An Ideal Husband (1947)

A prominent politician is preparing to expose a financial scandal. But then a woman who has invested heavily in the shady venture threatens to uncover a damaging secret in the politician's ... See full summary »

Director:

Alexander Korda

Writer:

Lajos Biró (screenplay)

Stars:

Paulette Goddard, Michael Wilding, Diana Wynyard

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Paulette Goddard	...	Mrs. Laura Cheveley
Michael Wilding	...	Viscount Arthur Goring
Diana Wynyard	...	Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Hugh Williams	...	Sir Robert Chiltern
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Earl of Caversham, Goring's Father (as Sir C. Aubrey Smith)
Glynis Johns	...	Miss Mabel Chiltern, Sir Robert's sister
Constance Collier	...	Lady Markby
Christine Norden	...	Mrs. Margaret Marchmont
Harriette Johns	...	Olivia, Countess of Basildon
Michael Medwin	...	Duke of Nonesuch
Michael Anthony	...	Viscomte de Nanjac
Peter Hobbes	...	Mr. Eddie Montford
John Clifford	...	Mr. Mason, the Chiltern Butler
Fred Groves	...	Phipps, Goring's Butler
Michael Ward	...	Mr. Tommy Tafford

Storyline

A prominent politician is preparing to expose a financial scandal. But then a woman who has invested heavily in the shady venture threatens to uncover a damaging secret in the politician's past if he exposes the speculation as a fraud. His problem is compounded by his wife's intolerance of the slightest character flaws.

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Plot Keywords:

politician | past | canal | guilty conscience | friend | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ein idealer Gatte

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 125 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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.

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Connections

Version of An Ideal Husband (1965)

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Soundtracks

"With Sword and Lance"
(uncredited)
Music by Hermann Starke

User Reviews

stylish and witty

"An Ideal Husband" from 1947 is not Oscar Wilde's most famous comedy, but it is funny nevertheless. This production is directed by Sir Alexander Korda with an English cast with the exception of Paulette Goddard. Goddard plays a "woman with a past," the overly-made up Lady Chevely, who attempts to blackmail Sir Robert Chiltern (Hugh Williams) so that he will encourage support for what is, in essence, a scam in which she has invested. Williams turns to a friend, Viscount Arthur Goring (Michael Wilding) for advice.

This is the type of material that can be hilarious or just charmingly witty, and Korda opted for the latter. As good as it is, the film is nearly upstaged by some of the most gorgeous costumes ever seen, designed by Cecil Beaton. They are truly eye-popping, as is the beautiful color process used in the film.

Everyone is good, including a young, pretty Glynis Johns as Chiltern's as yet unmarried sister, and Lady Diana Wynward as the very moral Lady Chiltern.

This film compares well with the 1999 version starring Rupert Everett, Cate Blanchett, and Julianne Moore. Moore perhaps exhibited a little more class than Goddard, but Goddard still does a good job. Well, you could certainly believe she was a "woman with a past" at any rate.

Very enjoyable.