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A Handful of Dust

Play trailer Poster for A Handful of Dust PG Released Jun 24, 1988 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
English aristocrat Tony Last (James Wilby) welcomes tragedy into his life when he invites John Beaver (Rupert Graves) to visit his vast estate. There Beaver makes the acquaintance of Tony's wife, Brenda (Kristin Scott Thomas). Together, they continue their relationship in a series of bedroom assignations in London. Trusting to a fault, Tony is unaware that anything is amiss until his wife suddenly asks for a divorce. With his life in turmoil, Tony goes on a haphazard journey to South America.
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A Handful of Dust

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times This is a peculiar movie, but a provocative one. The performances imply more than the dialogue explains. Rated: 3/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street There is much to recommend in A Handful of Dust -- impressive manorial interiors and chilly English landscapes, [and] faultlessly articulated lines... but it remains a misguided venture; it has been impossible to impose upon the plot a cinematic shape. May 7, 2024 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …Sturridge sticks closely to Waugh’s book for better or worse and makes a cinematic mountain out of a molehill of casual infidelity… Rated: 3/5 Jul 22, 2023 Full Review Hilary Mantel The Spectator Something small but vital has gone wrong with this adaptation, but a great many things have gone right. Apr 9, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Hansomely mounted, Charles Sturridge's adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel places too much emphasis on atmosphere and decor and not enough on characterization. Rated: B- Jun 7, 2012 Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Handsome, but airless and uninvolving version of the Waugh novel Rated: 3/5 Sep 18, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (31) audience reviews
Geraldine T I have always loved this film. Understated but visceral attack on the venal characters that both inhabit and attach themselves like bloodsucking leeches to money and title in the British aristocracy. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/25 Full Review Audience Member Great story and lovely to see so many great actors when they were young. Strange arty story but a really good film, well worth checking it out. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member The disintegration of an upper-class marriage and a strange encounter with a man who likes Dickens in a Brazilian forest make no heads nor tails in this adaptation of British writer Evelyn Waugh's semi-autobiographical novel. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautifully shot adaptation of the Evelyn Waugh classic. However, the acting, other than that from Scott Thomas and Dench, is a little lightweight. The characterisation is weak, to the extent that I found myself strangely detached from the main tragedy. Sir Alec Guinness has a relatively small part but carries off his role with aplomb. It's a decent British film with some very recognisable faces, for example, John Junkin. Worth a watch. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I think this is a very under-rated British film that perhaps one day will be more appreciated. Great performances and score and if the ending drives anyone to seek out the extraordinary novel that it is based on... Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty good Evelyn Waugh adaptation from a starry cast Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Handful of Dust

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A Handful of Dust

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Movie Info

Synopsis English aristocrat Tony Last (James Wilby) welcomes tragedy into his life when he invites John Beaver (Rupert Graves) to visit his vast estate. There Beaver makes the acquaintance of Tony's wife, Brenda (Kristin Scott Thomas). Together, they continue their relationship in a series of bedroom assignations in London. Trusting to a fault, Tony is unaware that anything is amiss until his wife suddenly asks for a divorce. With his life in turmoil, Tony goes on a haphazard journey to South America.
Director
Charles Sturridge
Producer
Derek Granger
Screenwriter
Derek Granger, Charles Sturridge, Tim Sullivan
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
Stagescreen Productions, London Weekend Television
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.6M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Surround
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