John Gielgud & Edith Evans: The Importance of Being Earnest

John Gielgud & Edith Evans as John Worthing and Lady Augusta Bracknell in the famous 'handbag' interrogation scene in the play by Oscar Wilde

I feel Edith Evans' portrayal far superior to that of Judi Dench's, although I haven't heard or seen Maggie Smith's performance in the role which I am sure equalled or surpassed even that of Dame Edith.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Edith
• Evans
• John
• Gielgud
• Oscar
• Wilde

[ATsarIsBorn]

And that photo at 40 is NOT Dame Edith; it's Maggie Smith.

[JimmyThatcher]

@ATsarIsBorn that is correct, but she is playing Lady Bracknell. Shouldn't have had so much smack when making this vid!

[JimmyThatcher]

This clip is NOT from the film! It was a radio production and it is John Gielgud.

[hawkeye4ever]

"A handbag?" ... "The line is immaterial" Absolute classic! Thanks for posting that.

[bscottb8]

Oops -- my mistake. It is Gielgud.

[Ilmuto94]

Wilde's humor is so tastefully dry!

[MegaGum1]

I cant believe that while i was listening to this i was drinking some juice and when she got to the line-"To lose one parent.." i actually did one of those comedy cough/sneeze/chokes/splutter reactions, and out came the shower of blackberry juice all over my laptop.

[nayajhen]

@JimmyThatcher Ahh ok, I was confused for a moment because I've seen the movie multiple times and Michael Redgrave does not look anything like John Gielgud.

[koolinturn]

4:17 To skip to the Handbag.

[lynnecable]

that is definitely Gielgud. Some of the verbal intonations are his, rather than the slightly lighter tone of Redgrave.

[kaiyan1995]

Dame Wendy Hiller is better, by far. But A Haaaaaaaaaaaandbaaaaaag?! is very very classic and Dame Edith Evans is better at that line.

[theissywissy]

A Haaandbag!?? D:

[Anab10sis]

@adi87tya Welsh. : )