Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6119 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-30
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 465 minutes

Synopsis
Dramatic adaptations of four of Oscar Wilde's works. In 'The Importance Of Being Earnest', Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing are a pair of bachelors who both have alter egos in order to increase their opportunities for having fun. If they are to win the hearts of the girls of their dreams, however, they must realise the vital importance of being earnest. Also features: 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray', 'An Ideal Husband' and 'Lady Windermere's Fan'.

Customer Reviews

First class porductions
I bought this set some time ago, but have just re-watched some of the plays and was again impressed with the high standard of acting and production. For example, the version of An Ideal Husband is so much better than the recent film of that name. The latter seems so shallow in comparison and made the mistake of re-writing Wilde's words.
If you like Oscar wilde's writing you'll enjoy this set.

Dated productions of timeless plays
Oscar Wilde's plays are polished, plotty, and packed with his well-known one liners. They glitter and lacerate at the same time, like broken glass. They are funny and subversive, although they stick resolutely to a very small cast of very upper class characters - which works well in the intensity of the theatre.

These productions have wonderful costumes and sets. But the acting is wooden, the staging is unimaginative and the camerawork is clumsy. You could do a lot better - for example, the classic 1952 film version of The Importance of Being Earnest, with Dame Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell, and other stars like Michael Redgrave, has aged a lot better, and provides a much more entertaining interpretation.

Worth a watch
Although the settings for these productions are firmly in the period of Wilde they all look a little dated, however if you are able to put that aside the performances are wonderful. Especially good are Gielgud and Brett in 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray'; Joan Plowright and Paul McGann in 'The Importance Of Being Earnest' and a serprising Amanda Redman. But I did find the 70's filming of 'An Ideal Husband' too much. It felt too staged and cramped. I hired the DVDs for my daughter to see a production that wouldn't have the Hollywood treatment of messing about with Wildes dialoge. So, if you don't mind it looking a bit tired it's worth a watch