Oscar Wilde

Unlike the stiff and flashy Peter Finch film released a year later,this film is a gem. Robert Morely more than captures the wit,pain and humanity of Oscar Wilde. The film is very daring for its time,not only by presenting Wilde's trials for Gross Indecency on film,but for its loving and sympathetic portrayal of the man.

John Neville is also wonderful as Bosie Douglass,Wilde's lover,and Sir Ralph Richardson as Edward Carson illuminates the trial scenes. The interrogation of Morley by Richardson,and Morley's witty comebacks are not only tyhe highlight of the film,but possibly could be one of filmdom's greatest trial scenes.

Where the Finch film glossed over the surface of the events,this film takes you into the real people involved,Phyliss Calvert as Wilde's Wife,Constance and Dennis Price as his friend Robbie Ross are also wonderful in their role. Its a shame this film is not yet available on video for all to cherish.

Across the decades, cinematic directors have sought to discover the essence of the noted 18th century humorous, poet and playwright Oscar Wilde. Some films shower him with so many accolades, they drown his image in wine and sexual innuendos. Other movies hardly delve into the magical but certainly secret complexity of the talented English writer, using his notorious trial, tribulations and eventual imprisonment as Gris, reducing him to a mere scandalous shell of his life. Perhaps, there are many film versions of Mr. Wilde, but only one stands out which personifies the ideal man. I believe this offering, "Oscar Wilde," (1960) portrayed by enormously talented Robert Morley as the playwright, is the best. True Mr. Morley is such a versatile actor in other films, some would suggest his comic side, or his stuffy, droll demeanor, detract from this impressive writer. I disagree. Despite his inner personal conflicts, Morley exemplifies the quick wit, delightful charm and social elegance befitting the true character of the 18th century cosmopolitan gentleman. Moreley more than adequately depicts the larger than life of Oscar Wilde. Ralph Richardson, plays, Sir Edward Carson the prosecuting attorney who's sole ambition was to destroy the popular writer and his libertine attitudes. Although seeking to protect the upper-class from scandal, his attack was nothing short of evisceral. As one newspaper noted at the trial, the prosecutor was seen to be as objective as a circling shark. All in all, this film is an excellent attempt at epitomizing the historical icon, and is accepted as the very best to-date. ****

Ralph Richardson and Robert Morley engage in one of the most gripping courtroom exchanges on film. Wilde gradually comes to realize that he's in a trap, and that the mind that set the trap is as keen as his own. That is the essence of this film. We forget what a wonderful actor was Richardson. This is an extraordinary performance. Alexander Knox also gives a spine-chilling performance as Wilde's advocate, as he comes to realize that the libel suit is a small issue compared to what is coming. The courtroom scenes are so spare and so taut and so perfectly scripted that the viewer is spellbound. I challenge the first time viewer to see it without recourse to rewinding - I was unable to resist watching the same exchange time after time. Morley is a little severe as Wilde but captures the sense of horror and desperation he feels as he is ground down by the rapier attack of Richardson, who uses Wilde's own urbanity against him. His strategy is to get Wilde to impeach himself out of vanity and pride. A similar scene plays out in "A Few Good Men", to which this film would be justly compared.

I am a fan of both Oscar and Robert but am very disappointed in Morley's portrayal of Wilde. Physically, he is both too old, too short, too plain and too fat to capture the magnificent physical presence of Oscar. I had trouble also with the script which practically obliterates Oscar's homosexuality. John Neville is too old and stilted to give us the beauty and appeal of Bosie. Oscar's well known sardonic wit is also missed in this interpretation. I much preferred Stephen Fry's later performance. When I think of Oscar, I think of glamour, vanity, beauty, genius, all of which is missing in this 1959 attempt. 5 out of 10 for Phyllis Calvert and Ralph Richardson.

The other comment describes Sir Edward Carson as the prosecutor of Oscar Wilde. That's incorrect.

What happened was that, in a fit of madness, Oscar Wilde sued the Marquis of Queensbury (the father of his lover, Sir Alfred Douglas and the author of the rules of modern boxing) for slander, based on an accusation by Queensbury that Wilde was a 'somdomite' (sic). All of Wilde's friends tried to talk him out of it - Victorian England worked on a 'don't ask, don't tell' basis, and Wilde was quite safe had he done nothing. But his success as a playwright emboldened him, and he filed suit.

Carson was retained by the Marquis to defend him. The famous cross-examination occurred during the trial of Wilde's slander complaint. He was destroyed on cross examination, in such a way that the nature of his lifestyle became too public to be ignored. Carson, after he had won the slander case, actually tried to dissuade the Crown from prosecuting, but to no avail. A criminal prosecution did follow, in which Carson was not involved, ending in Wilde's conviction, and a 2 year prison sentence that effectively ended his career and life.

Carson, an Irish Protestant, earned my own condemnation for his role in opposing Irish independence. But in the Wilde case, he was responding for the defense, and he took active steps thereafter to prevent a prosecution. Wilde was the principal cause of his own legal destruction.