Oscar Wilde Movies
- 2007
Oscar Wilde's Salome is given a new contemporary interpretation in this independent drama from director Erick Ifergan. Sally (Nina Brosh) is a young woman who lonely and emotionally isolated, despite her beauty. When she isn't busy looking after her ailing mother (Louise Fletcher), Sally works as a hair stylist in a salon along the seedy side of Hollywood Boulevard. One day Sally encounters Johnny (Vincent Gallo), a street preacher who spends his days talking to passers-by and handing out leaflets in which he testifies to his belief in God's love. Sally is drawn to Johnny and the gentle passion of his message, and she attempts to seduce him. While Johnny is drawn to her, in time he decides that his calling to the Lord is more important than a physical relationship with Sally and while she tries to follow in his spiritual path, ultimately he rejects her. Sally, however, refuses to allow Johnny to ignore her need for him. Also known as Hollywood Salome, most of Johnny 316 was shot in 1998, but the film was not completed until 2006. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Gallo, Nina Brosh, (more)
- 2007
Adapted from Oscar Wilde's short story The Sphinx Without a Secret, director Sean Boyland's heady romantic drama stars Matt DeLight, Adam Cahoon, and Liz Maher in an abstract tale that's sure to keep viewers guessing to the very end. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt DeLight, Adam Cahoon, (more)
- 2007
Oscar Wilde's provocative classic comes to new life on the big screen in this haunting tale of vanity ripped straight from today's tabloid headlines. As a young man, Dorian Gray's beguiling innocence captured the eye of famed artist Basil Hallward. As the two enter into a close friendship, Basil crafts a remarkable piece of art that seems to capture Dorian's essence as much as it does the artist's obsession. Stricken by the remarkable beauty of the piece and lamenting his own inevitable loss of youth, the troubled Dorian makes a wish that the artistic rendering of him bear the weathers of time while he remains forever youthful. Later, as Dorian strikes up a friendship with Lord Henry, wealthy entitlement, decadence, and obsessive pleasure lead the handsome young noble down a dark path of drugs and dangerous friendships. When Basil attempts to help his old friend, the artist's nobility ends up costing him his life. Through it all, Dorian remains as hypnotically handsome as ever. But in his careless wanderings, Dorian made a tragic mistake and now the brother of a girl he drove to suicide has come seeking revenge. As the memories of his first love come flooding back, Dorian finally seeks redemption and embraces the horrifying consequences of his callous actions. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Gallagher, Christian Camargo, (more)
- 1992
This adaptation of playwright Oscar Wilde's memorable romantic comedy about two wealthy noblemen who begin calling themselves Ernest in hopes of winning the love of two beautiful girls is set in modern times. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wren T. Brown, Daryl Roach, (more)
- 1991
This made-for-TV family film (produced for the Wonderworks series) is based on the famous story by Oscar Wilde. While the Otis Family is enjoying a vacation in an Old English estate, a number of strange and unexplained occurrences lead several members of the family to suspect that the old house is haunted. As it turns out, the spirit of the long dead Simon de Canterville walks the halls of the mansion, but when the Otises encounter him face to face, they discover that he's as scared of them as they are of him. While Mom and Dad try to keep the ghost at bay, their daughter Virginia befriends the spirit and tries to help him break the family curse that will not allow his spirit to rest. The cast includes Richard Kiley, Shelly Fabares, and Mary Wickes. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiley
- 1984
A 300-year-old ghost attempts to frighten the new inhabitants of his castle in this animated version of the Oscar Wilde story. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Based on the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, this modern adaptation follows the trials of a woman who trades her soul for eternal youthful beauty. However, as the woman's appearance does not change, her video screen test ages and decays. This film was made for television ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1977
"Promise to Murder" is a 60-minute TV play adapted from the Oscar Wilde short story "Lord Arthur Saville's Crime." Louis Hayward stars as a moderately successful London barrister who, at the insistence of his aristocratic aunt, agrees to have his palm read by a fortune teller (Peter Lorre). Rather disturbingly, within the next few weeks several of the palmist's prophecies come true. What really bothers the nervous barrister is that one, final prediction--that he would end up committing murder. Previously dramatized as a segment of the 1943 omnibus feature film Flesh and Fantasy, "Promise to Murder" was originally broadcast live as part of the CBS anthology Climax! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
