The Importance Of Being Earnest [1952]

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Product Details

Director : Anthony Asquith
Actor : Michael Redgrave, Richard Wattis, Michael Denison, Walter Hudd, Edith Evans
Format : PAL
Binding : VHS Tape
EAN : 5014861307029
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Video
Release Date : 2001-04-30
Running Time : 114minutes
Studio : ITV DVD

ASIN : B00004CJ9I

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

If you're looking for the definitive example of dry wit, look no further than this 1952 version of The Importance of Being Earnest. Of course, it helps to have Oscar Wilde's beloved play as source material, but this exquisite adaptation has a charmed life of its own, with a perfectly matched director and a once-in-a-lifetime cast. Mix these ingredients with Wilde's inimitable repartee, and you've got a comedic soufflé that's cooked to perfection. Opening with a proscenium nod to its theatrical origins, the film turns Wilde's comedy of clever deception and mixed identities into a cinematic treat, and while the 10-member cast is uniformly superb, special credit must be given to Dame Edith Evans, reprising her stage role as the imperiously stuffy Lady Bracknell. To hear her Wilde-ly hilarious inflections and elongated syllables is to witness British comedy in its purest form. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

A Handbag!! (2008-08-16)

With the greatest respect to more recent productions, this is the definitive version of Wilde's classic in my humble opinion.My reasons for stating this are largely the cast. Michael Redgrave could teach Hugh Grant a thing or two about easy charm. Then of course there are two grande dames of the theatre. Edith Evans and Margaret Rutherford. Both may have looked down on their film performances, and preferred theatre as a medium. Their film performances are all we have left of them now, to give us a glimpse of their great artistry.Wilde's words show off his frivolous genious. You stop and think 'did he mean that?' then you think 'of course he did, it is Oscar Wilde'.This English (Irish) classic belongs in any not so seriously serious collection.

Wonderful production of Wilde's famous comedy. (2005-06-24)

This 1952 version of the Oscar Wilde classic romantic is as good to watch today as it ever was. Michael Redgrave stars as Ernest Worthing, (whose name, in fact, is really John), a man who, as a baby, had been found in a bag in the cloakroom at Victoria Station. The story is a comedy of errors and confusions around names, in particular the name Ernest. Mr Worthing wants to marry Gwendoline, daughter of the formidable Lady Bracknell. He dare not tell his beloved that his name is not really Ernest as she has expressed a desire only to wed a man of that name. Gwendoline's cousin, Algernon, is pursuing Mr Worthing's ward, Cecily, but she does not know his real name, she believes he is called Ernest. The comedy starts when Cecily and Gwendoline meet for the first time and realise they are both betrothed to 'Ernest Worthington'. The film stars Margaret Rutherford as Miss Prism and Dame Edith Evans as the snobbish Lady Bracknell. Both actresses play their roles extremely well, as you would expect from such grand dames of the stage. There are a few extras on this DVD (region 2 version) which include a profile of 'The Importance of Being Earnest', a 'behind the scenes' gallery, a theatrical trailer and biographies of the main actors and the director. The picture is crystal clear and the colours bright. Sound quality is good and there are subtitles for the hard of hearing. All in all, a very good version of one of Wilde's best known and loved works.

very good adaptation but poor sound (2005-04-23)

I have always liked the play - and that is precisely the reason why I bought this DVD some time ago. However, I never watched the whole film. You may ask why? The answer is easy: the soundtrack is simply awful. Also the picture quality should be better.Some months ago the BBC showed the film - the copy they picked was far superior to the DVD version. Good picture and excellent sound quality.What a joy to watch it. This time I did not switch off.

First Class (2004-07-19)

I first saw this version of The Importance of Being Earnest when I was studying the play at school many years ago. It quickly became an all time favourite of mine, and I implore you to see it! A great cast make this the definitive version of this great play, surely?

Buy it!

How about giving the money back? (2004-06-25)

This play has long been a family favourite, and we have enjoyed the cassette version countless times. Those who produced this DVD, with its shameful sound, have shown an utter lack of respect for consumers and, more important still, for that work of art and those who have lovingly acted it out.

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