The Draughtsman's Contract

The Draughtsman's Contract Photos

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Cast

Anthony Higgins
as Mr. Neville

Janet Suzman
as Mrs. Herbert

Anne Louise Lambert
as Mrs. Talmann

Neil Cunningham
as Mr. Noyes

Hugh Fraser
as Mr. Talmann

Dave Hill
as Mr. Herbert

David Gant
as Mr. Seymour

Anne-Louise Lambert

David Meyer
as The Poulena

Tony Meyer
as The Poulena

Nicholas Amer
as Mr. Parkes

Suzan Crowley
as Mrs. Pierpont

Lynda Marchal
as Mrs. Clement

Michael Feast
as The statue

Alastair Cummings
as Philip

Steve Ubels
as Mr. Van Hoyton

George Miller (IV)
as Valet

Ben Kirby
as Augustus

Sylvia Rotter
as Governess

Kate Doherty
as Maid

Joss Buckley
as Mr. Porringer

Mike Carter
as Mr. Clark

Vivienne Chandler
as Laundress

Geoffrey Larder
as Mr. Hammond

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Critic Reviews for The Draughtsman's Contract

Audience Reviews for The Draughtsman's Contract

• Oct 08, 2015

  The Draughtsman's Contract has everybody clever in an odd way. I cannot make out what it is about. This is neither irritating enough to make me dislike the film nor intriguing enough to stimulate a rewatch. Would recommend only to those who enjoy the exercise of interpretation; it is not really comical or sexy enough for a casual view.
  Robert B Super Reviewer
• Jul 03, 2009

  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 film I can't say I was especially enamoured of the ending section, possibly because much of it went over my head. Maybe I'll watch it again sometime and see if I understand it better.
  Kylie B Super Reviewer
• Nov 26, 2008

  Seductive cinematic puzzle, visually rich with deception, both of fact and motive, permeating the texture. Performances are uniformly excellent, while the historical setting is amongst the most vivid committed to film. Michael Nyman's beautifully crafted score contributes greatly.
  hawk l Super Reviewer
• Nov 10, 2008

  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 the fall for a murder. A most unpleasant affair that was not sweetened in any way. No skin and little bedroom action of the most chaste variety. The costumes were lavish, the wigs extravagant, the dialog witty, but the story was nearly incomprehensible to this poor viewer. A whodunit in which no one knows, nor do they seem to care. Or maybe it is that everyone in the story knows, but still no one cares. This viewer is beyond caring. Mr Neville will still take the fall. And what was the purpose of the movable statue? Who knows? Another time waster one should stay away from unless in possession of the requisite knowledge to appreciate the subtleties of the 17th century costume drama with an artsy flair.
  

  Mark A Super Reviewer

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