百年50部英文烧脑电影赏析:[14]Gosford Park 高斯福庄园

Constance, Countess of Trentham(Maggie Smith), and her lady's maid, Mary Maceachran(Kelly Macdonald)travel to Gosford Park for the weekend. On the way, they encounter actor Ivor Novello(Jeremy Northam), American film producer Morris Weissman(Bob Balaban)and Weissman's valet, Henry Denton(Ryan Phillippe). At the house, they are greeted by Sir William McCordle(Michael Gambon), Lady Sylvia McCordle(Kristin Scott Thomas)and their daughter, Isobel(Camilla Rutherford), The other guests include Lady Sylvia's sisters, Louisa, Lady Stockbridge(Geraldine Somerville)and Lady Lavinia Meredith(Natasha Wightman)and their husbands, Raymond, Lord Stockbridge(Charles Dance)and Commander Anthony Meredith(Tom Hollander). Also in attendance are the Honourable Freddie Nesbitt(James Wilby)and his wife, Mabel(Claudie Blakley); Isobel's suitor, Lord Rupert Standish(Laurence Fox)and his friend Jeremy Blond(Trent Ford).

Commander Meredith is in financial difficulty and brings up the matter with Sir William, who reveals that he is rescinding his investment in Meredith's new scheme. Sir William also intends to stop paying Lady Trentham's allowance. Mary and Lord Stockbridge's valet, Parks(Clive Owen)are attracted to one another. Denton asks a number of questions about life in service and Parks reveals that he was raised in an orphanage. Denton meets Lady Sylvia and during the night, he goes to her room.

During the pheasant shoot, Sir William is slightly injured by a low shot. Commander Meredith pleads with Sir William not to back out of the investment. During dinner, Lady Sylvia attacks Sir William, implying that he was a World War I profiteer. The head housemaid, Elsie(Emily Watson), rises to his defence, thus revealing their affair. Sir William goes to the library, where the housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson(Helen Mirren)brings him coffee. He demands a glass of whisky instead. Lady Sylvia asks Mr. Novello to entertain the guests. George(Richard E. Grant), Parks, Mr. Nesbitt and Commander Meredith disappear and an unknown man goes to the library and stabs Sir William. Commander Meredith and Mr. Nesbitt do not offer an explanation of their disappearances, while George was fetching milk for the coffee service and Parks was fetching hot water bottles. Lady Stockbridge goes to the library and her screams bring everyone to the room.

Inspector Thomson(Stephen Fry)and Constable Dexter(Ron Webster)arrive to investigate the murcler. Dexter suggests that Sir William was already dead when he was stabbed. Denton confesses to Jennings(Alan Bates), the butler, that he is not a valet but an American actor preparing for a movie role. The next morning, Lady Sylvia goes for her morning ride, which surprises Inspector Thomson. Barnes(Adrian Scarborough)overhears Commander Meredith tell Lady Lavinia that Sir William's death was lucky for them, as the investment is now secure. Barnes tells Inspector Thomson, who interrogates Meredith.

Mrs. Croft(Eileen Atkins)tells the kitchen maid, Bertha(Teresa Churcher), that Sir William was known for seducing the women working in his factories. If a woman became pregnant, Sir William offered two choices: keep the baby and lose your job, or give the baby up and keep your job. Those who gave up their babies were told that the adoptions were being arranged with good families. In reality, Sir William paid orphanages to take the children. Mary goes to Parks's room and tells him that she knows he is the murderer. Parks tells her that he discovered Sir William was his father, entered service and attempted to gain employment with someone in his circle. Parks tells Mary that he did not poison Sir William and Mary is relieved, as Parks only stabbed the corpse.

Mary listens to Lady Sylvia and Lady Trentham discussing why Mrs. Croft and Mrs. Wilson are enemies. Lady Sylvia believes that the tension between them stems from the fact that Mrs. Wilson now outranks Mrs. Craft, Lady Trentham asks if Mrs. Wilson was ever married and Lady Sylvia replies that her name was once Parks or Parker. Mary goes to Mrs. Wilson and the older woman reveals that she poisoned Sir William in order to protect her son, as she knew that Parks was there to kill Sir William. She also reveals that she and Mrs. Croft are sisters. After talking to Dorothy(Sophie Thompson), Mrs. Wilson goes to her room and is comforted by Mrs. Croft. The guests leave and Lady Sylvia enters Gosford Park, while Jennings closes the door.