John Osborne scripted this made-for-TV adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel, which charted the rise and fall of one tragically tempted man. Dorian Gray (Peter Firth) is a privileged man who sits for artist Basil Hallward (Jeremy Brett). Gray is so happy with the results that he wishes he could look that way forever; Hallward tells him it could be so, but for a terrible price. Gray soon discovers that he no longer ages, but his portrait does instead, and as he becomes more corrupt and stops putting a check on his appetites, he discovers just how great a toll is portrait is forced to bear. The Picture of Dorian Gray also features Sir John Gielgud. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
This Dan Curtis made-for-TV effort was the seventh screen version of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. This time, newcomer Shane Bryant plays the debauched 19th-century nobleman who makes an unholy pact permitting him eternal youth and good looks. His multitudinous sins--and his actual age--are reflected in his portrait, which Gray keeps locked up in his attic. Nigel Davenport co-stars as Gray's elegantly corrupt mentor Sir Harry Wotton, while future Lou Grant star Linda Kelsey plays Dorian's unwitting sweetheart Beatrice Hallward, niece of the man who painted the cursed portrait. Originally videotaped and then transferred to film, the two-part Picture of Dorian Gray was first telecast April 23 and 24, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
This experimental film by the maverick Italian director Carmelo Bene is a free adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play Salome and is even more irreverent than the original. In this film, Bene carries the New Testament story beyond the incident with Herod, and pictures Christ nailing himself to the cross, unable (of course) to finish the task. This film uses many musical and filmic special effects and includes at least one pornographic sequence and a number of sadistic ones. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1969
A made-for-TV production of one of Oscar Wilde's peerless stage comedies, this frothy satire concerns Lord Arthur Goring and his close friend Sir Robert Chiltern. Arthur is a wealthy but unambitious man who is proudly lazy and uses his not inconsiderable knowledge and wit for no profitable purpose, other than verbally sparring with Mabel Chiltern, Sir Robert's sister and a woman of no small beauty and charm. Mabel is hardly the only woman interested in Arthur, but despite the pleas of his father, Arthur has little interest in settling down with one woman. In striking contrast, Robert is a member of Parliament who is well-known for his firmly held principles and his devotion to his loving wife, Lady Gertrude. When a proposal is placed before Parliament to build a British canal through Argentina, Robert makes it clear he regards the project as a huge mistake and will speak out against it. However, one Laura Cheveley soon arrives on the scene, telling Robert it is in his best interest to support the canal plan -- and if he does not, Laura has incriminating information that could ruin his career in politics. An Ideal Husband stars Keith Michell, Jeremy Brett, Susan Hampshire, and Margaret Leighton. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1957
The prestigious CBS dramatic anthology The U.S. Steel Hour digressed from its usual format to present this lively musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest. The story, about two love struck young men who both pretend to bear the name of Earnest to please their respective sweethearts, remains substantially the same. However, the emphasis is shifted away from nominal leading man John Worthing (David Atkinson) and his aristocratic fiancée, Gwendolen Fairfax (Louise Troy), so that the characters of scampish Algernon Moncrieff and impressionable ingénue Cecily Cardew become the major roles. Edward Mulhare (who was at the time occasionally spelling Rex Harrison as star of the Broadway smash My Fair Lady) is seen as Algernon, with Dorothy Collins, an American vocalist best known for her work on Your Hit Parade, top-billed as Cecily. Also in the cast is Martyn Green, who in 1957 was the foremost interpreter of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, in the somewhat expanded role of Rev. Chasuble. The original songs, by Lee Pockriss and Ann Crosswell, include "Mr. Bunbury," "Perfection,," "My Eternal Devotion," "A Wicked Man," "Metaphorically Speaking," "Lost," and "My Very First Impression." "Who's Earnest?" was originally broadcast live from New York. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Collins, Edward Mulhare, (more)
- 1955
Best known in 1955 as a sultry singer, Eartha Kitt returned to her dancing roots in this hour-long TV adaptation of Oscar Wilde's one-act play Salome. In one of his earliest TV appearance, Martin Landau costars as the prophet Jokanaan, better known as John the Baptist. When he denounces King Herod (Leo Genn) for marrying his brother's divorced wife Herodias (Patricia Neal), Jokanaan is thrown into prison on Herodias' orders. By chance, Jokanaan's incarceration coincides with a visit from Salome (Eartha Kitt), Herodias' daughter from her earlier marriage. Attracted to the charismatic prophet, Salome is outraged when Jokanaan spurns her. Small wonder, then, that Salome agrees to perform the celebrated Dance of the Seven Veils for her uncle Herod if he will grant her one little request: The head of Jokanaan, served on a platter. Forsaking the familiar music from Richard Strauss' opera version of Salome, this production offers a newly orchetrated score. A live presentation of the prestigious Sunday-afternoon NBCanthology Omnibus(where it orginally shared the bill with a concert by musical satirist Anna Russell), Salome exists today in kinescope form in a handful of private collections. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
