The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)

100% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(4,794 ratings)

Peter Greenaway's first fiction feature (after the mock-documentary The Falls) made him immediately famous and was named one of the most original films of the 1980s by British critics. The action is set in the director's beloved 17th century. Ambitious young artist Mr. Neville (Anthony Higgins) is… More Peter Greenaway's first fiction feature (after the mock-documentary The Falls) made him immediately famous and was named one of the most original films of the 1980s by British critics. The action is set in the director's beloved 17th century. Ambitious young artist Mr. Neville (Anthony Higgins) is invited by Mrs. Herbert (Janet Suzman) to make 12 elaborate sketches of her estate. Besides money, the contract includes sexual favors that Mrs. Herbert will offer to the draughtsman in the absence of Mr. Herbert. Entirely confident in his ability to weave a web of intrigues, Mr. Neville eventually becomes a victim of someone else's elaborate scheme. The film is structured as a sophisticated intellectual puzzle like the ones popular in the 17th century. There is a lot to pay attention to besides the intrigues -- fancy wigs, conversations by candlelight, English parks, Purcell-inspired baroque music by Michael Nyman, all to please the eyes, soothe the ears, and stimulate the mind. ~ Yuri German, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Peter Greenaway
Written By: Peter Greenaway
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 2, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Dec 14, 1999

Critic Reviews

Nathan Lee, Village Voice
Artificial in the extreme, it may nevertheless be Greenaway's most naturalistic and easygoing film.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It shows the director at his best and most playful, and it's a strange delight.
Bill Gibron, DVDTalk.com
It's Blow Up mixed with Botticelli, a 17th Century murder mystery where the clues are buried in pencil sketches, where outlandish period garb and extravagant wigs hide the most corrupt comedy of manners.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
Greenaway creates his thesis over the decaying corpses of animals, which doesn't inspire a middle-of-the-road kind of viewer response.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
A puzzle book for intellectual aesthetes.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the best, most original and diabolical films to come out of England.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
ravishingly beautiful
Anton Bitel, Movie Gazette
Greenaway ploughs the familiar landscape of the murder mystery, but plants in it new, exotic fruits all of his own.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The Draughtsman's Contract is a thoroughly entertaining murder mystery set in 17th century England.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Kylie B

There are a lot of good things I can say about this film. The costumes and setting are gorgeous, and all of the performances are great - most of all Anthony Higgins, who is not only masterful in his role but wears Restoration costume as if he'd been born to do so. However,… More
There are a lot of good things I can say about this film. The costumes and setting are gorgeous, and all of the performances are great - most of all Anthony Higgins, who is not only masterful in his role but wears Restoration costume as if he'd been born to do so. However, despite enjoying the first two thirds of the film I can't say I was especially enamoured of the ending section, possibly because much of it went over my head. Maybe I'll watch it again sometime and see if I understand it better.
Mark A

This viewer obviously lacked the historical knowledge or the cinemaphile's love of abstract symbolism to appreciate this. The film was far too obscure for my tastes. A sketch artist agrees to a personal services contract with an aristocrat (sort of a "friends with… More
This viewer obviously lacked the historical knowledge or the cinemaphile's love of abstract symbolism to appreciate this. The film was far too obscure for my tastes. A sketch artist agrees to a personal services contract with an aristocrat (sort of a "friends with benefits" arrangement) and finds himself set up to take the fall for a murder. A most unpleasant affair that was not sweetened in any way. No skin and little bedroom action of the most chaste variety. The costumes were lavish, the wigs extravagant, the dialog witty, but the story was nearly incomprehensible to this poor viewer. A whodunit in which no one knows, nor do they seem to care. Or maybe it is that everyone in the story knows, but still no one cares. This viewer is beyond caring. Mr Neville will still take the fall. And what was the purpose of the movable statue? Who knows? Another time waster one should stay away from unless in possession of the requisite knowledge to appreciate the subtleties of the 17th century costume drama with an artsy flair.
hawk l

Seductive cinematic puzzle, visually rich with deception, both of fact and motive, permeating the texture. Performances are uniformly excellent, while the historical setting is amongst the most vivid committed to film. Michael Nyman's beautifully crafted score contributes… More
Seductive cinematic puzzle, visually rich with deception, both of fact and motive, permeating the texture. Performances are uniformly excellent, while the historical setting is amongst the most vivid committed to film. Michael Nyman's beautifully crafted score contributes greatly.
Emily B

An intelligent and witty film which really requires several viewings to work everything out. The costumes are gloriously over the top, and the Michael Nyman soundtrack fits brilliantly. Overlooked and misunderstood but worth seeing.