The Serpent's Kiss (1997)

Young Dutch landscape 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 ... 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 landscape 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:

reference to andrew marvell | husband wife relationship | hampton court palace | nature | doctor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Quotes

Madam Clevely: Any flowers?
Chrome: This is an Anglo-Dutch garden, madam, with French influence. We have progressed from flowers. A garden is a celebration of art's triumph over nature.
Fitzmaurice: We shall be the fucking flowers. We shall provide the color and scent as we walk among the gravel paths.

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Connections

Featured in Long Way Round (2004)

User Reviews

A nicely executed but highly typical costume drama for those in the mood.

This watchable, derivative, turn-of-the-century piece has a good cast, which could perform this kind of script in their sleep. You can't help but think of THE DRAUGHTMAN'S CONTRACT and ANGEL AND INSECTS all the while you watch it. There's no harm in enjoying this sumptuous film, but remember it's all been done before and better. I'd say Scacchi is the standout here.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1997 (France)

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