A Handful of Dust

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A Handful of Dust

PG,

1988,

1h 58m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

83%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

45%

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.

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

This is a peculiar movie, but a provocative one. The performances imply more than the dialogue explains.

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

May 7, 2024

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.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jul 22, 2023

3/5

…Sturridge sticks closely to Waugh’s book for better or worse and makes a cinematic mountain out of a molehill of casual infidelity…

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Hilary Mantel

The Spectator

Apr 9, 2019

Something small but vital has gone wrong with this adaptation, but a great many things have gone right.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jun 7, 2012

B-

Hansomely mounted, Charles Sturridge's adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel places too much emphasis on atmosphere and decor and not enough on characterization.

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Sep 18, 2002

3/5

Handsome, but airless and uninvolving version of the Waugh novel

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Charles Sturridge

Director

James Wilby

Tony Last

Kristin Scott Thomas

Brenda Last

Rupert Graves

John Beaver

Judi Dench

Mrs. Beaver

Anjelica Huston

Mrs. Rattery

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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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