During the opening credits Lord Goring's valet opens his bedroom door and then *ahem* discreetly turns his head while a woman slips out of the bed and off the right edge of the screen. The woman has long reddish-blonde hair and could *possibly* be Cate Blanchett. Could be ironic - although I really want to think that Lord and Lady Goring are as perfectly in love as they appear. Does anyone know for sure?
sharePersonally, I don't think this is supposed to be an oblique reference to Cate Blanchett as Lady Gertrude. It is supposed to show Lord Goring as something of a "lad", or what used to be called a rake.
shareRemember when Robert and Arthur are talking in the sauna about Gertrude? I think Arthur may have loved Gertrude (or had an affair) with her. Some men I know had one great love of their life, and when she slipped thru their fingers, they only dated other women who looked like her. Example: Lucy and Desi. Just an idea
shareWell, as far as Wilde's play is concerned, there is no hint whatsoever that Goring and Lady Chiltern may have had an affair.
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I agree with your conclusion. Lord Goring is in his 30s and straight
(important that he be straight otherwise he would not be an eligible candidate as a husband). Well, if he had NOT had any affairs "on the side" by the time he is in his mid-30s then he would not be straight; the movie was just showing what we already knew-regardless of whether or not we strictly approve of his actions.
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I definitely don't think it was either Lady Chiltern in person, or a reference to her.
The scene in the sauna later in the movie where Goring says, "Besides, you took the only good woman I know; took her right out of my arms, if I remember."
Sir Robert replies, "Which of course you don't."
To me, this implies that possibly Goring did have a sincere affection for Gertrude at one time, but possibly never attempted to woo her; thus Robert won the prize. Consequently, Sir Robert didn't actually take Lady Gertrude away from Goring, but there is still affection and sense of loss in the case.
Also, there is just no way that Lady Chiltern was cheating on her husband. A) she's definitely not that kind of woman, B) her ideals for herself are so high that she can barely tolerate either lying or admitting to it - cheating on your husband requires a very deep and abiding affinity for lying, and C) Lady Chiltern acts towards Lord Goring as a sister to a brother; not as to a lover.
I think she looks like the actress that Lord Goring if flirting with later on in the movie. She had rather reddish hair. I never once got the impression that it was Gertrude. I think it was just meant to show that he was a philanderer and womanizer.
shareAbsolutely! For one thing, Gertrude's hair color isn't the same.
John 3:16