在康斯坦茨，特伦特姆伯爵夫人(玛吉·史密斯饰)和她的贴身女仆玛丽·麦凯克伦(凯莉·麦克唐纳饰)前往高斯福庄园过周末。路上，她们偶遇了演员艾弗·诺维罗(杰瑞米·诺森饰)、美国制片人莫里斯·维斯曼(鲍勃·巴拉邦饰)以及维斯曼的贴身男仆亨利·丹顿(瑞安·菲利普饰)。来到庄园，她们受到了威廉·麦考德爵士(迈克尔·刚本饰)、西尔维亚·麦考德女士(克里斯汀·斯科特·托马斯饰)以及他们的女儿伊泽贝尔(卡米拉·拉瑟福德饰)的欢迎。另外一批客人包括西尔维亚女士的姐妹们，路易莎、斯托克布里奇女士(杰拉丁·萨莫维尔饰)、拉维尼娅·梅雷迪思女士(娜塔莎·怀特曼饰)和她们的丈夫，雷蒙德、斯托克布里奇勋爵(查里斯·丹斯饰)，以及指挥官安东尼·梅雷迪思(汤姆·霍兰德尔饰)。此外出席的还有贵族弗雷迪·奈斯比特(詹姆斯·威尔比饰)和他的妻子梅布尔(克劳德·布拉克利饰)、伊泽贝尔的追求者鲁珀特·斯坦迪什(劳伦斯·福克斯饰)及他的朋友杰瑞米·布隆德(特伦特·福特饰)。

指挥官梅雷迪思最近资金紧张，他向威廉爵士说起了这些麻烦事，威廉爵士透露说他将撤销对梅雷迪思新计划的投资。威廉爵士同样打算停止支付特伦特姆女士的津贴。玛丽和斯托克布里奇勋爵的贴身男仆帕克斯(克里夫·欧文饰)彼此吸引。丹顿问了一些有关仆人生活的问题，帕克斯透露他是在孤儿院长大的。丹顿遇到了西尔维亚女士，夜里走进了她的房间。

在射击野鸡时，威廉爵士被一颗偏低的子弹微微擦伤了。指挥官梅雷迪思恳求威廉爵士不要撤回投资。晚宴上，西尔维亚女士抨击了威廉爵士，暗示他是一战的投机商。头等女仆埃尔希(艾米莉·沃特森饰)站起来为他辩护，这暴露了他们之间的私情。威廉爵士走到了图书室，女管家威尔逊太太(海伦·米伦饰)为他带了一杯咖啡，他要求换成一杯威士忌。西尔维亚女士请诺维罗先生招待客人。然后，乔治(理查德·E·格兰特饰)、帕克斯、奈斯比特先生和指挥官梅雷迪思消失了，一个陌生男人来到图书室刺死了威廉爵士。指挥官梅雷迪思和奈斯比特先生没有为自己的消失辩解，而乔治当时是去为冲咖啡取牛奶了，帕克斯去取热水壶了。斯托克布里奇女士到了图书室之后，她的尖叫声把所有人都引到了这间屋子。

巡视员汤姆森(斯蒂芬·弗雷饰)和巡警德克斯特(罗恩·韦伯斯特饰)来到庄园调查这件谋杀案。德克斯特认为威廉爵士在遇刺前就已经死亡了。丹顿向男管家詹宁斯(艾伦·贝茨饰)坦白，他不是男仆，而是个美国演员，正在为一个电影角色做准备。第二天早晨，西尔维亚女士外出骑马兜风，这让巡视员汤姆森非常惊讶。巴尔内斯(艾德里安·斯卡伯勒饰)无意中听到，指挥官梅雷迪思对拉维尼娅女士说，威廉爵士的死，对他们来说是幸运的，因为投资安全了。巴尔内斯把这告诉了巡视员汤姆森，于是汤姆森审问了梅雷迪思。

克罗夫特太太(艾琳·阿特金斯饰)告诉厨房女仆伯莎(特瑞莎·邱吉尔饰)，威廉爵士因诱奸在他工厂里工作的女人而闻名。如果女人怀孕了，威廉爵士会提供给她们两个选择：保留孩子失去工作，或放弃孩子继续工作。那些放弃孩子的妇女被告知，她们的孩子会被安排给优秀的家庭抚养。事实上，威廉爵士付钱给孤儿院抚养这些孩子。玛丽来到帕克斯的房间，告诉他，她知道帕克斯就是凶手。帕克斯告诉她，他发现威廉爵士是自己的父亲，然后从事男仆工作并努力让他圈子里的某个人成为自己的主人。帕克斯告诉玛丽，他并没有毒害威廉爵士，玛丽放心了，因为帕克斯只是刺了尸体而已。

