A Handful of Dust
“It's a long fall from high society”
Synopsis
English aristocrat Tony Last welcomes tragedy into his life when he invites John Beaver to visit his vast estate. There Beaver makes the acquaintance of Tony's wife, Brenda. 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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
A Handful of Dust (1988) - Stephen Fry - James Wilby - Kristin Scott Thomas
Type: Clip • Published 2015-06-14
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
James Wilby
Tony Last
Kristin Scott Thomas
Brenda Last
Rupert Graves
John Beaver
Pip Torrens
Jock Grant-Menzies
Judi Dench
Mrs. Beaver
Alec Guinness
Mr. Todd
Beatie Edney
Marjorie
Christopher Godwin
Dr. Messinger
Jackson Kyle
John Andrew
Anjelica Huston
Mrs. Rattery
Jeanne Watts
Nanny
Norman Lumsden
Ambrose
Richard Beale
Ben
Kate Percival
Miss Ripon
Richard Leech
Doctor
Roger Miller
Vicar
Stephen Fry
Reggie
Tristram Jellinek
Richard Last
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Market
Festival / Special Debut
June 24, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
December 16, 2022
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.6M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Charles Sturridge
- Screenplay & Story
- Charles Sturridge, Evelyn Waugh, Tim Sullivan, Derek Granger
- Original Score
- George Fenton
- Original Title
- A Handful of Dust
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 58m
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.6M
- Production Studios
- Handful of Dust, Stagescreen Productions, Compact Yellowbill, LWT, New Line Cinema
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Charles Sturridge
Charles Sturridge, Evelyn Waugh, Tim Sullivan, Derek Granger
George Fenton
Peter Hannan
Peter Coulson
Department Leadership Roster
Charles Sturridge
Writer
Charles Sturridge
Director
George Fenton
Original Music Composer
Tim Sullivan
Writer
Chris Townsend
Production Design
Peter Coulson
Editor
Peter Hannan
Director of Photography
Eileen Diss
Production Design
Derek Granger
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Handful of Dust.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring A Handful of Dust.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
All The Movies I Have Seen
All the movies i have seen in my life
Best Supporting Actress Bafta (1968-Present)
500 best 88's movies
Movie Mod Pak 9000
Movie Books
Similar Titles to A Handful of Dust
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.4
7.0
7.5
7.0
7.7
8.3
7.2
8.7
7.4
7.7
8.1
6.0
6.8
6.6
6.3
7.1
6.9
7.0
7.9
7.1
More Like A Handful of Dust
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About A Handful of Dust
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Handful of Dust about?
English aristocrat Tony Last welcomes tragedy into his life when he invites John Beaver to visit his vast estate. There Beaver makes the acquaintance of Tony's wife, Brenda. 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.
Who directed A Handful of Dust?
A Handful of Dust was directed by Charles Sturridge.
Who stars in A Handful of Dust?
The principal cast of A Handful of Dust includes James Wilby, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rupert Graves, Pip Torrens, Judi Dench.
When was A Handful of Dust released and how long is it?
A Handful of Dust was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 58m.
How much did A Handful of Dust make at the box office?
A Handful of Dust grossed $1.6M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for A Handful of Dust?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Handful of Dust was composed by George Fenton.
Is A Handful of Dust based on a book or true story?
A Handful of Dust is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Evelyn Waugh".
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Handful of Dust?
A Handful of Dust holds official age classifications: DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).