An Ideal Husband

"He just doesn't know it yet."

1999 1h 37m EN

😐

6.5

MID

★6.5TMDB · 229

DramaComedyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful government minister, well-off and with a loving wife. All this is threatened when Mrs Cheveley appears in London with damning evidence of a past misdeed. Sir Robert turns for help to his friend Lord Goring, an apparently idle philanderer and the despair of his father. Goring knows the lady of old, and, for him, takes the whole thing pretty seriously.

“He just doesn't know it yet.”

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Cast

Cate Blanchett
Lady Gertrude Chiltern
Minnie Driver
Miss Mabel Chiltern
Rupert Everett
Lord Arthur Goring
Julianne Moore
Mrs. Laura Cheveley
Jeremy Northam
Sir Robert Chiltern
Peter Vaughan
Phipps
Ben Pullen
Tommy Trafford
Marsha Fitzalan
Countess

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Oliver Parker
Writers: Oliver Parker
Languages: English
Countries: France, United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Oliver Parker, shot by David Johnson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Charlie Mole. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Guy Bensley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Cate Blanchett and Minnie Driver and Rupert Everett carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "He just doesn't know it yet.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0122541 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Oliver Parker directs. David Johnson behind the camera. Charlie Mole scores. Guy Bensley cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in France, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

127 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 3 countries: France, United Kingdom, United States of America.
3Directed by Oliver Parker, shot by David Johnson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Charlie Mole. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Guy Bensley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Cate Blanchett and Minnie Driver and Rupert Everett carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "He just doesn't know it yet.".
8IMDB entry: tt0122541 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: David Johnson
Original score: Charlie Mole
Editing: Guy Bensley
Production design: Michael Howells
Costume design: Caroline Harris
Makeup / hair: Paul Gooch
Sound: Adrian Rhodes
Runtime: 97 min · 1h 37m
Status: Released
Budget: $14,000,000
Box office: $18,500,000
Return: 132% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: An Ideal Husband (1999)

Awards

London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Oliver Parker

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2024-02-15
★ 6/10
"Sir Robert Chiltern" (Jeremy Northam) is a British cabinet minister with a secret! He is determined that it remain exactly that - from his wife (Cate Blanchett) and from his political masters. Perhaps not too shrewdly, he turns to his rather underwhelming pal "Lord Goring" (Rupert Everett) whom he knows is well acquainted with his new found nemesis "Mrs. Cheveley" (Julianne Moore). With a parliamentary debate fast looming, and "Sir Robert" - in his role as a junior minister having a crucial role in a substantial government investment in Argentina - having to endorse or not, he finds himself in quite a quandary. Meantime, of course, "Goring" must try to help his friend whilst dealing with issues of his own with a disapproving father (John Wood) and poor old "Mabel" (Minnie Driver). What ensues here now is a lovely piece of Oscar Wilde satire that shines a light on a flawed political establishment with which he was probably quite well acquainted, and in which Rupert Everett shines. Though featuring only sparingly, he deftly portrays this outwardly lazy and spoilt gent with quite an engaging skill as we discover he is nowhere near as much of the hapless rake as he would have folks believe. His night of the visitors - when he must jig from room to room adopting a differing persona each time is really quite good fun to watch - and quite plausible too. The problem here is the rest of the ensemble. It's one of these sum of the parts scenarios. The big names are there, but the characters aren't. Moore really doesn't exude the Machiavellian nastiness I wanted from her and there's only so many times I can watch Blanchett do that thing with her eyes that is meant to suggest a myriad of emotions. Northam was only ever really adequate and here he fares no better, despite having a strong character to work with. I still think Wilde works best on the stage - there's a spontaneity there that makes his works sing. Here, it really only sort of murmurs with the odd potent spluttering of humour now and again. Looks splendid, though.

Production companies