Drowning by Numbers (1988)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Peter Greenaway

Writer:

Peter Greenaway (written by)

Release Date:

June 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

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...

Plot Keywords:

Coroner | Murder | Number | Game | Counting

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

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
Michael Fitzgerald	...	Mr. 70 Van Dyke
Edward Tudor-Pole	...	Mr. 71 Van Dyke
Natalie Morse	...	The Skipping Girl
Arthur Spreckley	...	Sid the Gravedigger
Ian Talbot	...	The Police Detective
Roderic Leigh	...	The Policeman
Vanni Corbellini	...	The Hare
Jose Berg	...	Skipping Girl's Mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Jaques	...	Priest (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Greenaway

Writing credits
Peter Greenaway		(written by)

Produced by
Peter Jaques	....	line producer
Kees Kasander	....	producer
Denis Wigman	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Nyman

Cinematography by
Sacha Vierny

Film Editing by
John Wilson

Casting by
Sharon Howard-Field

Production Design by
Ben van Os
Jan Roelfs

Costume Design by
Dien van Straalen

Makeup Department
Sjoerd Didden	....	wig maker
Sara Meerman	....	chief makeup
Mary Sturgess	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Evelien Jansen	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerrit Martijn	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Allard Bekker	....	set dresser: Holland (as Allard Becker)
Nancy D'Ancona	....	constructor
Peter Davies	....	assistant construction
Michel De Graaf	....	constructor: Holland
Constance de Vos	....	set dresser
Lidewij Kapteijn	....	constructor (as Liedewij Kapteyn)
Maarten Piersma	....	constructor (as Marten Piersma)
Wilbert Van Dorp	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Lucas Boeke	....	additional sound: Holland (as Lucas Boske)
Mick Boggis	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Felicity Cottrell	....	foley artist
Bill Garlic	....	foley artist (as Bill Garlick)
Arno Hagers	....	boom operator
Nigel Heath	....	sound effects treatment
Garth Marshall	....	sound recordist
Peter Maxwell	....	dubbing mixer
Beryl Mortimer	....	foley artist
Bridget Reiss	....	dialogue editor
Shirley Shaw	....	dialogue editor
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer
Ted Swanscott	....	foley mixer
Sarah Vickers	....	dialogue editor
Chris Wyatt	....	sound editor
Steve Hancock	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunts
Peter Brayham	....	stunt coordinator
Frank Kenton	....	stunts
Les Maryon	....	stunts (as Les Marion)

Camera and Electrical Department
Max Hoven	....	electrician
Nico Komen	....	electrician
Martin McCullough	....	chief grip
Stephen Morley	....	still photographer
Jeroen Planting	....	electrician: Holland
Chris Renson	....	focus puller
Adam Rodgers	....	camera operator
Don Springall	....	generator operator
Reinier van Brummelen	....	chief electrician
Tinus Holthuis	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Karen Lindsay-Stewart	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Heather Williams	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Milfid Ellis	....	first assistant editor
James Marshall	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Marsten Bailey	....	assistant music recording engineer
Alexander Balanescu	....	musician: Violin
Bob Butterworth	....	music recording engineer
Jonathan Carney	....	musician: Violin
David Cunningham	....	music producer
Andrew Findon	....	musician: tenor and baritone sax and piccolo
David Fuest	....	musician: clarinet and bass clarinet
Miranda Fulleylove	....	musician: violin
Rosemary Furniss	....	musician: violin
John Harle	....	musician: soprano and alto sax
Tony Hinnigan	....	musician: cello
Robin McGee	....	musician: double bass
Michael Nyman	....	musical director
Michael Nyman	....	musician: piano
Joe Rappaport	....	musician: viola
David Roah	....	musician: alto sax
Steve Saunders	....	musician: bass trombone
Jackie Shave	....	musician: violin
Briony Shaw	....	musician: violin
Andrew Shulman	....	musician: cello
Michael Thompson	....	musician: French horn
John Wilbraham	....	musician: trumpet and fluegelhorn
Oliver Ledbury	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Other crew
Jill Bennett	....	production accountant
Crispin Buxton	....	floor runner (as Crispin Buckstone)
Marietta De Vries	....	continuity clerk
Walter Donohue	....	creative advisor
Richard Edwards	....	chaperon
Eljo Embregts	....	production coordinator: Netherlands
Peter Eusebe	....	job fit trainee
Chester Eyre	....	laboratory contact
Carolyn Jardine	....	publicist (as Caroline Jardine)
Charles Mcdonald	....	publicist: UK
Alison Owen	....	production coordinator
Steve Saunders	....	bass trombone
Ann Tasker	....	publicist
Sophie Fiennes	....	location manager (uncredited)
Roger Phillips	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Film Four International
• Elsevier-Vendex Film Beheer (as Elsevier Vendex Film)
• Allarts Production
• Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO) (in association with)
• Stimuleringsfonds Nederlandse Culturele Omroepproducties (co-production) (as Fund for the Dutch Brodcasting Corporation)

Distributors

• Cine Saison (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (Russia) (VHS)
• Kinokuniya (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Prestige (1991) (USA)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (video)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Frameline Productions  rostrum camera
• Frameline Productions  titles
• Hamish Bell Movie Transport  transport facilities
• Landsdowne Recording Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Michael Nyman Orchestra  orchestra
• Virgin Records  soundtrack (as Virgin Venture Records, Cassettes and Compact Discs)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK | Netherlands

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Suffolk, England, UK

Company:

Film Four International

Trivia:

The runner throwing streamers as he runs along is actually based on a real, popular game in England also known as 'Paper Chase' A.K.A 'Hare And Hounds': with the runner (Hare) leaving streamers in his wake just as a hare leaves a scent, as such the hounds will track him down based on the streamers (scent).

Quotes:

Cissie Colpitts 1: [looking at the sleeping body of her son-in-law] Do *all* fat men have little penises?

Movie Connections:

References The Falls (1980)

Soundtrack:

2nd Movement of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra K354

Good surprise.

In "Drowning by Numbers" Peter Greenaway managed to find the thin line between the art movies and the audience-pleasing comedies. His other films, like "The Draughtsman's Contract" are visually arresting but very hard to understand and to stay with. I worried a little bit before I sat down watching this film but I spent a cheerful evening in front of the TV. Hilarious dialogues and monologues are matched with Sacha Vierny's beautiful photography and Greenaway's distinctive and moody sets and atmosphere. Plowright, Stevenson and Richardson are equally terrific, not to mention Bernard Hill as the corny coroner. The debuting Jason Edwards is one of the highlights of the film. His strange behaviour and explanations of the newly invented games are the funniest moments in the film. The final scene is one of the most bizarre closing ever put on screen. Unfortunately, this film was faded by the other commercially successful English films of the late 80s, early 90s (e.g. The Fish Called: Wanda), but if you have the opportunity to watch this film don't miss it. It's highly recommended.