The Shooting Party (1985)

While Europe stands on the brink of a World War in Autumn 1913, Sir Randolph Nettleby hosts a weekend of shooting on his estate for European aristocrats.

Director:

Alan Bridges

Writers:

Isabel Colegate (novel), Julian Bond (screenplay)

Stars:

James Mason, Edward Fox, Dorothy Tutin

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Mason	...	Sir Randolph Nettleby
Edward Fox	...	Lord Gilbert Hartlip
Dorothy Tutin	...	Lady Minnie Nettleby
John Gielgud	...	Cornelius Cardew
Gordon Jackson	...	Tom Harker
Cheryl Campbell	...	Lady Aline Hartlip
Robert Hardy	...	Lord Bob Lilburn
Aharon Ipalé	...	Sir Reuben Hergesheimer
Joris Stuyck	...	Count Tibor Rakassyi
Rebecca Saire	...	Cicely Nettleby
Sarah Badel	...	Ida Nettleby
Rupert Frazer	...	Lionel / Lionel Stephens
Judi Bowker	...	Olivia / Lady Olivia Lilburn
John J. Carney	...	Jarvis
Ann Castle	...	Lady Mildred Stamp

Storyline

Autumn, 1913: on the eve of the Great War, a small party of lords and ladies gather at the Hertfordshire estate of Sir Randolph Nettleby. A code of propriety governs all: dress, breakfast, relations with the estate's peasants, courtship, shooting, adultery. Lionel Stephens, who is courting Sir Randolph's daughter, gets into a shooting competition with Lord Gilbert Hartlip; Lord Gilbert's wife carries on discreet affairs; a pamphleteer circles the estate calling for no more killing, and Sir Robert's grandson hopes to protect a wild duck he's befriended. A way of life is ending: Lord Gilbert's violation of the gentlemen's code suggests internal rot as the real world presses in.

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Plot Keywords:

estate | autumn | weekend | marital infidelity | animal rights | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Battuta di caccia

Filming Locations:

Knebworth House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edenflow, Geoff Reeve Films & Television Ltd., Castle Hill Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film of Thomas Heathcote.

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Goofs

The film features several Labrador Retrievers. These were not used for hunting in England in 1913.

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Quotes

Lord Bob Lilburn: If the land-owning class goes, everything goes!

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Connections

Referenced in Gosford Park (2001)

User Reviews

A very good production.

I purchased this film just by chance as it seemed interesting. I had to view this title twice to get the picture so to speak. I have never heard of this production before so did not know what to expect. After viewing with a decent bottle of wine, I found the film thoroughly enjoyable with the all star cast. I was sorry to learn that this film was James Mason's last. A good performance by all the cast especially by the stunningly beautiful Judi Bowker (Olivia) who I can just remember as a sickly teenager in the TV series Black Beauty. So, was the DVD worth buying?? Answer is yes. I will even visit the location which is Knebworth house which was unknown to me.