To think that Jane Austen would be spinning in her grave...

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

If she could see 'no tits' Knightly playing Elizabeth Bennet?! And as for Matthew Mcfaddyan [sp] he just spends the entire film looking like he's had a bucket of water dumped over his head!

Persuasion is the best film.

The bit at the end where Anne is running breathless around The Crescent (is that what you call it?) in Bath. Marvellous.

And Captain Wentworth is lovely and sexy.

I like the KK version not because of Knightley herself but because Lydia looks much more convincing ly 15.

It's easier to forgive her if you remember that she is 15.

BBC version wins overall though because it has all the words, because the words are the good bit.

Oh I bloody love Persuasion. The resentment, the simmering tension, the misunderstanding, the reunion.

Ahhhhhh.

Anne Elliot in Persuasion was 27 - she was originally proposed to at 18 or something suitable like that, and turning down that one opportunity meant that she lost the glow of youth and was on the verge of becoming an old maid.

I think Charlotte Lucas may have been 26 or so (another one who fears being an old maid)

Yes the KK film takes liberties with the dialogue somewhat.

There is a bit where Miss Bingley says to her brother (re Jane B and her family) 'you cannot be serious'. Now I am sure John McEnroe sayings were not popular in Regency England.

The BBC Wickham was another caricatured portrayal imo, the chappy in the KK film gave a more nuanced performance I think (but his role was cut right down).

I think Kelly Reilly who plays Miss Bingley is gorgeous.

I agree - she is really stunningly beautiful. She is a great actress - I don't normally watch cop shows but I watch Above Suspicion because she is so good in it (and Ciaran Hinds).

OOOh Ciaran Hinds....

And Ciaran Hinds played Captain Wentworth in the film version of Persuasion. He was brilliant in that role. He has such a brooding face.

Persuasion is the best film. I love the Ciaran Hinds / Amanda Root version. The other one with Rupert Penry-Thinger - not so much.

I love Persuasion, it is my favourite book ever.

Hate everything about the KK version of P and P. Everyone in it looks dirty and scruffy. And I don't remember Mr Bingley being some hyperactive social incompetent. I couldn't even finish it.

The BBC series was just....classier. Fantastic actors; subtle and lovely.

"Becoming Jane" made me similarly stabby. I do NOT want to see Mr Austin going down on Mrs, thanks very much.

I love Ciaran Hinds in Persuasion - I haven't seen that version for years though (probably best left as a memory).

Was Becoming Jane that piece of nonsense with Anne Hathaway in it?

If so I didn't see it, I think Anne Hathaway is a terrible actress as well, the US's equivalent of KK.

Well I just googled Kelly Reilly and she was born in 77 so hardly suitably aged!

Did anyone see Lost in Austen? Modern girl tumbles back in time to the Bennett household and swaps places with Lizzie. It sounds stupid but I really liked it. Lots of fun.

Did anyone see Lost in Austen? Dreadful but quite fun.

Xpost

The film version of Persuasion has held up well I think.

I haven't seen Becoming Jane as it stars James McAvoy (ick) and Anne Hathaway (ick).

Ha!

I liked it a lot.

Well the film was made in 2005 so Kelly Reilly would have been 28 then. I don't think the age of Miss Bingley was specified anyway.

I like this version - I think it's very cinematic. Not keen on Keira Knightly, but otherwise I really enjoyed it. I watched it on the hospital tv thingy after I had my daughter - it was our first girly film together, so has sentimental value too.

Yes, Becoming Jane has Anne Hathaway in and I could not go further than half an hour. Someone recommended Lost in Austin and I have to se I have no idea what it was, but would definitely give it a go. (If only to slag it off if it's crap!)

"SHURELY je and cf weren't shagging were they?

je was PREGNANT and cf is seen in many media outlets with his gawjus wife

nobody has been known to have an affair in those circs have they??"

The BBC P&P was done in 1995.

CF got together with his wife in 1997, having separated his first wife in 1994.

JE got married in 2001 and has had two children with her husband.

Susannah Harker was pregnant during filming, and was married between 1993-2004.

So no scandal here!

Yes, Jennifer Ehle & Colin Firth were shagging at the time but it was before he met his wife & SHE finished with HIM! Then they acted together again in The King's Speech (Ehle was Geoffrey Rush's wife) so hope they have buried the hatchet now...

I think the greatest miscast in the Beeb version was Susannah Harker.

The fashion of the piece (and the hairstyle) really didnt suit her and the constant references to her beauty were rather bemusing. I thought she looked bovine throughout.

I had the same issue with Toni Collette in Emma. Bovine.

Before I get flamed neither of the actresses are in real life or in other films.