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The Importance of Being Earnest poster
7.2 / 10(126 votes)IMDb19521h 35mUnited Kingdom

The Importance of Being Earnest

“They don't come any wilder than Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners, morals and morality!”

Synopsis

Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) trailer

Type: Trailer • Published 2011-09-26

Release History & Theatrical Window

World Premiere

Venice Film Festival

Festival / Special Debut

Theatrical Premiere

December 22, 1952

Wide Cinema Exhibition

4K UHD / Blu-ray Debut

January 1, 2000

Physical Home Media

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Anthony Asquith
Screenplay & Story
Anthony Asquith
Original Score
Benjamin Frankel
Original Title
The Importance of Being Earnest
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 35m
Production Studios
Javelin Films, British Film-Makers, J. Arthur Rank Organisation

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Anthony Asquith

Screenplay & Story

Anthony Asquith, Oscar Wilde

Original Score & Music

Benjamin Frankel

Director of Photography

Desmond Dickinson

Film Editing

John D. Guthridge

Producers

Teddy Baird, Earl St. John

Department Leadership Roster

Anthony Asquith

Anthony Asquith

Director

Teddy Baird

Producer

Beatrice Dawson

Beatrice Dawson

Costume Design

Benjamin Frankel

Original Music Composer

Desmond Dickinson

Director of Photography

John D. Guthridge

Editor

Anthony Asquith

Anthony Asquith

Screenplay

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

Australia (ACB)G

General — Suitable for all audiences.

Germany (FSK)12

FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.

United Kingdom (BBFC)U

Universal — Suitable for all audiences.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Importance of Being Earnest.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Importance of Being Earnest.

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The Complete Criterion Collection. The Criterion Collection is a video distribution company that sells 'important classic and contemporary films' in editions that offer the highest technical quality. This list contains only the featured films released on DVD, BluRay and 4K Criterion releases — no supplements are included. Organized by spine number with the newest releases first. CC标准收藏完整收录版: 收录标准收藏(Criterion Collection)发行的重要经典及当代电影。仅包含正片(涵盖 DVD、蓝光及 4K 版本),已排除花絮补充内容。按 CC 发行编号倒序排列(最新发行在前)。 *注:榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧,由于本片单只收录纯电影,故不再收录以下非电影条目:* • [#214] Mangrove (2020) • [#215] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#216] Red, White and Blue (2020) • [#217] Alex Wheatle (2020) • [#486] Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972) • [#647] Dekalog (1989) • [#944] World on a Wire (1973) • [#1187] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#1338] Fanny and Alexander (1984) • [#1341] Tanner '88 (1988) • [#1371] Scenes from a Marriage (1973) *注:以下影片因 TMDB 尚未收录,暂不在此片单中展示:* • [#531] First (2012) • [#1699] Ulysse (1983) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-11 07:39:08 UTC+8)*

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Importance of Being Earnest

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Importance of Being Earnest about?

Two young gentlemen living in 1890s England use the same pseudonym ('Ernest') on the sly, which is fine until they both fall in love with women using that name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.

Who directed The Importance of Being Earnest?

The Importance of Being Earnest was directed by Anthony Asquith.

Who stars in The Importance of Being Earnest?

The principal cast of The Importance of Being Earnest includes Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Edith Evans, Joan Greenwood, Dorothy Tutin.

When was The Importance of Being Earnest released and how long is it?

The Importance of Being Earnest was released in 1952 with a total runtime of 1h 35m.

Who composed the musical score for The Importance of Being Earnest?

The original motion picture soundtrack for The Importance of Being Earnest was composed by Benjamin Frankel.

What is the age rating and content advisory for The Importance of Being Earnest?

The Importance of Being Earnest holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).