Director
Anthony Asquith
Leading Actors/Actresses
Michael Redgrave, Edith Evans
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Joan Greenwood, Dorothy Tutin, Michael Denison
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Language
English
Awards
n/a
Date of Release
1952
Producer
Teddy Baird
Setting and Context
London 1895
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Jack (Ernest) Worthing
Tone and Mood
Comedic and Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Jack (Ernest). Antagonist is Lady Bracknell
Major Conflict
Lady Bracknell won't allow Jack to marry Gwendolen unless he produces proof of at least one of his parents.
Climax
Jack is actually the nephew of Lady Bracknell. Her sister lost her baby, him, years ago. Thus he is Alge's older brother and it is discovered that he was named after his father, Ernest.
Foreshadowing
Alge finding out that Ernest's real name is Jack foreshadows the trouble with being Ernest to come.
Understatement
It is understated that Ernest is the nephew of Lady Bracknell.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
N/A
Allusions
The film is an allusion to judging someone based on what they have rather than who they are. A lesson to take a closer look at people.
Paradox
Both Gwendolen and Cecily are in love with men named Ernest and will marry them. Paradoxically, they won't marry men named Jack nor Alge.
Parallelism
Jack's creation of Ernest parallels Alge's creation of the fictional Bunbury.
