The Serpent's Kiss (1997)

Young Dutch architect Meneer Chrome comes to a remote English estate where Thomas Smithers lives with his wife, Juliana. Smithers is determined to leave as his legacy a fabulous garden, to ... See full summary »

Director:

Philippe Rousselot

Writer:

Tim Rose Price (original screenplay)

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Greta Scacchi, Pete Postlethwaite

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ewan McGregor	...	Meneer Chrome
Greta Scacchi	...	Juliana
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Thomas Smithers
Richard E. Grant	...	James Fitzmaurice
Carmen Chaplin	...	Thea / Anna
Donal McCann	...	Physician
Charley Boorman	...	Secretary
Gerard McSorley	...	Mr. Galmoy
Britta Smith	...	Mrs. Galmoy
Susan Fitzgerald	...	Mistress Clevely
Pat Laffan	...	Pritchard
Rúaidhrí Conroy	...	Physician's Assistant
Henry King	...	Lead Reaper
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Byrne	...	Garden Boy
Caimin Danaher	...	Garden Boy

Storyline

Young Dutch architect Meneer Chrome comes to a remote English estate where Thomas Smithers lives with his wife, Juliana. Smithers is determined to leave as his legacy a fabulous garden, to be carved from a wild patch of land beside his home. Chrome receives written instructions from his unseen master via a secretary, and the master is Juliana's cousin, Fitzmaurice, who had romance with Juliana when they were young and plans to make Thomas bankrupt via setting up extravagant garden and to make Juliana come back to him.

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Plot Keywords:

garden | architect | snuff powder | mandrake | architecture | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1998 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

A kígyó csókja

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

J&M Entertainment, Jones-Brockman Productions, Rose Price Battsek Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ewan McGregor met his best friend Charley Boorman while making this movie.

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Quotes

Smithers: Well, Chrome, shall we make the desert bloom?
Chrome: First we must make the desert.

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Connections

References The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)

User Reviews

Nice period piece - weak plot

The story being a wee bit weak is more than carried by the class actors. Greta Scacchi is just magnificent and you can literally FEEL the tension when she lusts for McGregor in the greenhouse-scene. Not at all as bad as some would make it out to be. Nice period piece shot in beautiful surroundings.