A Handful of Dust 1988

    This film is based on a novel by Evelyn Waugh published in 1934.  Lord Tony and Lady Brenda Last live in Hetton Abbey in the countryside during the 1930’s.  They have been married for 7 years and they have a young son John Andrew.  Tony really enjoys being in the home and out in the country.  Brenda prefers London and she asks Tony if she could rent a flat.  He agrees and she begins spending time in London.  What Tony doesn’t know is that Brenda is in London with John Beaver.  Everyone in their circle knows what is going on except Tony.  There is a foxhunt on the estate and an unfortunate accident causes the death of John Andrew.  Both Tony and Brenda are devastated.  Brenda lets Tony know that she’s been with John and she wants a divorce.

      Tony is nice to everyone with no regard to how they treat him.  Brenda only cares about herself and what she wants and needs.  John Andrew was holding them together like glue but this dissolved when he died.  I especially liked the clothing, hairstyles, traditions and social manners.  There is really a lot going on with selfish greed and abominable behaviors the evils here.  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

118 min, Drama directed by Charles Sturridge with James Wilby, Kristin Scott Thomas, Richard Beale, Jackson Kyle, Norman Lumsden, Jeanne Watts, Kate Percival, Richard Leech, Roger Milner, Tristram Jellinek, Anjelica Huston, Rupert Graves, Judi Dench Pip Torrens, Beatie Edney.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, 46% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 3.7* out of 5* with 27 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Highclere Castle, Highclere, Hampshire; Abbey Road Studios, Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London (music); Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twifckenham, Middlesex (re-recording); Brighton, East Sussex; Carlton Towers, Selby,North Yorkshire; Windsor and Eton Central Station, Windsor, Berkshire; London, England, UK; Venezuela.  Highclere Castle is the same home used for the Downton Abbey series.  James Wilby and Rupert Graves were also in the Merchant Ivory film, Maurice of 1987.