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The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Synopsis: Mrs. Herbert and her husband are having some marital difficulties, so he decides to take a two week holiday by himself. To surprise him on his return, Mrs. Herbert commissions an artist to paint twelve portraits of her estate. The artist agrees, but on the condition that Mrs. Herbert lend him... Mrs. Herbert and her husband are having some marital difficulties, so he decides to take a two week holiday by himself. To surprise him on his return, Mrs. Herbert commissions an artist to paint twelve portraits of her estate. The artist agrees, but on the condition that Mrs. Herbert lend him the use of her bodily favors for those two weeks. When Mr.. Herbert is found dead in his own mote at the end of those two weeks, the artist is the prime suspect, and Mrs. Herbert believes the mystery can be solved by close examination of the paintings the artist did. Greenaway's film feels a bit like BLOW-UP, but examines a world far stranger than the one of its setting; it feels as though the film takes place in a parallel universe rather than the 17th century. [More]
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Anthony Higgins, Janet Suzman, Dave Hill, Michael Feast, Hugh Fraser
DVD Info
Release:
Dec 2, 2008
DVD Features:
- Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio:
- (unspecified) - English
- Subtitles - English - Closed Captioned
Additional Release Materials:
- Audio Commentary - Peter Greenaway - Director
- Behind The Scenes - Making Of
- Deleted Scenes (4)
- Featurettes - "Restoration Demonstration"
- Interview - Michael Nyman - Composer
- Trailers - Theatrical Trailer
Reviews
It shows the director at his best and most playful, and it's a strange delight.
One of the best, most original and diabolical films to come out of England.
Artificial in the extreme, it may nevertheless be Greenaway's most naturalistic and easygoing film.
Greenaway ploughs the familiar landscape of the murder mystery, but plants in it new, exotic fruits all of his own.
The Draughtsman's Contract is a thoroughly entertaining murder mystery set in 17th century England.
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by: sTiNa 4/11/01


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