GOSFORD PARK

Channel 4

    
Dir: Robert Altman
Writer: Julian Fellowes, based on an idea by Bob Balaban and Robert Altman
Cast: Eileen Atkins, Alan Bates, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin-Scott-Thomas, Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry, Clive Owen, Ryan Phillippe, Richard E Grant

As he showed in such films as Nashville and M*A*S*H , the late Robert Altman was one of the handful of directors comfortable working with large casts yet giving each actor space to create their character but the Oscar and BAFTA-winning Gosford Park is possibly the finest example. A cast to die for gather at the eponymous country house for a weekend's shooting in inter-war Britain.

The hosts are Sir William McCordle and his wife Sylvia (Michael Gambon and Kristin Scott-Thomas) and guests include Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam), Lord Stockbridge (Charles Dance) and Sylvia's sister Louisa (Geraldine Somerville). All the guests are accompanied by the servants, including Ryan Phillippe and Clive Owen, who swell the staff headed by butler Jennings (Alan Bates) and housekeeper Mrs Wilson (Helen Mirren). As the weekend progresses, so Altman deftly sketches in the backgrounds of the characters, both upstairs and downstairs, painting a picture of snobbery, adultery, unrequited love and - murder, as Sir William is found dead. Enter Inspector Thompson (Stephen Fry), a comic mix of Clouseau and Lestrade who has to have the clues pointed out to him.

The cast are all superb but special honours go to Maggie Smith as Sir Williams' sister Constance, whose acerbic one-liners are a sheer delight as is, of course, her interpretation of the character. But even Richard E Grant, in a minor role as a footman, creates his character with a handful of lines and body language that lesser actors would need an entire film to achieve. Altman used two cameras during group scenes to achieve a more natural feel and also 'miked' up each actor to create the genuine overlapping dialogue of any group. Superb to look at and with flawless performances, this is an absolute delight of a film from one of cinema's greatest directors.