While the film retains the premise of Wilde's play and much of the original dialogue, it updates the action to the present day.
The external scenes of the film were shot at various locations in the English 'home counties', principally in Buckinghamshire Sir Robert Chiltern, a rich landowner, belongs to the English 'county set' and is a member of an (unnamed) local government authority somewhere north of London.
Well-off and with a loving and trusting wife, his honour and very existence are threatened when Mrs. Laura Cheveley appears with evidence of a past misdeed of Sir Robert's.
It transpires that Robert's wealth stems from insider trading concerning a proposed canal project at an unspecified location.
Lord Goring marries Robert's sister Mabel, Mrs. Chevely is outsmarted, and Lady Chiltern retains her faith in her husband's honour and 'idealism'.