The Importance Of Being Earnest

Wilde's wittiest play took 57 years to make it to the screen but was well worth the wait. Director-writer Asquith made absolutely no attempt to "open up" this repertory standard in order to make it more cinematic. The film does of course benefit from close-ups and such, but Asquith goes so far as to have a couple enter a stage box and sit down before a curtain rises at the start. This is meant to be theater first and foremost, and it's a valuable record of a great performance. Stylish, sunny, and as nonsensical as any work can be (at least, on the surface), THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST takes well-aimed potshots at the social pretentions of the 1890s. The satire ...