Cate Blanchett as: Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Directed by: Oliver Parker
Selected Cast: Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett, Julianne Moore & Jeremy Northam
Written by: Oscar Wilde & Oliver Parker
Release Year: 1999
Genre: Comedy / Romance
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful Government minister, well-off and with a loving wife. All this is threatened when Mrs Cheveley appears in London with damning evidence of a past misdeed. Sir Robert turns for help to his friend Lord Goring, an apparently idle philanderer and the despair of his father. Goring knows the lady of old, and, for him, takes the whole thing pretty seriously.

[cpg_catrand:110,18]

• Coming soon!

• Coming soon!

• Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “Oh, Arthur… what a good friend you are to him, to us.”
Lord Arthur Goring: “Yes, but we’re not out of danger yet. In fact, I believe there’s a rather popular saying about frying pans and fires, except now it is you and I, dear Gertrude, who are to be roasted.”

• Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “Yes, Arthur, it is Robert himself who wishes to retire from public life.”
Lord Arthur Goring: “Rather than risk losing your love, he would do anything. Has he not been punished enough?”
Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “We’ve both been punished. I set him up too high.”
Lord Arthur Goring: “Do not set him down now too low.”

• Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “The truth is, when I agreed to the story about the letter being intended for you and not for Arthur… well, the truth is… the truth is… I lied. Oh, I need a drink!”

• Lord Arthur Goring: “Gertrude, it is not the perfect, but rather the imperfect who have need of love.”
Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “You seem to know a great deal about it all of a sudden.”
Lord Arthur Goring: “Oh, I hope not. All I know, Gertrude, is that it takes great courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it. And even more courage to see it in the one you love. Gertrude, you have more courage than any woman I have ever known. Do not be afraid now to use it.”

• Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “Lord Goring, you are talking quite seriously.”
Lord Arthur Goring: “You must forgive me, Lady Chiltern. It won’t occur again.”
Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “No, I like you to be serious.”
Miss Mabel Chiltern: “Gertrude, please don’t say such a dreadful thing to Lord Goring. Seriousness would be very unbecoming to him. Good morning, Lord Goring. Pray be as trivial as you can.”

• Filmed in England, UK (view all.)

• Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations (view all.)

• Cate starred in the movies I’m Not There. (2007) and The Shipping News (2001) with Julianne Moore as well.

• The play attended by the characters in the movie is Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. The tall, older man that addresses the audience from the stage at the end of the play represents Wilde who did in reality address the audience when his play first debuted.

• When guests are being announced at the political party in the beginning of the movie, the name “Lord Windemere” is called. “Lady Windermere’s Fan” is the title of another popular Oscar Wilde play dealing with sullied reputations.

• The green carnation that Arthur selects for his buttonhole is a subtle homage to Oscar Wilde. Wilde and his “inner circle” of gay friends used to wear green carnations as a way of discreetly displaying their sexuality.

• Rupert Everett starred in the film version of The Importance of Being Earnest (2002), the play they attended in the movie.

• The original Broadway production of An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde opened at the Lyceum Theatre on March 12, 1895. Broadway revivals were produced in 1918 and 1996.

• At the reception at the Chiltern’s home, Sir Robert is requested to meet the Indian Ambassador. In 1895 India was a British possession and there could not be such an Ambassador who represents only independent states.