The Importance of being Earnest

The aim of this essay is to compare and contrast to different versions of ‘The Importance of being Earnest’, written by Oscar Wilde. One performed for the original play scrip, the other a modernised version, using the play script as a reference.

These two films interpret the basic storyline of this play very well. Algernon Moncreiff lives in London where his friend Jack often stays. Jack and Algernon both call themselves Earnest whilst staying in the country, both not knowing the other is there. After a lot of mishap due to this, Jack confesses a dark handbag secret and discovers he is the real Earnest.

The first difference identified between the two films is the use of dialogue and how the original script has been changed. In the original film editing words and phrases form the actual play script has been kept minimal, whereas in the modernised version, the script was only based on the play and many lines and sets/scenes have been added. An example of an added scene is Alg...