Under the Volcano

John Huston's Under the Volcano (1984) is arguably one of the greatest literary adaptations in cinema history, made all the more remarkable by the fact that Malcolm Lowry's classic 1947 novel was widely considered unfilmable. Albert Finney delivers an Oscar-nominated performance as self-destructive British consul Geoffrey Firmin, who drowns his broken heart in alcohol in Cuernavaca, Mexico circa 1938. Faithfully (but not slavishly) adapted from the novel, Huston's film follows Firmin over the course of the final day of his life, during which he is briefly reunited with his estranged wife Yvonne (the ever-radiant Jacqueline Bissett), while also suspecting her (with good reason) of infidelity with his half-brother Hugh (Anthony Andrews), a reporter who drops in on one of his occasional visits to Mexico. Working from a screenplay by Guy Gallo, Huston charts the course of Firmin's last hours with a compelling combination of humor and deep foreboding, emphasized by the exotic atmosphere of the Mexican Day of the Dead festivities taking place throughout. Hardly a happy tale, Under the Volcano is nevertheless a lively and vibrant film (made during Huston's slow decline from chronic emphysema) that many will find unforgettable. The Criterion Collection has rolled out the customary red-carpet treatment for this two-disc set featuring a wealth of bonus material, including three separate audio commentaries (one full-length, one scene-specific by Gallo, and another on the main title sequence by Huston's actor/filmmaker son Danny), the excellent Oscar-nominated 1976 documentary Volcano on the life and death of novelist Lowry; a 1984 “making-of” documentary, a new video interview with Bissett, an archival audio interview with Huston, and a booklet. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (J. Shannon)