The Dead (1987 film)

The Dead
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Huston
Written byTony Huston
Based on"The Dead"
by James Joyce
Produced by
  • Wieland Schulz-Keil
  • Chris Sievernich
Starring
CinematographyFred Murphy
Edited byRoberto Silvi
Music byAlex North
Production
companies
Distributed byVestron Pictures
Release dates
  • September 3, 1987 (1987-09-03) (Venice Film Festival)
  • December 11, 1987 (1987-12-11) (United Kingdom)
  • December 17, 1987 (1987-12-17) (United States)
Running time
83 minutes
Country
    • United States
    • United Kingdom
    • West Germany
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.5 million or £2.26 million
Box office$4.4 million

The Dead is a 1987 period drama film directed by John Huston, written by his son Tony Huston, and starring his daughter Anjelica Huston, alongside an ensemble cast including Helena Carroll, Cathleen Delany, Dan O'Herlihy, Marie Kean, Donal Donnelly, Seán McClory, Frank Patterson, and Colm Meaney. The film takes place in Dublin in 1904 at an Epiphany party hosted by two sisters, Kate and Julia Morkan, and their niece Mary Jane. The story focuses on the academic Gabriel Conroy and his discovery of his wife Gretta's memories of a deceased lover, Michael Furey. It is an adaptation of the 1914 short story of the same name by James Joyce.

An international co-production between the United Kingdom, the United States, and West Germany, the film was Huston's last as director, and it was released several months after his death.

At the 60th Academy Awards, Tony Huston was nominated for the award for Best Adapted Screenplay and Dorothy Jeakins was nominated for Best Costume Design for their work on the film. John Huston posthumously won the award for Best Director at the 3rd Independent Spirit Awards, and Anjelica Huston won the award for Best Supporting Female at the same ceremony.