The Trials of Oscar Wilde
Directed by Ken Hughes
Written by Ken Hughes from a book by Montgomery Hyde and a play by John Furnell
1960/UK
Warwick Film Productions/Warwick Production/Viceroy Films Ltd.
First viewing/YouTube
[the Marquis of Queensbury hands an insulting bouquet of vegetables to Oscar Wilde] Oscar Wilde: How charming. Every time I smell them I shall think of you, Lord Queensbury.
My second film about the trials of Oscar Wilde in as many days. This one had a bigger budget, color, and somewhat more finesse going for it.
At the height of Oscar Wilde’s (Peter Finch) popularity as a playwright, he has the misfortune of meeting Oxford student Lord Alfred Douglas, known as “Bosie” to his family and friends. Douglas is in an ever lasting feud with his mad (in more ways than one) father, the Marquis of Queensbury. It seems to be a one sided relationship, with Douglas more interested in Wilde’s money than his affection.
Queensbury relentlessly persecutes Wilde and more than once is the public victim of the writer’s barbed wit. Finally he can take no more and sends the infamous note addressed to “Oscar Wilde posing as a sodomite”. This leads to history’s disastrous libel suit and tragic consequences for Wilde. With James Mason as Queensbury’s defense attorney and Nigel Patrick as Wilde’s attorney.
This film leaves it more ambiguous as to whether Wilde actually had sexual relations or a more platonic intention toward the many youths he cultivated. His relationship with his wife seems much closer as well. Much of the dialogue duplicates that in Oscar Wilde (1960) confirming my suspicion that it was taken directly from the trial transcript. (Apparently each film was racing to come out first.) The acting is equally good. I would give the edge to Finch, though neither Finch nor Morley remotely resembles the playwright.
Clip – “the love that dare not speak it’s name”
