The Oscar Wilde Collection [3 DVDs] [UK Import]

Best remembered for his countless poignantly witty epigrams, Oscar Wilde was a leading representative of Aestheticism, a movement espousing the notion that art exists for no other purpose than its existence itself. Born in Dublin and a graduate of Oxford's Magdalen College, he worked as a journalist, editor and lecturer before turning to dramatic writing, and produced his most acclaimed works in the six-year span from 1890 to 1895, roughly coinciding with his romantic involvement with sixteen years younger Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas. "Bosie's" strained relationship with his father, the Marquees of Queensberry, eventually caused a series of confrontations between Wilde and the Marquees, in turn resulting in three trials, Wilde's conviction for "gross indecencies" under a law interpreted to prohibit homosexual relationships, and a two-year prison sentence of "hard labor." Wilde emerged from prison a broken man and, after three years' wanderings throughout Europe, died in 1900 of cerebral meningitis, barely 46 years old.

This marvelous collection brings together four of his best-known works in productions from the BBC's long-running "Play of the Month" series, starring an array of Britain's finest actors; plus a biography with contributions by, inter alia, renowned scholar Isobel Murray, Wilde's grandson Merlin Holland and "Bosie's" great-grandniece Lady Alice Douglas, as well as many well-chosen excerpts from Wilde's works and the trial transcripts, visits to the locations of his life's key stations, and a wealth of photographs.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" was Wilde's only novel (first published 1890; republished 1891 after widespread condemnation as "immoral," with a preface explaining Wilde's views on art); the tale of an exceptionally handsome young man who sells his soul to maintain his beauty, letting his portrait age in his stead, and soon growing increasingly evil, believing that his beauty will make up for any and all acts of cruelty. Those who know the splendid 1945 adaptation starring Hurd Hatfield in the title role, George Sanders as his seducer, decadent Lord Henry Wotton, Lowell Gilmore as painter Basil Hallward and young Angela Lansbury as Dorian's innocent lover, actress Sibyl Vane, will come to this with high expectations, but the BBC's 1976 cast more than holds its own. Peter Firth is a perfect Dorian, complete with "finely-curved ... lips, frank blue eyes [and] crisp golden hair" (Wilde) - the proverbial golden boy turning ugly under an angelic, albeit increasingly arrogant exterior. Sir John Gielgud, probably the 20th century's best British actor with an uncanny ability to portray *any* character as if he were born to play that role and that role alone, turns in a stellar performance as Sir Henry, dropping some of Wilde's most biting epigrams with an unmatched deadpan expression and impeccable timing. Jeremy Brett, best-known to later TV audiences as Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, completes an excellent leading trio as Basil Hallward. Scripted by noted playwright John Osborne, this dramatization somewhat streamlines the novel's storyline, without, however, straying from its core; and pointedly (but never gratuitously) uses its medium to reveal the three protagonists' homoerotic relationship (as well as that between Dorian and his friend Alan Campbell); only alluded to in the novel and yet, besides its mockery of 19th century society's shallowness, the one factor most contributing to its initial condemnation.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" (1895) is a comedy of manners revolving around two friends, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, their love interests, Jack's ward Cecily and Algy's cousin Gwendolyn, and the problems arising from both ladies' preference for a husband with the first name Ernest and from Jack's ignorance about his origin, as he was found in a bag in a Victoria Station cloak-room, which Gwendolyn's mother Lady Bracknell scorns as a show of "contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life that reminds one of the worst excesses of the French Revolution," assuring Jack that she'll never allow her daughter to "form an alliance with a parcel." Again there's a superb cinematic adaptation against which this 1988 BBC production has to compete, the 1952 film starring Michael Redgrave (Jack), Michael Denison (Algy), Edith Evans (Lady Bracknell), Joan Greenwood (Gwendolyn), Dorothy Tutin (Cecily) and Margaret Rutherford (Cecily's tutor Miss Prism). But while this production isn't quite such a class act - nor as visually dazzling as the less faithful 2002 movie starring Colin Firth (Jack), Rupert Everett (Algy), Judi Dench (Lady Bracknell), Frances O'Connor (Gwendolyn), Reese Witherspoon (Cecily) and Anna Massey (Miss Prism) - it does feature fine performances, particularly from Joan Plowright (Lady Bracknell) and Rupert Frazer (Algy).

