The Handmaid's Tale (1990)

The Handmaid's Tale (1989)

Budget (GBP)	0
Distribution Company	Cinecom Pictures (Distributor \| Est. Unknown)
Release Date	15 February 1990
Black and White	No
Regional Release	No
Release Notes	West Germany 15 February 1990; USA 7 March 1990 (New York City, New York); USA 9 March 1990; Argentina 31 May 1990; France 20 June 1990; Australia 2 August 1990; Denmark 21 September 1990; UK 2 November 1990; Finland 30 November 1990; Japan 21 March 1991; Portugal 30 May 1991; Hungary 18 October 1991; Germany 15 February 1992 (TV premiere); South Korea 2 June 2017 (SEOUL International Women's Film Festival).
Description	Pinter's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel. In a futuristic, theocratic and dystopian United States, Offred (Natasha Richardson) is forced to become a handmaid -- a sexual slave that serves as a surrogate for couples who desire children but who are unable to have them themselves. She works for the cold Serena (Faye Dunaway) and her cruel husband, the commander (Robert Duvall). Offred is in love with the commander's chauffeur Nick (Aidan Quinn) and must find a way to bear a child before she is shipped off to the wastelands.
Language	English

Linked Productions

No linked Production have been added to this production record yet.

Linked People

Volker Schlöndorff (1939)

Creative | Director

Margaret Atwood (1939)

Creative | Author (original novel)

Harold Pinter (1930 - 2008)

