Gosford Park is a brilliant example of a British Historical drama. The film greatly uses the codes and conventions associated with this genre in order to create the desired reactions amongst audiences. The director has made various decisions in order to do this. Especially in terms of mis-en-scene and the representations of certain people, as these two conventions are paramount to the success of a film, as without them the reality of the film can be questioned therefore not appeal greatly to those consuming the film. Editing and narrative decisions are also a vital part in the success of a film as without them connoting the desired ideas the film would again fail to fulfill its potential. Many different techniques are used throughout Gosford Park in order for the film to correlate with the codes and conventions associated with this genre.
Gosford Park uses mis-en-scene to connote rural Britain in the early 1930’s. This has been executed with the use of costume, colours, pine furniture and iconographic images of Britain. The stereotypical view of Britain is connoted throughout this film. the opening scenes are saturated with images of countryside and country roads, therefore connoting the rural areas of Britain. Throughout the opening scene of the film it is raining, this is also a stereotypical denotation of Britain as it is seen by the people as a dreary and rainy place, especially areas of countryside. The film makes it immediately apparent that the main characters of the film are upper class Brits. There is an establishing shot of an elaborately large house of which one woman is collected in a 1930’s fashioned car and is chauffeured, to another elaborately large house. There are then denotations iconographic images for example a horse rider training and the man of the house with a dog in hand. Both these animals connote the area of which the film is set in and the wealth of certain characters, as they are stereotypically associated with upper class, rural british families.
Costume and the colours that are denoted throughout the film greatly emphasis the connotations the film already holds. The costumes are typical of 1930’s Britain, with the men predominately dressed in tuxedoes and women in fanciful dresses. The colours are rich and dark with the use of dark greens, blues and deep reds, this emphasis’the wealth of the characters and the time in which the film is set. Costumes also allow representations between classes to become apparent to audiences. Upper class characters in the film wear clothes of dark rich colours and of elaborate design differing greatly from one anothers, yet those of the working classes who play the maids and butlers are dressed in very plain styled clothes of just black and white colours. This allows audiences to depict between the rich and the poor due to the connotations held with certain colours and styles. The use of colour to depict the difference between classes is also used in terms of the rooms inhabited by either working classes or upper classes. The upper classes are situated upstairs in rooms decorated in bright and vibrant colours littered with paintings of important and professional people. Whereas the lower rooms are very plainly decorated with a lack of lighting, they appear very bland and dreary. This connotes the class consciousness that was rife in the British society of the 1930’s. however the colour contrasts are also used to allow easier viewing for the public as it allows them to understand where the film is placing them.
The representations used in the film are greatly played out using the mis-en-scene, these techniques greatly connote to audiences the style of film they are consuming. As seen in the mis-en-scene the difference between classes is greatly apparent throughout the film. For example with the upper classes being situated upstairs and lower classes being situated downstairs connotes the hierarchy of the classes. This can also be seen in the way in which the lower classes loose their names when they are taken downstairs, they adopt the name of their employer. This connote to audiences the feelings that working and lower class people were lesser then those of middle to upper class status. This is emphasised when a maid suggests that a ’woman without a maid has lost her self respect’yet one suggests she never had a maid, to receive a reply that the same rule does not apply. This again connotes the differences between class in the 1930’s and the consciousness that still existed despite the activities of the prior century to create equality. There is also a glorified class system amongst the servants, those middle to lower class people work within the public eye, for example working as chauffeurs or butlers, yet those of lower class are not seen in the public eye, are merely seen by their employer or stay downstairs with jobs in the kitchen. This is connoted y the differing accents, those whom work in the public eye have posh English accents, yet those who stay downstairs have common or regional accents.
