AIBU - Pride & Prejudice.

[2020iscancelled]

A much beloved book
A fantastic BBC adaptation mini series

Then the horror of THAT awful, awful Keira Knightly film.

I knew it was bad but I rewatched it recently and it is just terrible.

I will concede the film itself is fine, the locations beautiful and no issues with the acting per se. But it is so far away from the real P&P it’s actually criminal.

So AIBU?

YABU - it’s wonderful and sums up the story to perfection.

YANBU - it’s an abomination

@ScreamingBeans

Also Amanda Root was superlative as Anne Elliot.

She really captured the quiet despair.

"deep silent mortification"

I love the Emma Thompson S and S, but agree she was far too old to play Elinor. Greg Wise as Willoughby beats any Darcy for me (but note, as I said upthread, CF looks like my dad which spoils him somewhat ).

ET was too old to play Elinor but she's a great actress.

Hugh Grant almost ruined that film. I had to blank him out.

I have a theory that seeing Pemberley does have an effect on Lizzie, but it's not mercenary (it's clear that Jane takes it as the joke it is meant to be) so much as a realisation that Darcy's offer of marriage was a huge compliment. He was offering her an extraordinary life as mistress of this beautiful place. Of course, the way he offered marriage was incredibly insulting but the offer of marriage itself showed the value he put on her.

And also Pemberley reveals Darcy's fantastic taste and his care for his sister, and talking to the housekeeper shows what a great guy he is. So in one sense her love for him does date from her seeing Pemberley.

Elizabeth Garvie was the first actress I saw playing Elizbeth Bennet and she's the one I always picture when I read the novel. She had a wonderfully light and playful touch. I agree with the PP that the production suffers from being very studio based and consequently more staged, but is very true to the novel.

Persuasion is my second favourite Austen novel, and I've enjoyed most versions, but I do like the Rupert Penry-Jones version slightly more.

Just going to throw in here that I once saw a stage version of Northanger Abbey - mmh, interesting and inventive with a small cast.

YABU, I loved it. Loads of atmosphere, the camera work was great and the scene in the field was lovely.

The older BBC version had a blonde Lizzie (and they called her Eliza!) and a dark Jane, didn’t it? The opposite to how they usually portray them. It was the first one I saw too.

'Beautiful grounds at Pemberley' isn't something I'd say in jest, if in love, and your head can be turned by big grandeur, even if you're not single-mindedly mercenary. I think Lizzy is bright and intelligent and sees through things. I think she values Darcy's character, but I don't feel she's head over heels in love with him. I suspect that the earlier television version, which I've seen once, captures Lizzy's intellectual rigour. But I do love the 1995 BBC version for all the interplay of characters.

I think the novel is great and it's so detailed that it isn't that hard to represent it well in film. The dialogue helps create the characters; so much fine work in the writing of just single scenes and events.

Now don’t take this the wrong way but is it an age thing to think fondly of the Colin Firth bbc adaption?

I love that film and think Keira is gorgeous.

The Colin Firth series was 6 hours in total, I think, so had the luxury of remaining faithful to the book. I enjoyed the KK movie., and Matthew Mcfayden in the rain scene was far sexier than Colin in the swim scene IMO. Though I know I am in the minority in that opinion

@littlepeas

I love the Emma Thompson S and S, but agree she was far too old to play Elinor. Greg Wise as Willoughby beats any Darcy for me (but note, as I said upthread, CF looks like my dad which spoils him somewhat ).

Your dad looks like Colin Firth?

You in the market for a step-mum? 😇

Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon 🤤

@OrangutanLibrarianGivesAnOok

Now don’t take this the wrong way but is it an age thing to think fondly of the Colin Firth bbc adaption?

No, I don’t think so. My nieces are early 20s and thankfully have enough sense not to like the god awful KK one.

Yanbu

It would be completely against Elizabeth's principles as established throughout the book for her to marry for mercenary reasons.

Yes, exactly. If she'd merely wanted wealth she could have accepted Darcy's first proposal. She hadn't seen Pemberley at that stage but she knew Darcy's income was 10k a year.

YABU! I'll admit it's a guilty pleasure of mine!!

I also love the 1995 version but crucially for me, KK seems more likeable, youthful and vulnerable than JE (who seems smug somehow, sorry!)

I'd take either Firth or Macfadyen as Darcy! Both played it well.

I think the supporting characters are generally better cast in the film.

The BBC version is superior in my eyes but I feel the KK version was better in some respects. Lydia was annoying in BBC but in kk version you really felt the cringe factor over her behaviours, and of Mrs Bennet's.

I recently rewatched the BBC one with colin Firth (having also recently re-read the book) and it is just fabulous. Its brilliantly made, faithful to the book and general just a classic.

Just leaving this here.....

However I would concede that in the film the actors seem slightly more appropriate age wise - Lizzy is only meant to be 20 & Lydia 15, I always felt julia Sawalha in particular looked much too old

YANBU. While the photography is lovely, and some of the casting is very good (do not mention Bingley!!!), KK played it too "modern" in posture and mannerisms and Mathew MacFadyn did not play Darcy like the rich man who was basically decent but too judgy of strangers and too used to getting his own way (my interpretation of the book). Plus KK's short hair sticking out from under her wig at the nape of her neck really really irked me beyond reason, bad form by the hair & make up department.

I agree that Mrs Bennett as played by Alison Steadman sets my teeth on edge every time she's on screen, but then the character is toe-curlingly awful in the book too. I mean, she's right that the family is doomed to poverty unless they can get a couple of the girls married off before Mr Bennett dies, but the beauty of the character is that she can be both correct and appalling at the same time.

David Bamber is excellent as Mr Collins, but has always struck me as too old - isn't he supposed to be only a couple of years older than Jane & Elizabeth?

The film version is Jane Austen filmed as Charlotte Bronte.

YES! Sums it up perfectly.

Oooh love lost in Austen and bride and prejudice - both brilliant. Of course it's Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle - but agree about Charlotte and Mrs Bennett from the film.

Keira Knightley was so famous in America when the film was made, that's why she got it despite being too pretty and girlish/elfin looking for the part - I like Matthew M but he wasn't right either.

It's pretty bad.

But it is as nothing compared to the ghastly version of Mansfield Park which thought it would be a good idea to cast Billie Piper as Fanny Price.