The Draughtsman's Contract
Seen it?1982 | 108 min | History, Mystery, Comedy
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 6 times its budget. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing, anyone who wants a laugh and history buffs. If you loved Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery or Game Night, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny, tense.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 48 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
R. Neville, a brash young draftsman, is hired to make a dozen landscape illustrations at the estate of Mr Herbert and his wife Virginia. Aside from monetary compensation, the arrangement includes a sexual liaison offered to Neville by Virginia while her estranged husband is away. But when the murdered body of Mr Herbert is discovered at the estate, mysterious clues found in Neville's drawings point to the identity of the killer.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$2 million worldwide on a $371K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 47K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Peter Greenaway
- 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
- Neil CunninghamThomas Noyes
- David MeyerPoulenc Brother
- Tony MeyerPoulenc Brother
- Nicholas AmerMr Parkes