Get Adobe Flash player

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



Get Adobe Flash player

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."


Directed by:


Oliver Parker

 



 

Writing credits:

Oliver Parker

(screenplay)

Oscar Wilde

(play)


Click video to play. Video will open in a new window. Click the upper border of the VideoWall to expand.



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