It's hard to mess up the delirious(ly) inspired script penned by Oscar Wilde. The performances skewed flamboyant, but it only added to the gaiety of the non matters at hand. Dame Edith Evans is glorious, here.

Don't bother. Jim Varney isn't in this one.

The film just didn't get my attention.

Feels too much like a filmed play, still, this is by far the best film version. Excellent performances, especially Dame Edith Evans gloriously over-the-top interpretation of Lady Bracknell. A haaandbaaaaaaaghh?

The incredible play nevertheless makes for a rather stale film.

Sparkling adaptation of Wilde's play, with a perfect cast highlighted by peerless Evans as Lady Bracknell. Asquith handles his excellent actors with aplomb, and simultaneously opens up the play somewhat, while never letting us forget that it is ultimately rooted to the stage. Great fun.

Edith Evans providing a rare glimpse at perfection.

It's not a bad adaptation by any means, but this play is better on stage. The girl who played Cecily annoyed me for some reason too.

Dry, whitty and faithful representation of the play. This crisp and benchmark production is so completely engaging it is by far the best of the film versions. Edith Evans is stately as Lady Bracknell with an impressive supporting cast who's obvious enjoyment of the script doesnt detract from a true timecapsule of a film and a great presentation of Wilde's masterpiece.

Wilde's play is brilliant, of course -- a cleverly constructed comedy of stunning coincidences, both fortunate and unfortunate, stacked with witty dialogue. Asquith's adaptation is just fine, but I must say I actually prefer the Rupert Everertt/Colin Firth/Reese Witherspoon version by Oliver Parker. Asquith focuses too heavily on the theatricality of the work (even opening and closing his film in the theater) while Parker's has greater vitality. The performances are roughly equal.

Workmanlike film of a great play, featured a fine cast.

Wilde's play is has a somewhat silly plot, and a few of the jokes are rather drab, but on the whole it is witty and nice. Asquith's adaptation keeps it very loyal and very play-like: The interior sets and wardrobe are fancy and vivid, but otherwise the presentation is static and it's almost like sitting in a theater. The text's delivery therefore relies entirely on the cast, and it's a good cast, Edith Evans especially. Michael Denison is like a cross between Hugh Grant and James Stewart.