"Her Salome Will Steal Your Breath Away" was the classic advertising slogan attached to this opulent Rita Hayworth epic -- a slogan which became laughable whenever a radio announcer would mispronounce Salome as "salami." Using the very sketchy Biblical story of the death of John the Baptist as its springboard, Salome depicts its title character, the stepdaughter of King Herod, as a victim of circumstance rather than a wanton temptress. Banished from Rome because of an unfortunate romance with the nephew of Caesar, Salome (Rita Hayworth) declares that all men are her enemies, but her resolve weakens when she falls in love with Claudius (Stewart Granger), the military commander of Galilee. Meanwhile, Salome's wicked mother, Herodias (Judith Anderson), plots the demise of John the Baptist (Alan Badel), who currently enjoys the protection of the superstitious Herod (Charles Laughton). At this point, the story departs radically from Scripture. Salome is no longer coerced by Herodias to demand the head of John the Baptist; instead, Herodias, on her own, promises Herod that Salome will perform the "Dance of the Seven Veils" for him -- but only if he beheads John first (Salome has been misinformed that the dance will save John from the headsman's sword). Somehow, scriptwriter Jesse Lasky Jr. even manages to concoct a happy ending for poor Salome, which is a lot more than Oscar Wilde or Richard Strauss were able to do. Considered an artistic flop in 1953, Salome seems somewhat better today, if only because of that powerhouse cast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger, (more)
- 1952
- Add The Importance of Being Earnest to QueueAdd The Importance of Being Earnest to top of Queue
Anthony Asquith's adaptation of Oscar Wilde's witty play of mistaken identities stars Michael Redgrave as rich bachelor Jack Worthing. Jack's friend is Algernon Moncrieft (Michael Denison), a poor bloke living on credit. Jack refers mysteriously to Algernon about his country retreat, which drives Algernon to distraction, trying to figure out where Jack goes on the weekends. Jack is also in love with Algernon's attractive cousin Gwendolen (Joan Greenwood). He also has a ward, Cecily Cardew (Dorothy Tutin), who lives at the country estate and studies with local spinster Miss Prism (Margaret Rutherford). When Algernon learns of Cecily, he arrives at the country home claiming to be Jack's brother Earnest, knowing Jack had previously regaled Cecily with tales of having to bail the fictitious Earnest out of scrapes so he could sneak out to the city. Having set her eyes on "Earnest" in the flesh after having heard countless tales of his intrigues, Cecily immediately falls in love with Earnest. Meanwhile, Jack comes back to the country dressed in black, determined to announce to the group the demise of the fictional Earnest. As a result, Jack is stupefied when he sees Earnest standing in front of him. Meanwhile, Algernon's aunt, Lady Bracknell (Edith Evans) refuses to grant permission for Jack and Gwendolen's engagement. However, when Lady Bracknell finds out that Algernon is in love with Cecily, she asks Jack for his blessing on their marriage. Of course, Jack won't give his blessing until Lady Bracknell gives her blessing to his proposed marriage to Gwendolen. All is at a standstill until Lady Bracknell recognizes Miss Prism as a governess from the past who holds secrets concerning both Jack and Algernon. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Redgrave, Edith Evans, (more)
- 1949
In this revised adaptation of Oscar Wilde's famous comedy of manners, Lady Windermere's Fan, the middle-aged but still beautiful Mrs. Erlynne (Madeleine Carroll), well-known for her romantic adventures, has cast her eye upon Lord Windermere (Richard Greene), who is married to Lady Windermere (Jeanne Crain), a woman young and beautiful but socially conservative and harsh in her judgements of others. Lord Windermere is just as interested in Mrs. Erlynne as she is in him, and soon he's giving her money to live in the lavish manner to which she's accustomed. When Lady Windermere discovers this, she takes up with handsome rogue Lord Darlington (George Sanders), who makes no secret of his interest in her. When Mrs. Erlynne hears of Lady Windermere's indiscretion, she urges the younger woman not to make the tragic mistakes she has made and reveals a long-hidden secret: she is actually Lady Windermere's mother. The legendary Dorothy Parker co-wrote the screenplay for The Fan, which proved to be the last film for co-star Madeleine Carroll. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Crain, Madeleine Carroll, (more)
- 1948
