BBB.5
(out of 5)
The crumbling away of the aristocracy in 1930s England is the subject of this engrossing drama. Kristin Scott Thomas and James Wilby are excellent as a titled couple whose relationship is strained after her fling with a London boy (Rupert Graves) turns into a full-fledged affair. Add to that a death in the family and the two of them split completely from each other, she taking up residence in London with her lover and he journeying to the rugged jungles of Brazil and befriending a hermit (Alec Guinness). Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel has been given all the class it deserves, brought to life by a fantastic cast which also includes Judi Dench and Anjelica Huston, and envisioned beautifully by the rich production and costume designs. The last act isn’t as juicy as it should be, and the film ends as a bit of a letdown, but it’s still a reputable production that showcases its talents well.
Handful of Dust, Stagescreen Productions, London Weekend Television
Directed by Charles Sturridge
Screenplay by Derek Granger, Charles Sturridge, Tim Sullivan, based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh
Cinematography by Peter Hannan
Produced by Derek Granger
Music by George Fenton
Production Design by Eileen Diss, Chris Townsend
Costume Design by Jane Robinson
Film Editing by Peter Coulson
Academy Award Nomination
Best Costume Design (Jane Robinson)
