Gosford Park (2002)

In early 1930s England, Gosford Park is an estate owned by Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon). His bored wife Lady Sylvia (Kristen Scott Thomas) and his frumpy daughter Isobel (Camilla Rutherford) are served by staff who include Mrs. Wilson (Helen Mirren), the butler Jennings (Alan Bates), and the head of the kitchen Mrs. Croft (Eileen Atkins). A weekend hunting party is underway and as the guests arrive the distance between the wealthy and the serving class is emphasized. Among the odd assortment of guests are: Maggie Smith, Tom Hollander, Charles Dance, Bob Balaban, Jeremy Northam, James Wilby, and their valets and servants Clive Owen, Kelly Macdonald, Ryan Phillippe, etc. The hunting party is scarred by a minor accident, but the real problem starts with the murder of the grumpy William McCordle. Police are called and Inspector Thompson (Stephen Fry) uncovers some evidence that leads to the events of the murder and also unveils many of the secrets of both guests and servants. There is a surprise ending that makes all of the characters seem more human than the artificial roles they have assumed.

This film is a study of the British class system during the 1930s. Some secondary themes are also explored, such as sexual mores during the 1930s, gay issues (the relationship between Henry Denton and Morris Weissman), WWI, the decline of the British Empire, and so on. The film was shot with two cameras, both filming in opposite directions. The cameras usually pointed toward no specific area, intended to cause the audience to move their eyes throughout the scene. "Gosford Park" received an overwhelmingly positive response from film critics. Patrick Doyle composed the original music. The screenplay is by Julian Fellowes, based on an idea by Robert Altman and co-producer Bob Balaban. Robert Altman co-produced and directed.

A Different Story (1978)

In the late 1970s Albert (Perry King) is an illegal alien from Belgium working in LA as a chauffeur and lover to a string of powerful men. Stella Cooke (Meg Foster) is a real estate agent dealing exclusively in mansions, and she has several women lovers. She meets Albert through one of her wealthy clients, then she finds him camping in a palazzo she is trying to sell. Albert is unemployed, so she temporarily takes him in to sleep on the sofa of her comfortable apartment. He stays for good, and soon Albert cooks, vacuums, fluffs pillows and hangs up Stella's clothes. He becomes her cook and housekeeper, time passes, and they marry so he won't be deported. Later, after a boozy birthday celebration with him, she finds herself pregnant. The "gay" couple have a baby, buy a Mercedes, move into a big house, and squabble just as other couples do. They try to be a family, love grows, and she puts her career on hold as his fashion designer career takes off. Supposedly the gay man and his lesbian wife live happily ever after in this absurd scenario.

The Gay Activists' Alliance has circulated a letter expressing alarm about "A Different Story". The movie's use of their homosexuality is exploitative, insensitive, and offensive in many ways. Futhermore, it is unconvincing. Albert's mincing homosexuality is nothing but a gimmick. Reversing sex roles has comic potential, but this film uses homosexual stereotypes in a very twisted and perverse way. It's not a very good movie, partly because scenes end at uninteresting moments, making the film's chronology completely obscure. Original music was composed by David Michael Frank. Henry Olek wrote the script, and Paul Aaron directed.