I remember being shocked and yes impressed by the innovation of this film first time around and look forward to seeing it again. What a pity such joy is not seen so much in modern cinema.
This is probably my favourite film. I have always wondered whether the 4 hour version was ever made available as a fully realised director's cut. I, for one, would absolutely love to see it. If it wasn't, come on Mr G, sure it's somewhere in your suitcases ...
Plumpton released the 3 hours 55 minutes version on a double DVD,disc two being the original cut as well as three interviews with Peter Greenaway,Janet Suzman and Michael Nyman,a short "Making of" documentary and 40 minutes of The Michael Nyman Band performing music left out of the film.Mine is Region 0 so plays anywhere.
I must have first seen this movie not long after it was first released on Channel 4 when I was a young teenager and it left an indelible mark on my conscience. I have seen the movie a number of times over the years but today I had the pleasure of seeing it for the first time on the big screen at the BFI as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations. It is a stunning movie, an absolute feast for the senses. If you have never had the pleasure, treat yourself to a viewing.
I first saw Anthony Higgins in Vampire Circus, which was oddly shown at my local library for the children's Saturday feature when I was about eight. He was the black panther vampire.
A film which made me put Peter Greenaway as my favourite modern director,and Michael Nyman as my favourite modern composer - before overtaken by Philip Glass! By the way Michael Nyman was once a member of The Flying Lizards and several Flying Lizards songs were later used in Nyman / Greenaway film soundtracks.A Nyman / Greenway LP / (later CD) box set puts the soundtrack for this,A Zed and Two Noughts,Drowning by Numbers and The Cook,The Thief,His Wife and her lover together.
Couldn't agree more. Greenaway, because he bucks the mainstream trends of linear narratives, explanatory exposition and resolving tensions/happy endings as well as "action" his movies are more "visual" like beautiful paintings, is not a husehold name. But he should be; his movies are absolutely wonderful; challenging, yes, but wonderful!
I would love to watch the unedited 3 hr version. While the presented film is indeed more accessible, for Greenway fans, the extended version would visually enjoyed. Especially after the main storyline is known, we would be able to makeout all those little symbolic touches through the extended film. An exchanged glance here, a thrown hankerchief there, a small trail of fruit pips along there...
When I love Greenaway's films, I really love them, but when I don't, I am pretty indifferent. I finally watched The Draughtsman's Contract a few years ago and it quickly became one of my favorite Greenaway's films along with Prospero's Books, Drowning by Numbers, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, The Pillow Book, and Belly of an Architect. I am completely indifferent to Nightwatching and A Zed and Two Noughts (also, The Baby of Macon is too long).
You couldn't have two more opposite British directors one in the meat and Potatoes style of Alan Parker, that's not a knock but Parker wasn't about visual rather the story but he ha made some very good films. Then you have Greenaway, who visually is fantastic and in the 80's (his creative peak for me) was one of the best around. But he was the kind of the director who is slightly pretentious, a director who looks down on his audience and his work isn't the most audience pleasing. I can see why some would dislike his work.
steve cheevers Here's another quote on Greenaway, this time by Ken Russell: "The thing I can't get past with Greenaway, is his obvious loathing of the entire human race."
@@jonathanmelia That is interesting because he said he admired women and actually if you look at his films, specifically this, the women arguably are the successful gender.
It's all that, and it's also about the difficult conditions for women and how they got round that - in this case anyway, and it's probably also about the life and times and social attitudes, and the importance of property to those whose aim is to rise in society and the introduction of some 'modern' ideas for the time, and about the value of 'wit' in conversation. It's also about how we understand things when we only have a partial view of them. It's a treasure trove of things.
@@heliotropezzz333 I think it's more about the last thing you mentioned than anything else. That is the central idea. The relationship between art, reality and perception. Greenaway is not that interested in 'social attitudes' of the past.
@@lamentate07 Wow a response after 3 years! 😊😊 Greenaway may not have been that interested in social attitudes of the past but he did reflect them in the film. Several of the characters mention their prejudices or political beliefs.
Love this movie and Nyman's score.
I've watched this many times and always find something new, plus it's just so beautiful to look at. Cinema as art for sure.
Favourite film for over thirty years.
My absolute favourite film of all time. The statues are inspired and there is something new to discover with every view and the score is amazing!
Brilliant!
@Hilary Palencar It really is a fabulous film, the details, the plot, the acting, the score, all brilliant. I want to review it soon.
Such a stunning film - I love everything about it: story, dialogue, costumes, music, visual style, acting, originality and so on.
Me too. I adore its manneredness.
Yes ! This is one of my favourite films too. Beautiful, enigmatic, fascinating it is so very English in setting and culture. Nymans music is perfect.
I remember being shocked and yes impressed by the innovation of this film first time around and look forward to seeing it again. What a pity such joy is not seen so much in modern cinema.
And you wonder why there are not more films made like this one.
