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Original poster

Pride and Prejudice 1940 film on BBC4 ❤️

36 replies

LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 15:53

Just recommending - half an hour in and bliss!

(the book was too hard for me).

real actors, real characters, real scripts and not a Nicole Kidman in sight 😂

recommended so far :) ….

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 02/02/2024 15:56

I’ve just had a look and BBC4 doesn’t start until 7pm?

TeenDivided · 02/02/2024 15:59

Is that the one with the gigantic dresses?
Can't beat the BBC serialisation.

MrsBlueFly · 02/02/2024 16:00

It’s on the iplayer!

Turkeyhen · 02/02/2024 16:02

Laurence Olivier was a good Darcy wasn't he

PerkingFaintly · 02/02/2024 16:03

Oh the Olivier one?

Ludicrous dresses, but a rare example of a film which seriously diverges from the book but I still love! It's a thing of its own, and I highly recommend it!

PerkingFaintly · 02/02/2024 16:03

Turkeyhen · 02/02/2024 16:02

Laurence Olivier was a good Darcy wasn't he

Yes, wonderful!

Original poster
LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 16:14

PerkingFaintly · 02/02/2024 16:03

Oh the Olivier one?

Ludicrous dresses, but a rare example of a film which seriously diverges from the book but I still love! It's a thing of its own, and I highly recommend it!

Probably. Maybe I’ll tackle the book one day!

ps. to another poster, its not BBC serialisation, they can be hit and miss imo. Its a proper film made in 1940! It’s shown in BBC4 though.

OP posts:
Original poster
LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 16:17

It was shown yesterday. But I think I downloaded it, maybe on iPlayer. The media/tekkie stuff is a bit of a mystery to me, I just press alot of random buttons and things ….

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Original poster
LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 16:17

Yh, those dresses!!

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Lovingitallnow · 02/02/2024 16:19

I saw this last weekend and when Darcy says- I must remember not to patronize women in future I was out. I like my Darcies arrogant thank you. No humble pie for me

ODFOx · 02/02/2024 16:19

He was an awesome Darcy but she was a dreadful Lizzie. Random tinkling on the piano indeed!!

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LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 16:32

Wasn’t so sure in first scene, but I’m liking Lizzie … currently at the bow and arrow debacle! It’s quite humerous, romantic and knowing all at once.

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MrsMitford3 · 02/02/2024 16:34

ugh. I can't see it-which BBC channel??

Fuckthemall · 02/02/2024 16:35

Was on BBC 2 at the weekend

Fuckthemall · 02/02/2024 16:36

I was hoping for a bit of wet shirt Darcy and was bitterly disappointed.

Pemba · 02/02/2024 16:43

They changed the plot, how very dare they! Nobody would get away with that these days, Austen fans would be up in arms.

And a lot of over acting going on. Laurence Olivier made a good Darcy though. But those dresses! Completely wrong period.

The 1990s series with Colin Firth is the definitive version, as far as I am concerned.

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LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 16:46

Pemba you do sound like one of the characters! Not saying which one though ;-)

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PudgeControlsTheWeather · 02/02/2024 16:47

I watched this on iPlayer last week and enjoyed Olivier's Darcy (he was fairly smiley, and I do think that Darcy smiles a fair bit in the book). Not so sure about Greer Garson's Lizzie, either. The archery scene was just odd.

Also, it's the only P&P I've seen with a dark Jane and a fair Lizzie. Maybe because dark eyes and fair hair is a relatively unusual combination (and I don't know whether Austen tells us Lizzie's hair colour, but we do know about her beautifully expressive dark eyes).

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LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 16:48

But must return to my Friday afternoon film.

If anyone takes a look and enjoys it 🙌 I’m glad :)

ta-ra

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Pemba · 02/02/2024 17:18

LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 16:46

Pemba you do sound like one of the characters! Not saying which one though ;-)

Not Lady Catherine or Mrs Bennet?Grin

Come on, you have to say now!

F1ymetothetoon · 02/02/2024 17:27

I've tried watching that film on two separate occasions and each time bowed out after about half an hour. Colin Firth will always be my Darcy!

whatsappdoc · 02/02/2024 17:42

It's so dreadful you have to watch it. It's great for the posh accents and over the top costumes.

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LooksFancy · 02/02/2024 18:31

G*d there some lemon suckers on here.

Still, that’s MN for you, I see that more clearly now.

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VaddaABeetch · 02/02/2024 18:36

Mrs Bennett is far too old. The actress is late 60s. The character was probably only early 40s.

Precipice · 02/02/2024 18:50

VaddaABeetch · 02/02/2024 18:36

Mrs Bennett is far too old. The actress is late 60s. The character was probably only early 40s.

Most (all?) Lady Catherines are far too old too. In the 2005 version, Judi Dench was 71, but meant to have a daughter about Darcy's age (late 20s).

My favourite is the 1967 version. No DVD, but you can watch it all on youtube. I think it does well with the light teasing characteristic of Elizabeth and I like its Bingley sisters - but not its Georgiana (for some reason called Georgina), who runs out overwrought onto a balcony when Caroline mentions Wickham.