The Shooting Party

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The Shooting Party
Directed by	Alan Bridges
Written by	Isabel Colegate (novel) Julian Bond
Starring	James Mason Edward Fox Dorothy Tutin John Gielgud
Release date(s)	1985
Running time	98 min.
Country	U.K.
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Shooting Party is 1985 film which is set in 1913. It shows the way of life of English aristocrats, gathered for pheasant shooting and general self-indulgence. Their way of life is contrasted with the local rural poor, who serve as 'beaters', driving the game for the aristocrats to shoot. There is also an early and very genteel animal-rights/socialist activist (played by John Gielgud).

There is a general feeling of the end of a way of life. The older standards of the gentry have slipped and they are no longer sure what they are doing or why.

This is one of the last film appearances by James Mason, who plays Sir Randolph Nettleby, the local landowner who has something of the old values. Edward Fox as Lord Gilbert Hartlip represents the newer types who don't have the same solid beliefs: he gets into a competition over who is the best shot, despite his host's disapproval.

The film is based on a book by Isabel Colegate which won the 1981 WH Smith Literary Award.