IMDb > The Belly of an Architect (1987)
The Belly of an Architect
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Belly of an Architect (1987) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2 NEW)
The Belly of an Architect (1987) -- US Home Video Trailer from Unknown
The Belly of an Architect (1987) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   2,095 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Peter Greenaway

Writer:

Peter Greenaway (writer)

Contact:

View company contact information for The Belly of an Architect on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

23 September 1987 (France) more

Genre:

Drama more

Plot:

An American architect arrives in Italy, supervising an exhibiton for a French architect, Boullée, who is famous for his oval structures... more | add synopsis

Plot Keywords:

more

Awards:

1 nomination more

User Comments:

Greenaway Lite on Gravity more (22 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Brian Dennehy ... Stourley Kracklite
Chloe Webb ... Louisa Kracklite

Lambert Wilson ... Caspasian Speckler
Sergio Fantoni ... Io Speckler
Stefania Casini ... Flavia Speckler
Vanni Corbellini ... Frederico
Alfredo Varelli ... Julio
Geoffrey Copleston ... Caspetti
Francesco Carnelutti ... Pastarri
Marino Masé ... Trettorio
Marne Maitland ... Battistino
Claudio Spadaro ... Mori
Rate Furlan ... Violinist
Julian Jenkins ... Old Doctor
Enrica Maria Scrivano ... Mother
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:

Il ventre dell' architetto (Italy)
more

Runtime:

USA:118 min

Country:

UK | Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Company:

Tangram Film more


Fun Stuff

Goofs:

Factual errors: A little over 20 minutes in the movie, the main character Kracklite (Brian Dennehy) starts his xerox-obsession with pictures of bellies. He clearly opens the machine, keeps the picture in sight and then makes a copy. That's impossible, in copying the original should face the machine, not the hood. more

Quotes:

Stourley Kracklite: All fascists are meat-eaters. more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 3: From Sark to the Finish (2003) more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Greenaway Lite on Gravity, 26 July 2000
Author: tedg (tedg@FilmsFolded.com) from Virginia Beach

Why was this film made? Because someone talked Greenaway into trying to go mainstream. By this time, he had already made some of the most adventuresome films in history. This simple confection is sandwiched between `Zed and Two Noughts' and `Drowning by Numbers,' both of which are complex, intelligent, risky, erudite.

I can only imagine that he thought he could finance his serious work with a commercial success. Some might tag this as an accessible Greenaway film, but I hardly think it is Greenaway at all. Nor is the remarkable composer Nyman present.

All that remains are some lush compositions, studies in photographing monumental architecture, and these are pleasant enough. A subtext is fascist perfidy in architecture and the film takes a critical (visual) stance on Roman architecture. See here how all the buildings are from the emperors or Mussolini. No church architecture here which must have been a conscious omission for simplicity.

Everything about the physical fabric portrayed is dehumanizing, especially as compared to the containing space of the skin. As an architect myself, I can appreciate the message. It is a clever conceit, but it pales, utterly fades away, in comparison to his best: `The Falls,' and the `book' films.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (22 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Belly of an Architect (1987)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Scene in trailer not in movie ebm83
Kracklite's pregnancy disfuncion_cerebral
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Pillow Book Bad Timing Le violon rouge Stealing Beauty Topsy-Turvy
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.