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The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)

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Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 18
Fresh: 18 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 4,747

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Movie Info

Peter Greenaway's first fiction feature (after the mock-documentary The Falls) made him immediately famous and was named one of the most original films of the 1980s by British critics. The action is set in the director's beloved 17th century. Ambitious young artist Mr. Neville (Anthony Higgins) is invited by Mrs. Herbert (Janet Suzman) to make 12 elaborate sketches of her estate. Besides money, the contract includes sexual favors that Mrs. Herbert will offer to the draughtsman in the absence of

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Peter Greenaway

Written By: Peter Greenaway

In Theaters: Oct 2, 1982 Wide

On DVD: Dec 14, 1999

Cast

Anthony Higgins
Mr. Neville
Janet Suzman
Mrs. Herbert
Anne-Louise Lambert
Mrs. Talmann
Hugh Fraser
Mr. Talmann
Nicholas Amer
Mr. Parkes
Suzanne Crowley
Mrs. Pierpont
Neil Cunningham
Mr. Noyes
Michael Feast
The statue
David Gant
Mr. Seymour
David Meyer
Mr. Poulenc
Dave Hill
Mr. Herbert
Vivienne Chandler
Laundress
Joss Buckley
Mr. Porringer
Geoffrey Larder
Mr. Hammond
Tony Meyer
The Poulenas
Steve Ubels
Mr. Van Hoyton
Mike Carter
Mr. Clark
George Miller
Valet
David Hill

Critic Reviews for The Draughtsman's Contract

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (0) | DVD (7)

Artificial in the extreme, it may nevertheless be Greenaway's most naturalistic and easygoing film.

July 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Village Voice

| Comment

Nathan Lee

Village Voice

Top Critic

It shows the director at his best and most playful, and it's a strange delight.

February 21, 2008 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

It's Blow Up mixed with Botticelli, a 17th Century murder mystery where the clues are buried in pencil sketches, where outlandish period garb and extravagant wigs hide the most corrupt comedy of manners.

February 10, 2008 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Bill Gibron

DVDTalk.com

Greenaway creates his thesis over the decaying corpses of animals, which doesn't inspire a middle-of-the-road kind of viewer response.

January 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Jeremiah Kipp

Slant Magazine

A puzzle book for intellectual aesthetes.

January 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Jeremiah Kipp

Slant Magazine

One of the best, most original and diabolical films to come out of England.

August 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

ravishingly beautiful

April 6, 2005 Comment

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

Greenaway ploughs the familiar landscape of the murder mystery, but plants in it new, exotic fruits all of his own.

February 13, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Gazette

| Comment

Anton Bitel

Movie Gazette Source: Movie Gazette

The Draughtsman's Contract is a thoroughly entertaining murder mystery set in 17th century England.

February 4, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Draughtsman's Contract

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There are a lot of good things I can say about this film. The costumes and setting are gorgeous, and all of the performances are great - most of all Anthony Higgins, who is not only masterful in his role but wears Restoration costume as if he'd been born to do so. However, despite enjoying the first two thirds of the

July 3, 2009

Kylie B

Super Reviewer

This viewer obviously lacked the historical knowledge or the cinemaphile's love of abstract symbolism to appreciate this. The film was far too obscure for my tastes. A sketch artist agrees to a personal services contract with an aristocrat (sort of a "friends with benefits" arrangement) and finds himself set up to take

November 10, 2008