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| '''''The Importance of Being Earnest''''' (1952) is a ] film adaptation of the ] by ]. It was directed by ], who also adapted the ], and was produced by Teddy Baird. | '''''The Importance of Being Earnest''''' (1952) is a ] film adaptation of the ] by ]. It was directed by ], who also adapted the ], and was produced by Teddy Baird. | ||
| ==Introduction== | |||
| This 1952 Anthony Asquith faithful film adaptation is considered to be the "best known version of Oscar Wilde's perennial classic." (Variety) This is a Victorian screwball comedy about mistaken identity. It is about rivalries and the class system with no moral message, just unmatched witty dialogue and one-liners in the true Wilde style. The stage origins of this story are evident in Asquith's adaptation. This complex, irreverent intertwining of mistaken identities, carefully hidden beneath impeccable Victorian manners, is further complicated by the fact that "earnest" was late 19th century slang for "gay." | |||
| ==Plot== | |||
| The story takes place on February 14, 1895. It is about two gentlemen pretending to be people other than themselves. Interwoven in their storylines are two romance-stricken ladies, each possessing an unusual allegiance to the manliness of the name Ernest. London man-about-town, Jack Worthing, who hides behind the name Ernest. He is an aristocrat from the country with uncertain lineage. His "gay and insufferable" friend, Algernon Moncrief, is of moderate means and has also created an imaginary character, Bumberry. Algernon's cousin, Gwendolyn Bracknell, has caught the eye of Jack. Jack's ward in the country, Cecily Cardew, has caught the eye of Algernon. Lady Bracknell rules the roost with her heavy-handed social mores. | |||
| The story begins in London. Jack and Algy are discussing life and love. Both reveal to each other their imaginary characters, Ernest and Bumberry. Jack reveals that he is in love with Algy's cousin, Gwendolyn and Algy reveals that he is in love with Jack's ward, Cecily. Both gentlemen begin to scheme the pursuit of their loves. At tea that afternoon, Jack and Gwendolyn secretly reveal their love for one another. Gwendolyn makes it known that her "ideal has always been to love someone named Ernest." Jack fears she will find out his true identity. Lady Bracknell, is undulating purple silk Victorian attire, inquires as to Jack's pedigree. "Rise, sir, from that semirecumbant posture," she quips. "It is most indecorous." Jack confesses that he does not know who his parent are because he was found in a handbag in a cloakroom At Victoria Station as a baby. "A handbag?" Lady Bracknell cannot imagine her daughter forming an "alliance with a parcel." | |||
| ==Adaptation== | ==Adaptation== | ||
| The film is largely faithful to Wilde's text, although it divides some of the acts into shorter scenes in different locations. Edith Evans's outraged delivery of the line "A ''hand''bag?" has become legendary. As actor ] has written, it is a performance "so acclaimed and strongly remembered that it inhibits audiences and actors years later" providing a challenge for anyone taking on the role of Lady Bracknell.<ref>Ian McKellen, , '']'', 13 April 1975.</ref> | The film is largely faithful to Wilde's text, although it divides some of the acts into shorter scenes in different locations. Edith Evans's outraged delivery of the line "A ''hand''bag?" has become legendary. As actor ] has written, it is a performance "so acclaimed and strongly remembered that it inhibits audiences and actors years later" providing a challenge for anyone taking on the role of Lady Bracknell.<ref>Ian McKellen, , '']'', 13 April 1975.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 17:26, 7 December 2014
1952 British film| The Importance of Being Earnest | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Anthony Asquith |
| Written by | Oscar Wilde Anthony Asquith |
| Produced by | Teddy Baird Earl St. John |
| Starring | Michael Redgrave Michael Denison Edith Evans Joan Greenwood Dorothy Tutin Margaret Rutherford Miles Malleson |
| Cinematography | Desmond Dickinson |
| Edited by | John D. Guthridge |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
| Release dates | 2 June 1952 (UK) 22 December 1952 (NYC) |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) is a British film adaptation of the play by Oscar Wilde. It was directed by Anthony Asquith, who also adapted the screenplay, and was produced by Teddy Baird.
