Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69617 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-10-11
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 91 minutes

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

Special Features
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
Region 2
Mono English
Mono
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

Synopsis
Anthony Asquith, having directed a wonderful film of George Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION, turned in 1952 to another classic, one of the greatest theatrical comedies, Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Set at the height of the Victorian era, popularly imagined to be a cold and repressive time, the visual contrast with 1950s Technicolor only seems to enhance Wilde's sharp satire and droll epigrams.
Cast with talented veterans of the English stage, even the minor characters are a delight. Asquith allows the actors, particularly the female roles, to deliver Wilde's dialogue in a ringing theatrical voice. Edith Evans as the imperious Lady Bracknell, full of strident tone and rolling R's, and always in high dudgeon, strikes fear in the heart of Jack (Michael Redgrave), while Joan Greenwood as the beautiful, opinionated Gwendolyn (who could never marry a man named Jack), melts his heart in a voice that practically purrs.
Wilde's use of a convoluted, improbable story, much imitated in the screwball comedies of the 1930s, never detracts from the pure enjoyment of his characters silly yet heartfelt struggles. Asquith's staging and directing is smooth and fluid, thus retaining a theatrical feel. This gives today's viewer a sense of what Victorian audiences must have felt when they first beheld the breathless pace and matchless wit of the incomparable Oscar Wilde.

Customer Reviews

Superb adaptation, but very poor sound mars main feature
Asquith's is a superb adaption of Oscar Wilde's very funny comedy. The film is undoubtedly worth a 5 star rating, but unfortunately the sound of the main feature is extremely muffled (at least there are subtitles for the hearing impaired!). This is despite the claim on the front cover that the film has been "digitally remastered". It's really, really hard to follow the dialogue, something which is essential in Wilde's case, given his penchant for witty repartee.By contrast, the sound of the very good special feature -- the documentary 'A Profile of the Importance of Being Earnest' -- is excellent, including the clips from the film itself featured in the documentary. Clearly the clips from the film featured in the documentary must have been remastered.Unfortunately I cannot recommend this particular DVD in good conscience because of the poor sound that mars the main feature.

How about giving the money back?
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.

Wonderful production of Wilde's famous comedy.
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.