Wilde

by Julian Mitchel, Stephen Fry (Contributor)

Provides the screenplay for a dramatization of the life of Oscar Wilde, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the film's production

239 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads quite well, but it is the script of the “final version”, not the shooting script, which I think means that it has been edited down to match the movie as it was seen in theaters. The introduction by Stephen Fry is, of course, quite funny and interesting, and the afterword by scriptwriter Julian Mitchell is also, with additional insights into how movies are made, especially those which live or die by their cast.

Biographical films have special problems, some technical, some moral… You merge two or three minor characters into one for convenience (and to make a better part so you can get a better actor). You invent people to put across points of view you think you need, but which no one at the time was obliging enough to express.

The script itself was far more enjoyable to read than I expected it to be. Even the captions of the photographs should be read, as a few of them depart from a literal description of what the photo contains.

The first part of the movie is interspersed with readings from The Selfish Giant; the ending with readings from Reading Gaol. And the endpapers consist of mirror images of Oscar Wilde/Stephen Fry reclining on a couch, so that he’s holding hands with himself. This is probably Significant.

I enjoyed the movie, and I enjoyed the added insight into if that the script and other material here provide.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and I think (from other books etc that I've read) fairly accurate.