Wilde (1997)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Brian Gilbert

Writers:

Richard Ellmann (book)
Julian Mitchell (writer)

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The story of the first modern man

Plot:

The story of Oscar Wilde, genius, poet, playwright and the First Modern Man. The self-realisation of...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Homosexuality | Playwright | Historical | Male Rear Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Stephen Fry	...	Oscar Wilde
Jude Law	...	Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Lady Speranza Wilde
Jennifer Ehle	...	Constance Lloyd Wilde
Gemma Jones	...	Lady Queensberry
Judy Parfitt	...	Lady Mount-Temple
Michael Sheen	...	Robbie Ross
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Ada Leverson
Tom Wilkinson	...	Marquess of Queensberry
Ioan Gruffudd	...	John Gray
Matthew Mills	...	Lionel Johnson
Jason Morell	...	Ernest Dowson
Peter Barkworth	...	Charles Gill
Robert Lang	...	C.O. Humphreys
Philip Locke	...	Judge

Also Known As:

Oscar Wilde (Germany) (Japan: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Ireland:18 | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Hong Kong:III | Mexico:C | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Grip House Studios, Greenford, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Orlando Bloom's film debut.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Oscar Wilde visits his wife's grave near Genoa, the headstone states "Wife of Oscar Wilde". It originally stated only "Constance Mary, daughter of Horace Lloyd, Q.C." and "Wife of Oscar Wilde" was not added until later.

Quotes:

Marquess of Queensberry: [very drunk] Where d'you stand on cremation?
Oscar Wilde: I'm not sure I have a position.
Marquess of Queensberry: I'm for it. I wrote a poem about it. 'When I am dead, cremate me.' That's how it starts. 'When... I am dead... cremate me'. Whaddya think of that for an opening line?
Oscar Wilde: It's... challenging.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999) (TV)

The noblest form of love

I saw this film for the first time over the weekend, drawn to it I'm ashamed to say for the fact that it contained Orlando Bloom's debut appearance, all one line of it. I was pleasantly surprised to discover Jude Law as Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas as well, making this film highly appealing to the voyeurs of the world. However distracting these heavenly creatures are though, they do become quite rightly overshadowed by Stephen Fry in a role that could not be more perfect for him if it were based on fiction rather than fact.

I have been a fan of Oscar Wilde for some time, and this film gave amazingly accurate insight into the life of a great Irish literary. Indeed, many a speech by Stephen Fry has been quoted word for word from the actual trial monologues, and the uncanny resemblance of Fry to Wilde himself is astounding.

'Wilde' proved to be entertaining and beautiful, maintaining the historical biopic status is revels in, but never drawing away from the fact that this story is of real people and real events.

So much can be gained by observing the prejudices of the past, and such sadness realized from knowing the suffering of those who were not meant for their time.

'Wilde' deserves credit in all aspects from accuracy to acting, direction and scene, it is a beautiful film and a credit not only the cast and crew, but to Oscar Wilde himself.