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IMDbPro

The Draughtsman's Contract

  • 19821982
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
17,783
1,136
The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
A young artist is commissioned by the wife of a wealthy landowner to make a series of drawings of the estate while her husband is away.
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
35 Photos
ComedyDramaMystery
A young artist is commissioned by the wife of a wealthy landowner to make a series of drawings of the estate while her husband is away.A young artist is commissioned by the wife of a wealthy landowner to make a series of drawings of the estate while her husband is away.A young artist is commissioned by the wife of a wealthy landowner to make a series of drawings of the estate while her husband is away.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
17,783
1,136
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Peter Greenaway
    • Writer
      • Peter Greenaway
    • Stars
      • Anthony Higgins
      • Janet Suzman
      • Anne-Louise Lambert
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Peter Greenaway
    • Writer
      • Peter Greenaway
    • Stars
      • Anthony Higgins
      • Janet Suzman
      • Anne-Louise Lambert
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:40
    Trailer

    Photos35

    Anthony Higgins and Anne-Louise Lambert in The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    Anthony Higgins in The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    Anthony Higgins and Janet Suzman in The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    Anthony Higgins and Janet Suzman in The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    Anthony Higgins in The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
    The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anthony Higgins
    Anthony Higgins
    • R Neville…
    Janet Suzman
    Janet Suzman
    • Virginia Herbert…
    Anne-Louise Lambert
    Anne-Louise Lambert
    • Mrs. Talmann
    • (as Anne Louise Lambert)
    • …
    Hugh Fraser
    Hugh Fraser
    • Mr Talmann…
    Neil Cunningham
    • Thomas Noyes…
    Dave Hill
    Dave Hill
    • Mr Herbert…
    David Gant
    David Gant
    • Mr Seymour
    David Meyer
    • The Poulencs
    Tony Meyer
    • The Poulencs
    Nicholas Amer
    Nicholas Amer
    • Mr Parkes
    • (as Nicolas Amer)
    Suzan Crowley
    Suzan Crowley
    • Mrs Pierpont
    Lynda La Plante
    Lynda La Plante
    • Mrs Clement
    • (as Lynda Marchal)
    Michael Feast
    Michael Feast
    • The Statue
    Alastair G. Cumming
    Alastair G. Cumming
    • Philip
    • (as Alastair Cumming)
    • …
    Steve Ubels
    • Mr. van Hoyten
    Ben Kirby
    • Augustus
    Sylvia Rotter
    • Governess
    Kate Doherty
    Kate Doherty
    • Maid
    • Director
      • Peter Greenaway
    • Writer
      • Peter Greenaway
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie was originally inspired by Peter Greenaway's attempts to draw a house he'd rented for a vacation and finding that the sun rising/falling changed the shadows and appearance too rapidly for a drawing to be completed in one sitting. He thus spent a specific period each day drawing the house from a specific angle (like the draughtsman in the movie).
    • Goofs
      The cooing of a collared dove is not a sound that would have fallen on Jacobean ears, as the species was unknown in Britain until 1955.
    • Quotes

      Mr. Neville: You must forgive my curiosity, madam, and open your knees.

    • Alternate versions
      When Peter Greenaway screened the movie at festivals in 1982, it ran a full three hours. Included in this footage is a full and further explained rationale for the moving statue.
    • Connections
      Featured in Visions: Cinema, Cinemas/Q & A with Paul Schrader/A Film Comment by Angela Carter (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      Chasing Sheep Is Best Left To Shepherds
      (uncredited)

      Written by Michael Nyman

      Performed by Nyman Band

    User reviews47

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    unusual
    Mr. Neville is a young arrogant artist full of himself. He is contracted to make landscape estate drawings by Mrs. Virginia Herbert. She has a bitter relationship with her wealthy landowning husband who leaves on a trip. She submits to Neville sexually as part of the contract. There is also her daughter Mrs. Talmann and her husband Mr. Talmann. The couple is childless taking care of his nephew. Mrs. Herbert tries to revoke the contract but Neville refuses. Mrs. Talmann blackmails Neville into entering a similar contract pointing out items in his drawings which indicate "misadventure". When Mr. Herbert is found dead in the moat, Neville is horrified to discover that he's the leading suspect.

    This is an unusual film. It's a Shakespearian sex romp with a murder mystery. The style has long takes and mid to long distance visuals. The movie lost me the first time around. It can meander and the story can be mercurial. It would help a lot if the murder is shown even if the perpetrators are not. The individual clues need accompanying flashbacks to show that part of the crime. This has a certain amount of beauty and weird originality but it's not easy for everyone.
    helpful•2
    0
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Jul 15, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 12, 1982 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Dutch
    • Also known as
      • Der Kontrakt des Zeichners
    • Filming locations
      • Groombridge Place, Groombridge, Kent, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • British Film Institute (BFI)
      • Channel Four Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £320,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,256,246
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,256,246
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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