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An Ideal Husband (1999)

PG-13 | | Comedy, Romance | 30 June 1999 (USA)
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.... See full summary »

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Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 15 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Neville Phillips ...
Mason
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Nickolas Grace ...
Vicomte de Nanjac
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Sir Edward
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Miss Danvers
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Lady Basildon
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Storyline

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. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

He just doesn't know it yet.

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief sensuality/nudity | See all certifications »

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Details

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Release Date:

30 June 1999 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Un mari idéal  »

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Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£492,309 (United Kingdom), 18 April 1999, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$198,802, 18 June 1999

Gross USA:

$18,535,191, 3 October 1999
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Technical Specs

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Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The first of three films based on works by Oscar Wilde directed by Oliver Parker. The other two are The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) and Dorian Gray (2009). See more »

Goofs

Gertrude asks Lord Goring to accompany Mabel to the art exhibit, and then asks Mabel if she minds. When Mabel replies, you can see the reflection of Gertrude in the mirror behind Mabel. But you shouldn't be able to see Gertrude since she is seated during the entire scene. See more »

Quotes

Lord Arthur Goring: I am glad you have called. I am going to give you some advice.
Laura: Oh pray, don't. One should never give a woman something that she can't wear in the evening.
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Crazy Credits

The credits list Oliver Parker, the director, as playing "Bunbury", one of the gentlemen that is seen playing cards with Lord Goring in the Men's Club when Lord Chiltern arrives. Bunbury is also a never-seen character in "The Importance of Being Earnest", the play which is performed in the background of several scenes of this film. See more »

Connections

Version of Idealnyy muzh (1981) See more »

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User Reviews

Another 'modernisation' goes wrong.
28 November 2004 | by See all my reviews

One of the principal sources of humour in Wilde's plays comes from pricking at the inflated egos, pious humbug and ignorance of the upper classes. There is always a Wildean character to reverse a clicheed expression or invert conventional 'wisdom.' Unfortunately, by stripping most of his characters of their stiff formality and rigid social code, the writer and director have removed the butt of the joke and Wilde's comments on absurdity are left without a punchline. The attempt to work in anachronistic social relevance leaves us with a set of feeble characters who fall in love with each other for no obvious reason. Because Wilde's language has been sterilised the actors have to use mugging to express the personalities Wilde created. Result, a charmless and dated 'political' drama as credible as a Jeffery Archer novel. Gertrude is insecure and fretful where she should be smug and priggish- Mabel is arch where she should be caustic- Poor Oscar - gets no 'Oscar'!


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