The recent adaptation (2002) of Oscar Wilde’s most famous play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a valiant attempt to bring the fantastic wit of Wilde successfully to the big screen. The cast of top Brit actors, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Judi Dench are stalwarts of the stage and period ... Read review
Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest revolves around the clever scheming of two ... more
friends Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett) and Jack Worthing (Colin Firth) both of whom lead double lives in order to increase their opportunities for pleasure....
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Starring Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones' Diary), and ... more
Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding), here is the hilarious adventure of two dashing young bachelors and the outrageous deceptions they find themselves in over lo...
Oscar Wilde's comic jewel sparkles in Anthony Asquith's film adaptation of The Importance ... more
of Being Earnest. Featuring brilliantly polished performances by Michael Redgrave Joan Greenwood and Dame Edith Evans the enduringly hilarious story of two young women who think themselves engaged to the same nonexistent man is given the grand Technicolor treatment. Seldom has a classic stage comedy been so engagingly transferred to the screen!
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Wilde was both a glittering wordsmith and a social outsider. His drama emerges out of ... more
these two perhaps contradictory identities combining epigrammatic brilliance and shrewd social observation. Includes "Lady Windermere's Fan" "Salome" "A Woman of No Importance" "An Ideal Husband" "A Florentine Tragedy" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" which appears in full with the "Grigsby" scene which originally made up the fourth act.
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Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Production Year: 1956 - Comedy - Director: Joshua Logan - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Betty Field, Hope Lange, Eileen Heckart, Arthur O'Connell, Casey Adams, Hans Conried, Robert Bray
Advantages: Best of British casting and very funny Disadvantages: Not quite up to the stage version
The recent adaptation (2002) of Oscar Wilde’s most famous play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a valiant attempt to bring the fantastic wit of Wilde successfully to the big screen. The cast of top Brit actors, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Judi Dench are stalwarts of the stage and period dramas, and are supported by Reese Witherspoon (turning her hand to another period role and another British accent in the upcoming Vanity Fair) and Frances ... ...Park).
The story revolves around two caddish bachelors Jack Worthing (Firth) and Algy Moncrieff (Everett), so far no Ernest! Algy is a good for nothing playboy about town, who we frequently witness being chased by debtors. In order to avoid as many boring appointments as possible, Algy has invented a rather sickly imaginary friend called Bunbury. So for example, when his formidable Aunt Augusta (Dench) demands his presence at a dinner, ... more
The recent adaptation (2002) of Oscar Wilde’s most famous play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a valiant attempt to bring the fantastic wit of Wilde successfully to the big screen. The cast of top Brit actors, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Judi Dench are stalwarts of the stage and period dramas, and are supported by Reese Witherspoon (turning her hand to another period role and another British accent in the upcoming Vanity Fair) and Frances O’Connor (previous form in the recent film adaptation of Mansfield Park).
The story revolves around two caddish bachelors Jack Worthing (Firth) and Algy Moncrieff (Everett), so far no Ernest! Algy is a good for nothing playboy about town, who we frequently witness being chased by debtors. In order to avoid as many boring appointments as possible, Algy has invented a rather sickly imaginary friend called Bunbury. So for example, when his formidable Aunt Augusta (Dench) demands his presence at a dinner, Algy must unfortunately dash off to see his poor friend Bunbury who is terribly ill, allowing him to bobby off to the Savoy for dinner instead!
We first meet Jack at his grand country house, where he appears to be straight-laced and rather strict with his pretty young ward Cecily (Witherspoon). A poe-faced Jack Worthing heads into London to contend with the excesses of his younger brother Ernest. However, as Jack sets off on his journey we quickly see that he is in fact Ernest! Jack has created an alter ego to enable himself to go up to town as often as possible and behave like a playboy as Ernest!! So all his London friends, including Algy, know him as Ernest. This creates no problems until Jack/Ernest proposes to the girl of his dreams Gwendolen (O’Connor). Unfortunately Gwendolen is the daughter of Algy’s Aunt Augusta, the fearsome Lady Bracknell, who proceeds to interview all prospective suitors to establish how appropriate they are for her daughter. Jack/Ernest’s interview seems to be going surprisingly well until the issue of his heritage is broached. The fact he was found in a handbag (“a handbag!”) at Victoria station and has no idea who his parents are, leads to hilarious incredulity and instant dismissal from the interview.
As Jack has now come clean about his alter ego to Algy (who calls him “the worst kind of Bunburyist”!!), Algy decides he too will take advantage of the perks of adopting the persona of the caddish Ernest, and heads back to Jack’s country house ahead of him in the guise of younger brother Ernest. Further mayhem and hilarity ensues when the romantic Cecily falls for Algy/Ernest keen for a bit of excitement in her life.
