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Robert Morley as Oscar, well I never. Anyone seen it ?
Am after a couple of Oscar Wilde biopics that I haven't seen on TV for years. Be grateful if anybody has decent copies they're willing to make available?
They're both from 1960 (I think)
The Trial Of Oscar Wilde (with Peter Finch as Wilde)
Oscar Wilde (or The Life Of Oscar Wilde) (Robert Morley as Wilde)
I'm after both. Any help from this continually brilliant forum much appreciated (PM me if so)
Many thanks.
Robert Morley as Oscar, well I never. Anyone seen it ?
name='billy bentley']Robert Morley as Oscar, well I never. Anyone seen it ?
Yes have seen this and IMHO no t as good as the Peter Finch Trials of Oscar Wilde that came out arounf the same time, Roberrt Morly does not portray Wilde as sympathetically as Finch and also the film misses the great turn Lionel Jeffries does as the Marquess of Queensberry in TTOOW, truly scary !, particularly the scene where he is chasing Oscar around London in a cab.
name='billy bentley']Robert Morley as Oscar, well I never. Anyone seen it ?
name='dpgmel']Yes have seen this and IMHO no t as good as the Peter Finch Trials of Oscar Wilde that came out arounf the same time, Roberrt Morly does not portray Wilde as sympathetically as Finch and also the film misses the great turn Lionel Jeffries does as the Marquess of Queensberry in TTOOW, truly scary !, particularly the scene where he is chasing Oscar around London in a cab.
Morley was actually the first person ever to play Wilde (on stage in the 30s) but was a little too old when the film was made. I think he is better at capturing the epigramatic, witty Wilde than Finch. I also Finch is too obviously padded out and too obviously wearing a false nose and 'acting' the part of the witty society man. The Morley film is on a much smaller budget but I found it more compelling dramatically. The real advantage in the Finch film I felt was that John Fraser portrayed the malicous, cruel side of him which John Neville in the Morley film didn't because the script didn't allow for that.
I have The Trials of Oscar Wilde(Peter Finch).PM me if you are interested.
I saw the Trials of Oscar Wilde a long time ago but remember being impressed. I thought it was a lot better than the Stephen Fry film which didn't cover the trials very well at all and left me confused as to what had happened. I haven't see the Morley version.
Sadly, Trials was something of a box office disaster, resulting in its production company, Warwick, going out of business. Happily, co-producer Albert Brocolli's next project was Dr.No.
name='Lord Brett']Sadly, Trials was something of a box office disaster, resulting in its production company, Warwick, going out of business. Happily, co-producer Albert Brocolli's next project was Dr.No.
Interesting because I remember reading that there was a battle to get the films in 1960 into the cinemas first and the Morley one being on a lower budget (it ran out of money as can be seen from the ending) beat it. Sheridan Morley in his bio of his father said that his father's version was more successful. I had always been a bit dubious about the comment because Finch was more of a leading man than Morley. Might have been right all the time.
Both films have their strong points and their weaknesses but one thing they are equal on IMHO is the quality of the cast -
Robert Morley vs Peter Finch
John Neville vs John Fraser
Ralph Richardson vs James Mason
Edward Chapman vs Lionel Jeffries
Dennis Price vs Emyrs Jones
Phyllis Calvert vs Yvonne Mitchell
Alexander Knox vs Nigel Patrick
The Morley one, IIRC, has more genuine trial transcript, some of which must have raised a few eyebrows in 1960. In many ways it's a lot bolder than the Stephen Fry version which seemed to do everything it could to suggest that the only reason Oscar hung around with rent-boys was so he could read poetry to them
name='CaptainWaggett']The Morley one, IIRC, has more genuine trial transcript, some of which must have raised a few eyebrows in 1960. In many ways it's a lot bolder than the Stephen Fry version which seemed to do everything it could to suggest that the only reason Oscar hung around with rent-boys was so he could read poetry to them
Yes, methinks Stephen Fry did poetaste too much in the role.
I like both Morley and Finch versions. Both had good casts and the scripts were equalling interesting. I found the Fry version (although he was perfect in the role) to be too concerned with what went on in private rather than concentrate on the known facts. Therefore we ended up with a rather unconvincing and disjointed effort.
"The Trials of Oscar Wilde" wins hands down for me. Visually it looks superb and is streets ahead of the Morley version and the more recent Fry outing, pardon the pun. Ken Hughes had Ken Adam on the production design for "The Trials of Oscar Wilde" and Ted Moore photographing the whole thing in "Super Technirama" For me it is a visual stunner as well as the acting and script being very good. I think critically it did quite well especially in Europe but I don't think it was accepted because of the subject matter. It didn't make its money back but I think the budget was pretty hefty to begin with.
I know the Finch one was released on VHS, was it ever released on DVD ?
Was the Morley version even released at all ?
name='CaptainWaggett'] In many ways it's a lot bolder than the Stephen Fry version which seemed to do everything it could to suggest that the only reason Oscar hung around with rent-boys was so he could read poetry to them
There's another reason to hire them? Egad...
Vincent Price played Wilde in a one man show called Diversions and Delights from the mid 70s onwards.
I imagine he would have been far too old but it would have interesting to see it...
name='billy bentley']I know the Finch one was released on VHS, was it ever released on DVD ?
Was the Morley version even released at all ?
The Morley one was last seen in this country on C4 one afternoon in the late 80s IIRC
name='dremble wedge']Vincent Price played Wilde in a one man show called Diversions and Delights from the mid 70s onwards.
I imagine he would have been far too old but it would have interesting to see it...
He was too old and I would guess too slender but it was a success and he would have the vocal facility to give a memorable performance.
Donald Sinden did the one man show in this country when he was too old but again a magnificent vocal facility (which helps in one man shows)
But I think most of you will agree that Stephen Fry's version came close to perfection as a portrayal of Wilde himself - ignoring the areas covered (or not covered) by all the different versions.
Was there anyone ever better suited to step into Wilde's shoes than Stephen Fry?
Steve
Is there a book/memoir on Morley ? If so anyone read it ?
name='billy bentley']Is there a book/memoir on Morley ? If so anyone read it ?
Sheridan Morley wrote one about his father - its a generous bio and a kind and affectionate one which celebrates his fathers life enhancing wit and often erratic career - you can buy it ebay and amazon quite cheaply and it is an entertaining read.
Many thanks Windthrop. I'm still hoping someone might have a copy of the flick.
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