AN IDEAL HUSBAND
UK, 1999, 93 minutes, Colour.
Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam, Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett, Julianne Moore, John Wood, Lindsay Duncan, Peter Vaughn, Jeroen Krabbe.
Directed by Oliver Parker.
An Ideal Husband is a lavish version of Oscar Wilde's play. There was a version by Alexander Korda in 1947 starring Paulette Goddard, Michael Wilding, Hugh Williams and Diana Wynyard.
This film was directed by Oliver Parker, director of the Laurence Fishburn- Kenneth Brannagh Othello as well as a version of The Importance of Being Earnest. He opened up Earnest much to the discontent of many purists and introduced some rather crass 21st century touches to the film.
With An Ideal Husband, he has the topicality of parliamentary procedure and its lack of reputation at the end of the 20th century. He is also blessed with an extraordinary cast, Jeremy Northam excellent as Sir Robert Chilton, after his Sir Robert in The Winslow Boy. Cate Blanchett makes a strong character of a woman who is meant to be personified goodness while Julianne Moore is subtly villainous as Mrs Cheveley. Rupert Everett does his usual fop performance as Lord Goring.
The costumes, décor and atmosphere of the 1890s are beautifully re-created for the screen.
While The Importance of Being Earnest talks about society's hypocrisies and deceptions, it does so with the lightest of touches. However, An Ideal Husband, along with Lady Windermere's Fan, goes much more deeply into hypocrisy and false expectations both in society as well as in government. To that extent, An Ideal Husband continues to be very relevant in theme while audiences still enjoy the characterisations and the wit.
1. The relevance of Oscar Wilde's work of 1895 to contemporary times and issues?
2. The re-creation of London in the 1890s, the world of upper-class society, homes and clubs, parliament? The jaunty contemporary score - suitable for the 1890s or not?
3. The title, the focus on ideal and ideals, perfect? The moral tone of the ideal? The danger of ideals being too righteous and the danger in which Sir Robert and Lady Gertrude find themselves?
4. Audience enjoyment of Oscar Wilde's language, wit? The humour of the film, its wisdom?
5. The world of politics, 19th century British politics, the continued tradition of intrigue, public honour, ambition? 19th century England and honour? The opening up of empire, the world of business, greed? The call by Wilde for integrity?
6. Themes of personal integrity, errors, lack of judgment, responsibility, lies, misinterpretation? The truth?
7. The Season in London, high society and its attitudes, marrying off daughters, the importance of being seen, going to the theatre - and even watching The Importance of Being Earnest?
8. Robert Chiltern as the centre of the film, the ideal husband? The strength of his marriage, his reputation as a person, politician? His love for Gertrude? His guardianship of Mabel? Glimpsing him in his activities, the parties, fencing? The encounter with Mrs Cheveley at the party, her proposal, his political dilemma? The discussions with Arthur, his support? Mrs Cheveley's visit, his decision not to tell Gertrude, lying to her? The revelation of the lie, her being hurt? The importance of his honour, his role in parliament? At Arthur's, the flashback, the continued deception and misinterpretations? The pressure on him to support the financial scheme and his disapproval of it? His speech, the note, his being upset? His resignation? His resolve? The meeting with Gertrude, her lie, his believing her? His being a parliamentarian in the real world?
9. Gertrude, the personification of goodness, her place in society, wealth, social visits, riding in the park, the hostess? Lady Markby, Mabel, her past friendship with Arthur? Her being reassured about her husband, her being hurt and her reaction? The note to Arthur, it and her visit, her feeling guilty, her being persuaded to go to parliament? The note and Mabel's story, the lie? It saving her marriage? An ideal wife but her having to find her place in the real world?
10. Arthur, his interchanges with Phipps, Phipps as the Oscar Wilde butler? Arthur Goring as an Oscar Wilde figure, his epigrams, idle, his discussions with his father and their clashes, riding with Mabel? Mrs Cheveley and the past? The truth, his supporting Gertrude, talking to Mrs Cheveley, her overhearing, Robert's misinterpretation? The proposal to Mabel and the bet? In parliament, his coughing, his creating the story for Gertrude? The character of his father, the silly ass father, his despising of his son, urging him to marry, ticking him off? The proposal, Sir Robert's reaction, protecting Mabel? The wedding?
11. Mrs Cheveley, her reputation, her past with Arthur and the possibility of her having married him? The baron, the money, her friendship with Lady Markby and riding in the park, going to school with Gertrude, making her acquaintance, going to the party, the interview with Sir Robert, the letter, the revelation of his past judgments and documents, his mistakes and support of the baron? Robert's reaction? Her going to Arthur, listening in, misinterpreting? Her taking the note, going to parliament, the congratulations to Robert, the blackmail note, her being unmasked?
12. Mabel as the ingénue, her friendship with Tommy? Riding, the Season, the possibility of being engaged, the interchanges with Arthur and her exasperation? The parties, the art gallery, waiting in parliament, her involvement in the lies, covering for everyone, Arthur's proposal, her acceptance?
13. Arthur's father and his bluster, not cottoning on to what was going on, the parody of English high society, the cabinet, his acceptance of Mabel?
14. Lady Markby, her place in society, friendship with Gertrude, Mrs Cheveley, the scandals?
15. London in 1895 - just prior to Oscar Wilde's court case: society, the Season, parliament and its procedures, the newspapers?
16. Oscar Wilde offering an entertainment for society while offering a parable about the good and evil on the surface and underneath the surface of society?
