BFI

Channel Four Films

Film4 Productions

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The Draughtsman's Contract

Name: The Draughtsman's Contract
Released: 1982-11-12T00:00:00.000000Z
Rating: 7.1

A landscape of lust and cunning.

1982 • 108 min • ★ 7.1 (273) • Released

Comedy History Mystery

R. Neville, a brash young draftsman, is hired to make a dozen landscape illustrations at the estate of Mr Herbert and his wife Virginia. Aside from monetary compensation, the arrangement includes a sexual liaison offered to Neville by Virginia while her estranged husband is away. But when the murdered body of Mr Herbert is discovered at the estate, mysterious clues found in Neville's drawings point to the identity of the killer.

IMDb ↗

Original title: The Draughtsman's Contract
Language: EN
Country: GB
Budget: $370,800
Revenue: $2,256,246

Reviews & Ratings 1

CinemaSerf

Nov 11, 2022 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

Anthony Higgins is artist "Neville" who attracts the eye of the unhappily married aristocrat "Mrs. Herbert" (Janet Suzman). She concocts a plan to have her wicked way with him by commissioning him to sketch twelve aspects of their modest stately home in return for £8 per drawing and unlimited "access" to her person. When "Mr. Herbert" has to go away, that proves convenient for all and their contract is agreed and applied. Midway through his task, her daughter "Mrs. Talmann" (Anne-Louise Lambert) approaches our virile artist with another proposal. She is saddled with the foppish "Talmann" (Hugh Fraser) who would appear to be no use whatsoever in begetting an heir. Her deal with "Neville" however is more on her terms - and he thinks he is in clover. Is he though, or is he being played buy one or both of these women - and where has "Mr. Herbert" got to through all these shenanigans? Peter Greenaway gives this a sort of Regency look to it, the costumes - especially the wigs - are exaggerated to fully illustrate the vacuousness of their petty but privileged existence and there is some humour that just about stays on the satirical side of bawdy! Suzman is great, as is Lambert and though I found Higgins just a bit weak to sustain the title role, this is still a great and entertaining ensemble effort well complimented by Michael Nyman's lively and Handel-esque score. Forty years on, it has lost little of it's power to ridicule and shame, is pithily written and is well worth a watch.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 5

17th century adultery drawing and painting southhampton witshire

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Cast 15

Anthony Higgins

Mr. Neville

Janet Suzman

Virginia Herbert

Dave Hill

Herbert

Alastair G. Cumming

Philip - Mr. Neville's assistant (as Alastair Cummings)

Anne-Louise Lambert

Sarah Talmann

Hugh Fraser

Mr. Talmann

David Meyer

Poulenc Brother

Tony Meyer

Poulenc Brother

Suzan Crowley

Mrs Pierpont

Lynda La Plante

Mrs Clement

Michael Feast

The Statue

David Gant

Seymour

David Joss Buckley

Mr. Porringer

Vivienne Chandler

Laundress

Geoffrey Larder

Mr. Hammond

Crew 7

Peter Swords King

Hairstylist

Lois Burwell

Makeup Artist

Peter Swords King

Wig Designer

Peter Greenaway

Director

John Wilson

Editor

Michael Nyman

Original Music Composer

Peter Greenaway

Screenplay

Gallery

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US Release Dates 2

Oct 2, 1982

New York Film Festival

R Premiere

Jun 22, 1983

R Theatrical