Oscar Wilde is a married playwright who has occasionally indulged his weakness for male suitors. After much toil, Wilde debuts 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in London, and a chat at the theatre with Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas leads to a full-fledged romance. However, this affair leads to a legal dispute with Lord Alfred's oppressive father, the Marquess of Queensberry, and, given the local anti-gay laws, Wilde is jailed. Wilde's vast intellect helps him survive until he regains his freedom.
Acting
Fry was born to play Wilde; Law is devastatingly toxic.
Costume
Velvet waistcoats and cravats so lush you can feel them.
Writing
Wilde's actual bon mots land like gut-punches.
Director
Brian Gilbert
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 'Sphinx'
Tom Wilkinson
Marquess of Queensberry
Ioan Gruffudd
John Gray
Orlando Bloom
Rent Boy
James D'Arcy
First Friend
Andrew Havill
Algernon
Jamie Lee
Second Friend
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Stephen Fry is a distant relative of Oscar Wilde; he spent decades trying to make this film.
The 'love that dare not speak its name' speech was rarely depicted this explicitly in mainstream '90s cinema.
GB
