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.

Blimey, Getorf, I thought we were as one on all things. It seems not.

You are BU and have clearly been drinking

It all makes sense now. I've seen t'other thread. You've got brain botulism.

I feel the need to tell you that another MNer sent me a text (largeginandtonic) indignant about this thread and asking if I'd seen it.

The country is incensed Gerrof.

I love them all, any version and I think Becoming Jane should have honourable mention as well.

I think the film of Pride and Prejudice is very good if only they had cast anyone else in the lead parts - Lizzie, too thin and stary, Darcy, too scruffy. The sister-in-law was very strange too, as if she'd been transplanted from the 21st century like Lost in Austen.

no no YABU it is fab. I would watch it every weekend if my kids and DH would let me! Love love love the proposal scene, and Mr Collins is a gem.

I may go and watch it now. FGS Getorf, is nothing sacred? I shall be muttering about this all night now.

And wasn't Mr Collins in 'The King's Speech' too?

Wet shirt scene daft???? The wet shirt scene is beautiful

Now I need to read the rest of the thread

YAB MASIVELY U! I watched the series again this weekend, and then watched the last film with Keira Knightly. The series is a hundred, no a million times better than the film. Firstly it is much more loyal to the book -of course it is dated, it's 200 years old! That is the point of a period drama, surely. If you want modern drama then watch Sex in the City!

Secondly, the series stays much more in line with the tone and mores of the time. There is no way Lizzy would have said and done many of the things she did in the 2005 film, like cavorting through the countryside in a nightie in the early morning!

The wet shirt scene is v pleasant but I prefer the next scene when he's dressed in his lovely green coat and being all affable. It's the beginning of the best bit.

I have just watched Ep 1 of BBC P&P - all your fault Getorf!

I do think Jane is more beautiful. She comes across as so sweet and gentle. But I do see the point that she is not head-and-shoulders better looking than Elizabeth. I wondered at the time whether she was cast because her looks were more in tune with beauty in the "regency" era. Now, bearing in mind it was made in 1995, I'd wonder if it was down to the continuing popularity at the time of the Princess Diana sort of look. I'd speculate that tall fairish blondes with long noses were considered far more attractive when Diana was alive than they are now, as fashions in looks have changed. Just a theory.

They say that a period drama or film says more about the time it was made than the time it is supposed to be set in. So what does the fact that this was made in 1995 say about the time? You have the tall, fair, Diana-ish-looking, gentle, not-too-bright girl, falling in love with a man above her in social status. He seems to be looking for someone just like her. His family and friends appear to like her and encourage the match but actually are scheming to stab her in the back, ridicule her and put him off her. Just saying, like . . .

I luff it and S&S (Ang Lee version). that bit with Alan Rickman

God, I'm such a cliche.

Excellent theory, Balloonslayer

Really interesting reading!

So if you were to recast P&P who would you have in each role? (you can have CF looking like he did in 1995 etc)

I am still open-mouthed, BTW

I'd like to play Lizzie but I'm not charismatic enough. So can I play Mr Collins?

I'm actually going to think about it and come back.

Oh yes, Suepublybilt. I adore S&S! I adore the Rickman! How Marianne could want Willoughby over Brandon I'll never know!

I want to hear bibbity's story

Well I'd have Christopher Plummer (as his Captain Von Trapp character) as Mr Darcy. No contest.

Hugh Grant as Wickham? Reprising the 'Wickham' character in BJ.

Girls hmm...

I vote Carey Mulligan for Lizzie. I'll have to have a think about the others.

Edina (Ab Fab) as Mrs B?

Hocus you made me snort my coffee!

Apologies to Hardcheese, I am guilty of the "austins".

Hard to believe Alan Rickman was around 50 when S&S was filmed, so age wise, casting him is probably true to the novel. Kate Winslet can't have been more than 21 or 22. Yet, he is still sex in breeches and their eventual match is utterly believable, so clever casting indeed.

I'm going to assume you lot are all Ewan McGregor fans

Mr Darcy : Young Jeff Bridges

yum yum

Brilliant theory Balloonslayer.

Actually, scrap that. Carey can be the vivacious Lydia. I'd like Claire Foy to play Lizzie- you know, she was in Little Dorrit and The Promise. Fabulous feisty actress.

I also love the 1995 adaption of Persuasion, with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds. I think Persuasion is now my favourite Austen novel.

Was there something about 1995? Or maybe it's just my age. Am I turning into those old ladies who used to rant about how wonderful the Forsyt Saga was?