Sir William McCordle is a wealthy but uncouth industrialist-turned-aristocrat, with a large house in the English countryside, complete with staff. It is a world where everything runs in order - both upstairs, where Sir William and his much younger wife Lady Sylvia indulge in a very comfortable existence of shooting, dinners and parties, and downstairs, where the servants work endlessly under the command of the butler Mr. Jennings, and the house keeper Mrs. Wilson. Whether they like it or not, everyone knows their place. But a shooting party will change all of that, with friends of the McCordles and their servants arriving from outside to upset the order. And so begins a complicated tale of secrets, lies, deceit, betrayal, revenge, bitterness, hatred, money and love - and that's all before the murder.

During group scenes, director Robert Altman had two cameras going at all times, moving about (out of each other's shot, of course). His intention was to prevent the actors from acting to the camera but instead to play the scene more naturalistically.

Mrs. Wilson:
I'm the perfect servant; I have no life.

Continuity: Early in the film, Lady Trentham taps on the window of the car. Mary, who is seated in the front, looks over her right shoulder. In the next shot she is looking over her left shoulder.

(1939)
Performed by Christopher Northam
Music by Ivor Novello
Lyrics by Christopher Hassall (as Christopher V. Hassall)
© Chappell/Music Limited
By kind permission of Warner/Chappell Music Ltd.