Introduction
This 1952 Anthony Asquith faithful film adaptation is considered to be the "best known version of Oscar Wilde's perennial classic." (Variety) This is a Victorian screwball comedy about mistaken identity. It is about rivalries and the class system with no moral message, just unmatched witty dialogue and one-liners in the true Wilde style. The stage origins of this story are evident in Asquith's adaptation. This complex, irreverent intertwining of mistaken identities, carefully hidden beneath impeccable Victorian manners, is further complicated by the fact that "earnest" was late 19th century slang for "gay."
Plot
The story takes place on February 14, 1895. It is about two gentlemen pretending to be people other than themselves. Interwoven in their storylines are two romance-stricken ladies, each possessing an unusual allegiance to the manliness of the name Ernest. London man-about-town, Jack Worthing, who hides behind the name Ernest. He is an aristocrat from the country with uncertain lineage. His "gay and insufferable" friend, Algernon Moncrief, is of moderate means and has also created an imaginary character, Bumberry. Algernon's cousin, Gwendolyn Bracknell, has caught the eye of Jack. Jack's ward in the country, Cecily Cardew, has caught the eye of Algernon. Lady Bracknell rules the roost with her heavy-handed social mores.
The story begins in London. Jack and Algy are discussing life and love. Both reveal to each other their imaginary characters, Ernest and Bumberry. Jack reveals that he is in love with Algy's cousin, Gwendolyn and Algy reveals that he is in love with Jack's ward, Cecily. Both gentlemen begin to scheme the pursuit of their loves. At tea that afternoon, Jack and Gwendolyn secretly reveal their love for one another. Gwendolyn makes it known that her "ideal has always been to love someone named Ernest." Jack fears she will find out his true identity. Lady Bracknell, is undulating purple silk Victorian attire, inquires as to Jack's pedigree. "Rise, sir, from that semirecumbant posture," she quips. "It is most indecorous." Jack confesses that he does not know who his parent are because he was found in a handbag in a cloakroom At Victoria Station as a baby. "A handbag?" Lady Bracknell cannot imagine her daughter forming an "alliance with a parcel."
Adaptation
The film is largely faithful to Wilde's text, although it divides some of the acts into shorter scenes in different locations. Edith Evans's outraged delivery of the line "A handbag?" has become legendary. As actor Ian McKellen has written, it is a performance "so acclaimed and strongly remembered that it inhibits audiences and actors years later" providing a challenge for anyone taking on the role of Lady Bracknell.
The film is noted for its acting, yet the parts played by Redgrave and Denison called for actors ten years younger. Margaret Rutherford, who plays Miss Prism in this adaptation, played Lady Bracknell in the 1946 BBC production.
Cast
- Michael Redgrave as John Worthing
- Michael Denison as Algernon Moncrieff
- Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell
- Joan Greenwood as Gwendolen Fairfax
- Margaret Rutherford as Miss Prism
- Miles Malleson as Canon Chasuble
- Dorothy Tutin as Cecily Cardew
- Aubrey Mather as Merriman
- Walter Hudd as Lane
- Richard Wattis as Seton
Awards and nominations
The film received a BAFTA nomination for Dorothy Tutin as Most Promising Newcomer and a Golden Lion nomination for Anthony Asquith at the Venice Film Festival.
See also
- The Importance of Being Earnest (original play by Oscar Wilde)
- The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film version)
References
Notes
- Ian McKellen, "Ian McKellen on The Test of Time", The Observer, 13 April 1975.
Bibliography
- The Great British Films, pp 156–158, Jerry Vermilye, 1978, Citadel Press, ISBN 0-8065-0661-X
External links
- The Importance of Being Earnest at IMDb
- The Importance of Being Earnest at Rotten Tomatoes
- Template:Amg movie
- BFI screenonline archive
- Criterion Collection essay by Charles Dennis
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