Oscar Wilde on Film

Oscar Wilde left such a colorful literary and personal legacy, that it comes as no surprise to learn that his work and life have been portrayed on screen many times over. The vivid, witty characters he created for the stage became a perfect fit for the medium of film, where they allowed screenwriters and directors to offer a fresh take on some of the stage’s most well-known characters. Equally, Wilde’s flamboyant rise to glory in the glittering society of late-Victorian London, followed by his infamous downfall, has fascinated audiences since the mid-twentieth century. This guide will explore some of the most significant cinematic dramatizations of Wilde’s plays and how his life and downfall have been portrayed on screen.

Terminology

• Aestheticism: An art movement in the late-nineteenth century which promoted the aesthetic value of literature, music, and the arts over their socio-political functions.
• Dandy: A man who gave exaggerated attention to personal appearance.
• Victorian: Relating to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) or a person who lived in the Victorian era.