玛丽听到西尔维亚女士和特伦特姆女士讨论，为什么克罗夫特太太和威尔逊太太会是敌人。西尔维亚女士认为她们之间的紧张关系源于威尔逊太太地位高于克罗夫特太太的现实。特伦特姆女士问威尔逊太太是否结过婚，西尔维亚女士回答说她曾经姓过帕克斯或者帕克。玛丽去找威尔逊太太，这个年老的女人透露说，为了保护自己的儿子，她毒死了威廉爵士，因为她知道帕克斯已经准备杀害威廉爵士了。她同时还透露说自己和克罗夫特太太其实是亲姐妹。与桃乐茜(苏菲·汤普森饰)谈过话后，威尔逊太太走进了屋子，克罗夫特太太安慰着她。客人们离开了，在詹宁斯关门时，西尔维亚女士走进了高斯福庄园。

commander[kə'mɑ:ndə]n. 指挥官;司令官

rescind[ri'sind]vi. 解除;废除;撤回

orphanage['ɔ:fəniʤ]n. 孤儿院;孤儿身份

pheasant['feznt]n. 野鸡;雉科鸟

profiteer[prɔfi'tiə]vi. 赚大钱;牟取暴利

confess[kən'fes]vi. 承认;坦白;忏悔;供认

butler['bʌtlə]n. 男管家;仆役长

stab[stæb]vt. 刺;刺伤;戳;刺穿;直入

outrank[aʊt'ræŋk]vt. 地位高于，级别高于;居……之上

重点掌握

■ Commander Meredith pleads with Sir William not to back out of the investment.

back out of是英语中一个固定搭配，在文中是“取消，放弃，缩手”的意思，比如：He has backed out of the contract. 他已弃约了。它可以用于表达“逃避(责任等);因难而退”的意思，比如：You can't back out of it. 你不能知难而退。另外，back out of还有“旋出;扭松;退出”的意思，比如：Seeing him coming, she backed out of the hall. 她看见了，就退出了大厅。

Tom Hollander Interviewed by Tom Dawson

Was there any particular preparation for your role in Gosford Park?

I was so excited to be in a Robert Altman film and to be working with one of the all- time greats that I did quite a lot of research. I read stuff about the navy, because my character was a former naval officer, and I read about the major news events of 1932. I also read an Evelyn Waugh novel because it was full of stupid, madcap business schemes, and that came in useful for an improvised dinner party scene when my character starts talking about shoes for Sudanese soldiers.

What was the atmosphere like on set, being surrounded by so many illustrious actors?

English actors are essentially “muckers”. There's an old theatrical tradition of nobody getting above themselves and everybody pulling together, and that was the spirit of Gosford Park. Michael Gambon would jokingly go around, saying, “Who's the star in this film? Is it me? Is it Alan Bates? Is it Derek Jacobi?” But the star was Robert Altman.

What was it like being directed by Robert Altman?

He always encourages you to try out new things. If you ask him, “Bob, should I do it like this?”, he'll say, “I don't know, have a go.” He'd come on to the set in the morning and say, “I don't care what happens as long as we have fun today.” You feel like you're in a huge playground with a bouncy castle, in which you can try anything and you have the right to fail — which you don't have most of the time. He knows how to handle actors like nobody I've ever come across—he know their insecurities, he massages everybody's ego, and he has this extraordinary personal charisma.

为了《高斯福庄园》中的角色，你有没有做一些特别的准备?

能出现在罗伯特·奥特曼的电影里，和空前的伟人之一合作，我很激动，做了不少研究。我读过关于海军的东西，因为我的角色是前海军军官，我读了1932年的重大新闻事件。我还看了伊芙琳·沃夫的小说，因为到处都充满了愚蠢、狂妄之人的商业阴谋，这对于在之后拍一个即兴表演的晚宴上，我的角色开始谈论苏丹士兵的鞋子时很有帮助。

片场气氛怎样，被这么多名演员围绕?

英国演员基本上是“无赖”。有一个古老的戏剧界的传统，没有人可以凌驾于他人之上，大家必须齐心协力，这是“高斯福庄园”的精神。迈克尔·刚本会走来走去地开玩笑说，“谁是这部电影的明星?是我吗?是艾伦·贝茨吗?是德瑞特·杰克比吗?”但真正的明星是罗伯特·奥特曼。

罗伯特·奥特曼是怎样的导演?

他总是鼓励你去尝试新事物。如果你问他，“鲍勃，我应该这样做吗?”，他会说“我不知道，试一下。，，早上他会来到现场，说“我不在乎会发生什么，只要我们今天过得开心。”你觉得你是在一个有充气城堡的巨大的游乐场，在里面可以尝试一切事情，你有权利失败，而在大多数时候你是没有这种权利的。他知道如何无为而治地管理演员，以前我从未遇到过，他了解他们的不安全感，他安抚每个人的自我，而且他拥有非凡的个人魅力。

在拍摄本片的时候，采用的不是通常的大麦克风来收音，导演奥特曼让所有的演员都带着便携式的麦克风，这样是为了创造一种叠音式的效果。这种技术第一次被运用是在1978年的电影《婚礼》(A Wedding)上，随后还被采用过几次。

楼上的女士们佩戴的珠宝全部都是货真价实的，每天必须由全副武装的保安护送着。

导演奥特曼要求摄影机在拍摄影片中的每一个镜头时，都要移动，哪怕是轻微的。

影片中所有扮演仆人的角色都没有化妆。