The Importance of Being Earnest

(1952)

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| Film | United Kingdom | Colour | 1h 35min
| Stars: Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Joan Greenwood | Director: Anthony Asquith

Two wealthy and eligible bachelors of the 1890s have problems with their marriage prospects

Based on Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners set in England during the Victorian era.

Jack and Algernon are two wealthy bachelors. Jack is in love with Gwendolen, while Algernon is attracted to Jack’s ward Cecily. Not surprisingly complication arises as each of the girls think that they are engaged to Ernest (who doesn’t exist), and to complicate things further Gwendolen’s mother Lady Bracknell arrives.

Cast

(10)
British actor Michael Redgrave in a moustachioed publicity photograph
Jack Worthing
Michael Denison (as Henry Brodrick) in a photograph from Hungry Hill (1947) (14)
Algernon Moncrieff
A new picture of the talented and lovely British actress Joan Greenwood under contract to the J. Arthur Rank Organisation.
Gwendolyn Fairfax
Dorothy Tutin
Cecily Cardew
Edith Evans
Lady Bracknell
British comedy actress, Margaret Rutherford as Nurse Carey in Mad About Men (1954)
Miss Letitia Prism
Richard Wattis
Seaton, Worthing’s Butler
Walter Hudd
Lane, Algy’s Butler
Photo of Dry Rot (1956) (1) featuring Miles Malleson
Canon Chasuble
Aubrey Mather
Merriman, the country Butler
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Film clips

(3)
Main title from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952). Two wealthy and eligible bachelors of the 1890s have problems with their marriage prospects.

The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) opening credits

Date published

Main title from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952). Two wealthy and eligible bachelors of the 1890s have problems with their marriage prospects.

Joan Greenwood and Michael Redgrave in a film clip from The Importance of Being Earnest

Earnest love

Date published

Joan Greenwood and Michael Redgrave in a film clip from The Importance of Being Earnest.

Dorothy Tutin, Joan Greenwood, Michael Redgrave and Michael Denison in a film clip from The Importance of Being Earnest

Gravest doubts

Date published

Dorothy Tutin, Joan Greenwood, Michael Redgrave and Michael Denison in a film clip from The Importance of Being Earnest.

How to watch

Blu-ray and DVD (2)

The Importance of Being Earnest DVD from Network and The British Film
The Importance of Being Earnest DVD [2009]
Date posted Date posted
£19.49
Buy The Importance of Being Earnest from Amazon.co.uk
The Importance of Being Earnest DVD from Carlton, 2001
The Importance of Being Earnest DVD [2001]
Date posted Date posted
£1.69
Buy The Importance of Being Earnest from Amazon.co.uk

Pictures

(57)
The Importance of Being Earnest DVD from Network and The British Film
The Importance of Being Earnest DVD from Network and The British Film (2)
Pressbook for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Italian poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Joan Greenwood (as Gwendolyn Fairfax) and Michael Redgrave (as Jack Worthing) in a photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (11)
Mexican lobby card from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (4)
Brazilian DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Australian poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (2)
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (6)
Yugoslav poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
German poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (5)
Michael Denison (as Algernon Moncrieff) and Michael Redgrave (as Jack Worthing) in a DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (8)
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (2)
Poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (4)
Video cover from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (4)
Joan Greenwood (as Gwendolyn Fairfax) and Michael Redgrave (as Jack Worthing) in a German video cover from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Film magazine with Joan Greenwood and Michael Redgrave in The Importance of Being Earnest. (German). Ernst sein ist alles.
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (5)
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (3)
Australian DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (7)
Joan Greenwood and Michael Redgrave (1908 – 1985) pose for publicity stills for the film ’The Importance Of Being Earnest’, based on the play by Oscar Wilde
The final scene from Anthony Asquith’s screen adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s play, ’The Importance Of Being Earnest’. Starring Edith Evans, Dorothy Tutin, Joan Greenwood, Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Margaret Rutherford and Miles Malleson
Actress Joan Greenwood playing the sophisticated Gwendoline in Anthony Asquith’s film adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s play ’The Importance Of Being Earnest’
Lobby card from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Spanish DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Chinese DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Screenshot from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (2)
Screenshot from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Main title from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952)
Film Complet magazine with Joan Greenwood and Michael Redgrave in The Importance of Being Earnest. 5th November, 1953, issue number 416. (French)
Video cover from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (2)
Dorothy Tutin (as Cecily Cardew) and Joan Greenwood (as Gwendolyn Fairfax) in a photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (7)
CD from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Joan Greenwood (as Gwendolyn Fairfax) in a photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (6)
Australian video cover from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Mexican lobby card from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (3)
Mexican lobby card from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (2)
German DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Belgian poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (3)
Photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (5)
Poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (2)
Poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Video cover from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (3)
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (9)
Video cover from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Mexican lobby card from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (4)
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (4)
Photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (3)
DVD cover of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
Michael Denison (as Algernon Moncrieff) and Joan Greenwood (as Gwendolyn Fairfax) in a photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (2)
Photograph from The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)
The Importance of Being Earnest DVD from Carlton, 2001
Australian poster for The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (1)

Production

(1)
Anthony Asquith
Director

Companies

(2)
British Film-Makers
Production company
Javelin Films
Production company