About this title: Based on a novel by Evelyn Waugh, Handful of Dust is set amongst Britain's aristocracy of the 1930s. At sumptuous Hetton Abbey, tradition-bound country squire James Wilby and his wife Kristin Scott Thomas open their doors to well-connected but impoverished Rupert Graves. Graves returns Wilby's hospitality by having an affair with Scott Thomas, while Wilby gamboles about his estate without a clue of what is going on. Wilby's cloistered world comes tumbling down when Scott Thomas coolly demands a divorce, shortly after the accidental death of their young son. Wilby discovers that his divorce ...
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Format: DVD
Screen format: Widescreen
UPC:026359212628
Description: Very Good. Used DVD. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library! read more
Description: Very Good. Very Good condition. VHS Tape. Case/Booklet Very Good. Quality guaranteed! In original artwork/packaging unless otherwise noted. read more
Format: DVD
Studio: Hbo Home Video
UPC:026359212628
Description: New. 026359212628 BRAND NEW and FACTORY SEALED! ! We sell no bootlegs or imports. Buy with confidence. Holiday shipping experts! read more
Format: VHS
Studio: New Line Home Video
Date: 1995
UPC:794043435836
Description: Starring James Wilby, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rupert Graves, Anjelica Huston, Judi Dench, Alec Guinness. Originally released: 1988. Run time: 118 minutes. Based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh. read more
Description: Wilby, James. Good in good packaging. 08/09/1997 VHS is in PAL format (not compatible in NTSC only VCR players). Dispatched same day from warehouse, VHS in good or better condition. read more
Description: Wilby, James. Good in good packaging. 08/09/1997 VHS is in PAL format (not compatible in NTSC only VCR players). Dispatched same day from warehouse, VHS in good or better condition. read more
Description: Fine. Video plays perfectly and comes in its original near-pristine cardboard sleeve exactly as pictured. Out of print New Line Home Video release. Approx run time: 118 mins. Wonderful copy. Ships now/free package tracking number. read more
"This dramatization of Evelyn Waugh's novel is nicely done. The story concerns the marriage of Tony and Brenda Last, members of Britain's upper crust. From all outward appearances and, as far as the oblivious Tony is concerned the marriage is perfect. Brenda is bored and proceeds headlong into a destructive relationship with John Beaver, a man without personality or resources. Tony watches in denial and Brenda watches in self-absorption as their "perfect" world crumbles.
The dialogue in the film is remarkably faithful to the novel. With one notable exception, the actors quietly underplay the scenes, almost all of which involve tense and emotionally-wringing scenarios. This serves to underscore the absurdity of the "stiff upper lip" social mores of the time. The film stars James Wilby as Tony Last. Wilby is a dead ringer for the young Evelyn Waugh -- a nice touch given the story's autobiographical origins. Kristen Scott Thomas stars as Brenda.
About three-fourths of the film is set in London and rural Great Britain during the years between WWI and WWII. The remainder is set in the Amazon jungles. The film's score features native South American musical instruments throughout the scenes set in Great Britain which, again, serves to underscore the film's social themes.
Sir Alec Guinness dominates the jungle scenes as the amoral Mr. Todd. He's the one actor in this film who doesn't underplay his role. In this film, Guinness is unwashed, unshaven, scheming, hateful and maniacal. In short, he becomes "The Man Who Liked Dickens". I felt that his performance here was one of the best I've seen.
I rated this film 4 stars rather than 5 because there are one or two scenes which are so underplayed I would have missed them entirely had I not read the novel beforehand and been on the lookout for them.
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