One of my favorite plays EVER. In this case, it's the 1952 film version. Here you go: The Importance of Being Earnest.
The story centers around two young men, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, as they each pose as a fictional man (Earnest) to escape social obligations and win the girl they love. Chock-full of social commentary of marriage and Victorian society, and filled to the brim with wonderful one-liners.
One of my favorite plays of all time, as I said. Oscar Wilde is a genius, and this is one of his best. The first time I saw it was at the Wells Theater in Norfolk, with the local stage company putting on a production. The family went and saw it, and then I went again to see it with my best friend, who STILL reminds me of Algernon, even after all these years (we've known each other since we were 14). Glib, sarcastic, wrapped up in himself but still somewhat concerned about others, always eating, and inordinately fond of muffins... yup, that's him.
Since we all know the source material is wonderful, any comments to be made really deal with the cast here, which was a total score!
I really like Michael Redgrave in the lead role. He was suitable stiff and pompous without being irritating. A genuine John Worthing. John is a harder role to play, now that I watch it again you're the straight man to so many good lines from Lady Bracknell or Algie, so it could be so easy to overdo it. The only downside would be his age (early 40s) but that is a minor objection. Joan Greenwood (who I had only seen as an old lady in Miss Marple's At Bertram's Hotel) is beautiful as Gwendolyn - arch, calculating and yet somehow innocent. I had seen her in Kind Hearts and Coronets as well, in a similar sort of role, and she plays they beautifully! I hadn't realized that Margaret Rutherford had played Miss Prism either! So perfect for that role.
Dame Edith Evans is absolutely splendid. There's a reason that she owned this part for so much of the 20th century. How many other people could put so much inflection into "A handbag?" I was very excited when I found a down-loadable version of the play on emusic.com in their books section. She, of course, was Lady Bracknell, and John Gielgud was John (Earnest) Worthing. Very exciting find indeed.
Thinking of casting, as I was looking up for the movie poster online for this post, I found pictures from a 1993 production of Earnest. Maggie Smith as Lady Bracknell and Richard E Grant as Algie. Not filmed, only the stage production, but Man, I would have loved to see that one!
Overall: 5 of 5. As much as I love Colin Firth and Judy Dench, this beats the newer version by far. Definitely one for the shelf. God bless you, Criterion Collection!
One of my favorite plays of all time, as I said. Oscar Wilde is a genius, and this is one of his best. The first time I saw it was at the Wells Theater in Norfolk, with the local stage company putting on a production. The family went and saw it, and then I went again to see it with my best friend, who STILL reminds me of Algernon, even after all these years (we've known each other since we were 14). Glib, sarcastic, wrapped up in himself but still somewhat concerned about others, always eating, and inordinately fond of muffins... yup, that's him.
Since we all know the source material is wonderful, any comments to be made really deal with the cast here, which was a total score!
I really like Michael Redgrave in the lead role. He was suitable stiff and pompous without being irritating. A genuine John Worthing. John is a harder role to play, now that I watch it again you're the straight man to so many good lines from Lady Bracknell or Algie, so it could be so easy to overdo it. The only downside would be his age (early 40s) but that is a minor objection. Joan Greenwood (who I had only seen as an old lady in Miss Marple's At Bertram's Hotel) is beautiful as Gwendolyn - arch, calculating and yet somehow innocent. I had seen her in Kind Hearts and Coronets as well, in a similar sort of role, and she plays they beautifully! I hadn't realized that Margaret Rutherford had played Miss Prism either! So perfect for that role.
Dame Edith Evans is absolutely splendid. There's a reason that she owned this part for so much of the 20th century. How many other people could put so much inflection into "A handbag?" I was very excited when I found a down-loadable version of the play on emusic.com in their books section. She, of course, was Lady Bracknell, and John Gielgud was John (Earnest) Worthing. Very exciting find indeed.
Thinking of casting, as I was looking up for the movie poster online for this post, I found pictures from a 1993 production of Earnest. Maggie Smith as Lady Bracknell and Richard E Grant as Algie. Not filmed, only the stage production, but Man, I would have loved to see that one!
Overall: 5 of 5. As much as I love Colin Firth and Judy Dench, this beats the newer version by far. Definitely one for the shelf. God bless you, Criterion Collection!
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