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.

Jennifer Ehle was RUBBISH as Elizabeth. She just had that stupid simper on her screwed up face all the time, she was too old and heavy-looking for the "light" Elizabeth, and imvho she's not pretty at all, or certainly not in that series. In fact, I couldn't watch it at the time because of her. Jane also not right as others have said, not pretty enough. Mr Collins too old, Crispin B-H not attractive enough..... ooh, the list is endless. P&P is one of my favourite books and I thought the casting was dreadful in the main, CF aside.

Jennifer Ehle and CF were shagging though .

Getorf if I'm included as one of your favourites, you are forgiven!

Yes you are saggy

Mammonite I agree, Being Jane was really lovely, I watched it on iplayer recently, had not really heard of it. I am off to buy Persuasion, I hope I'm not disappointed!

Thanks to the Op for the thread, even though i don't agree with you!

This is for all the JA fans

Oh, how exciting! I may be some time...

Getorf loves me!

So pleased to see all the Persuasion lovers here! I think it's the most underrated of all JA's stuff. "I can listen no longer in silence. You pierce my soul". Love it, love it, love it- favourite book of all time.

The Ru-Penry-Jones version was possibly better cast in some ways (Captain Droolsworth was only supposed to be like 30), but possibly making them a bit older makes the story resonate more with a modern audience. Being 27/28 today is a lot different to back in the day when you were firmly on the shelf if you weren't married. Unless Cairan Hinds got you down for a good polishing.

As an aside, David Morrissey as Colonel Brandon. I would.

Carey Mulligan WAS Lydia, surely? In the KK film.

Carey Mulligan played Kitty in the KK one and was good. There was an American with a sticky-outy chin playing Lydia.

Why, thank you Psycho!

Gerof, you are shunned from polite society and shall go immediately to Bath, to droop around a fading mansion in the company of old spinsters and eccentric uncles, awaiting handwritten MN missives, which shall not arrive until you have been thoroughly made to regret your actions. In the words of Lady C, you give your opinions rather freely for one so young!

Those of you who are praising Becoming Jane - shame on you!

Really? Oh well, shows I have a promising career as a casting director. That, or I subconsciously registered the fact....but I could only watch that film the once, so I'll take your word fr it

The Lydia in the Kk film was useless.

I don't like Carey Mulligan. I deeply distrust all young gels with elfin crops (sinister, look at Mia Farrow)

David Rintoul who played Mr Darcy in the 1980 BBC adaption also plays Redbeard the Elf Pirate in Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.

I would love to see an adaptation of P+P where everyone cast was the age they were meant to be in the book. Wasn't Lizzie meant to be about 22? And Darcy not that much older? I mean Colin Firth was about 40 when they filmed that. I'm sure Mr Bennett wasn't meant to be as aged as Donald Sutherland.
Would engender a lot of media discussion if nothing else. (I love history docs about the Georgians...)

Yes, that would be excellent. So long as they kept the intelligence and didn't make it all yoofy like Being Human or some such tosh. I still can't identify myself as Mrs Bennet aged, rather than Lizzie aged, and it would be good to have an adaptation that let me look into that.

Would be interesting if everyone was cast the correct age! If Lydia really looked 14, it would really underline how Wickham was taking advantage of her (assuming he's supposed to be in his 20s?).

I know it's heresy but really didn't like Colin Firth as Darcy, not at all how I imagined him and too old in my view. Don't really understand why he's supposed to be so attractive anyway! I thought Kiera Knightley looked more like my idea of Lizzy, though she didn't act it terribly well unfortunately, JE probably acted better but didn't really look the part.

Or was Lydia a bit older than that...still she was very young, and Julia Sawahla in the BBC production must have been nearly 30, it just looked all wrong!

How old was Mrs Bennett meant to be?

I totally agree about the Wickham/Lydia perving. Because Julia Sawalha was about 30 when they filmed it, I'm sure. Young teenager my arse.

Oooh x-post ephiny!

I did like CF, I liked him a great deal, and my liking was not diminished by the breeches/buttoned up neckgear combo, nor when he wore riding boots and an absurdly tall and thrusting top hat.
But I agree, he wasn't Darcy, not really.

I've just ordered the 'special edition' P & P (CF one) because I want to watch it and realised I only have it on scattered VHS tapes. Anyway, through some links I came across mention of a BBC version of 1967 with Celia Bannerman. I can't see any footage on YouTube and wondered if anyone had any memories of it.