So far two Ernests! (hope you’re keeping up!) Both Cecily and Gwendolen believe themselves to be engaged to Ernest Worthing – who doesn’t in fact exist! And they both make it quite clear to their respective Ernests that part of the charm is the fact they are named Ernest and therefore must be completely trustworthy individuals! Gwendolen comes down from London to defy her mother and be with her Ernest and pretty soon Jack and Algy are found out by the girls. As the bachelors try and get their belles back and Lady Bracknell descends to reclaim her daughter, the film concludes with more madcap comedy and romance.
The stage version has three clearly defined acts and under Oliver Parker’s direction, the film does move away from those confines and seamlessly moves the action along very well. As the very nature of Wilde’s wit is based on plays on words, double entendres and puns, the film version sometimes struggles to be able to deliver the lines in the way it could be done on stage. The film needs the script to be delivered in a more subtle and less deliberate manner to be credible to the audience, especially as the film is intended to be accessible to a much wider audience than Wilde aficionados.
The film is a real easy-watch and much of the humour remains intact through the script but also the fantastic acting – in places it is laugh out loud funny. As a rom-com you need to buy into this more as a comedy than a romance, as while there is plenty of romance it is quite unbelievable that these characters would fall for each other in such a way. Rupert Everett is fantastic and is wholly believable in the role of a well-dressed cad about town (similar to his role in An Ideal Husband). As much as I hate to criticise the wonderful Colin Firth, he does look rather less comfortable in the more comedic farce-based scenes, but looks fabulous in the dandy outfits! Reese Witherspoon and Frances O’Connor support well, but Judi Dench is the real show-stopper (she has also played the role of Lady Bracknell on stage). Her delivery of the most withering put-downs and fantastic hats, really light up the film. Other cast members of note are Tom Wilkinson (Reverend Chasuble), Anna Massey (Miss Prism, Cecily’s governess) and Edward Fox (Algy’s butler).
The Importance of Being Earnest is a U certificate and has a running time of 90 minutes. It is available on DVD from www.amazon.co.uk at £6.97, www.play.com at £8.99 and £5.99 at www.cdwow.com. In truth I found the special features on the DVD a bit poor. There is a “making of” feature which shows the shooting of some scenes, but without commentary or explanation and flicks from one scene to the next. The Behind the Scenes feature is slightly better as it is more of a documentary and features a few interviews with the cast.
All in all, a good rental prospect for evening of light entertainment.
Advantages: very funny, fairly faithful to the original, good clean(ish) fun Disadvantages: slight anachronism, a bit far-fetched...
...this case Wilde's 1895 play, The Importance of Being Earnest) and to transfer it to the big screen, when it was originally intended for performance on stage, as film and theatre are of course very different genres, givne the fact that the English language has ostensibly altered more in the last 100 years than ever - with usage and vocabulary changing, and with a current tendency to dumb down, I was uncertain as to whether there would be very much ... ...who were well versed in the classics and performing in them - I still think that Firth's portrayal of Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones' Diary was a blip almost in his career - there was never a danger that the old-fashioned language would be ill-suited to the cast.
Oscar Wilde was renowned as a wit, and his throw-away lines and quotations are unbelievable, with only someone like Aubrey Beardsley, a contemporary and close friend of Wilde (and also the ...
Morgenhund 17.11.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)
...has made a forray onto the big screen before, in a version that I found rather staid and very stagey. So, would the new effort be any good? Before we move into the realm of film, I'll just outline the story for anyone unfamiliar with Oscar Wilde's piece of genius.
Algernon and Jack are young men in the late 1800s. Jack has invented a wicked younger brother called Ernest so he can spend time in the town misbehaving. Algernon pretends to have an invalid ... ...in the country. Under the guise of Ernest, Jack has proposed to Algie's cousin Gwendolin, but her mother, aunt Augusta, does not approve. Meanwhile Algie pretends to be younger brother Ernest in order to visit Jack's young ward in the country. Much confusion and a good deal of humour ensues.
The film.
Casting - absolutely brilliant. Colin Firth makes a wonderful Jack, with Rupert Everett as Algie - they really compliment each other as a couple ...
