A Handful of Dust (1988)

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writers:

Derek Granger (writer)
Charles Sturridge (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

24 June 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

The wife's affair and a death in the family hasten the demise of an upper-class English marriage.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Independent Film

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

James Wilby	...	Tony Last
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Brenda Last
Rupert Graves	...	John Beaver
Anjelica Huston	...	Mrs. Rattery
Judi Dench	...	Mrs. Beaver
Alec Guinness	...	Mr. Todd
Richard Beale	...	Ben
Jackson Kyle	...	John Andrew
Norman Lumsden	...	Ambrose
Jeanne Watts	...	Nanny
Kate Percival	...	Miss Ripon
Richard Leech	...	Doctor
Roger Milner	...	Vicar
Tristram Jellinek	...	Richard Last
Pip Torrens	...	Jock
Beatie Edney	...	Marjorie
Stephen Fry	...	Reggie
Graham Crowden	...	Mr. Graceful
John Quentin	...	Brenda's Solicitor
Timothy Bateson	...	MacDougal
Moyra Fraser	...	Mrs. Northcote
Marsha Fitzalan	...	Polly Cockpurse
Annabel Brooks	...	Daisy
Tamsin Olivier	...	Veronica
Maureen Bennett	...	Marjorie's Maid
Hugh Simon	...	Travel Agent
Alan Hay	...	Club Porter
Matthew Ryan	...	Club Page
Cathryn Harrison	...	Milly
Alice Dawnay	...	Winnie
John Junkin	...	Blenkinsop
Peggy Aitchison	...	Waitress (as Peggy Atchison)
Christopher Godwin	...	Dr. Messinger
Jeannette Baillie	...	Rosa
Julian Infante	...	Indian Spokesman
Wiliam Gonzalez	...	Indian Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Giles Bickford	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Sturridge

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Derek Granger		writer
Charles Sturridge		writer
Tim Sullivan		writer
Evelyn Waugh		novel

Produced by
Nick Elliott	....	executive producer
Derek Granger	....	producer
Jeffrey Taylor	....	executive producer
Kent Walwin	....	executive producer
David Wimbury	....	associate producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Peter Hannan

Film Editing by
Peter Coulson

Casting by
Celestia Fox

Production Design by
Eileen Diss
Chris Townsend

Costume Design by
Jane Robinson

Makeup Department
Patricia Kirkman	....	hair stylist
Sally Sutton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Matthew Binns	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Aherne	....	assistant director
Peter Kohn	....	assistant director
Melvin Lind	....	assistant director

Art Department
Simon Basketter	....	property creator
Richard Hornsby	....	assistant art director
Stephanie McMillan	....	set dresser
Brian Read	....	prop buyer

Sound Department
John Ireland	....	sound editor
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Sutton	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Pat Garrett	....	grip
Brian Martin	....	best boy
Reg Parsons	....	gaffer
Bob Smith	....	camera operator
Stefan Stankowski	....	first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jenny Hawkins	....	wardrobe assistant
Michael Jeffery	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joy Kleiner	....	associate costume designer

Editorial Department
Angelica Landry	....	assistant editor

Music Department
George Fenton	....	conductor
George Fenton	....	orchestrator
Gerry O'Riordan	....	assistant music engineer
John Warren	....	additional orchestrator

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	title designer
Christopher Knowles	....	location manager
Ene Watts	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Compact Yellowbill
• Handful of Dust
• London Weekend Television (LWT)
• Stagescreen Ltd.

Distributors

• Premier Releasing (1988) (UK) (theatrical)
• Arrow Film Distributors (1996) (UK) (VHS)
• Castle Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Mundial Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• New Line Cinema
• Odyssey Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• VCL Communications

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Runtime:

USA:118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG (certificate #28951) | West Germany:6 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Compact Yellowbill

Trivia:

The Duke of Norfolk let his home be used and appeared as the gardener touching his forelock respectfully to Mrs. Ratterby (Anjelica Huston).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

A dusty handful

At the end of this film, one wants to wash one's hands of the unmitigated cruelty pervading the atmosphere. The deliberate pace of the thirties setting (beautifully portrayed using the right houses, and suitable sets and costumes) ensures that every nuance of behaviour is clearly understood by the audience, and this is the great strength of the film. As I haven't read the book, but believe this is a faithful adaptation, I can commend both Charles Sturridge and the superb actors for translating what must be a difficult, but brilliant, novel by Evelyn Waugh, not only into an impressive film, but one that conveys thirties morals and social privilege in a way that rings true for today's 21st century attitudes.

I think this is the best performance I have ever seen by James Wilby. Cuckolded by his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas in a fantastic debut performance), suffering from the death of his only son, he turns from a kind and gentle husband to one who wreaks revenge on his wife by cutting off all financial support. His agony over his son is exactly restrained in the manner of the period, his embarrassment over setting up the grounds for divorce by being caught in flagrante, his bewilderment when one would think he should be released from torment but is trapped by a vindictive eccentric (Alec Guinness, as usual, quite amazing) in the middle of the jungle, after nearly dying of fever, is a tour de force. This is his film, but Kristin Scott-Thomas (who was the original reason I watched this film in the first place), is simply delightful as the spoil, bored wife who can't resist Rupert Graves's boyish charm and dilettante lifestyle. No wonder Robert Altman chose her for Gosford Park; she is made for these roles. Her character's brittle insouciance, total selfishness and insensitivity, her lack of concern for her husband and son while she pursues alleviation from boredom with Rupert Graves, is reminiscent of Daisy Buchanan's behaviour in The Great Gatsby. Kristin Scott-Thomas shows a sophistication and acting aplomb which is breathtaking.

Rupert Graves is convincing as the shallow man-about-town sponging off others but seducing charming to the ladies; Judi Dench gives a lovely cameo as his bourgeois mother; Cathryn Harrison is good as Millie, who is supposed to provide the evidence for the divorce; and Alec Guinness in one of his final roles, is chillingly menacing.

I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a good story well told, excellent acting, and a period setting.