Film Snail

6.3

The Happy Prince

R·2018·101m

Drama

Summary

In 1895, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was the most famous writer in London, and Bosie Douglas, son of the notorious Marquess of Queensberry, was his lover. Accused and convicted of gross indecency, he was imprisoned for two years and subjected to hard labor. Once free, he abandons England to live in France, where he will spend his last years, haunted by memories of the past, poverty and immense sadness.

Cast

Rupert Everett

Oscar Wilde

Colin Firth

Reggie Turner

Emily Watson

Constance Wilde

Colin Morgan

Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas

Edwin Thomas

Robbie Ross

Franca Abategiovanni

Felice's Mother

Alister Cameron

Mr. Howard

Anna Chancellor

Mrs. Arbuthnott

Béatrice Dalle

Café Concert Manager

Tom Colley

Maurice Gilbert

Johanna Kirby

Nurse

André Penvern

Monsieur Dupoirier

Ronald Pickup

Judge

Matteo Salamone

Leon

Antonio Spagnuolo

Felice

John Standing

Dr. Tucker

Benjamin Voisin

Jean

Tom Wilkinson

Father Dunne

Julian Wadham

Mr. Arbuthnott

Caterina D'Andrea

Carmela

Manu Asencio

Hotel Sandwich Bellboy

Jean-Luc Bubert

Man with Tart

Oliver Cater

Cyril Holland Aged 11

Cyril Cordonnier

Café de la Paix Waiter

Thierry de Coster

Henri the Waiter

Eleonora Costadura

Felice's Wife

Jacky Druaux

Hotel Sandwich Manager

Laurent D'Elia

Rouen Station Announcer

Raffaele Gargiulo

Michela

Patrick Hannaway

Burly Man

Aaron Henke

Vyvyan Holland Aged 3

Hans-Jürgen Honikel

Surgeon

Jerry Joner

Hôtel de la Plague Manager

Alexis Julemont

Hotel Sandwich Attractive Waiter

Kit Loyd

Undergraduate #2

Joshua McGuire

Ambrose Smithers - Undergraduate #1

Vincenzo Messina

Peppino

Philip Noel

Top Hat #2

Teodoro Petti

Cimitero delle Fontanelle Guide

Arnaud Peiffer

Hotel Sandwich Bellboy

Lo Polidoro

Café Concert Singer

Gerard Rocher

Old Priest

Werner Rößler

Marquess of Queensberry

Malo Scheen

Bosie's New Boyfriend

Toby Sherborne

Prison Warden

Philipp Spiegel

Café Concert Waiter

Yannick Thor

Cyril Holland Aged 4

Christian Tye

French Poet

Sarah Vandenabeele

Rouen Station Passerby

Dylan Waters

Vyvyan Holland Aged 10

Sam Barrett

Undergraduate #3

Howard Perret

Undergraduate #4

Sam Perry

Undergraduate #5

Torren Simonsz

Undergraduate #6

Giacomo Giorgio

Fisherman at Christmas Party

Giovanni Scotti

Fisherman at Christmas Party

Crew

Director, Screenplay

Rupert Everett

Reviews

Geronimo1967

May 30, 2024

It is odd how many gents convicted of some form of sexual "deviance" in the 19th century ended their days in penury in rural France. This film looks at the last few years of one of the most famous, and successful - and Rupert Everett directs his own portrayal of Oscar Wilde like a natural. Emily Watson and Colin's Firth and Morgan lend a capable hand as this tale of his decline both morally and physically takes shape. It's beautifully shot, and has a steady narrative that illuminates his absinthe-fuelled demise sensitively, but not especially sentimentally. He was only 46 when he died of meningitis, but this film gives quite a lot of insight into what he packed into this relatively brief lifespan!