A Handful of Dust (1988)
- Starring:
- James Wilby, Kristin Scott Thomas, (more)
- Director(s):
- Charles Sturridge
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
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 settlement will cost him Hetton Abbey; he faces this circumstance by not facing it at all, preferring to escape to South America, stiff upper lip intact, in the company of a dotty explorer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 114 mins
Complete Cast:
- James Wilby - Tony Last
- Rupert Graves - John Beaver
- Alec Guinness - Mr. Todd
- Pip Torrens - Jock Grant-Menzies
- John Junkin - Blenkinsop
- Alice Dawnay - Winnie
- Kate Percival - Miss Ripon
- Jeannette Baillie - Rosa
- Jack Kyle - John Andrew Last
- Christopher Godwin - Mr. Messinger
- Marsha Fitzalan - Polly Cockpurse
- Graham Crowden - Mr. Graceful
- Tristram Jellinek - Richard Last
- Beatie Edney - Marjorie
- Jeanne Watts - Nanny
- Moyra Fraser - Mrs. Northcote
- Norman Lumsden - Ambrose
- Hugh Simon - Travel Agent
- John Quentin - Brenda's Solicitor
- Kristin Scott Thomas - Brenda Last
- Anjelica Huston - Mrs. Rattery
- Judi Dench - Mrs. Beaver
- Cathryn Harrison - Milly
- Stephen Fry - Reggie
- Annabel Brooks - Daisy
- Matthew Ryan - Club Page
- Peggy Aitchison - Waitress
- Alan Hay - Club Porter
- Roger Milner - Vicar
- William Gonzalez - Indian Singer
- Tamsin Olivier - Veronica
- Maureen Bennett - Marjorie's Maid
- Duke of Norfolk - Gardener
- Richard Beale - Ben
- Julian Infante - Indian Spokesman
- Timothy Bateson - MacDouglas
- Richard Leech - Doctor
- Director(s):
- Charles Sturridge
- Writer(s):
- Charles Sturridge, Derek Granger, Tim Sullivan
- Producer(s):
- Jeffrey Taylor, Derek Granger, Kent Walwin
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Language, Brief Nudity, Questionable for Children, Adult Situations)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1988 - A Handful of Dust - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Supporting Actress






