Rupert Everett has gone all-in.
Known for his scene-stealing turn opposite Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding, and for appearing in the stinker The Next Best Thing with Madonna, the actor has toiled in relative obscurity in recent years, taking on roles that granted him little notice, a development he has sometimes blamed on homophobia and his status as one of Hollywood’s highest profile gay men.
But now Everett is about to star in perhaps his highest profile role yet, ironically, about a very, very high profile gay man: The Happy Prince, a biography of Oscar Wilde that Everett wrote, directed and stars in.
Related: Dear Rupert Everett: We love you, but your movie with Madonna sucked
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For the uninitiated, Wilde remains one of the great figures of English Literature, and one of the first queer icons. Wilde lived as an out gay man in 19th century England, working as a playwright and author. He even took on a long-term boyfriend in Lord Alfred Douglas, and the two often appeared together in public. Wilde’s relationship with Douglas became his eventual downfall, as British courts convicted him of gross indecency during a time when homosexuality was criminalized. After a two-year prison stint, Wilde fell into ill health. He died three years after his release.
To warm up for The Happy Prince, and to honor Wilde as a man who lived an authentic life at a time when no gay person could (and Everett for being so unapologetic a century later), we’ve put together this modest screening list of the essential Wilde-related films.
Some deal with Wilde’s life, while others adapt his iconic works. Either way, get cozy, and prepare for some great gay wit.
The Happy Prince opens October 10.
1. The Picture of Dorian Gray
Classic Hollywood heavy-hitters Donna Reed, Peter Lawford and George Sanders head up this early adaptation of Wilde’s only novel, though the film really belongs to 20-year-old Angela Lansbury. For once Lansbury got the part of the pretty young girl, and an Oscar nomination to boot. A flop in its time, the early horror picture has since earned status as a classic, and one of the best-ever adaptations of Wilde’s cheeky creeper.
Streams on YouTube, iTunes, Amazon & Vudu.
2. Wilde
Stephen Fry gave one of the most overlooked performances in history with this indie gem from 1997. A biopic of its titular figure, the movie also features a very young Jude Law as Wilde’s boyfriend, Lord Alfred Douglas. Fry, better known as a comedian and essayist, gives a sublime performance that captures Wilde’s unyielding wit, and the heartbreak that overshadowed his life.
Streams on Vudu.
Related: Rupert Everett Is Oscar Wilde, AKA The Gayest Story Ever Told
3. The Trials of Oscar Wilde
Oscar winner Peter Finch took on the role of Wilde—with full homosexuality and effeminacy left intact—in this 1960 drama. That alone would make this film an anomaly, given the era, though it benefits all the more from a committed performance by Finch, and from John Frasier, who plays Alfred Douglas as the spoiled, unthinking twerp he actually was.
Streams on YouTube.
4. Velvet Goldmine
Ok, so at first glance, Todd Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine has more to do with David Bowie than Oscar Wilde. Wilde though, becomes a motif throughout, with Haynes likening the rocker persona of the cross-dressing Bryan Slade (a super hot and ever-bitchy Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Wilde seems to have inspired Slade to take on his space alien double identity as a way of becoming a pop idol: living fabulously, flamboyantly, and without apology for queerness. Trust us, see the movie.
Streams on YouTube, iTunes, Amazon & Vudu.
5. The Importance of Being Earnest
Director Oliver Parker put Rupert Everett to good use in another Wilde project, this one based on his much-beloved play. Everett joins Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench and Tom Wilkinson in a comedy of errors about mistaken identity, and young couples in love.
Streams on YouTube, iTunes, Amazon & Vudu.
The Happy Prince opens October 10.
Billy Budd
is this just a rehash of the movie WILDE, with Stephen Fry (Wilde) and Jude Law (Lord Alfred Bosie Douglas)?
Rupert’s face looks like a mess. He had too many plastic surgeries. He went too far.
misterjack
This is a great list! Love all these movies and look forward to seeing The Happy Prince.
graphicjack
Everett was also in An Ideal Husband with Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northrum, Minnie Driver and Julianne Moore. Great film. Should be added to this list.
domen8r
A better reporter or editor would have noted Everett’s history of playing Wilde in live stage production, or even his shared literary bent (so to speak) with his noted role. Still, I look forward to this film and will investigate that of Trials, which is new to me. The stage property sharing that title is excellent.
crowebobby
If I’ve already seen The Trials of Oscar Wilde, I’ve forgotten — one of the few perks of growing really old. Will watch it again tonight.?
ptb2016
Rupert Everett is superb as the Wilde going as fast as he can to oblivion after he is released from jail and goes to France to try to escape his infamy. But he soon runs short of money as he no longer has his talent intact and is severely depressed. His finances disappear when Bosie arrives in spite of warnings his allowance would be cut off if Oscar takes him back.
While sumptuously produced and beautifully acted, it is by its nature a pretty depressing film. Not much to laugh about during Oscar’s fast decline.
pdxdude_69
“The Happy Prince” is not a retread of “Wilde” and earlier films. It basically picks up where “Wilde” ended – which was just after Oscar Wilde’s release from prison. The new film tells the story of what happened after Wilde left gaol during the last years of his life.
petermd
Perhaps if he hadn’t had all that plastic surgery rendering him almost unrecognizable he wouldn’t have languished those years away…..just saying
neelykasavrett
Sorry. May be something wrong with my Chrome but i try to click video, but it does not work