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HistoryMysteryDrama

The Draughtsman's Contract

- A landscape of lust and cunning.

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.

Release Date : 1982-11-12

Language :DutchEnglishGerman

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : BFIFilm4 Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Anthony Higgins

Character Name : Mr. Neville

Original Name : Anthony Higgins

Gender : Male

Janet Suzman

Character Name : Virginia Herbert

Original Name : Janet Suzman

Gender : Female

Dave Hill

Character Name : Herbert

Original Name : Dave Hill

Gender : Male

Anne-Louise Lambert

Character Name : Sarah Talmann

Original Name : Anne-Louise Lambert

Gender : Female

Hugh Fraser

Character Name : Mr. Talmann

Original Name : Hugh Fraser

Gender : Male

Neil Cunningham

Character Name : Thomas Noyes

Original Name : Neil Cunningham

Gender : Male

David Meyer

Character Name : Poulenc Brother

Original Name : David Meyer

Gender : Male

Tony Meyer

Character Name : Poulenc Brother

Original Name : Tony Meyer

Gender : Male

Nicholas Amer

Character Name : Mr Parkes

Original Name : Nicholas Amer

Gender : Male

Suzan Crowley

Character Name : Mrs Pierpont

Original Name : Suzan Crowley

Gender : Female

Lynda La Plante

Character Name : Mrs Clement

Original Name : Lynda La Plante

Gender : Female

Michael Feast

Character Name : The Statue

Original Name : Michael Feast

Gender : Male

David Gant

Character Name : Seymour

Original Name : David Gant

Gender : Male

Alastair Cumming

Character Name : Philip

Original Name : Alastair Cumming

Gender : Male

Steve Ubels

Character Name : Hoyten

Original Name : Steve Ubels

Gender : Male

Ben Kirby

Character Name : Augustus

Original Name : Ben Kirby

Gender : Male

Sylvia Rotter

Character Name : Governess

Original Name : Sylvia Rotter

Gender : Male

Kate Doherty

Character Name : Maid

Original Name : Kate Doherty

Gender : Female

David Joss Buckley

Character Name : Mr. Porringer

Original Name : David Joss Buckley

Gender : Male

Vivienne Chandler

Character Name : Laundress

Original Name : Vivienne Chandler

Gender : Female

Geoffrey Larder

Character Name : Mr. Hammond

Original Name : Geoffrey Larder

Gender : Male

Harry Van Engel

Character Name : Servant

Original Name : Harry Van Engel

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-11-11

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.