September, 2001

1:- Kenneth Branagh and Lindsay Brunnock. 2:- Mr and Mrs Robert Altman. 3:- Princess Michael of Kent. 4:- Laura Bailey. 5:- Richard E Grant and Camilla Rutherford.
Pictures by Alan Davidson

Opening night gala: Gosford Park
Peter Bradshaw sees Robert Altman play Cluedo.

We at PN Parties love a luvvie-fest, we do. So, when Robert Altman described the cast of Gosford Park, his first British film, as ‘the finest DNA’, there were great toothy grins all round. And so the 45th Regus London Film Festival began with the world premiere of the legendary director’s newest offering, surely a testament to the festival’s growing stature.

Everyone really was frightfully pleased. In a very discreet fashion, of course. Top of the happy tree was Kenneth Branagh, out again – could Ken be our latest party poster boy? – and accompanied by his new love Lindsay Brunnock. They met on the set of the Channel 4 drama Shackleton and are inseparable. Aaaah. Tom Hollander came with Daphne Guinness, Richard E Grant was there with Camilla Rutherford (who is in the film), Charles Dance cut a dash, as did Emily Watson, Sophie Thompson, Derek Jacobi and Stephen Fry – need we go on? The only discordant note in a sea of re-finery was struck by model and possessor of a first-class English degree, Laura Bailey, in a see-through dress. It just wasn’t that kind of do, love.

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To read another article about the opening night, click here.

Here’s some pics from the Gosford Park Premiere – above being a pic of REG with Camilla Rutherford and below group shot of the cast.