to think that the classic Pride and Prejudice costume drama with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is actually...um...CRAP?

[GetOrfMo1Land]

When it came out in 1995 I was addicted as anybody.

But - 16 years later it is very dated and a bit naffola, really.

Really dozy acting in some bits, and all typical twee BBC costume drama. Someone says something mildly shocking and you have the 5-way reaction shots of everyone in the room.

And the but where it goes all misty when Darcy is reading out his letter to Elizabeth is cringingly silly.

It's a bit rubbish really, or at best very of its time.

Sacrilege !!!

Come and talk about it www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1310141-to-think-that-the-classic-Pride-and-Prejudice-costume-drama-with-Colin-Firth-and-Jennifer-Ehle-is-actually-um-CRAP

no no no no no no i watched it recently and still thought it was fab. so much so i bought it. it is dated but when i watched the new film version they missed so much out i was disappointed, it still rocks and no one can beat colin firth or being a total english arse.

DUH.

meant to post that on another thread

I still love it, LOVE IT. at least Jennifer Ehle doesn't enter the room with her chin.

Sacrilege indeed! I love it!

Have I told you my Andrew Davies story?

I don't remember it as being anything special. It just got this huge afterlife thanks to the Bridget Jones book. The wet shirt scene is a bit daft and Colin Firth is nowhere near as gorgeous as Mr Darcy (not that anyone is).

I really didn't like Keira Chinley in the other P&P, but I loved Donald Sutherland, Kelly Reilly and the general air of grubbiness.

They did leave a lot out of the film. Mind you they got a lot wrong with the BBC one, Mr Collins is supposed to be a youngster, and he is played by an old git. Plus I didn't rate Alison Steadman in it.

I love it, I have no idea why you would say something like this, HOW DARE YOU?

lol at entering the room with your chin.

What is your Abdrew Davies story?

What's the Andrew Davies story?

And Wickham is completely unappealing in the BBC one.

BOF - spill!

Is it similar to the stand up comedian story

Also, Mr Collins in it was only about 40, so not THAT old. I think he's great in it.

was he only 40! God I would have said mid 50s, poor sod.

He is funny in it but slightly too ridiculous, and puts a different spin on the character being middle aged as opposed to just young and very pompous.

YABVVVVU

No? Well.

When I was about 19 I was life modelling for an adult education class in Leamington Spa. There was one bloke there who really gave me the creeps- his eyes were all shark-like and he had the sort of lips that would accumulate spittle at the edges.

During the break, one of the female students told me not to look at his crotch. Yeah, thanks for that. Ever since then, I couldn't fail to notice that he would paint with a raging hard-on.

Years later, when P&P came out, I saw his picture in the Radio Times. Yup, it was Andrew Davies

I am always unsurprised by his gratuitous addition of sex scenes to the Classics.

Oh my GOD!

So when he gave the screen directions to Colin Firth (when she is walking through mud speak to Elizabeth as if you have an erection) he was possibly musing about your 19 year old self

Yeuch. Remember the bit in Bridget Jones when Colin Firth says that Davies gave him the direction to "Imagine that Mr Darcy has an erection, but don't worry we won't focus on it so no acting required in that department."

Exactly

I am open mouthed at the Andrew Davies story!

Anyway .... no, no no, the BBC adaptation is by far the best and I absolutely love it. Very nicely underplayed (save for Alison Steadman as Mrs Bennet - but her portrayal is perfect for the character), and so much chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Its just perfect.