This is probably my favourite film. I have always wondered whether the 4 hour version was ever made available as a fully realised director's cut. I, for one, would absolutely love to see it. If it wasn't, come on Mr G, sure it's somewhere in your suitcases ...
Kevin Lloyd I wish it was. I hope they release it someday.
It was made for the launch of Channel 4 and I agree, they should release the original.
This version is superb - might be disappointed by the 4hour cut [if it exists] but I'd still drool to see it.
Plumpton released the 3 hours 55 minutes version on a double DVD,disc two being the original cut as well as three interviews with Peter Greenaway,Janet Suzman and Michael Nyman,a short "Making of" documentary and 40 minutes of The Michael Nyman Band performing music left out of the film.Mine is Region 0 so plays anywhere.
Thank you. Any clues about how to obtain this treasure?! An immediate online scan just came up with the standard version. @@dillongstaff5625
Thanks to Mark Kermode for saying such nice things about this film and its director.
I must have first seen this movie not long after it was first released on Channel 4 when I was a young teenager and it left an indelible mark on my conscience. I have seen the movie a number of times over the years but today I had the pleasure of seeing it for the first time on the big screen at the BFI as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations. It is a stunning movie, an absolute feast for the senses. If you have never had the pleasure, treat yourself to a viewing.
LOVE Anthony Higgins. Incredibly underrated actor.
Love him too
Has such an awesome speaking voice
Yes I agree, he is very talented.
@@karonstocker5084 His voice is fabulous 😊
I first saw Anthony Higgins in Vampire Circus, which was oddly shown at my local library for the children's Saturday feature when I was about eight. He was the black panther vampire.
That sounds fantastic!
quite possibly the best movie ever made
A film which made me put Peter Greenaway as my favourite modern director,and Michael Nyman as my favourite modern composer - before overtaken by Philip Glass! By the way Michael Nyman was once a member of The Flying Lizards and several Flying Lizards songs were later used in Nyman / Greenaway film soundtracks.A Nyman / Greenway LP / (later CD) box set puts the soundtrack for this,A Zed and Two Noughts,Drowning by Numbers and The Cook,The Thief,His Wife and her lover together.
Couldn't agree more. Greenaway, because he bucks the mainstream trends of linear narratives, explanatory exposition and resolving tensions/happy endings as well as "action" his movies are more "visual" like beautiful paintings, is not a husehold name. But he should be; his movies are absolutely wonderful; challenging, yes, but wonderful!
I would love to watch the unedited 3 hr version. While the presented film is indeed more accessible, for Greenway fans, the extended version would visually enjoyed. Especially after the main storyline is known, we would be able to makeout all those little symbolic touches through the extended film. An exchanged glance here, a thrown hankerchief there, a small trail of fruit pips along there...
A delightfully dirty romp. Quite mean-spirited too, in a sparkling sort of way.
I didn't get it at all.
The magic of this film somehow passed me by
When I love Greenaway's films, I really love them, but when I don't, I am pretty indifferent. I finally watched The Draughtsman's Contract a few years ago and it quickly became one of my favorite Greenaway's films along with Prospero's Books, Drowning by Numbers, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, The Pillow Book, and Belly of an Architect. I am completely indifferent to Nightwatching and A Zed and Two Noughts (also, The Baby of Macon is too long).
😊
အ😢ဪ😢😢ပ😢😢
Alan Parker called it "pretentious crap", adding that if that was the kind of thing that the British film industry wanted to fund, he should emigrate.
You couldn't have two more opposite British directors one in the meat and Potatoes style of Alan Parker, that's not a knock but Parker wasn't about visual rather the story but he ha made some very good films. Then you have Greenaway, who visually is fantastic and in the 80's (his creative peak for me) was one of the best around. But he was the kind of the director who is slightly pretentious, a director who looks down on his audience and his work isn't the most audience pleasing. I can see why some would dislike his work.
steve cheevers Here's another quote on Greenaway, this time by Ken Russell: "The thing I can't get past with Greenaway, is his obvious loathing of the entire human race."
Yup. Russell nails it here. I can't get past that, either.
@@jonathanmelia That is interesting because he said he admired women and actually if you look at his films, specifically this, the women arguably are the successful gender.
@@jonathanmelia And that's coming from Ken Russell hahha.
Art sex death and gardening ? really ? i thought it was about arrogance, and the problems with modest intelligence
It's all that, and it's also about the difficult conditions for women and how they got round that - in this case anyway, and it's probably also about the life and times and social attitudes, and the importance of property to those whose aim is to rise in society and the introduction of some 'modern' ideas for the time, and about the value of 'wit' in conversation. It's also about how we understand things when we only have a partial view of them. It's a treasure trove of things.
@@heliotropezzz333 I think it's more about the last thing you mentioned than anything else. That is the central idea. The relationship between art, reality and perception. Greenaway is not that interested in 'social attitudes' of the past.
@@lamentate07 Wow a response after 3 years! 😊😊 Greenaway may not have been that interested in social attitudes of the past but he did reflect them in the film. Several of the characters mention their prejudices or political beliefs.