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Select media
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Stills must not be reproduced, copied or downloaded in any way.
Film details
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Featuring
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Country
United Kingdom
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Year
1982
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Genre
Period drama
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Type
Film
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Category
Fiction
Alternative titles
- Meurtre Dans Un Jardin Anglais Alternative French
- Der Kontrakt Des Zeichners Alternative German
Introduction
“The screenplay is as dense with bossy epigrams as the magnificent English landscape is lush with foliage of every conceivable shade of green.”
Vincent Canby, The New York Times, 1982
In England in 1694, draughtsman Mr Neville (Anthony Higgins) is commissioned to make 12 drawings of a country estate by Mrs Herbert (Janet Suzman), the wife of its absent owner. In return he demands sexual as well as financial compensation. But as the project develops, incongruous objects begin to populate the vistas he is drawing, and the stratagem behind his employer’s acceptance of his terms comes to light.
Marking a leap in the direction of conventional drama by Peter Greenaway, The Draughtsman’s Contract is no mere murder mystery, but an exploration of fundamental aspects of English society – primogeniture, property and Protestantism – at the beginning of England’s global ascendancy.
Michael Nyman’s score – modern arrangements of 17th-century English composer Henry Purcell – launched his career as a soundtrack composer. His later film credits include The Piano (1992) and Man on Wire (2009).
Cast & Credits
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Cast
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Mr Neville
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Mrs Herbert
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Sarah Talmann
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Thomas Noyes
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Louis Talmann
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Mr Herbert
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Mr Seymour
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one of The Poulencs
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one of The Poulencs
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Mr Parkes
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Mrs Pierpoint
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Mrs Clement
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the statue
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Philip
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Mr van Hoyten
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Augustus
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governess
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maid
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Mr Porringer
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Mr Clarke
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laundress
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Mr Hammond
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servant
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servant
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Credits
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Unknown:
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Directed by
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©
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a British Film Institute production
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In association with
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Head of Production
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Production Officer
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Production Secretary
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Written by
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Lighting Cameraman
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Rostrum Camera
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Assistant [Gaffer]
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Stills
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Stills
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Design Assistant
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Design Assistant
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Calligraphy
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Props
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Props
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Carpenter
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Painter
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Rigger
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Costume Design Co-ordinator
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Costume's Made by
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[Costume] Assistant
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[Costume] Assistant
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Hat Maker
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Hat Maker
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[Make-up] Assistant
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Wigs Created by
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Wig and Hair
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[Wigs/Hair] Stylist
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Laboratory Supervisor
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Lighting
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Laboratory
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Music Composed by
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Musician
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Counter-tenor
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Music Recording
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Music Engineer
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Sound
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Sound Assistant
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Sound Assistant
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Sound-mix
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Dubbing Mixer
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Dubbing Editor
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ADR Studios
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Driver
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Driver
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Driver
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Driver
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[Audio Commentator/GB 2006 DVD]
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The Greatest Films of All Time 2012
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