The Fan

Preferably before you watch this production I would urge all users to see what in my opinion is the definitive professional performance of this famous 1892 Wilde play which was televised in 1985 and which starred: Helena Little as Lady W., Tim Woodward as Lord W., Stephanie Turner as Mrs Erlynne, Kenneth Cranham as Lord Darlington and Sara Kestelman as the Duchess of Berwick.Yes all the famous quotes are there in this film:1."I can resist everything except temptation" 2."We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars"3."Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"4."What's a cynic?"- "A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing".

Having played Lord Henry Wooton (Oscar's alter ego in "The Picture of Dorian Gray"(1946) George Sanders again assumes this mantle of giving Oscar's aphorisms another tryout playing Lord Darlington.Unless American actors are skilled at British accents (e.g.Renee Zellweger, Gwyneth Paltrow etc.), I find they grate on me as does Jeanne Crain as Lady W.Seeing Richard Greene (Robin Hood from the famous UK 1950s TV series) playing Lord W.gave me a mild shock but Martita Hunt as the Duchess of Berwick was a pleasant surprise.

I don't like Hollywood versions of classic plays as it tends to add a superficial gloss on original British productions and add lines which are not consonant with the original text.I nevertheless enjoyed this film shown in its entirety on www.youtube.com and awarded it 6/10 as I was thrilled to see Madeleine Carroll playing Mrs Erlynne who I have admired since she played the female lead in Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" (1935).