The consensus in the comments posted above is that Ernest's entrance is the high point of the film;
but--can anyone have failed to notice?-- perceptions of 'Ernest' vary wildly.
Is he a 'happy individualist' whose liberated exuberance was protected by the society in which he lived?
or is he 'prime evidence of vile gay stereotyping', a pitiful victim of a 'bigoted society'?
or are these evaluations really more about the people making them?
I have to vote happy individualist! He MAKES the film the awesome treat it is and shows that then, as now, rich bourgeois ladies of title know that no party is really any 'fun' without a flamboyantly gay dance instructor. sure he's over the top, but so what? Anyway, George Cukor, one of the most daringly forward gay directors in Hollywood, was behind it all, so I vote GO GET EM, ERNEST!
shareI had never seen the entire film until last night on TCM. I was always under the impression there was much more Ernest in "Our Betters" than there really is. I wanted more Ernest.
I wonder, was the character in the original play?
Was the character played for laughs as gay?
He's awesome..... like all gays...some are effeminate some are very manly.The question we should ask is why a man who is more girl like is a negative! BS misogyny.....????????
shareVerbumctf. What do you define a "happy individualist" as? What is your opinion of "Ernest"?
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