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Drowning by Numbers (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Peter Greenaway (written by)
Release Date:
June 1991 (USA)
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Tagline:
The great death game.
Plot:
Tired of her husband's philanderous ways, the mother of two daughters drowns her husband. With the reluctant help of the local coroner...
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Awards:
3 wins
&
1 nomination
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User Comments:
My favorite Greenaway film... an underrated masterpiece!
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Joan Plowright | ... | Cissie Colpitts 1 |
 | Juliet Stevenson | ... | Cissie Colpitts 2 |
 | Joely Richardson | ... | Cissie Colpitts 3 |
 | Bernard Hill | ... | Madgett |
| Jason Edwards | ... | Smut |
| Bryan Pringle | ... | Jake |
| Trevor Cooper | ... | Hardy |
 | David Morrissey | ... | Bellamy |
| John Rogan | ... | Gregory |
| Paul Mooney | ... | Teigan |
| Jane Gurnett | ... | Nancy |
| Kenny Ireland | ... | Jonah Bognor |
| Michael Percival | ... | Moses Bognor |
| Joanna Dickens | ... | Mrs. Hardy |
| Janine Duvitski | ... | Marina Bellamy |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
118 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
According to Peter Greenaway, there are 100 things beginning with the letter 'S' in Smut's room and, 100 things beginning with the letter 'M' in Madgett's room
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Quotes:
Cissie Colpitts 1:
[looking at the sleeping body of her son-in-law] Do *all* fat men have little penises?
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Soundtrack:
2nd Movement of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra K354
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (26 total)
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I enjoy the films of Peter Greenaway. "The Cook the Thief his Wife and her Lover" and "the Pillowbook" are both films that are unique and visionary. Peter Greenaway is like a British David Lynch. Some critics get frustrated by Greenaway, claiming his films are self indulgent. I feel self indulgent is sometimes a good thing, especially when it comes to a breathtaking film like "Drowning by Numbers". The movie is one giant puzzle. There's a girl who jumps rope while counting out the names of the stars by number. Try to see if you can spot all the numbers 1-100 hidden throughout the film. The plot concerns three women, a mother and two daughters. All 3 women are named Cissy. Each woman named Cissy drowns their deadbeat husbands for being unsatisfactory lovers. Magit is the local coroner, and he agrees to keep the murders a secret. He makes a deal to claim each death an accidental drowning, if each Cissy gives him sexual favors in return. So 3 generations of women all named Cissy decide to lead on Magit the coroner without promise. Poor Guy! The coroner's son Smut, is obsessed with death. He plays strange number games and marks roadkill with different colored paint. He also likes to set of fireworks after a death. Not to mention, Smut is also obsessed with circumcision. He's never been circumcised and feels the need to take matters in his own hands, so to speak. Wow, the crazy things men will do for women. Also look for Nip/Tuck actress Joely Richardson as the youngest Cissy. "Drowning by Numbers" is extremely bizarre, and shows that life is a game made up of numbers. It's a brilliant surreal mind-phuk puzzle that you have to watch at least twice to comprehend. Peter Greenaway is very original, with satirical wit and a dark comic edge.