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The Importance Of Being Earnest [VHS] [1952]
 
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The Importance Of Being Earnest [VHS] [1952]

VHS ~ Michael Redgrave
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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13 new from £6.98 17 used from £1.61 7 collectible from £4.47

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Product details

  • Actors: Michael Redgrave, Richard Wattis, Michael Denison, Walter Hudd, Edith Evans
  • Directors: Anthony Asquith
  • Writers: Anthony Asquith, Oscar Wilde
  • Producers: Earl St. John, Teddy Baird
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Classification: U
  • Studio: ITV Studios Home Entertainment
  • VHS Release Date: 30 April 2001
  • Run Time: 114 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004CJ9I
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,682 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

    Popular in these categories:

    #31 in  Video > Classic Films > Comedy > 1950s
    #44 in  Video > Classic Films > Drama > 1950s

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Product Description

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

Synopsis

Based on Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners. Set in England during the Victorian era, this story revolves around a pun on the name Ernest.

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Superb adaptation, but very poor sound mars main feature, 28 May 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: The Importance Of Being Earnest [DVD] [1952] (DVD)
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.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars How about giving the money back?, 25 Jun 2004
By Vasco Almeida (Lisbon, Portugal) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Importance Of Being Earnest [DVD] [1952] (DVD)
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.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful production of Wilde's famous comedy., 23 Jun 2005
By dragondrums "dragondrums" (Ingleby Barwick, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Importance Of Being Earnest [DVD] [1952] (DVD)
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars quality review
Although the dvd was listed as good as new , it most certainly was not. The speech quality was very poor . Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. D. J. Vickery

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming old Classic
To appreciate this cracking yarn you will need to listen to the dialogue closely otherwise you will miss the fun. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Grady O'Tool

5.0 out of 5 stars 'In a handbag"
"A HAAAAAAAAAANNNDDDDBAAAAAAAGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!"

CLASSIC!!!

Buy it just for that line!!
Published 13 months ago by Neo De Winter

5.0 out of 5 stars A Handbag!!
With the greatest respect to more recent productions, this is the definitive version of Wilde's classic in my humble opinion. Read more
Published 18 months ago by David R. Bishop

1.0 out of 5 stars very good adaptation but poor sound
I have always liked the play - and that is precisely the reason why I bought this DVD some time ago. However, I never watched the whole film. You may ask why? Read more
Published on 22 April 2005 by netherhouse

5.0 out of 5 stars First Class
I first saw this version of The Importance of Being Earnest when I was studying the play at school many years ago. Read more
Published on 19 July 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive cinematic production
Oscar Wilde's celebrated masterpiece is a comedy on three levels. First there is the denotative level, one might say, the level in which the bourgeois are entertained après... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2003 by Dennis Littrell

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch it Again and Again
This movie is definately one of the funniest I've ever seen.
I bought it after years of only having the privelage of seeing it once in a blue moon on a lazy sunday afternoons... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB!
An absolutely fantastic adaptation of Oscar Wilde's most famous and funny play! The casting is inspired and I would draw the ladies' attention to the wonderfully 'catty' scene... Read more
Published on 27 May 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars A DEFINITE MUST SEE
Most famous for Edith Evans' delivery of THAT handbag line, this is a superb adaptation of one of Wilde's best plays. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2000

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