Oscar Wilde might have been amused to learn that his epigrammatic stage comedy-drama Lady Windemere's Fan was filmed in Argentina in 1947 under a title which translates as The Story of a Bad Women. Agelessly beautiful Dolores Del Rio stars as the bewitching Miss Erlyne, a woman "with a history", as they used to say. Without ever revealing her true identity, Miss Erlyne manages to save the virtue and good name of her daughter (Maria Duval), who has grown up to become Lady Windemere. In so doing, Miss Erlyne sacrifices her own opportunity for happiness in the arms of Lord Arthur (Francisco de Paula), but she manages to make her exit with head held high and a smile on her lips. Lady Windemere's Fan was previously filmed under its own title by Ernst Lubitsch in 1925; it would be remade as The Fan by Otto Preminger in 1949. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dolores Del Rio
- 1947
A man's youthful indiscretions come back to haunt him in this droll drawing room comedy. Sir Robert Chiltern (Hugh Williams) is a fine and upstanding British gentleman who has distinguished himself in the political arena and is selflessly devoted to his wife (Diana Wynyard). However, it turns out that he wasn't always a paragon of virtue; early in his career working with the British cabinet, Chiltern sold some confidential information regarding the Suez Canal, and Mrs. Cheveley (Paulette Goddard) has made it clear to Chiltern that she knows what he did and is willing to tell others about it. She agrees to keep silent if he's willing to support a proposal currently being debated in Parliament that would put a phony canal through Argentina. A fearful Chiltern agrees, but his best friend Viscount Goring (Michael Wilding) objects, and he tries to persuade Mrs. Cheveley to rescind her blackmail threat, while explaining to Lady Chiltern how a good man could do something so wrong at some point in his life. This was the third screen adaptation of the sophisticated satire by Oscar Wilde. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paulette Goddard, Michael Wilding, Sr., (more)
The Picture of Dorian Gray was writer/director Albert E. Lewin's fascinating follow-up to his expressive-esoterica masterpiece The Moon and Sixpence. Hurd Hatfield essays the title character, a London aristocrat who would sell his soul to remain handsome and young--and, in a manner of speaking, he does just that. Under the influence of his decadent (albeit witty) friend Lord Henry Wotton (George Sanders), Dorian Gray becomes the embodiment of virtually every sin known to man. The greatest of his sins is vanity: Gray commissions artist Basil Hallward (Lowell Gilmore) to paint his portrait. Admiring his own painted countenance, Gray silently makes a demonic pact. The years pass: everyone grows older but Gray, who seemingly gets younger and more good-looking every day. Hallward eventually stumbles upon the secret of Dorian's eternal youth: he finds his painting hidden in the attic, the portrait's face grown grotesquely aged and disfigured. Gray kills Hallward so that his secret will remain safe. Later on, Gray falls in love with Hallward's niece Gladys (Donna Reed). Certain that Gray is responsible for Hallward's death, Gladys' ex-boyfriend David Stone (Peter Lawford) sets out to prove it. He is joined in this mission by the brother of dance hall performer Sybil Vane (Angela Lansbury), who killed herself after Gray betrayed her. Essentially a black and white film, Picture of Dorian Gray bursts into Technicolor whenever the picture is shown in close-up. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, (more)
- 1945
Oscar Wilde's epigrammatic stage comedy A Woman of No Importance is translated into Spanish with remarkable fidelity in the Argentine Una Mujer Sin Importancia. The action is moved to provincial Cordoba, where the elegant protagonists go through Wilde's time-honored plotline paces. The plot remains the same: After 20 years, the matronly heroine is uncomfortably reunited with the well-born man who once seduced her. Screenwriter Arturo S. Mom departs considerably from the Wilde original in the final scenes, though the film seems all the better for the change. Mecha Ortiz plays the central character, still named "Mrs. Arbuthnot" despite the Latin flavor of her dialogue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mecha Ortiz
- 1943
In the tradition of his earlier Carnival in Flanders and Tales of Manhattan, director Julien Duvivier's Flesh and Fantasy is a "pormanteau" film, consisting of several short stories. Linking the three tales unfolded herein are clubmen Doakes (Robert Benchley) and Davis (David Hoffman), who carry on a spirited debate about Destiny. In the first story, homely Henrietta (Betty Field) is made beautiful through the love of handsome Mardi Gras reveller Michael (Robert Cummings)-and the help of an enigmatic mask-maker (Edgar Barrier). The second story, based on Oscar Wilde's "Lord Arthur Saville's Crime", concerns a fortune teller named Septimus Podgers (Thomas Mitchell) who predicts that socialite Marshall Tyler (Edward G. Robinson) will commit a murder. In the final tale, psychic high wire artist Paul Gaspar (Charles Boyer) dreams that he will meet his doom during the performance of his act-and then falls in love with Joan Stanley (Barbara Stanwyck), who looks exactly like the girl who appeared in that dream. A fourth story, detailing the doomed romance between a fugitive from justice (Alan Curtis) and a blind girl (Gloria Jean), was cut from Flesh and Fantasy, then expanded and released separately as Destiny (1944). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward G. Robinson, Charles Boyer, (more)
