OK, some final thoughts (I promise!) I watched the film again and then listened to the Altman commentary. He reiterated Fellowes' allegation but more forcefully that Novello was gay. When you listen to one of the major songs of Gosford Park it is sung by the Ivor Novello character and is one that Novello had actually written. It is beautiful. It sort of reminded me of a sadder Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Altman stated that he believed that it was meant to allude to Novello's homosexuality. At any rate, the song is sung live by the actor Jeremy Northam who also plays the piano. Several Novello songs appear in the film. This is Ivor Novello: