The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952)
- 1952 film
Classic film based on Oscar Wilde's play about two wealthy bachelors who pretend to be the dashing but imaginary Ernest when courting two young ladies. Stars Michael Denison, Michael Redgrave, Margaret Rutherford, Miles Malleson, Dorothy Tutin and more.
The Importance Of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde's classic comedy follows the fortunes of two lovestruck bachelors: the wealthy and eligible Jack Worthing (Michael Redgrave) and Algernon Moncrieff (Michael Denison).
Jack is romantically involved with Algernon's cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax (Joan Greenwood), while Jack's ward, Cecily Cardew (Dorothy Tutin), is the object of Algernon's affections. However, Jack's unworthy habit of representing himself as his imaginary brother, Earnest, and Algernon's deceitful adoption of Earnest's name and reputation to simplify his courtship has led each girl to believe herself to be engaged to the non-existent Earnest.
A simple solution occurs to Gwendolen and Cecily - but neither reckons with the forceful Lady Bracknell (Dame Edith Evans), Gwendolen's mother and Algernon's aunt, whose consent is withheld. It is left to Miss Prism (Margaret Rutherford), whose secret passion for the Reverend Dr. Chasuble (Miles Malleson) causes so much enjoyable confusion, to create a way out that is acceptable to all parties...
This star-studded 1952 adaptation of The Importance Of Being Earnest, one of Oscar Wilde's best-loved plays, won a BAFTA nomination for Dorothy Tutin and a Golden Lion nomination for writer and director Anthony Asquith, and is perhaps best-remembered for Edith Evans's towering performance as the formidable Lady Bracknell.
Special features:
A Profile of The Importance of Being Earnest - a featurette from 2001, which includes an interview with Dorothy Tutin
Extensive image galleries, including photos of the film's theatrical premiere
Extensive press and promotional material in PDF format
First released: Sunday 14th June 2009
- Distributor: Network
- Region: 2
- Discs: 1
- Catalogue: 7953067
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