The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM
The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM
The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#0
Posted: 4/19/06 at 1:29pm
Just a heads up --
TCM is airing the definitive 1952 film version of "The Importance of Being Earnest" tonight at 8. It preserves the legendary stage performances of Sir Michael Redgrave (as Jack), Joan Greenwood as Gwendolen, Dame Dorothy Tutin as Cecily, Dame Margaret Rutherford as Prism and especially the GREAT Dame Edith Evans as the formidable Lady Bracknell, who set the standard for how the famous role should be played (every syllable out of her mouth gets a laugh -- she's amazing). This is probably the single funniest play ever written in English and you'll never see it performed better (I own the DVD).
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#1
Posted: 4/19/06 at 1:35pm
Margo--how many syllables in Edith Evans's line reading of the line "A handbag?"
Last time I watched, I counted 7 before I collapsed laughing.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#2
Posted: 4/19/06 at 1:37pm
"To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#3
Posted: 4/19/06 at 1:49pm"To be born, or at any rate bred, in a handbag--whether it had handles or not!--seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life that reminds one of the worst excesses of the Frrrrrench Rrrrrrevolution. And I presume you know what THAT unfortunate movement led to?"
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#5
Posted: 4/19/06 at 2:16pmYeah, I'm seeing the Peter Hall production at BAM this Friday that stars Lynn Redgrave and I'm keeping my expectations low. Word from out of town has been mixed.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#6
Posted: 4/19/06 at 3:49pmMargo - Do you know if that production was also staged in Houston at the Alley Theatre? I know Lynn has performed there for years and Sir Peter was on the University of Houston faculty when I attended. I saw his revival of Amadeus and left with mixed feelings. Personally, I can't bring myself to spend the time on another production of Ernest unless I could direct it myself. Other than the film, I think it's the only way I could possibly be satisfied with the show.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#7
Posted: 4/19/06 at 4:02pm
The film on DVD is a special treat. Joan Greenwood is always delicious.
I saw a production in London at the Haymarket that starred Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth Bucket) as Bracknell several years ago. She was good.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#8
Posted: 4/19/06 at 4:07pmThis particular production with Lynn Redgrave has been touring the country for a few months -- Los Angeles, Columbus, Chicago, New Haven, and Boston -- and I don't believe that there was a stop in Houston. Perhaps, though, Hall and Redgrave did an earlier production in Houston while they were both there. I don't know.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#9
Posted: 4/19/06 at 4:12pmJose - It's "Boo-kay". Patricia Routledge as Lady Bracknell? Tempting...
Joined: 12/31/69
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#10
Posted: 4/19/06 at 4:19pmMMatt, "Boo-kay," but of course. I actually feel the same about other productions after the experience of the Redgrave-Greenwood-Evans film. It is such a treat to the ears, and the color is extravagant on the DVD transfer.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#11
Posted: 4/19/06 at 4:30pmThat reminds me. Not only are the performances of the film perfection, but EVERY aspect of the film is delicious. The costumes, the color, the sets, the props. It is one of the most perfect films ever captured.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#12
Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:34pm
So I watched it again tonight after being encouraged by this little thread. Delightful as ever and clever fun.
"...though I asked most distinctly for bread and butter, you have given me cake."
"When one is in the town one amues oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people."
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#13
Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:37pm
I watched it, too...for the first time, I'm embarassed to admit. I had seen other productions of it before, but what a delight this was! And handbaaaaaag had me laughing for the rest of the film. Thanks a lot, guys. 
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#14
Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:39pm
One of these days I'll get TCM.
Same Dorothy Tutin who played Ann Boleyn for BBC - Six Wives of Henry VIII?
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#15
Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:44pm
My favorite play Sad I missed this.
"Nothing could induce me to part with Bunbury."
-cheezedoodle
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#16
Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:44pmthanks for posting this! i started my dvd recorder in time. i have never seen this movie!
Joined: 12/31/69
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#17
Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:16pm
JACK: ...I'll bet you anything you like that half an hour after they've met they will be calling each other sister!
ALGERNON: Woman only do that when they have called each other a lot of other things first.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#18
Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:31pm
Has anyone here seen the production that aired on Great Performances on PBS in the late 80's? Wendy Hiller was a fantastic Lady Bracknell! It's not available on video or DVD, but my mother recorded it from TV back then, and I still go back to it every so often. Such a shame it's not available.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180758/
Stand-by Joined: 11/30/05
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#19
Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:34pmWhat a coincidence, I just started reading the play earlier this afternoon. According to my tvguide though, it's not playing right now? Oh well. I guess I'll just curl up with good ol' Oscar Wilde tonight. Just out or curiosity, does the movie follow the play closely?
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#20
Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:38pmPretty much exactly as I recall.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#21
Posted: 4/20/06 at 12:39am
Margo is correct. It is pretty much a faithful adaptation. Some scenes and dialogues exhanges have been rearranged with some dialogue edits.
for example, the play opens in Algenon's flat on Half-Moon Street in Mayfair prior to Lady Bracknell coming to tea with Gwendolyn in tow. Whereas in this film it opens in Jack's flat in the Albany as he is bathing, and then Algenon is there when Jack comes into his drawing room afer dressing. The dialogue that takes place in Act One in Algenon's flat is reposition among those two locations in the film.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#22
Posted: 4/20/06 at 12:40am
It was on too early on the West Coast for me to catch it, but a wonderful film I own anyway. Now I'll have to pop it in again for a viewing.
Glebb...how the hell can you not have TCM? It's as necessary as water.
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#23
Posted: 4/20/06 at 8:21am
I know. 
re: The Importance of Being Earnest Tonight on TCM#24
Posted: 4/20/06 at 10:32amBumming I missed it---have to buy the DVD!!
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