Blu-ray Release: Gosford Park

Blu-ray Release Date: Nov. 27, 2018
Price: Blu-ray $22.99
Studio: Arrow/MVD

Arrow Video has done another bang-up edition of a beloved modern film. This time around it’s the posh 2001 murder-mystery comedy-drama Gosford Park, directed by Robert Altman (taking an unexpected step into Agatha Christie territory) and penned by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, who won an Oscar for his screenplay.

Set in 1932, the action unfolds during a weekend shooting party hosted by Sir William McArdle (Alan Bates, King of Hearts), and his wife Lady Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas, Nowhere Boy), at his estate, Gosford Park. Among the guests are friends, relatives, the actor and composer Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam, Creation), and an American film producer (Bob Balaban, The Grand Budapest Hotel). When Sir William is found murdered in the library, everyone – and their servants – becomes a suspect.

Also starring Charles Dance, Michael Gambon, Richard E. Grant, Helen Mirren, Clive Owen, Maggie Smith, Emily Watson and many more, Altman really scored with this one, which, alongside The Player and Short Cuts, is deservingly regarded as one of his late-career masterpieces.

Here’s what’s on the disc:

• Brand new 2K restoration from a 4K scan, carried out by Arrow films exclusively for this release, supervised and approved by director of photography Andrew Dunn
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary by director Robert Altman, production designer Stephen Altman and producer David Levy
• Audio commentary by writer-producer Julian Fellowes
• Brand-new audio commentary by critics Geoff Andrew and David Thompson (author of Altman on Altman)
• Introduction by critic Geoff Andrew
• Brand new cast and crew interviews recorded exclusively for this release
• The Making of Gosford Park archive featurette
• Keeping Gosford Park Authentic archive featurette
• Q&A Session with Altman and the cast
• Fifteen deleted scenes with optional Altman commentary
• Trailer
• Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Sheila O’Malley and an archive interview with Robert Altman