MovieChat Forums > An Ideal Husband (1999) Discussion > The last act was confusing

The last act was confusing

posted 15 years ago by Milkyway123
6 replies | jump to latest

I must've missed something, as I was on the phone during some parts of the movie. The part I am referring to is the whole ordeal about Gerthrude and the letter to Goring. She had written those words: "When you left, my world fell about. I miss you" to Goring and not to her husband: Robert Chiltern! Right?

Cause I seem to recall a scene where Gerthrude says that she can't tell anyone that she planned a rendevouz with an uknown man... Then she admits to this and they all laugh at the end? I get the part "ooh, I lied too, I guess I am not the ideal wife either", hahaha. But who the recipient of the letter should be and all the story surrounding it confuses me. Anyone care to set it straight? Thanks!

[–] jadesliver 14 years ago

Goring promised Gertrude to protect HER reputation as a "respectable" married woman by not revealing to Arthur that she planned on visiting a bachelor at night to discuss her concerns about her husband. Mabel also took part in the deception, all without Gertrude's prior knowledge, but in her own personal interests of saving her ideal image in her husband's eyes played along. Until the end, when she realized that keeping up that facade was going to cost her sister-in-law, Mabel, the chance of marrying Arthur, since Goring would not allow it under the pretext of thinking Arthur was expecting Chevely in his place rather than the truth, expecting Gertrude for honest reasons of discussing the whole situation.

Maybe next time you should watch a movie and talk on the phone as separate activities, yes? One tends to miss important and subtle plot points by combining the two. What would Oscar Wilde say? Scandalous and in bad taste.

[–] Milkyway123 14 years ago

Hehe :)

I appreciate your answer, although I don't remember who was who and who did what :P

Despite being distracted on the phone, I thought the movie was great! Great actors, great story, great dialog (I'm reading a bit of Wilde now, and he has a distinctive trait: wit).
And to let you know, I was on the phone with my sick mother! Hahah. That sounds not likely, right? It sound so made-up: "I was on the phone with my sick mother, bohoo". But it's the truth. Even if she wasn't sick, I would always pick my mother instead of a movie! C'mon
Thanks again for your time and effort though.

[–] jadesliver 14 years ago

Of course you would choose your mother. I don't want to make you feel bad. :) I was actually just channeling the British accent and tone of admonishment of Wilde to be silly.
And to be completely honest, it took me several times to watch it to understand what was happening at that point. Also, that complete twist was NOT in the original Wilde play; Oliver Parker the director added it. Which I liked. But I am immersed in reading Wilde right now, he's so fantastic. Endlessly quotable. It's cool that you're reading him. Let me know what you like the most!
Happy reading!

[–] Milkyway123 14 years ago

Hahaha, ok

I definitely agree about his quotability :P A man very good with words. And to be good with words you have to love words, which has been my impression of his work (the little I have caught lately).

About Wilde, apparently "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was his only book (which is the one I am reading), so where does one get to read more Wilde? Besides poems that is. People must refer to his plays then, right? If so, how does one go about requiring his plays? Cause I must admit to never have seen how a play (on paper) looks. Is that even something you can read as you read a book? Do they sell it as a book? It may sound like a silly question, I don't know. But I have seen film scripts so I know how they are setup, but a play...? I imagine them being the same?

[–] jadesliver 14 years ago

As far as plays being published, often they do resemble scripts, although in original form they do not resemble screenplays at all. More plays are published than scripts. Just go to the play section in any bookstore. I have an edition of Oscar Wilde's plays that includes five of his: "Importance of Being Earnest", "Mrs. Windemere's Fan", "A Woman of No Importance", "An Ideal Husband" and "Salome." Besides "Dorian Gray" there is also a great volume I recently got called "The Collected Oscar Wilde" that includes his short fiction, essays, lectures, prose poems, verse poems, as well as a shorter, three-act version of "Earnest". It's an invaluable book if you want to delve deeper into Wilde's other works beyond his plays and novel; and what he has to say within his essays and lectures and reviews really can shed some light on his most famous works.

[–] Fleurus 9 years ago

Maybe next time you should watch a movie and talk on the phone as separate activities, yes? One tends to miss important and subtle plot points by combining the two. What would Oscar Wilde say? Scandalous and in bad taste.

Well put, and so witty !