ANOTHER Jane Austen Film Adaptation

[ParisPossum]

Just seen that there is a new adaptation of Emma available to watch. While I do appreciate Jane Austen's work, it gets tedious seeing adaptations of the same novels; Pride and Prejudice has been done to death over the decades. If you could nominate your favourite fabulous classic (or two), what would it be? My vote would go to A Tale Of Two Cities and Barnaby Rudge.

I hated the BBC adaptation of Death Comes to Pemberley. The story was fine but I was completely distracted by Elizabeth's dress not changing the whole way through. I love seeing gorgeous costumes in historical dramas so the lack of gownage really annoyed me!

I love seeing gorgeous costumes in historical dramas so the lack of gownage really annoyed me!

Inaccurate, too. As Darcy's wife and the mistress of Pemberley, she would be expected to dress for her position. which would mean at least two or three changes of dress throughout the day, depending on what she was doing.

I didn't notice this! Too busy watching Matthew Rhys smouldering and Trevor Eve chewing the scenery 😊 I bloody love it.

Matthew Rhys was an excellent Darcy.

I would love to have another tv adaptation of any Austen. Six to eight weeks, Sunday night tv. A lovely, cosy period drama to relax into.

Must agree with Morris and Babs - Rhys was excellent as Darcy.

None, stop making novels into films, they are generally shit as they have to cut so much. Make a TV series instead and do it properly or leave it alone.

Isn't this adaptation from 4 years ago?

I agree - really disliked the styling of Anna Maxwell Martin that made her look like a dishevelled scullery maid rather than Mistress of Pemberley. Even Mrs Lydia Wickham had better clothes and hair!

Netflix are apparently making another adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

While I agree, I would be curious as to how many ways it could be ruined. Who knows, there may be money to be made if someone can get them all right ....

orangewasp · 16/11/2024 09:45
**
Ditto Agatha Christie. I love them but surely it's time to give someone else from that era a look

There are years’ worth of Poirot and Miss Marple available on the ITV app.

I wouldn’t have high expectations. It’s off the back of that weirdly smirky, Fleabag-style deadpanning to camera 2022 adaptation of Persuasion with Dakota Johnson wearing a lot of makeup and a weepy Wentworth, and is apparently being adapted by Dolly Alderton.

I mean, obviously they’ll need to do something different to the Andrew Davies BBC one, otherwise you might as well do a scene-by-scene remake with new actors, like Gus Van Sant’s Psycho, but I have a feeling it will be Bridgerton-ish.

And that 2022 Persuasion did a couple of things hilariously well, like turning Mary into a knowingly PA type rather than a sniffly hypochondriac, but over all it seemed to be ‘Bridget Jones and Fkeabag Do Austen!’ as it’s USP.

I love this thread. I didn’t mind the 2022 Persuasion, it was mega arch and anachronistic but Ann Elliot just gets me every time. Admittedly hard to imagine Dakota Johnston anywhere close to an ‘old maid.’ Jane Austen did write Ann was very wry and intelligent and pretty I suppose.

That said it would be nice to see Not Austen. As previously mentioned Villette would also be an absolute banger, tragic, gothic and deranged.

Beware of Pity, by Stefan Zweig, would be interesting.

It’s about a young soldier who lets his ego run away with him with tragic results for all involved. Nice to see a period film with a male protagonist who isn’t a paragon of manly strength or an out-and -out villain. He’s just a young jock (of his era) who’s ill-equipped to handle a complicated situation. Maybe a bit misogynistic if you scan a synopsis but somehow doesn’t come across that way in the reading. It’s about how you should think about the potential impact of your ‘good’ actions rather than the way they make you feel. Imagine a 400 page AIBU with war, balls, carriages and black comedy.

I reckon it could be directed in such a way that the horrible attitudes of the time would go a long way in justifying the decisions made by certain female characters. Got to play the hand you’re dealt sort of thing.

Despite being set just before WW1 and written in 1939 the moral ambiguity and depth of characterisation feel very modern. Suppose that’s how you can tell great writing, the emotions feel timeless and universal, even if the precise circumstances would be unlikely to arise nowadays. Although social media and ‘cancel culture’ could be modern day equivalents to dishonouring one’s regiment and social disgrace.

Zweig is a big influence on Wes Anderson, sadly it mainly seems to be stylistic and tonal rather than the attention to psychological substance.