The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
Loveless marriages, endangered inheritances, murder, intrigue
Starring: Anthony Higgins, Janet Suzman, Anne Louise Lambert, Neil Cunningham, Hugh Fraser, Dave Hill, David Gant, David Meyer, Tony Meyer, Nicolas Amer, Michael Feast
Director: Peter Greenaway
Running Time: 104 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Comedy, Drama, Mystery
On DVD After many years working as a documentary editor at the Central Office of Information, and over a decade making experimental mockumentaries (collected in
DVD Extras: Exquisitely packaged with animated menus, this DVD has: options for English/French audio and Dutch/French subtitles; a 3-minute documentary on the film's digital transfer and digital restoration (offering graphic splitscreen 'before and after' comparisons showing just how brilliant the restored version is); four deleted sequences; abehind-the-scenes glimpse into the pomegranate sequence; brief interviews with Anthony Higgins, Janet Suzman and Peter Greenaway made during the original shoot; David Thompson's Guardian Interview with Michael Nyman (made after a screening at the National Film Theatre); a gallery of stills (including the drawings by Peter Greenaway of the estate, as used in the film); trailers for 'The Draughtsman's Contract' and 'A Zed and Two Noughts'; and a URL for even more bonus material online.
Best of all however is the close participation of the director himself. Peter Greenaway has written the sleeve notes, delivers a ten-minute filmed introduction to the film, and gives his voice to the first-class audio commentary, in which, instead of dissecting the film scene by scene, he provides a charming and erudite account of the historical context and theoretical underpinnings of the film, taking in inheritance law changes under William and Mary, the evolution of wigs, state-of-the-art candle lighting, the differences between television and cinema - as well as pointing out that a four-piece delft tea set borrowed for one of the final scenes had been valued by insurers as worth over ten times the entire film's budget.
It's Got: Loveless marriages, endangered inheritances, murder, intrigue, elegantly crisp dialogue (concealing profound rudeness), lots of drawings, and a clownish man employed as a statue.
It Needs: Close attention and multiple viewings.
Alternatives: 'The Serpent's Kiss', 'Blow Out'
Summary: Peter Greenaway's first feature film is arguably his best - in a seventeenth century English country garden, history and artful speculation are grafted in a murder mystery plot to yield strange, fertile fruits for the imagination, which will delight with their tart acerbity.
Review Date: 12th February 2004
Image Gallery
There are 3 images available in our gallery. Click on the thumbnail pictures for the full size images or view the full gallery
External Links
The Draughtsman's Contract at the IMDB
Comments1 Comment |
| The camp walk and swinging wig of Anthony Higgins accompanied by the stirring music are a joy to behold. The film is a national treasure and the DVD a work of art. High point: Captain Hastings brillient accent. Low point: Janet Suzman spitting out cum. (ugg) |
| Comment by:- | | 18 November 2004 | ip: logged |
