Drowning by Numbers (1988)
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- R
- 1h 58min
- Comedy, Drama
- Jun 1991 (USA)
- Movie
Three generations of women share the same problem--marriage woes--and want to put an end to it.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Joan Plowright | ... |
Cissie Colpitts 1
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| Juliet Stevenson | ... |
Cissie Colpitts 2
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| Joely Richardson | ... |
Cissie Colpitts 3
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| Bernard Hill | ... |
Madgett
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| Jason Edwards | ... |
Smut
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| Bryan Pringle | ... |
Jake
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| Trevor Cooper | ... |
Hardy
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| David Morrissey | ... |
Bellamy
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John Rogan | ... |
Gregory
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Paul Mooney | ... |
Teigan
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Jane Gurnett | ... |
Nancy
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| Kenny Ireland | ... |
Jonah Bognor
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| Michael Percival | ... |
Moses Bognor
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Joanna Dickens | ... |
Mrs. Hardy
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| Janine Duvitski | ... |
Marina Bellamy
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| Michael Fitzgerald | ... |
Mr. 70 Van Dyke
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| Edward Tudor-Pole | ... |
Mr. 71 Van Dyke
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Natalie Morse | ... |
The Skipping Girl
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Arthur Spreckley | ... |
Sid the Gravedigger
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Ian Talbot | ... |
The Police Detective
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Roderic Leigh | ... |
The Policeman
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Vanni Corbellini | ... |
The Hare
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Jose Berg | ... |
Skipping Girl's Mother
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Peter Jaques | ... |
Priest (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Peter Greenaway | ||
Written by
| Peter Greenaway | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Peter Jaques | ... | line producer |
| Kees Kasander | ... | producer |
| Denis Wigman | ... | producer |
Music by
| Michael Nyman | ||
Cinematography by
| Sacha Vierny | ||
Editing by
| John Wilson | ||
Editorial Department
| Milfid Ellis | ... | first assistant editor |
| James Marshall | ... | second assistant editor |
Casting By
| Sharon Howard-Field | ||
Production Design by
| Ben van Os | ||
| Jan Roelfs | ||
Costume Design by
| Dien van Straalen | ||
Makeup Department
| Catherine Bassett | ... | assistant make-up |
| Sjoerd Didden | ... | wig maker |
| Sara Meerman | ... | hair and make up designer |
| Mary Sturgess | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Evelien Jansen | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Peter Jaques | ... | first assistant director (as Peter Jacques) |
| Gerrit Martijn | ... | first assistant director |
| Chris Martin | ... | second 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 |
| Wieger De Jong | ... | construction: in Holland (as Eieger de Jong) |
| Constance de Vos | ... | set dresser |
| Clinton Hall | ... | assistant construction |
| Daniel Harvey | ... | environmental sculptures |
| Lidewij Kapteijn | ... | constructor (as Liedewij Kapteyn) |
| Maarten Piersma | ... | constructor (as Marten Piersma) |
| Wieger van Aalderen | ... | construction: in Holland |
| Wilbert Van Dorp | ... | construction manager |
| Bert van Timmeren | ... | construction: in Holland |
| Alex Vermeulen | ... | environmental sculptures |
| Lawrie Ayres | ... | stand-by prop master (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Birgit Berger | ... | dialogue trainee |
| Lucas Boeke | ... | additional sound: Holland (as Lucas Boske) |
| Mick Boggis | ... | assistant dubbing mixer |
| Felicity Cottrell | ... | foley artist |
| Tony Fish | ... | additional sound effects |
| Bill Garlic | ... | foley artist (as Bill Garlick) |
| Arno Hagers | ... | boom operator |
| Nigel Heath | ... | sound effects treatment |
| Trevor Holland | ... | sound effects editor |
| Garth Marshall | ... | sound recordist |
| Peter Maxwell | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Beryl Mortimer | ... | foley artist |
| Bridget Reiss | ... | dialogue editor |
| Shirley Shaw | ... | dialogue editor |
| Ted Swanscott | ... | adr mixer / foley mixer |
| Sarah Vickers | ... | dialogue editor |
| Chris Wyatt | ... | sound editor |
| Steve Hancock | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
| Heather Holden | ... | dialogue editor (uncredited) |
| Noel Wallace | ... | dubbing projectionist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Derek Langley | ... | pyrotechnics |
Stunts
| Andy Bradford | ... | stunts |
| Peter Brayham | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Frank Kenton | ... | stunts |
| Les Maryon | ... | stunts (as Les Marion) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Robert Ayres | ... | assistant grip |
| Brigit Hillenius | ... | clapper loader (as Brigitte Helenius) |
| Max Hoven | ... | electrician |
| Nico Komen | ... | electrician |
| Martin McCullagh | ... | chief grip (as Martin McCullough) |
| 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 |
| Robbert van Dijk | ... | focus puller: Holland |
| Franc van Zutphen | ... | electrician: Holland (as Frank van Zutphen) |