"Lady Windermere's Fan" (1893), Wilde's first truly successful play, deals with the moral trials faced by a young woman of society whose uncompromising, Puritan views of life are tested when she has reason to suspect her husband of infidelity with a Mrs. Erlynne, a divorced (and for that reason alone, ill-reputed) woman trying to make a comeback into London society after years of living abroad. Helena Little and Tim Woodward acquit themselves well in the BBC's 1985 adaptation as Lady and Lord Windermere, but the true standout performances are Stephanie Turner's (Mrs. Erlynne) and Sara Kestelman's (the Duchess of Berwick, who in a wonderfully ad-libbed line sends her daughter to go outside and "look for" - instead of at - the sunset).

"An Ideal Husband" (1895) finally takes a rather darkly sardonic look at blackmail, hypocrisy and corruption in politics. Although brought to the big screen in 1999 with an all-star cast led by Julianne Moore (Mrs. Cheveley), Cate Blanchett (Lady Gertrude Chiltern), Minnie Driver (Mabel Chiltern), Jeremy Northam (Sir Robert Chiltern) and Rupert Everett (Lord Goring), the BBC's 1969 version holds up well; if for no other reason because of young Jeremy Brett's captivating portrayal of Scarlett-Pimpernellish Lord Goring, Margaret Leighton's devious Mrs. Cheveley ... and because it's actually a faithful production of Wilde's play, whereas the 1999 movie, like 2002's "Importance of Being Earnest" directed by Robert Parker, takes several crucial artistic licenses, not the least, the omission of Lord Goring's and Mrs. Cheveley's face-off over a certain bracelet.

Die hervorragende Qualität der Aufführungen wurde bereits in den beiden ausführlichen englischen Rezensionen beschrieben. Deswegen möchte ich mich auf einige technische Details beschränken :

Inhalt :

The Importance Of Being Earnest * The Picture Of Dorian Gray * An Ideal Husband * Lady Windermere's Fan
+ The Life And Loves Of Oscar Wilde (ein 60-minütiges Feature über Oscar Wildes Leben und Schaffen)

Sprache : Englisch (ausschließlich)
Untertitel : ja - Englisch (ausschließlich)
Audio : ausgezeichnetes Mono
Bildqualität : gut, ruhige und angenehme Kameraführung

Die Sprachkultur der - bei uns wohl eher unbekannten - Schauspieler ist hervorragend, sodass man (auch mithilfe der Untertitel) mit durchschnittlichen Englischkenntnissen alles versteht. Es ist ein vollendeter Genuss, exquisites Englisch von brillianten Schauspielern vorgetragen zu bekommen.

(Der Hauptgrund für diese Rezension ist, dass für mich aus der Produktinformation nicht erkennbar war, ob es Untertitel gibt - und wenn ja, in welcher Sprache. Diese Unsicherheit möchte ich für andere Kaufinteressenten beseitigen.)

Well I guess that is a matter of opinion. However, it is not easy to outperform the BBC. This is a great collection from "The BBC play of the Month" Series.

It is not so much the stories of Oscar Wilde but the witty dialog and moldered attitude that make his plays stand out. In this case, the whit is perfectly delivered by the excellent cast. Each play brings with it a moral and an enriching ending.

"The Importance of Being Earnest"

This play has been played and copied by many of the well and not so well known actors. It would be strange not to have it preformed on a local stage. So before watching this "BBC Play of the Month" production you will come into it with a certain expectation and standard. Found Coral Browne's who also is in "Lady Windermere's Fan", acting clearly overshadows that of the other actors. The big advantage of this production is that it is a play and everyone knows it.

