The Importance of Being Earnest - Criterion Collection

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If you're looking for the definitive example of dry British wit, look no further than 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 (Anthony Asquith was raised in the rarified, upper-class atmosphere of Wilde's play) and a once-in-a-lifetime cast. Mix these ingredients with Wilde's inimitable repartee, and you've got a comedic soufflé that's been 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, fully deserving of the royal Criterion treatment. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Oscar Wilde's comic jewel sparkles in Anthony Asquith's film adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest. Featuring brilliantly polished performances by Michael Redgrave, Joan Greenwood, and Dame Edith Evans, the enduringly hilarious story of two young women who think themselves engaged to the same nonexistent man is given the grand Technicolor treatment. Seldom has a classic stage comedy been so engagingly transferred to the screen. The Criterion Collection is proud to present The Importance of Being Earnest on DVD for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

The Importance of Being Earnest.......2007-06-26

Asquith's impeccable adaptation of the Oscar Wilde play is a delightfully crisp, even subversive satire of British social manners and mores, featuring a splendid, quintessentially British cast. Redgrave and Denison are the epitome of rakish charm, while Greenwood and Tutin play their respective parts with perky, ladylike puckishness. No one outclasses Edith Evans, however, whose hilariously fearsome turn as the disapproving, gold-digging "gorgon," Lady Bracknell, is pure comedic genius. Bright costumes, florid set design, and cheeky "bon-mots" are all part of the fun of "Being Earnest."

Best Production of "Earnest". Period........2007-05-13

If you liked the classic Oscar Wilde play, you'll love this film. There is a new verson (2002) of this film starring Colin Firth and Ruper Everett, but this film is only worthy of a rental at best.

If you love this play, I suggest you see both but only splurge on buying this one. What's the difference between these films? Read the 1st review above, that says it all. Trust me, get this one instead, you WON'T regret it.

THE Importance of Being Earnest........2007-05-07

With all apologies to the newer movie, this is THE version of Oscar Wilde's most famous play to have. Michael Redgrave is absolutely perfectly tongue in cheek as Jack. Margaret Rutherford is Miss Prism to the nth degree. True, she mugs a bit, but who cares. She is hysterically funny. Everyone plays to perfection. And the acting style is so perfectly attuned to the crisp nature of the drama, that one has the feeling of being transported back to a different era - and a good one at that. (The restoration of color is quite good.)

But the reason to get this is Dame Edith Evans. Whether in her recording of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet or as the Aunt in Tom Jones (the older movie), she is always a wonderful character. In this the lines are molded with each and every utterance. No one who has heard it will ever forget, "Prism, where is that baby!?" For her alone you should own this movie. At around 90 minutes, it is perfection itself -- much like Gwendolyn.

"Almost Perfect".......2007-03-25

This mostly winning screen adaptation of Wilde's great farce has to its credit an ideal cast. Though there's no weak link, justice requires that that grand old dragon with the unmistakable, rumbling comic voice, Dame Edith Evans, be singled out for special commendation. As she savors the word "FOUND!!!," it's hard to understand how Michael Redgrave, playing opposite her, was able to keep a straight face. Not far behind her are Joan Greenwood who memorably purrs her witty syllables, and Margaret Rutherford who dithers about, cleverly stumbling over hers. The film also benefits from the gorgeous color which distinguished a number of British movies of the period.

The shortcomings of the film, I'd say, are as follows. First, there is a bit of serious societal subtext to the play which the film, through injudicious cutting of some of Lady Bracknell's lines, pares away. England as a greedy, commercial matriarchy ruled by the Lady Bracknells of the world is unduly subordinated. This toning down is also reflected in the over-the-top costumes given Edith Evans, so that she emerges as more clownish than formidable, more silly old lady than a potentially dangerous, meddling high society dragon. As the play veers from farce toward high comedy, this film adaptation drags it back toward farce alone.

The movie gets 5 stars, the DVD only 4.......2007-03-23

If like me you've come to associate "Criterion Collection" with "loads of fascinating extras" you may find yourself disappointed by this DVD. The extras are very few. But the movie, while not completely faithful to the play, is a joy with wonderful performances all around but especially from the incomparable Margaret Rutherford. The picture quality and sound are excellent, as one expects from Criterion.
Whether you prefer this version of the play to others available is a matter of personal taste. For me, Edith Evans' delivery of the line "Prism, where is that baby?" makes this version a joy not to be exceeded.

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