| Tinus Holthuis | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Karen Lindsay-Stewart | ... | casting assistant |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Heather Williams | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Sophie Fiennes | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
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 |
| Kate Musker | ... | musician: viola |
| Michael Nyman | ... | musical director / musician: piano |
| Joe Rappaport | ... | musician: viola |
| David Roach | ... | musician: alto sax (as David Roah) |
| 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) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Marietta De Vries | ... | continuity clerk |
Transportation Department
| Adrian Mason | ... | camera car driver |
| Maurice Straderick | ... | location buses |
Additional Crew
| Lisa Allen | ... | production runner |
| Jurgen Ambrosius | ... | production assistant |
| Frank Battersby | ... | job fit trainee |
| Jill Bennett | ... | production accountant |
| Crispin Buxton | ... | floor runner (as Crispin Buckstone) |
| Walter Donohue | ... | creative advisor |
| Richard Edwards | ... | chaperon |
| Eljo Embregts | ... | production coordinator: Netherlands |
| Peter Eusebe | ... | job fit trainee |
| Chester Eyre | ... | laboratory contact |
| Sophie Fiennes | ... | assistant to the director |
| Danny Hammond | ... | shepherd |
| Carolyn Jardine | ... | publicist (as Caroline Jardine) |
| Maxine Matts | ... | job fit trainee |
| Charles McDonald | ... | publicist: UK |
| Alison Owen | ... | production coordinator |
| Steve Saunders | ... | bass trombone |
| Ann Tasker | ... | publicist |
| Ank Van Straalen | ... | flower arrangements (as Ank van Stralen) |
| John Young | ... | entomologist |
| Roger Phillips | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Leendert de Jong | ... | special thanks |
| Ken Dyer | ... | special thanks |
| Jini Fiennes | ... | special thanks |
| Charles Forbes | ... | special thanks |
| Alexander Gelderman | ... | special thanks |
| Ronnie Gerschtanowitz | ... | special thanks |
| Billy Hinshelwood | ... | special thanks |
| Tim Hunkin | ... | special thanks |
| Angela Jacques | ... | special thanks |
| Carlie Janszen | ... | special thanks |
| Paul Le Chonge Klein | ... | special thanks (as Paul de Clonge Klein) |
| Colin Leventhal | ... | special thanks |
| Irene Loftus | ... | special thanks |
| Simon Loftus | ... | special thanks |
| Leo Mulder | ... | special thanks |
| Ted Mynott | ... | special thanks |
| David Rose | ... | special thanks |
| Peter Segaar | ... | special thanks |
| Gilda Smith | ... | special thanks |
| Piet Warnaar | ... | special thanks |
| Wally Webb | ... | special thanks |
| Roland Wigman | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Film Four International
- Elsevier-Vendex Film Beheer
- Allarts Production
- Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO) (in association with)
- Stimuleringsfonds Nederlandse Culturele Omroepproducties (co-production)
Distributors
- Cine Saison (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Cineplex Odeon Films (1991) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Hoyts Distribution (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Miramax (1991) (United States) (theatrical)
- Norstar Releasing (1991) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Prestige (1991) (United States) (theatrical)
- Triangelfilm (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Atlantic Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
- Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (Russia) (VHS)
- Kinokuniya (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
- Live Home Video (1991) (United States) (video)
- Oy Europa Vision AB (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
- Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
- Raro Video (2013) (Italy) (DVD)
- Severin Films (2023) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- The Home Cinema Group (1989) (Australia) (video)
- Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (video)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
- Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
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)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production script services)
- Virgin Records (soundtrack)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Tired of her husband's philandering ways, the mother of a daughter and a niece who all have the same name, Cissie Colpitts, drowns her husband. With reluctant help from the local coroner, who is an admirer, the murder is covered up. Her daughter and niece are having similar problems with relationships and tend to follow Cissie Senior's example. Seduced by the charms of the three Cissies the coroner becomes involved in their murders as well. As the plot progresses, visual and spoken numbers appear in the scenes, counting from one to 100. Written by Stephen Fry stephen.l.fry@gmail.com |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The great death game. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | According to Writer and Director Peter Greenaway, there are one hundred things beginning with the letter "s" in Smut's (Jason Edwards') room and one hundred things beginning with the letter "m" in Madgett's (Bernard Hill's) room. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in One Good Cop/FX2/Switch/Spartacus/Drowning by Numbers (1991). See more » |
| Soundtracks | 2nd Movement of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra K354 See more » |
| Quotes |
Smut:
The object of this game is to dare to fall with a noose around your neck from a place sufficiently high enough off the ground, such that the fall will hang you. The object of the game is to punish those who have caused great unhappiness by their selfish actions. This is the best game of all, because the winner is also the loser, and the judge's decision is always final. See more » |