Wilde

1997
15
1h 58m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

18K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:44

1 Video

30 Photos

Period Drama Tragic Romance Biography Drama Romance

The turmoil in poet/playwright Oscar Wilde's life after he discovers his homosexuality.The turmoil in poet/playwright Oscar Wilde's life after he discovers his homosexuality.The turmoil in poet/playwright Oscar Wilde's life after he discovers his homosexuality.

Director
- Brian Gilbert
Writers
- Julian Mitchell
- Richard Ellmann
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

18K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Brian Gilbert
Writers
- Julian Mitchell
- Richard Ellmann
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
- 4 wins & 8 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 1:44

Wilde

Photos30

+ 22

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Orlando Bloom made his film debut in this film, with a brief appearance as a "Rentboy."

Goofs
When Oscar Wilde visits his wife's grave near Genoa, the headstone states "Wife of Oscar Wilde." It originally stated only "Constance Mary, daughter of Horace Lloyd, Q.C." and "Wife of Oscar Wilde" was not added until later.

Quotes
Oscar Wilde: [last lines]
Oscar Wilde: In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants. The other is getting it.

Crazy credits
The credits are in the style of the black-ink drawings of Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898), leading artist of the Aesthetic movement and colleague of Wilde for whom he illustrated the text of "Salome" in 1894. In the opening credits the pictures reflect the character being played or suggest the role in the production team.

Connections
Featured in Venice Report (1997)

Soundtracks
Ah, Leave me not to Mine Alone
from "The Pirates of Penzance"
Words and Music by W.S. Gilbert (as Gilbert) & Arthur Sullivan (as Sullivan)

User reviews117

Review

Featured review

8/10

The importance of being accurate

"Wilde" is an elegant film with sterling performances by Fry, the title character, and a superb supporting cast. However, "Wilde" is also a shaded and skewed partial portrait of the 19th century playwright, poet, and master of the epigram. The film is not so much a biopic as it is a drama: A drama which spends too much time on the sensational aspects of the writer's life and not enough on his history, early life, idiosyncrasies, works, and last years. Nonetheless, "Wilde" is solid entertainment for anyone interested in Victorian period dramas or the man himself. (B+)