Under the Volcano

Under the Volcano

Directed by John Huston • 1984 • Mexico, United States
Starring Albert Finney, Jacqueline Bisset

UNDER THE VOLCANO follows the final day in the life of self-destructive British consul Geoffrey Firmin (Albert Finney, in an Oscar-nominated tour de force) on the eve of World War II. Withering from alcoholism, Firmin stumbles through a small Mexican village amidst the Day of the Dead fiesta, attempting to reconnect with his estranged wife (Jacqueline Bisset) but only further alienating himself. John Huston’s ambitious tackling of Malcolm Lowry’s towering “unadaptable” novel gave the incomparable Finney one of his grandest roles and was the legendary THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE director’s triumphant return to filmmaking in Mexico.

Under the Volcano
  • Under the Volcano

    Directed by John Huston • 1984 • Mexico, United States
    Starring Albert Finney, Jacqueline Bisset

    UNDER THE VOLCANO follows the final day in the life of self-destructive British consul Geoffrey Firmin (Albert Finney, in an Oscar-nominated tour de force) on the eve of World War II. Withering from ...

Extras

  • UNDER THE VOLCANO Commentary

    Recorded in 2007, this commentary features executive producer Michael Fitzgerald and producers Wieland Schulz-Keil and Moritz Borman.

  • Jacqueline Bisset on UNDER THE VOLCANO

    The role of Yvonne in John Huston’s UNDER THE VOLCANO remains one of the high points in acclaimed actress Jacqueline Bisset’s career. The following video interview was recorded in June 2007 in Los Angeles.

  • Guy Gallo: UNDER THE VOLCANO Selected Scenes Intro

  • Guy Gallo: UNDER THE VOLCANO Selected Scenes Commentary

    This selected-scene commentary with screenwriter Guy Gallo was recorded in New York City in July 2007. Gallo discusses the unique approach that he and Huston took in adapting the novel, as well as the screenwriting process.

  • Danny Huston: Opening Credits

    Actor and director Danny Huston, John Huston's son, was on set for the entire production of the film and also directed the main title sequence. In this audio interview, recorded in July 2007 in London, Huston reminisces briefly about this experience.

  • John Huston on UNDER THE VOLCANO at Cannes, 1984

    During the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, French film critic Michel Ciment had a conversation with director John Huston about UNDER THE VOLCANO. Presented here is the recording of that encounter, which originally appeared in the magazine “Positif.” Note: the recording begins with the conversation alr...

  • Notes from UNDER THE VOLCANO

    Several documentary crews were on set during the production of UNDER THE VOLCANO to capture director John Huston filming Malcolm Lowry’s “unfilmable novel.” One resulting project was this 1984 documentary by filmmaker Gary Conklin, which shows Huston at work and includes interviews with many of t...

  • Volcano: An Inquiry . . .

    The relationship of director John Huston’s UNDER THE VOLCANO to its source novel is perhaps as complex as that of the story to its author, Malcolm Lowry. In this Academy Award–nominated 1976 documentary, narrated by actor Richard Burton, filmmaker Donald Brittain interviews dozens of Lowry’s frie...