 Thus it becomes apparent that his real name is also Ernest – as Lady Bracknell says, being the eldest son, he must have been named after his father.The film ends with Jack saying, “I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being earnest.”

The film is largely faithful to Wilde's text, although it divides some of the acts into shorter scenes in different locations.Edith Evans's outraged delivery of the line "A "hand"bag?"