Comparing The Importance of Being Earnest Films from 1952 and 2002

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Comparing The Importance of Being Earnest Films from 1952 and 2002

This essay is comparing the 1952 film and the 2002 film, ‘The

Importance of being Earnest’. This was first a play written in 1895,

by Oscar Wilde. This essay is going to express and show the

differences and similarities between the two films, using the play

script as a reference.

The Importance of being Earnest’ is about two handsome men, who go

bunburying. Bunburying is when people make things up, for their

convenience, and to get out and not be questioned. Jack and Algy do

this to be with the girls they love, the even lie about their names.

Earnest means to be truthful, to show your true feelings, and think

about the future actions, to be serious, this is why it is important

to be Earnest. But this is reverse psychology, as no one is serious in

the films.

The film ‘The Importance of being Earnest’ is a comedy or romance. The

film catches yours interest, with a good first scene. Also when Jack

and Algy pretend to be different people ‘Bunburying’, and it is hard

to keep up, this is very funny and you want to find out what will

happen. The second film starts with Algy being chased, making him seem

mysterious, and so you want to watch and find out why.

The films vary from the play, although some bits have been added in,

and taken out, to make the film shorter. In the 2002 film a lot more

new scenes have been added in. In the latest film, in 2002, Aunt

Augusta checks ‘Jacks’ name, and once again ‘Jack is not very Earnest.

The first film was a bit disappointing, due to the fact it missed out

a funny line, and said it very slowly; When Lady Bracknell is talking

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...ch as; the scene on the balcony, when Jack and Algy pretended

to like each other, to cecily and the others. After strangling each

other. There are also some close ups, but not as many as in the first

film. The first film is very stationary, but obviously being filmed in

side, there was not as much space for longer shots.

In conclusion, I feel that each film was good in different ways. I

personally preferred the 2002 film, as it was ‘up-to-date’ and I could

understand more of it, and I found it rather funny. But I also like

the first film, as Edith Evans (Lady Bracknell) was very funny, and

the film had some hilarious scenes in. I think both films are worth

watching and the older version is more for adults, whereas the younger

film is more for teenagers or young adults. I would class both films,

as a ‘film to watch’.

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