Regionalism is also greatly represented in the film which is connoted by many of the lower classes have accents of regional origin, for example scottish, irish or common english accents. Regionalism has always been a key theme in British history and this is connoted in the film by those from regional areas being of a lower class status therefore being portrayed as lesser people. These feelings were very apparent in the 19th century and early 20th century. America is also represented in the film with one character being a famous American actor. This connotes the stereotypical view of America, especially in terms of Britain’s opinion of America. The character is portrayed as the only seriously famous person in the film, it follows the themes of the American dream and parodies the power America had over the rest of the world at the time, due to the success of the first world war. America was seen as a very glamourous place were ones dreams would come true, the use of this character emphasis’this view that existed connoting to audiences its importance. However the American is ridiculed for certain aspects of his lifestyle, for example him being a vegetarian. This connotes the feelings of the 1930’s to change and minorities, the fact that the American is the vegetarian also romanticises the American lifestyle of getting what you want.
the gender representations used throughout the film follow that of the stereotypical view of the 1930’s. The women are represented as timid and overpowered, yet very sensual and seductive. This is connoted through the costumes they are wearing, elaborate dresses accentuating the female figure, and via the colours used. They are predominantly seen in rich dark colours, such as deep red which can be associated with passion. The men in Gosford Park are connoted as hard,strong men. However also portrayed as gentlemen, whom take care of their women. This can be seen in the performance of the characters, the way in which the men still stand taller and stronger in comparison to women.
The editing of the films sets of what is already established by the mis-en-scene, emphasizing the genre of the film and allowing audiences insight in terms of what to expect of the film. The majority of the cuts between shots are slow and steady, easing from one scene to another. This connotes the tempo of the film to audiences, and enhances the introduction to the piece of film, for example the setting, the characters and key themes of the film. This technique of cutting is greatly used in the historical drama genre, due to these films having slow and steady tempos. There are key uses of establishing shots, especially at the beginning and during the actual movement of the film. These allow audiences to follow the script of the film very closely, and feel involved in the film. Establishing shots are used to introduce different scenes of the film and are generally followed by a shot to inside the building involved in the establishing shot. This connotes to audiences where they are and what to expect. The use of tracking shots following characters, also allows these feelings to be created in audiences. Point of view shots and over the shoulder shots allow audiences to feel the same emotions the character is feeling at that moment of the film. They also allow audiences to place where the film is and in which direction the script and characters are taking. The tempo of the shots follow that of the film itself, along with the cuts between shots, which emphasis’the genre of the film. Close ups and mid-shots are greatly used in Gosford Park, as they are in many other historical dramas. Close ups are used in order to connote the relevance of the character in the film or the situation that is unfolding. Both close ups and mid-shots narrows the audiences view, therefore forcing them to concentrate on the desired person or situation, connoting therefore the importance of these shots and scenes. Extreme close ups are not used in the introduction of the film, as the film is not trying to drum up tension or anticipation, as this would not fit with the tempo of the genre or the story-line of the film.
The director has made many different decisions involving the way in which the film has been executed. The mis-en-scene was carefully studied ensuring that it successfully connoted the films genre, time period and allowed the film to appear realistic. The mis-en-scene is also paramount to the success of representations used throughout the film. For example the representations of the different classes was emphasized by colour, costume and lighting, these decisions were made by the director in order to achieve the desired effect. Editing and the tempo of the film is also vital to the success of the film, as without correct editing or cutting the film would fail to connote to audiences the genre of the film. Therefore the director used slow and steady cuts between shots, which is a technique of this convention greatly associated with the historical drama genre. The shots used are also greatly associated with historical dramas, allowing audiences to fully take in and understand what they are consuming. Without successful editing of the films realistic aspects would have not succeed causing the film to fail its purpose. The narrative used is also that which is associated with historical dramas, it is linear and slow pace, having a clear beginning, middle and an end. The narrative also follows a theme where the film begins with an equilibrium, which will later be broken and at the end found again. This is a typical style that historical dramas adopt due to its success. The director also made decisions concerning cast, the use of certain British actors and actresses immediately connotes to audiences that the film is a British historical drama, due to the type-cast or the genre associated with these actors and actresses.
Overall Gosford Park is an excellent example of a British historical drama, that cleverly uses all the codes and convention associated with this genre to create a desired effect amongst audiences. The director has made many decisions concerning the films aesthetics and tempo in order to create a realistic and plausible film. The use of the mis-en-scene and the representations portrayed throughout the film emphasis this effect of realism and greatly demonstrate the directors knowledge of this genre. The film also holds many themes deeply associated with Britain, for example the way in which the class consciousness of the early 20th century in connoted and the regionalism that has historically existed in Britain. The use of British iconography is also and effective device used in the film, with images of dogs, horses and tea, connoting that the film is saturated in British culture.
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