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The Draughtsman's Contract

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Anthony Higgins

Janet Suzman

Dave Hill

Anne-Louise Lambert

Hugh Fraser

Neil Cunningham

David Meyer

Tony Meyer

Nicholas Amer

Suzan Crowley

Lynda La Plante

Michael Feast

David Gant

Alastair Cumming

Steve Ubels

Ben Kirby

Sylvia Rotter

Kate Doherty

David Joss Buckley

Vivienne Chandler

Geoffrey Larder

Harry Van Engel

Peter Greenaway

David Payne

Curtis Clark

John Wilson

John Speer

Charlie Simmons

David Perry

Lois Burwell

Bob Ringwood

John Swinnerton

Michael Nyman

Lucy Boulting

Christine Allsopp

Robbie Gardner

Peter Swords King

Peter Owen

Andy Powell

Alan Brown

Bob Coleman

Michael Hunter

Mickey Hunter

Tom Raeburn

Tony Anscombe

Bob Doyle

Doctor Lion

Clive Osborne

Lionel Strutt

Aad Wirtz

Simon Archer

Steve Blake

Luke Cardiff

James Merrell

Paul Woods

Fiona Latto

Marie Meyrick

Peter Sainsbury

Caroline Bayliss

Ellen Cairns

Sue Blane

Godfrey Kirby

CinemaSerf

Anthony Higgins is artist "Neville" who attracts the eye of the unhappily married aristocrat "Mrs. Herbert" (Janet Suzman). She concocts a plan to have her wicked way with him by commissioning him to sketch twelve aspects of their modest stately home in return for £8 per drawing and unlimited "access" to her person. When "Mr. Herbert" has to go away, that proves convenient for all and their contract is agreed and applied. Midway through his task, her daughter "Mrs. Talmann" (Anne-Louise Lambert) approaches our virile artist with another proposal. She is saddled with the foppish "Talmann" (Hugh Fraser) who would appear to be no use whatsoever in begetting an heir. Her deal with "Neville" however is more on her terms - and he thinks he is in clover. Is he though, or is he being played buy one or both of these women - and where has "Mr. Herbert" got to through all these shenanigans? Peter Greenaway gives this a sort of Regency look to it, the costumes - especially the wigs - are exaggerated to fully illustrate the vacuousness of their petty but privileged existence and there is some humour that just about stays on the satirical side of bawdy! Suzman is great, as is Lambert and though I found Higgins just a bit weak to sustain the title role, this is still a great and entertaining ensemble effort well complimented by Michael Nyman's lively and Handel-esque score. Forty years on, it has lost little of it's power to ridicule and shame, is pithily written and is well worth a watch.

The Draughtsman's Contract (1982) clip - in cinemas and on Blu-ray November 2022 | BFI

2022 Re-Release Trailer

Mark Kermode reviews The Draughtsman's Contract (1982) | BFI Player

The Draughtsman's Contract - trailer

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The Draughtsman's Contract

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Anthony Higgins

Janet Suzman

Dave Hill

Anne-Louise Lambert

Hugh Fraser

Neil Cunningham

David Meyer

Tony Meyer

Nicholas Amer

Suzan Crowley

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