This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Silversirens (talk | contribs) at 19:26, 7 September 2007 (Link to a site with pictures etc. from the 1952 film, Importance of Being Earnest. Undid revision 155473415 by MarnetteD (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 19:26, 7 September 2007 by Silversirens (talk | contribs) (Link to a site with pictures etc. from the 1952 film, Importance of Being Earnest. Undid revision 155473415 by MarnetteD (talk))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1952 film| The Importance of Being Earnest | |
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| 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 |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
| Release dates |  2 June, 1952 22 December, 1952 (NYC) |
| Running time | 95 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Importance of Being Earnest is a 1952 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.
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 any actress taking on the role of Lady Bracknell.
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.
Cast
- Michael Redgrave as John Worthing
- Michael Denison as Algernon
- Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell
- Joan Greenwood as Gwendolen
- Margaret Rutherford as Miss Prism
- Miles Malleson as Canon Chasuble
- Dorothy Tutin as Cecily
Notes
- Ian McKellen, "Ian McKellen on The Test of Time", The Observer, 13 April 1975.
See also
External links
- The Importance of Being Earnest at IMDb
- Criterion Collection essay by Charles Dennis
- Classic Film Guide review
- The Importance of Being Earnest at Silver Sirens
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