The ongoing cultural examination of Oscar Wilde's life continues on May 1 with the American release of the Brian Gilbert film Wilde. The movie stars Stephen Fry in the title role of the famous Irish playwright and wit.
Fry -- who, in wig, reportedly bears a remarkable resemblance to Wilde -- is best known for his portrayal of the ultimate valet in Masterpiece Theatre "Wooster & Jeeves" series.
The film also stars Jude Law (Broadway's Indiscretions) as Wilde's lover Lord Alfred Douglas, and Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty) as the Marquess of Queensbury, Douglas' spiteful father who brings Wilde to disgrace. Gilbert's other credits include the T.S. Eliot bio-pic Tom & Viv.
Wilde's story is currently being told on New York stages in David Hare's The Judas Kiss (which opens April 29, two days before the film) and Moises Kaufman's Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.
-- By Robert Simonson