Bryn_Pearson 17.09.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)
Advantages: Not bad - the play's probably better Disadvantages: Not good - the play's probably better
I'd heard the film wasn't as good as it could have been (not terrible, but reviews suggested disappointment). Despite this, it was our final trip to the cinema for the summer before we all drifted off for a final year of uni. This still looked more appealing than The Bourne Identity to me, and had Colin Firth in for the girls (do my friends just have weird taste?) Credited cast overview: Rupert Everett .... Algernon (Algy) Moncrieff (aka Earnest) ... ...In case you hadn't guessed, the film is based on Oscar Wilde's 1895 play (which I haven't seen or read). This makes it possibly a period drama, only without heaving bossoms (can't have everything I suppose...) Thankfully Wilde's touch of humour is preserved. The play had numerous witty aphorisms, such as Miss Prism's comment, upon hearing that Jack’s good-for-nothing brother has died: ‘What a lesson for him! I trust he will profit from it’. Wilde ...
a-true-ben 16.09.2002 (24.03.2004)
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Advantages: Funny, Good Acting and of course Colin Firth Disadvantages: None
...Darcy because he loves just the way she is. But did you manage to catch this one where Colin Firth takes on the role of Worthing who pretends to be his non-exsistant brother Earnest whenever he wants to get away from his rather responsible lifestyle in the country and have fun in the city.
Of course prior to doing Bridget Jones, Colin was best known for his part as Mr Darcy in the period piece Pride and Prejudice, which is where his surname came ... ...suprise to see Colin take the lead role in the first cinematic version of the stage play and book by Oscar Wilde. I have to say though that I'm not a great fan of period pieces and all the Jane Austen adaptions have been well and truly missed by me, except of course a quick peak at the infamous lake scene in Pride and Prejudice to see what all the fuss was about.
Well my love for Colin Firth was greater than my dislike of period pieces on this occassion ...
Lindylou13 03.06.2005 (04.06.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)
Advantages: good story, good acting Disadvantages: too much of the same scenery
...Jack are two friends in the Victorian times. This is a confusing film to write about. I was nearly finished writing a review on this and I can't believe it my computer crashed! I didn't get to ave it so I am writing it again in aa very bad mood. Algy and Jack talk and then Jack talks about his ward Cecilly who is 18 and lives in the country and Algy seems interested in her. Algy pretends his name is Ernest and that he is Jack's brother. He goes to ... ...can be called that in the city and pretends to be his brother and then in the country he is called Jack.
When Jack goes to the country he finds Algy there and realises that he is pretending to be Ernest. Jack then has to just act like they are brothers and pretend nothing is wrong. Algy starts to really like Cecilly and Jack likes Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn is Algy's cousin who Jack has been with for a while and he wants to marry her but Gwendolyn's mother ...
ms19 30.09.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Importance Of Being Earnest (DVD)
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Advantages: Will make you giggle Disadvantages: None
Anyone who has read another of my reviews will know that I rather like Colin Firth, having 'Fallen in Love" with him, when watching 'Bridget Jones Diary'. Well hot on the heels of that successful movie, Colin was invited back over the pond to take the leading role in this film 'Hope Springs', having met up with the director whilst filming the 'Importance of beingEarnest'. Being lovestruck I had to go and see it. It was also added to my DVD collection courtesy of my local car boot sale for the very reasonable price of £5.50. Colin considers this film the antithesis to Bridget Jones where he had to fight with another man for Bridgets affections and in this one the women are fighting over him.
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An adaptation of the comedy by Oscar Wilde which tells the story of mistaken identity set during the Victorian era. Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing are a pair of bachelors who both have alter egos in order to increase their opportunities for having fun...
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WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINM; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
In his second adaptation of an Oscar Wilde play, writer-director Oliver Parker (AN IDEAL HUSBAND) assembles a peerless cast to engage in this witty comedy of manners and mistaken identity. In 1890s London, rakish Algernon Montcrieff (Rupert Everett, who also starred in HUSBAND) runs into his friend, Jack Worthing (Colin Firth), who is in town to propose marriage to Algy's wildly romantic cousin, Gwendolen (Frances O'Connor). When returning a cigarette case to Jack, Algy reads the inscription, and discovers his friend has two secrets. Jack has created a devilish younger brother/alter ego called "Ernest" to hide his own misdeeds, and has a beautiful young ward named Cecily (Reese Witherspoon), whom he wants to keep clear of the roguish Algy. While Jack deals with the large obstacle standing between him and Gwendolen--namely, her mother, the imposing Lady Bracknell (a wonderfully imperious Judi Dench)--Algy devises a way to meet Cecily. The confusion and hilarity come to a peak when Algy arrives at Jack's country manor posing as Ernest in order to woo Cecily, and Gwendolen runs away to the country to be with Jack--whom she knows as Ernest. The stellar cast and Wilde's clever words make for genuine entertainment.
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