The Importance of Being Earnest

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?

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

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.

Edith Evans providing a rare glimpse at perfection.

Lots of laughs from the clever dialog and hats. Somehow this felt too thin and light to me, as though it's not quite enough to be a complete work. Still, very enjoyable.

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.

Stagey, sure, but who cares. It's witty, sharply written fun with great performances, excellent timing, and a well done ending. Couldn't ask for much more.

The whole thing is funny mainly because of how absurd and stupid the whole thing is. I found all the actors to be perfectly cast in this.

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

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.

This didn't quite work for me. Sets and costumes, absolutely divine. The production IMHO tries too hard to acknowledge the staged original and in doing so is a bit stilted and aged. It is entertaining, funny in parts and the performers do well. I found however that the continual aura of aristocratic twittery going full on for the length of the movie became a bit tiresome. 65 where "65" means "decent and happy to have seen it but probably wouldn't watch again".

“In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.” Unsurpassed!

Dame Edith Evans commands the stage/screen from the very moment she enters. and the rest of the cast is no less extraordinary. Some complain that this is stagey... there is absolutely nothing UNstagey about an Oscar Wilde play. Besides, the question is addressed in the film's opening, where we, the audience, are shown we are attending a play. Great fun. "Prism! Where is that baby?"

Classic Wilde, done definitively.

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.

Dated. It's a faithful adaptation, but I don't like the play, either.

A importância de ser honesto estreava há 70 anos em New York. Gosto muito dos primeiros filmes do Asquith, mas conforme os anos iam avançando sua carreira não acompanhava as nuances da linguagem do cinema e isso fica meio evidente aqui. Provavelmente ainda é a melhor adaptação dessa peça do Wilde, com um elenco maravilhoso no auge da forma, mas soa muito como um filme defasado já na sua estreia. BlurayRip RARBG.

Entertaining, witty and well executed.

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.

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.

A handbag?!

The film just didn't get my attention.

The use of the English language is without doubt the starring ingredient of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952).

I love the cut and thrust of the wordplay. The plot isn't too important but it rattles on well. A rare example of a "if they just shut up and explain" film that doesn't annoy.