The Importance of Being Earnest poster

The Importance of Being Earnest( 1952)

TV-MAComedy
72%
User
Score

They don't come any wilder than Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners, morals and morality!

Overview

Algernon Moncrieff is surprised to discover that his affluent friend -- whom he knows as "Ernest" -- is actually named Jack Worthing. Jack fabricated his alter ego in order to escape his country estate where he takes care of his charge, Cecily Cardew. Cecily believes that Ernest is Jack's wayward brother and is keen on his raffish lifestyle. Algernon, seeing an opportunity, assumes Ernest's identity and sneaks off to woo Cecily.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Michael Redgrave

      Ernest Worthing

    2. cast image

      Michael Denison

      Algernon Moncrieff

    3. cast image

      Edith Evans

      Lady Bracknell

    4. cast image

      Joan Greenwood

      Gwendolen Fairfax

    5. cast image

      Dorothy Tutin

      Cecily Cardew

    6. cast image

      Margaret Rutherford

      Miss Prism

    7. cast image

      Miles Malleson

      Canon Chasuble

    8. cast image

      Richard Wattis

      Seton

    9. cast image

      Walter Hudd

      Lane

    10. cast image

      Aubrey Mather

      Merriman

    11. cast image

      Ivor Barnard

      Conductor (Uncredited)

    Social

    Review 1Discussion

    A review by CinemaSerf

    7
    Written by CinemaSerf on Fri Sep 09 2022
    There's little point in outlining the plot here - it's not what the film is about. It is the combination of characterisations and the wonderfully witty writing of Oscar Wilde that make this a thoroughly enjoyable film to watch. It makes no bones about it's theatrical origins - even featuring a curtain at the start and the finish, and that sets us up for a cracker of a comedy that swipes at snobbery, pomposity, crass stupidity, deception and offers us a tour de force effort from the inimitable Dame Edith Evans ("Lady Bracknell"). Anthony Asquith has created a delightfully honest interpretation o...

    Media

    Videos 1Backdrops 2Posters 17

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords

    • love triangle
    • marriage
    • mistaken identity
    • etiquette
    • based on play or musical