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The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film)

December 12, 2023

The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Oliver Parker, based on Oscar Wilde's classic 1895 comedy of manners of the same name. The original music score is composed by Charlie Mole. The film grossed $8.4 million in North America.[1]

The Importance of Being Earnest
Theatrical release poster
Directed byOliver Parker
Screenplay byOliver Parker
Based onThe Importance of Being Earnest
1895 play
by Oscar Wilde
Produced byBarnaby Thompson
Starring
CinematographyTony Pierce-Roberts
Edited byGuy Bensley
Music byCharlie Mole
Production
companies
Distributed byMiramax Films
Release dates
  • 17 May 2002 (2002-05-17) (US)
  • 6 September 2002 (2002-09-06) (UK)
Running time
97 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million
Box office$17.2 million

Plot edit

In this adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play about fake identities, two gentlemen in 1890s London use the same pseudonym, Ernest, for their secret courtship activities. Chaos ensues when both men find themselves face-to-face and have to explain who they really are.

Cast edit

Production notes edit

  • Dame Judi Dench portrayed Lady Bracknell for the third time, having been cast in the 1982 National Theatre revival and the 1995 BBC Radio 4 adaptation.[2][3]
  • Actress Finty Williams, who plays Lady Bracknell as a young dancer, is the daughter of Dame Judi Dench, who plays the older Lady Bracknell.
  • The scene where Algernon slaps Jack on his rear end and where Algernon kisses Jack's cheek were ad libbed. Director Parker thought Firth's stunned reaction was so humorous he decided to leave it in.
  • The business with 'Ernest's' bill at the Savoy, and with the money collectors coming to Jack's country home, are taken from material Wilde cut from the play prior to its publication.
  • Though cut from the revised version, the gardener Molton can be seen in the background of many scenes.
  • The producers of the film paid £50,000 to use West Wycombe Park as Jack's home in the country.

Release edit

The Importance of Being Earnest grossed $8,384,929 domestically and $8,906,041 internationally for a worldwide total of $17,290,970,[4] making the film a moderate box office success based on its $15 million budget.

Reception edit

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film three out of four stars, saying the actors were well cast, and performed well.[5]

On review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, as of September 2012, the film holds a 57% approval rating, with the consensus "Oliver Parker's adaptation of Wilde's classic play is breezy entertainment, helped by an impressive cast, but it also suffers from some peculiar directorial choices that ultimately dampen the film's impact."[6]

Awards and nominations edit

The film won the 2003 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists's Silver Ribbon award for Best Costume Design; the costumes were designed by Maurizio Millenotti.

Reese Witherspoon was nominated for a Teen Choice Award (Choice Actress – Comedy) for her performance as Cecily.

References edit

  1. ^ "Films of 2002". The-movie-times.com.
  2. ^ "The Importance of Being Earnest", National Theatre, accessed 28 July 2013
  3. ^ ISBN 1-85998-218-2
  4. ^ The Importance of Being Earnest at Box Office Mojo
  5. ^ Ebert, Roger. The Importance of Being Earnest 24 May 2002
  6. ^ The Importance of Being Earnest at Rotten Tomatoes

External links edit

December 12, 2023
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The Importance of Being Earnest is a 2002 romantic comedy drama film directed by Oliver Parker based on Oscar Wilde s classic 1895 comedy of manners of the same name The original music score is composed by Charlie Mole The film grossed 8 4 million in North America 1 The Importance of Being EarnestTheatrical release posterDirected byOliver ParkerScreenplay byOliver ParkerBased onThe Importance of Being Earnest1895 playby Oscar WildeProduced byBarnaby ThompsonStarringColin Firth Rupert Everett Frances O Connor Reese Witherspoon Judi DenchCinematographyTony Pierce RobertsEdited byGuy BensleyMusic byCharlie MoleProductioncompaniesEaling StudiosFilm CouncilFragile FilmsNewmarket Capital GroupDistributed byMiramax FilmsRelease dates17 May 2002 2002 05 17 US 6 September 2002 2002 09 06 UK Running time97 minutesCountriesUnited KingdomUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 15 millionBox office 17 2 million Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production notes 4 Release 5 Reception 6 Awards and nominations 7 References 8 External linksPlot editIn this adaptation of Oscar Wilde s play about fake identities two gentlemen in 1890s London use the same pseudonym Ernest for their secret courtship activities Chaos ensues when both men find themselves face to face and have to explain who they really are Cast editRupert Everett as Algernon Algy Moncrieff Colin Firth as John Jack Worthing Ernest Frances O Connor as Gwendolen Fairfax Reese Witherspoon as Cecily Cardew Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell Tom Wilkinson as Dr Chasuble Anna Massey as Miss Prism Edward Fox as Lane Patrick Godfrey as MerrimanProduction notes editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dame Judi Dench portrayed Lady Bracknell for the third time having been cast in the 1982 National Theatre revival and the 1995 BBC Radio 4 adaptation 2 3 Actress Finty Williams who plays Lady Bracknell as a young dancer is the daughter of Dame Judi Dench who plays the older Lady Bracknell The scene where Algernon slaps Jack on his rear end and where Algernon kisses Jack s cheek were ad libbed Director Parker thought Firth s stunned reaction was so humorous he decided to leave it in The business with Ernest s bill at the Savoy and with the money collectors coming to Jack s country home are taken from material Wilde cut from the play prior to its publication Though cut from the revised version the gardener Molton can be seen in the background of many scenes The producers of the film paid 50 000 to use West Wycombe Park as Jack s home in the country Release editThe Importance of Being Earnest grossed 8 384 929 domestically and 8 906 041 internationally for a worldwide total of 17 290 970 4 making the film a moderate box office success based on its 15 million budget Reception editRoger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times awarded the film three out of four stars saying the actors were well cast and performed well 5 On review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes as of September 2012 the film holds a 57 approval rating with the consensus Oliver Parker s adaptation of Wilde s classic play is breezy entertainment helped by an impressive cast but it also suffers from some peculiar directorial choices that ultimately dampen the film s impact 6 Awards and nominations editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The film won the 2003 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists s Silver Ribbon award for Best Costume Design the costumes were designed by Maurizio Millenotti Reese Witherspoon was nominated for a Teen Choice Award Choice Actress Comedy for her performance as Cecily References edit Films of 2002 The movie times com The Importance of Being Earnest National Theatre accessed 28 July 2013 ISBN 1 85998 218 2 The Importance of Being Earnest at Box Office Mojo Ebert Roger The Importance of Being Earnest 24 May 2002 The Importance of Being Earnest at Rotten TomatoesExternal links editOfficial website The Importance of Being Earnest at IMDb The Importance of Being Earnest at AllMovie The Importance of Being Earnest at the TCM Movie Database The Importance of Being Earnest at the American Film Institute Catalog The Importance of Being Earnest at Box Office Mojo The Importance of Being Earnest at Rotten Tomatoes Where Did They Film that The Importance of Being Earnest Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Importance of Being Earnest 2002 film amp oldid 1184119384, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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