The Importance of Being Earnest
Film Costume
1952
1952
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Lady Bracknell was Edith Evans' (1888-1976) best-known role. She performed it on the West End stage (on-and-off from 1939 to 1947), on film (1952) and on television (1960).
The 1952 film version, directed by Anthony Asquith, also starred Michael Redgrave as John Worthing, Joan Greenwood as Gwendolen Fairfax and Michael Denison as Algernon Moncreiff. It is considered to be the most successful screen adaptation of the play, with Evans' portrayal of Lady Bracknell seen as the defining performance of the character. This costume was worn during the scene in which she exclaims, 'a handbag?', a line delivery which has become iconic in film history.
The costume designer Beatrice Dawson (1908-1976) began her career in theatre in 1945 before going on to work on over sixty screen productions including The Prince and the Showgirl starring Marilyn Monroe. She was nominated for one Oscar and three BAFTAs during her career.
The 1952 film version, directed by Anthony Asquith, also starred Michael Redgrave as John Worthing, Joan Greenwood as Gwendolen Fairfax and Michael Denison as Algernon Moncreiff. It is considered to be the most successful screen adaptation of the play, with Evans' portrayal of Lady Bracknell seen as the defining performance of the character. This costume was worn during the scene in which she exclaims, 'a handbag?', a line delivery which has become iconic in film history.
The costume designer Beatrice Dawson (1908-1976) began her career in theatre in 1945 before going on to work on over sixty screen productions including The Prince and the Showgirl starring Marilyn Monroe. She was nominated for one Oscar and three BAFTAs during her career.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Importance of Being Earnest (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed silk, embroidery |
| Brief description | Costume worn by Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest film, 1952 |
| Physical description | Lilac and blue printed silk dress with taupe georgette fill-in and sleeves decorated with hand-painted velvet pansies. Contains a label with 'Bermans & Nathans 40 Camden Street London NW1 EDITH EVANS 'THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.' |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inside label: 'Bermans & Nathans 40 Camden Street London NW1 EDITH EVANS 'THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST' |
| Credit line | Given by Jennifer Hall |
| Summary | Lady Bracknell was Edith Evans' (1888-1976) best-known role. She performed it on the West End stage (on-and-off from 1939 to 1947), on film (1952) and on television (1960). The 1952 film version, directed by Anthony Asquith, also starred Michael Redgrave as John Worthing, Joan Greenwood as Gwendolen Fairfax and Michael Denison as Algernon Moncreiff. It is considered to be the most successful screen adaptation of the play, with Evans' portrayal of Lady Bracknell seen as the defining performance of the character. This costume was worn during the scene in which she exclaims, 'a handbag?', a line delivery which has become iconic in film history. The costume designer Beatrice Dawson (1908-1976) began her career in theatre in 1945 before going on to work on over sixty screen productions including The Prince and the Showgirl starring Marilyn Monroe. She was nominated for one Oscar and three BAFTAs during her career. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1010-2017 |
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| Record created | September 1, 2017 |
| Record URL |
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