'Exquisite' period drama with 'first rate' cast streaming on BBC now

An acclaimed Oscar Wilde adaptation boasting some of the most talented actors in Hollywood is now available to watch on the BBC's iPlayer.

Based on the 1895 play, An Ideal Husband was released in theaters in 1999. The acclaimed period drama was then selected as the Cannes Film Festival's closing film that same year.

The cast includes two-time Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, Rupert Everett, Julianne Moore, Minnie Driver, Peter Vaughan, Jeremy Northam, and John Wood. Director Oliver Parker also helmed the film versions of Shakespeare's Othello and Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.

Currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer,An Ideal Husband is the story of a respected and successful government official, Sir Robert Chiltern, who is a devoted husband with a loving wife. His friend, Lord Arthur Goring, however, is known to be a notorious womaniser who is living the ultimate bachelor life of meaningless flirtations, multiple illicit affairs, and idle philandering.

However, when their old acquaintance, Laura Cheveley, arrives in London with the intention of stirring up some trouble - the men's true natures are finally revealed as they find their lives intertwined.

With an 85 per cent critics' approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, An Ideal Husband received largely positive feedback from reviewers.

One said: "The exquisite teamwork and byplay make the film such a delight to watch."

While another remarked: "All the other performances - from Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Julianne Moore, John Wood and Peter Vaughan - are first rate."

A third wrote: "Quality comedy with a sprinkling of romance, skilfully assembled by a director with a clear feel for the material. Performances are universally great and the dialogue, of course, is superb."

While one critic complimented Parker's direction and said: "Smooth-flowing direction, a shrewdly pruned script and a top-flight ensemble cast that visibly relishes both the dialogue and one another's performances make this a tony item for upscale, mature audiences."

Another reviewer was left "thoroughly entertained", as they remarked: "The film moves from one scene of deliciously subtle humor to another. When you're not laughing out loud, you'll be grinning from ear to ear."

Audience reviews of the period drama were similar, with one viewer writing: "A delightful Oscar Wilde story with an all-star cast doing great work in a beautifully evoked period setting: that is a recipe for a delightful romantic comedy."

Another remarked that while An Ideal Husband may not be as famous as Oscar Wilde's other play - The Importance of Being Earnest - it was "actually a much more thought-provoking Oscar Wilde play moved to the big screen". The viewer continued: "At times uproariously funny and yet often thought-provoking and ultra-subtle. A truly great period piece."

Another audience review of the film reads: "A well-acted, sassy romantic comedy set in the appropriate timeline. The smart script has plenty of comedic twists and turns for everyone to enjoy."

An Idea Husband is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.