Under the Volcano (1984)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Guy Gallo (writer)
Malcolm Lowry (novel)

Release Date:

13 June 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

No se puede vivir sin amar. (One cannot live without love.)

Plot:

Against a background of war breaking out in Europe and the Mexican fiesta Day of Death, we are taken through one day in the life of Geoffrey Firmin...

Plot Keywords:

One Day | Ex Husband Ex Wife Relationship | 1930s | Mexico | Alcoholism

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Geoffrey Firmin
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Yvonne Firmin
Anthony Andrews	...	Hugh Firmin
Ignacio López Tarso	...	Dr. Vigil (as Ignacio Lopez Tarzo)
Katy Jurado	...	Senora Gregoria
James Villiers	...	Brit
Dawson Bray	...	Quincey
Carlos Riquelme	...	Bustamante
Jim McCarthy	...	Gringo
José René Ruiz	...	Dwarf (as Rene Ruiz 'Tun-Tun')
Eleazar Garcia Jr.	...	Chief of Gardens
Salvador Sánchez	...	Chief of Stockyards (as Salvador Sanchez)
Sergio Calderón	...	Chief of Municipality (as Sergio Calderon)
Araceli Ladewuen Castelun	...	Maria
Emilio Fernández	...	Diosdado (as Emilio Fernandez)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Acapantzingo, Morelos, Mexico

Company:

Conacite Uno

Trivia:

John Huston initially wanted to cast Richard Burton as the British consul. Huston and Burton had had a great success with a previous movie about an alcoholic set in Mexico, The Night of the Iguana (1964). Much to his regret, Burton had to decline the offer, as he was appearing in a touring production of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" with Elizabeth Taylor.

Quotes:

Geoffrey Firmin: Hell is my natural habitat.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

fantastic portrayal of alcoholic depression

I saw this film several times in the late 1980's and always thought that Albert Finney's performance was great but now, watching it all these years later in the very city in which it was set and shot I am convinced that Finney's performance is one of the greatest depictions of alcoholism EVER! Only Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas has done as well of a job of capturing the emotionalism and physical mannerisms of a drunk. I haven't read the novel (yet) but I think John Huston (no stranger to the effects of massive alcohol consumption himself) was probably the right choice to direct this tale of an alcoholic British consul drinking himself senseless in Mexico on the eve of WW2. Anyone interested in top-notch acting should see this film. Albert Finney was nominated for an Oscar, and in my opinion, he should have won! BRAVO, Mr Finney!