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Theatregoer Magazine Article and Film Poster from the side of a Popcorn
Container BBC News Online Stars turn out
for Earnest premiere Dame Judi, wearing a black trouser suit, with an orange scarf, signed autographs for the crowds before entering the Odeon West End in Leicester Square for the screening. This new adaptation of the classic Wilde play about mistaken identity, has an all star cast which also includes British actors Colin Firth and Tom Wilkinson, and Legally Blonde star Reese Witherspoon. Dame Judi Dench plays the pivotal role of Lady Bracknell while her daughter, Finty Williams, appears as a younger version of her character. It is the first fully-fledged Ealing Studios production s for over 40 years, and will also be screened as the opening film at the first ever Ealing Film Festival on Thursday night. Other stars arriving at the premiere included Frances O'Connor, who plays Gwendolen, Anna Massey (Miss Prism) and Tom Wilkinson, who recreates the role of Reverend Chasuble. But Colin Firth (John Worthing) was filming in France and unable to get away to be at the premiere - much to his fans' disappointment. Fan Elaine Magee, 22, a student at Queen's University, in Belfast, had planned her trip to the premiere months in advance, rearranging flight times and arriving at the screening four hours early - only to be told Firth could not make it. "I am absolutely gutted," she said. "I guess all we can do is go back home tonight and watch Pride and Prejudice one more time." The film's director, Oliver Parker said he wanted to translate a "beautiful production" from the stage to the cinema, allowing film audiences throughout the world to revel in the brilliance of Oscar Wilde. He said: "It was fairly easy to cast and a lot of people were very attracted to the material and I hope that An Ideal Husband gave them the confidence that I would give it a good shot. "It all fell into place very well." Mr Parker said that it was necessary to take "a few risks" to reinvent the classic for film audiences and to ensure that it was not done "a disservice". "One of the great privileges of doing this is to bring Wilde to the wider audiences," he said. Everett, who returned from inside the cinema on two occasions to the rapturous applause of the waiting fans, described the film as a "Carry-On", saying: "It's a really funny English story." Other celebrities attending the glittering bash included Helena Bonham Carter, Ruby Wax and Angus Deayton. The Importance Of Being Earnest opens in the UK on 6 September.
Press Association Dame Judi Wows 'Earnest' Fans By: Paul Sims, PA News Dame Judi Dench wowed thousands of waiting fans when she arrived for the glittering premiere of her latest film, The Importance of Being Earnest - without a handbag. Not even the appearance of Rupert Everett on a Soho rickshaw could snatch the limelight from the screen legend who immediately rewarded the crowd with a quick walkabout last night. Wearing a black trouser suit, with an orange scarf over the left shoulder, she immediately began to sign autographs and pose for photographs. Dame Judi, who plays Lady Bracknell in the film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners, smiled broadly and chatted to fans before turning her attention to the night's main attraction. After a few twirls for the media she made her way into the Odeon West End cinema, in Central London, followed closely by her daughter and co-star Finty Williams, who plays the young Lady Bracknell.
Thanks to Cindy Lou F.
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