They don't come any wilder than Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners, morals and morality!
Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.
The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) is a comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith, released on June 2, 1952 with a runtime of 1h 35m. It stars Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Edith Evans and Joan Greenwood. Viewers rate it 7.2 out of 10 across 126 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for The Importance of Being Earnest before you stream it.
Michael Redgrave
as Ernest Worthing
Michael Denison
as Algernon Moncrieff
Edith Evans
as Lady Bracknell
Joan Greenwood
as Gwendolen Fairfax
Dorothy Tutin
as Cecily Cardew
Margaret Rutherford
as Miss Prism
Miles Malleson
as Canon Chasuble
Richard Wattis
as Seton
Walter Hudd
as Lane
Aubrey Mather
as Merriman
Ivor Barnard
as Conductor (Uncredited)
Directed by Anthony Asquith, written by Oscar Wilde and Anthony Asquith, produced by Teddy Baird.
Average viewer score of 7.2/10 from 126 ratings.
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,…
Reviewed on September 9, 2022
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The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
The main cast of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) includes Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Edith Evans, Joan Greenwood and Dorothy Tutin. The film was directed by Anthony Asquith. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
The Importance of Being Earnest was released on June 2, 1952 and runs for 1h 35m.
The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) holds an average rating of 7.2 out of 10 from 126 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy comedy films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official The Importance of Being Earnest trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
