82年発表のグリーナウェイ長編劇映画第1作。名誉革命後、1694年の夏、英国南部のウィルトシャー。才能豊かだが傲慢さでも評判の画家ネヴィルが、コンプトン・アンスティのハーバート家の夜宴に招かれる。そこでハーバート夫人はネヴィルを別室に招じ入れ、ノイズ氏を立会人にして、夫が旅行から戻るまでに屋敷の画を12点描いてくれるように依頼し、契約を結ぶ。どこを描くかは自分が決めるという夫人。彼女は、1点につき8ポンドという高額の報酬を約束し、そして彼が望むがままに密会に応じることを約束するが……。
製作費: $370,800 (1億円)
興行収入: $2,256,246 (3億円)
推定収支: $1,885,446 (3億円)
※製作費・興行収入はTMDBのデータを参照しています。収支は(興行収入 - 製作費)で算出したFindKey独自の推定値であり、広告宣伝費や諸経費は含まれません (1ドル=150円換算)。
監督: Peter Greenaway
脚本: Peter Greenaway
音楽: Michael Nyman
制作: David Payne
撮影監督: Curtis Clark
制作会社: BFI / Film4 Productions
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.
