An Ideal Husband

1999 "He just doesn't know it yet."
6.8| 1h37m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 15 April 1999 Released
Producted By: Icon Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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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.

Genre

Drama, Comedy, Romance

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Director

Oliver Parker

Production Companies

Icon Productions

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An Ideal Husband Audience Reviews

CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!
Nonureva Really Surprised!
FrogGlace In other words,this film is a surreal ride.
AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Jackson Booth-Millard Based on the Oscar Wilde play, this remake of the 1947 film is apparently better, particularly with the choice of casting. The story revolves around political figure Sir Robert Chiltern (Enigma's Jeremy Northam) and his charming friend Lord Arthur Goring (Golden Globe nominated Rupert Everett). Chiltern's life with brilliant wife Lady Gertrude (Cate Blanchett) and support from sister Mabel (Minnie Driver) is perfect. But his and Arthur's lives are turned upside down by the arrival of old acquaintance Mrs. Laura Cheveley (Golden Globe nominated Julianne Moore) with blackmail in mind. It is an incriminating letter that Laura has to ruin the men's lives. Also starring John Wood as Lord Caversham, Lindsay Duncan as Lady Markby, Peter Vaughan as Phipps and The Living Daylights' Jeroen Krabbé as Baron Arnheim. The performances are good, and the visual part is good too, I admit I didn't pay full attention, maybe if I did I would rate it higher, but never mind. It was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Costume Design, Best Make Up/Hair and Best Adapted Screenplay. Good!
didi-5 'An Ideal Husband' comes to the big screen for the second time here as Jeremy Northam's Sir Robert Chiltern is blackmailed by Mrs Cheveley (Julianne Moore) because of a mistake in his past. Supported ably by Cate Blanchett as spotless Lady Gertrude, Rupert Everett as Lord Goring, John Wood as Goring's father, Lord Caversham, and Lindsay Duncan as Lady Markby, this version manages to be both entertaining and have a refreshing take on the play.Opened out from stage constraints as a film should be, this version is well-acted, energetic, but perhaps a little short on focus. 'An Ideal Husband' can be played seriously or as high farce; this film stumbles a bit before it decides which way to go.
Gordon-11 This film is about a lady blackmailing a respectable lord, causing many merry misunderstandings and mischiefs in the subsequent days.Oscar Wilde adaptations always lighten up my heart. They are witty, merry and brings a smile to your face. The secret to his plays is that the viewers know something the characters do not. It is the same in The Ideal Husband, where the viewers know quite many things more than Robert Chiltern does. The dialogs are witty and elegant. The sets are lavish and grand as I would expect from the nobles. The best of all is Cate Blanchett's acting, she is able to delivery a wide range of emotions throughout with relative ease. This film is certainly entertaining to watch.
Amy Adler Gertrude (Cate Blanchett) is an English aristocrat in the Edwardian era. She is very much in love with her husband, Robert (Jeremy Northam), a rising star in the British Parliament. Yet, an old schoolmate of Gertrude's, the conniving Laura (Julianne Moore) arrives back in town with a mission. She knows a secret about Robert that would bring about his ruin and decides to pressure him to support a government bill that would invest heavily in a Argentine adventure, one she has staked her money on as well. What can Robert do? He turns to a close friend, Lord Arthur (Rupert Everett) for help. Arthur, a rich and witty bachelor, offers what support he can. But, with women chasing him around every corner, including Robert's sister, Mabel (Minnie Driver), can Arthur devote the time required to saving his friend? And, will Gertrude have to be told about the blackmailing, causing her to lose some faith in the husband she thinks is "ideal"? This film, based on a play by Oscar Wilde, is a sophisticated and charming movie of the highest order. As such, it is replete with clever and mirthful lines, lovely costumes, beautiful sets, and memorable characters. As the principal actors, Blanchett, Northam, Everett, Driver, and Moore are excellence itself, laying doubt that anyone else could have filled their roles in a better manner. Yes, it is a dialogue-driven film but it is never stuffy or boring. If you have enjoyed such movies as Emma or A Merry War, this one is an ideal choice for your next film engagement. But, even if you are channel surfing and stumble across the flick on some lonely night, you will be drawn to its universal humor and humanity.