Jack Worthing (Michael Jayston) a gentleman by adoption makes frequent visits to the town to visit his fictitious brother Earnest. There as Ernest he can be unscrupulous at will. That is until he meets Algernon Moncrieff's (Julian Holloway) cousin and falls in love. As luck would have it, Algernon's cousin Gwendolen Fairfax (Gemma Jones) was always in love with the name Ernest. Now Jack must tell Algernon what he has been up to. Algernon seizes the opportunity while Jack is in the town, to play his mysterious brother Earnest. Now Algernon falls in love with Jack's ward, Cecily Cardew (Celia Bannerman) of who mysteriously has always been in love with Ernest.

Oh what a tangled web we weave. How can either Earnest explained that he is not Ernest and is this true? On top of this Algernon's aunt, Lady Bracknell insists that Gwendolen can only marry a true gentleman by birth. Keep an eye on Miss Prism (Lally Bowers.)

"The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Who wants to look young forever?
Basil Hallward (Jeremy Brett), who up until now was a mediocre painter. after meeting Dorian Gray (Peter Firth) a young Adonis, was inspired to create a masterpiece of which he puts himself into. Against Basil's wishes, Basil's friend Lord Henry Wotton (John Gielgud) influences Dorian Gray. Dorian looks at his portrait and realizes that while the portrait will stay young forever, he will grow old; so Dorian makes a wish that if only he could stay young forever and the portrait can age.

At first Dorian does not realize his wishes been granted. He falls in love with a beautiful young actor Sibyl Vane (Judi Bowker) who is every woman that Shakespeare ever wrote about. Once again, due to Lord Henry's influence, he realizes that she is just a common girl.

Starting with absent-minded acts Dorian slowly sinks into debauchery. Moreover, with every new act his picture becomes more grotesque while Dorian stays is young and as innocent looking as the day his picture was painted.
What will become of Dorian?
What will become of Dorian's painting?
What would you do if you were Dorian?

Oscar Wilde paints a picture himself as he describes Dorian Gray's dilemma. In addition, we as viewers of the play travel with Dorian as each decision are made.
In this version of Oscar Wilde's play, we can see how truly evil Dorian is without compromise. We find that each detail is necessary to set the next scene.

Oscar Wilde himself led a risky life that lead to a jail sentence; is attitudes can be seen in the dialogues in this BBC play.

I found Peter Firth a tad too young for the part. I was surprised to see Judi Bowker in the play and was a little disappointed that she did not get as much time in as Angela Lansbury did in the Hurd Hatfield version. But this story workd much better as a stage play than a movie.

For contrast watch:
The Picture of Dorian Gray Starring: George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield

"The Ideal Husband"

A politician Sir Robert Chiltern (Keith Michell) has a past that is about to catch up to him and poses a threat to his standing in the community. What is worse it may destroy his standing and an ideal husband thus loosing the live of his idealizing wife (Dinah Sheridan.) Can his best friend Viscount Goring (Jeremy Brett) who appears ditsy on the surface save Robert's bacon? Will Goring fall into the same perfect husband trap?

"Lady Windermere's Fan"

I am a fan of "Lady Windermere's Fan"
It is Lady Windermere's (Judy Geeson) birthday. She will be holding a small dance. Others considered it a ball. Her husband Lord Windermere (Ronald Hines) gave her a fan with her name Margaret written on it. Her friend The Duchess of Berwick (Siân Phillips) informs Lady Windermere that she is the last person to find out that her husband has a penchant for Margaret's. Yep, he had been seen coming and going from Mrs. Margaret Erlynne's (Coral Browne) apartment. Rumor has it the he paid for the apartment and is helping her to enter society. If Margaret comes to Margaret's ball she is sure to charm and smarm others including the wealthy widower Lord Augustus Lorton "Tubby" (Charles Gray.) The trick is to keep an eye on Margaret's fan, as you never know where it will turn up.

"The life and loves of Oscar wild"

Full of soundbites and no real consistency. Occasionally there is a good piece of music. Now and then, there is a fact or two of interest but there is so much chaff that it is not worth the effort to plod through.

It make a good read also. I like to follow the visuals with the book in hand.
The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde