The Shooting Party is a 1985 British drama film directed by Alan Bridges and based on the book of the same name by Isabel Colegate. The film is set in 1913, less than a year before the beginning of the First World War, and shows the soon-to-vanish way of life of English aristocrats, focusing on a shooting party gathered to pursue pheasant and general self-indulgence. Their situation is contrasted with the life of local rural poor, who work on the estate and serve as beaters, driving the game for the aristocrats to shoot. It was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.

Plot

In the autumn of 1913, a large party of guests gather at the estate of Sir Randolph Nettleby (James Mason) and his wife Minnie (Dorothy Tutin) for a weekend of shooting. Over the next few days two of the guests, Lord Gilbert Hartlip (Edward Fox) and Lionel Stephens (Rupert Frazer), engage in an escalating contest over who can shoot the more game. Hartlip is a renowned sportsman threatened by Stephens's skill, while Stephens is anxious to impress his sweetheart, the married Olivia (Judi Bowker). Hartlip's wife, Aline (Cheryl Campbell) is carrying on an indiscreet love affair with another guest, Sir Reuben Hergesheimer (Aharon Ipalé). Meanwhile, the Nettlebys' granddaughter Cicely (Rebecca Saire) is allowing herself to be courted by a Hungarian count (Joris Stuyck), much to the chagrin of her mother Ida (Sara Badel).

Awards