The Importance of Being Earnest (1958 film)

"The Importance of Being Earnest (1958 film)"
ITV Play of the Week episode
Directed by	Ronald Marriott
Based on	stage play by Oscar Wilde
Original air date	March 26, 1958 (1958-03-26)
Running time	90 mins

The Importance of Being Earnest is a 1958 British television film based on the Oscar Wilde play of the same name. ^[1] It starred Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray who were married. ^[2]

It was Maureen Swanson's first appearance in a television play. ^{[3] [4]}

Cast

• Michael Denison as John Worthing
• Tony Britton as Algernon Moncrieff
• Dulcie Gray as Gwendolen Fairfax
• Martita Hunt as Lady Bracknell
• Maureen Swanson as Cecily Cardew
• Madeleine Christie as Miss Prism
• Vernon Smythe as Merriman
• Richard Goolden as Canon Chasuble
• Robert Webber as Lane

Reception

The Manchester Evening News called it "beautifully done". ^[5] The Daily Telegraph criticised the acting saying it was not pompous enough. ^[6]

References

1. "Husband and wife star in Oscar Wilde play". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 26 March 1958. p. 2.
2. Gray, Dulcie (1991). Looking forward, looking back. p. 134.
3. "Television preview". Nottingham Evening News. 26 March 1958. p. 7.
4. Vagg, Stephen (23 April 2025). "Not quite movie stars: Maureen Swanson". Filmink. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
5. "Too familiar". Manchester Evening News. 27 March 1958. p. 2.
6. "Pomp missing". The Daily Telegraph. 27 March 1958. p. 10.

External links

• The Importance of Being Earnest at IMDb