heavily-implied pregnancy}} and {{spoiler|the altered relationship between Mabel and Freddie.}}

'''Inspector Thompson:''' Not now, Dexter, please. }}

* [[One-Scene Wonder]]: Inspector Thompson.

* [[Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping]]: Why Mary realizes that there's something off with {{spoiler|Denton.}}

* [[Parental Abandonment]]: {{spoiler|Mrs. Wilson, but under duress.}}

{{quote|'''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. }}

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