The Importance Of Being Earnest (Wendy Hiller) part 3 of 11

"The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde

A 1985 TV broadcast featuring the formidable and hilarious Lady Bracknell by Dame Wendy Hiller.

This segment includes her famous lines "Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone" and "A handbag?"

Gary Bond ... John Worthing, JP
Gabrielle Drake ... Gwendolen Fairfax

Dame Wendy Hiller (Mrs. Ronald Gow) had a very distinguished stage career, and many fine television appearances. Despite much success in films, especially
early on, she preferred the stage. Retired in 1992, she died at age 90 in 2003.

A nice tribute to her here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VzJassu_7o

Wendy Hiller is the only impersonator of this role who does not make me wish I was watching Dame Edith Evans. See Edith Evans do this very same scene here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oWBdIx9IQE

link below to playlist of all 11 parts of this "The Importance Of Being Earnest":
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=749CF199F94D9B7F


Directed by Michael Attenborough (stage) and Michael Lindsay-Hogg (TV)

This production was broadcasted on US television in 1985 (when I recorded in on this VHS tape), and that is the date given in several references, but it was originally produced in 1981.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Oscar-Wilde
• Wendy-Hiller
• Gary-Bond
• Jeremy-Clyde
• play
• Gabrielle-Drake

[jpoon919]

I talked like this at my school for a day and got punched in the face.

[ornleifs]

Ha Ha - "Rise, sir, from this semi recumbent posture. It is most indecorous"

This play is overflowing with Great lines.

[AsbjornOlling]

@jpoon919 I would do that.

..except I take theater, and we're reading this

so instead of looking like a retard speaking like a british person from victorian times, I'll just sound like an over enthusiastic student of perhaps the most boring class at school.

[Jaydoggy531]

@bh5496

As even Lady Bracknell ironically said, being considerably advanced in years is no guarantee of respectability of character.

[FireEyedMaidOfWar]

Monsieur Wilde certainly knew some of the ruling family matriarchs, as he did depict them so well in his Lady Augusta; whose wisdoms and views are very resolute. Though the story of Monsieur Ernest-Jack have been lost and found, making him an agreeable member of the upper classes is somewhat too much designed the play works out quite well still, mostly to the warm but tired luxury verses of Monsieur Wild. While I don’t think one should recommend that way of thinking.

[dongjunh]

I can't believe this version with the formidable Wendy Hiller's 'parcel' isn't available in DVD!

[bh5496]

lady bracknell is a BIIIIIIIIIIIITCH!

[marinersfanfromny]

So campy and great! Jack's reaction is perfect!

[zoo1619]

8:12

[Ceminon]

There isn't a single character in this play that I don't want to punch in the fucking face.

[deathstarsuperlaser]

AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGUUUHHHHHHHHH!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to do this play at my school, and I'm Jack. And the girl playing gwendolen is freaking ugly!!!!!!

[Lytton333]

If one could consider Edith Evans' Lady Bracknell as Greco-Roman.. then Wendy Hillers' is Renaissance-revival..