An Ideal Husband (1999)

Cate Blanchett as: Lady Gertrude Chiltern

Director: Oliver Parker
Selected Cast: Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett, Julianne Moore & Jeremy Northam
Written by: Oliver Parker (Based on Oscar Wilde’s play of the same title)
Release Year: 1999
Genre: Comedy / Romance
MPAA Rating: PG-13

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Sir Robert Chiltern is a respected government official and a loving husband. His friend, Lord Arthur Goring, is a notorious womanizer who lives a life of casual lounging, meaningless flirtations and multiple illicit affairs. But when old acquaintance Laura Cheveley arrives in London to stir up trouble, the lives of the two men become increasingly complicated and intertwined, and their true natures are revealed.

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Photoshoot by Peter Marlow; On set
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Quotes from Cate Blanchett

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Quotes from Others

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Quotes by Cate Blanchett’s character, Lady Gertrude Chiltern

  • Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “Yes, Arthur, it is Robert himself who wishes to retire from public life.”
    Lord Arthur Goring (Rupert Everett): “Rather than risk losing your love, he would do anything. Has he not been punished enough?”
    Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “We’ve both been punished. I set him up too high.”
    Lord Arthur Goring: “Do not set him down now too low.”
  • Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “The truth is, when I agreed to the story about the letter being intended for you and not for Arthur… well, the truth is… the truth is… I lied. Oh, I need a drink!”
  • Lord Arthur Goring: “Gertrude, it is not the perfect, but rather the imperfect who have need of love.”
    Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “You seem to know a great deal about it all of a sudden.”
    Lord Arthur Goring: “Oh, I hope not. All I know, Gertrude, is that it takes great courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it. And even more courage to see it in the one you love. Gertrude, you have more courage than any woman I have ever known. Do not be afraid now to use it.”
  • Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “Oh, Arthur… what a good friend you are to him, to us.”
    Lord Arthur Goring: “Yes, but we’re not out of danger yet. In fact, I believe there’s a rather popular saying about frying pans and fires, except now it is you and I, dear Gertrude, who are to be roasted.”
  • Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “Lord Goring, you are talking quite seriously.”
    Lord Arthur Goring: “You must forgive me, Lady Chiltern. It won’t occur again.”
    Lady Gertrude Chiltern: “No, I like you to be serious.”
    Miss Mabel Chiltern (Minnie Driver): “Gertrude, please don’t say such a dreadful thing to Lord Goring. Seriousness would be very unbecoming to him. Good morning, Lord Goring. Pray be as trivial as you can.”

Trivia & Facts

  • Filmed in England.
  • Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations, view here.
  • The film premiered Out of Competition and was the closing film at 52nd Cannes Film Festival on 23 May 1999.
  • Cate Blanchett and Julianne Moore are both in The Shipping News (2001) and I’m Not There (2007).
  • The play attended by the characters in the movie is Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. The tall, older man that addresses the audience from the stage at the end of the play represents Wilde who did in reality address the audience when his play first debuted.
  • The green carnation that Arthur selects for his buttonhole is a subtle homage to Oscar Wilde. Wilde and his “inner circle” of gay friends used to wear green carnations as a way of discreetly displaying their sexuality.

Cannes Film Festival photocall and premiere, 23 May 1999