Creative | Screenplay

Alex Gartner

Production | Associate Producer

Wolfgang Glattes

Production | Executive Producer

Gale Goldberg

Production | Associate Producer

Eberhard Junkersdorf

Production | Co-producer

Daniel Wilson

Production | Producer

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Creative | Music

Igor Luther

Creative | Cinematographer

David Ray

Creative | Film Editor

Pat Golden

Creative | Casting

Tom Walsh

Creative | Programme design

Gregory Melton

Creative | Art Director

Jan Pascale

Creative | Set Decoration

Colleen Atwood

Creative | Costume Designer

Alan D'Angerio

Creative | Hair Department Head

Jeff Goodwin

Creative | Makeup supervisor

Herita Jones

Creative | Assistant Makeup Artist

Gerlinde Kunz

Creative | Hairstylist

Francesca Paris

Creative | Hairstylist

Gabriela Bacher

Creative | Assistant Director

Sally Brim

Creative | Second Assistant Director

Tony Gittelson

Creative | First Assistant Director

Stephen A. Glanzrock

Creative | Second Assistant Director

Nicholisa Camaioni

Creative | Art department coordinator

Jay Klein

Creative | Set Dresser

Roger Knight

Creative | Assistant Set Dresser

Carole J. Sanders

Creative | Props

Mark Ricker

Creative | Art department intern

Linwood Taylor

Creative | Set Designer

Craig Fincannon

Creative | Local casting

Mark Fincannon

Creative | Local casting

Kimberley von Brandenstein

Creative | Assistant to costume designer

Jane Desmond

Creative | Choreographer

Barbara Dickinson

Creative | Choreographer

Wolfgang Glattes

Production | Unit production manager

Michael W. Stroud

Production | Production supervisor

Ron Servicky

Production | Production Assistant

Michael W. Stroud

Production | Location manager

Fred Styles

Production | Location manager

Jerry Whittington

Production | Location scout

Norika Sky-Sora

Production | Assistant to the composer

Dawn Soler

Production | Music project manager

Jennifer Bartlett

Production | Conceptual advisor

Norwood Cheek

Production | Production Assistant

Grady Cooper

Production | Production Assistant

Tad Driscoll

Production | Accountant

Mimi Goldman

Production | Accountant

Jay Sedrish

Production | Accountant

Kate Eismann

Production | Key production assistant

Mark Lindsay

Production | Sales representative

Mary Lugo

Production | Unit Publicist

Steven McAfee

Production | Production Coordinator

Ingrid C. Michaels

Production | Production Coordinator

Kate Miller

Production | Production Assistant

Olivia Patton

Production | Production Assistant

Robin Swid

Production | Production Assistant

Mamie Mitchell

Production | Script supervisor

Duane Williams

Production | Craft service

Brad Wilson

Production | Assistant

Jean S. Wollan

Production | Assistant to producer

Kip Bartlett

Technical | Swing gang

Ray Camaioni

Technical | Construction coordinator

Jeffrey Ellis

Technical | Set builder

Joe Turner

Technical | Set builder

Stephen Woods

Technical | Set builder

Jack Marino

Technical | Props Master

Randall Milazzo

Technical | Lead man

Aubrey Pettis

Technical | Paint foreman

John Sanders

Technical | Assistant props master

Christopher Santini

Technical | Construction foreman

Chris Theorin

Technical | Swing gang

Richard Whitney

Technical | Standby Painter

Peter R. Adam

Technical | Sound Effects Editor

Diana Barry

Technical | Apprentice sound editor

Ursula Busse

Technical | Assistant sound editor

Martin Evans

Technical | Dialogue editor

Harriet Fidlow

Technical | Adr editor

Tom Fleischman

Technical | Re-recording mixer

Michael Jacobi

Technical | Adr editor

Shari L. Schwartz

Technical | Sound Re-recordist

Mel Kutbay

Technical | Foley artist

Danny Michael

Technical | Sound Mixer

Douglas Murray

Technical | Sound Re-recordist

Nani Schumann

Technical | Foley editor

Marc-Jon Sullivan

Technical | Boom operator

Jeff McKay

Technical | Assistant special effects

Tim Ward

Technical | Special effects coordinator

Dick Butler

Technical | Stunts

Scott Dale

Technical | Stunts

Steve Kelso

Technical | Stunt Coordinator

Dean Mumford

Technical | Stunts

Gene Witham

Technical | Stunts

Jim Wilkey

Technical | Stunts

Mitchell Amundsen

Technical | Camera operator

William Finger

Technical | Second assistant camera

Neal Mills Forney III

Technical | Additional assistant camera

Jon Gardey

Technical | Still Photographer

Charley Gilleran

Technical | Best boy grip

Mikael Glattes

Technical | First assistant camera

Frieder Hocheim

Technical | Gaffer

Victor Korte

Technical | Dolly grip

Ivan Migel

Technical | Grip

York Phelps

Technical | Grip

Elan Yaari

Technical | Electrician

Alan Pickelsimer

Technical | Electrician

Mark Smith

Technical | Electrician

Steve Owen

Technical | Electrician

John Perkinson

Technical | Camera trainee

Gary Swink

Technical | Best boy

Thaddeus Wadleigh

Technical | Key grip

Rick Whitfield

Technical | Video playback operator

Ursula Schrader

Technical | Key costumer

Hartsell Taylor

Technical | Assistant costumer

Uta Draher-Reeg

Technical | Apprentice editor

Marta Evry

Technical | Assistant editor

Mark Ginsberg

Technical | Colour timer

Carla Silverman

Technical | First assistant editor

Peter Afterman

Technical | Music supervisor

Christopher Brooks

Technical | Music editor

Robin Clarke

Technical | Music editor

Jim Harrison

Technical | Music editor

Diane Wessel

Technical | Music supervisor

Wesley Adams

Technical | Transportation captain

Tyler C. Daum

Technical | Picture car coordinator

Troy Flynn

Technical | Driver

Allan Hamilton

Technical | Transportation coordinator

Jim Petti

Technical | Transportation

David H. Kramer

Technical | Adr loop group

Linked Organisations

Cinecom Pictures (Distributor | Est. Unknown)

Characters

Eye (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Ivan Migel

Eye In Van (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Jim Grimshaw

Guard (2) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Tom McGovern

Guard (3) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Robert Pentz

Guardian (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Muse Watson

Handmaid (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Sara Seidman

Hostess (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Elke Ritschel

Janine/Ofwarren (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Traci Lind

Jill (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Blair Struble

June (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Allison Holmes

Kate/Offred (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Natasha Richardson

Luke (The Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Reiner Schone

Martha (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Janell McLeod

Moira (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Elizabeth McGovern

Mrs Warren (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Rhesa Reagan Stone

Nick (The Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Aidan Quinn

Nun (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Jane Learned

Officer On Bus (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Gary Bullock

Ofglen (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Blanche Baker

Old Man (The Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Ed Grady

Preacher (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: J. Michael Hunter

Rita (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Lucile McIntyre

Serena Joy (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Faye Dunaway (1941)

Steve (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: James Martin Jr.

Third Wife (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Nina Lynn Blanton

TV Announcer (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Julian Bell

TV Announcer (2) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Bill Owen

Waiter (The Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Danny Simpkins

Wardress (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Mil Nicholson

Guard (Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not specified, Male)

Performer: David Barnes

Doctor (The Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: David Dukes

Street Worker (The Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Rob McGowan

Elite Soldier (The Handmaid's Tale) (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Performer: Michael Tove

Black Woman (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Performer: Rhonda Bond

Linked Awards

No award have been added to this production record yet.

Resources

The Handmaid's Tale Trailer, 1990 (URL)

Type: Trailer

External Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTnhx_N7nro

Original trailer.

Janet Maslin, ''Handmaid's Tale,' Adapted From Atwood Novel', The New York Times, 7 March 1990 (URL)

Type: Review

External Link: https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/07/movies/handmaid-s-tale-adapted-from-atwood-novel.html

Laura Flanders, 'The Handmaid's Tale's Near Futurism Misses Chill Factor', In These Times, March 28, 1990, p. 20 (URL)

Type: Review

External Link: http://www.unz.com/print/InTheseTimes-1990mar28-00020/

PDF available.

Paul Baumann, 'Screen: The Books Were Better', Commonweal, April 20, 1990, pp. 257-258 (URL)

Type: Review

External Link: http://www.unz.com/print/Commonweal-1990apr20-00257/

PDF currently unavailable

Sources

Sharp Cut: Harold Pinter's Screenplays and the Artistic Process

Steven H. Gale, Harold Pinter's Screenplays and the Artistic Process (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2003)

Academic book

Contains chapters on each of Harold Pinter's filmed screenplays and includes a bibliography of reviews of films up to 1999.

The Handmaid's Tale (1990)

Linked Productions

Linked People

Linked Organisations

Cinecom Pictures (Distributor | Est. Unknown)

Characters

Alma (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Angel At Desk (Age: Not Specified, Male)

Another Wife (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Aunt (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Aunt Christina (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Aunt Elizabeth (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Aunt Helena (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Aunt Lydia (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Aunt Sarah (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Baby (Age: Not Specified, Female)

Commander (Age: Not Specified, Male)