"Everybody loves Ernest... but nobody's quite sure who he really is."

Click at the player to hear 14 soundbites from this movie

With thanks to Jesslala

Summary:

Two young bachelors living in 1890's England have taken to bending the truth in order to put some excitement into their lives. Jack Worthing (Colin Firth) has invented an imaginary brother, Ernest, who he uses as an excuse to leave his dull country life behind and visit the ravishing Gwendolen Fairfax (Frances O'Connor). When Jack proposes, Gwendolen’s stern mother, the haughty Lady Bracknell (Judi Dench) soon puts a damper on Jack’s advances by rejecting him as being not socially distinguished enough for her daughter. Jack’s best-friend, the caddish Algernon Moncrieff (Rupert Everett) uses a similar pseudonym technique to evade his creditors and unwelcome social engagements, only in reverse, his imaginary friend, ‘Bunbury’, provides a convenient and frequent method of taking adventures in the country. However, their dishonesty begins to come undone when Algy decides to take the name 'Ernest' when visiting Jack’s young and beautiful young ward, Cecily Cardew (Reese Witherspoon) at the manor. Ultimately things converge when all involved end up in the Hertfordshire countryside together.

(Movie)

"What has amazed me is how open it is to being interpreted, to being played with. I thought everything we'd do

would be straining against the nature of the piece and would look wrong, but it's not."

Full credits here

Runtime: 97 min

Country: France / UK / USA

Language: English

Color: Color (Technicolor) 

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Certification: Australia:G / France:U / Germany:o.Al. / Singapore:PG / Sweden:7 / Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) / Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) / Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) / UK:U / USA:PG / Canada:PG

MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested: some material may not suitable for children) 

Also Known As (AKA)  Ernst sein ist alles  –  Austria / Germany Ernest ou L'importance d'être constant  –  Canada (French title) L' Importance d'être constant  –  France L' Importanza di chiamarsi Earnest  –  Italy Mister Ernest  –  Sweden Tärkeintä on olla aito  –  Finland (Premiere) Photos Release Dates  Filming Locations  Awards  Trivia Goofs Music Posters   DVD Details Production Company/Company Credits  The Onet.pl Film photogallery of "The Importance Of Being Earnest"  (7 photos)  Cast: Rupert Everett Algy Colin Firth Jack Frances O'Connor Gwendolen Reese Witherspoon Cecily Judi Dench Lady Bracknell Tom Wilkinson Dr. Chasuble Anna Massey Miss Prism Edward Fox Lane Patrick Godfrey Merriman Charles Kay Gribsby Cyril Shaps Pew opener Marsha Fitzalan Dowager Finty Williams Young Lady Bracknell Guy Bensley Young Lord Bracknell Christina Robert Duchess of Devonshire

Colin and his wif Livia on the NY Premiere, 13 May 2002.

Some information courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Also with thanks te Colin Firth Career Timeline