The Canon / Parallax Editorial Archive
Curated by Pedro Neves, Founder of Parallax
The Draughtsman's Contract
Directed by Peter Greenaway
1982•1h 48m•R•★ 7.1
Comedy / Drama / Mystery
Synopsis
In rural Wiltshire in 1694, an arrogant, talented landscape artist is hired by an aristocratic wife to execute twelve intricate topographical perspective drawings of her husband's country estate while the master is away, signing an explicit legal contract granting the artist sexual favors for each drawing, only for the drawings to capture incriminating physical clues of a murder conspiracy. Peter Greenaway's Venice-screened Restoration murder mystery summit featuring Michael Nyman's Henry Purcell adaptations.
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The Draughtsman's Contract
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Peter Greenaway
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Cast & Crew
DirectorPeter Greenaway
WriterPeter Greenaway
CinematographyCurtis Clark
MusicMichael Nyman
Principal Cast
Anthony HigginsMr. Neville
Janet SuzmanVirginia Herbert
Dave HillHerbert
Alastair G. CummingPhilip - Mr. Neville's assistant (as Alastair Cummings)
Anne-Louise LambertSarah Talmann
Hugh FraserMr. Talmann
David MeyerPoulenc Brother
NC
Neil CunninghamThomas NoyesTechnical Specifications
Runtime1h 48m (108 mins)
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Production Details
DirectorPeter Greenaway
LanguagesEnglish, German
CountryGB
StudioBritish Film Institute (BFI) • Channel Four Films
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