Drowning by Numbers
Date: 1988
Director: Peter Greenaway
Production Company: Film Four International, Elsevier-Vendex Film Beheer, Allarts Productions
Stars: Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson, Joely Richardson, Bernard Hill, Jason Edwards, Bryan Pringle
Location(s): Suffolk
Region(s): South East A-D
Storyline:
Whilst strange number games are played, three wives drown their husbands with the help of the local coroner.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson from source material provided by John Tunstill.
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- Capture 1
- 19 Feb 2014
A Girl (Natalie Morse) skips and recites the names of the stars. St James Green, Southwold, Suffolk.
Certainly called "Sea View" now. (RL)
- Capture 2
- 19 Feb 2014
The skipping continues on fictional Amsterdam Road. St James Green, Southwold with Southwold Lighthouse in the background.
The wall bearing "Amsterdam Road" has been foreshortened. (RL)
- Capture 3
- 19 Feb 2014
Cissie Colpitts (Joan Plowright) asks why the Girl only recites the first hundred names. St James Green, Southwold.
No longer glass panels in the door. (RL)
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
A bonfire is watched by Cissie Colpitts [1].
- Capture 5
- 02 Apr 2026
Sarah Woolley identifies this as Haven End on Thorpe Road south of Thorpeness.
Keith Prested came upon the house whilst on a walk between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
Smut (Jason Edwards) climbs the steps of a barn to play Reverse Strip Jump. The film is set in and around Southwold, Thorpeness and Walberswick in Suffolk, an area also seen in 'East of Ipswich' and used for the finale of 'Payroll'.
- Capture 7
- 'Now' required
Cissie Colpitts [1] and Cissie Colpitts [2] wheel a barrow containing a body.
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
Cissie Colpitts [1] and Cissie Colpitts [2] (Juliet Stevenson) arrive home with the body.
- Capture 9
- 'Now' required
Coroner Madgett (Bernard Hill) enjoys a meal. Julian Bovis identifies the location as the farm and pier at the end of Bulcamp Drift along the River Blyth near Blythburgh in Suffolk.
- Capture 10
- 19 Feb 2014
Smut, Madgett's son, numbers road kill in a bizarre game. York Road, The Common, Southwold, Suffolk.
No such bizarre activity today. (RL)
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
Another number game is played, Deadman's Catch. In the centre distance stands the water tower on York Road in Southwold.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
The game of Deadman's Catch continues.
- Capture 13
- 'Now' required
Madgett eats in the company of Nancy (Jane Gurnett) and Gregory (John Rogan).
- Capture 14
- 'Now' required
Another drowning!! Unknown location.
- Capture 15
- 19 Feb 2014
The Priest (Peter Jaques) presides over the funeral as Cissie Colpitts [3] (Joely Richardson), Cissie Colpitts [1] and Cissie Colpitts [2] pay their respects.
St Andrew, Mill Lane, Covehithe, Suffolk. Well worth a visit if you are in the area, historic and photogenic. (RL)
- Capture 16
- 19 Feb 2014
Nancy, Jonah Bognor (Kenny Ireland) and Madgett attend the service.
St Andrews, Mill Lane in Covehithe, Suffolk (RL)
- Capture 17
- 'Now' required
The three Cissie Colpitts walk along the seafront. Unknown location.
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
More games, Tug of War and the Endgame.
- Capture 19
- 'Now' required
The police arrive as the games continue.