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, crass…
The Importance of Being Earnest (1952)
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.
Top Cast
Michael Redgrave
Ernest Worthing
Michael Denison
Algernon Moncrieff
Edith Evans
Lady Bracknell
Joan Greenwood
Gwendolen Fairfax
Dorothy Tutin
Cecily Cardew
Margaret Rutherford
Miss Prism
Miles Malleson
Canon Chasuble
Richard Wattis
Seton
Walter Hudd
Lane
Aubrey Mather
Merriman
Ivor Barnard
Conductor (Uncredited)
Reviews
FAQ about The Importance of Being Earnest
What is The Importance of Being Earnest about?
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.
When was The Importance of Being Earnest released?
The Importance of Being Earnest was released in 1952.
What genres does The Importance of Being Earnest belong to?
The Importance of Being Earnest is categorised as Comedy.
Who stars in The Importance of Being Earnest?
The cast of The Importance of Being Earnest includes Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Edith Evans, Joan Greenwood, Dorothy Tutin.