New ITV adaptation of Mansfield Park tonight

[JackieNo]

ITV, 9-11pm, mre info here - I'll be watching, though it's the Jane Austen I know (and like) least.

yes, the hair is a bit annoying. I guess she's supposed to be childlike.

I liked the bit in the Radio Times blurb that said the 'hand-held camerawork is obviously meant to convince us there's nothing starchy or stagey about this classic story because look: it's full of energy! See how they dance on lovely lawns! See how they play energetic games of blind man's buff!'.

If she were kick ass she'd have kicked his wussy arse to the kerb and found someone who actually had something between his legs rather than that wet girl's blouse.

Or if not with her hair than with her eyebrows. I have videoed it as conspiracy theorist dh is tutting for England over that knotty documentary on BBC2.
I wish someone would have the guts to do a really faithful adaptation of Mansfield Park and stop trying to liven up Fanny and/or sex up Edmund. I can't say I love the novel but I think it is one of her most interesting precisely because of how tastes in heroines have changed.
Northanger Abbey was JA slumming it and having a bit of fun. It definitely televises much better than it reads.

They have chosen a major league drip for Edmund I agree

What an unsexy name, Edmund.

'Oh, god, YES, Edmund! Give it to me, Edmund. Edmund, you big stud, you!'

Reminds me of When Harry Met Sally expat...

I had to switch off.
Billie Piper is totally wrong as Fanny Price. She looked far too noughties rather than regency-her hair was completely wrong.
It is a difficult novel to adapt for tv as Fanny is unlike Elizabeth Bennett or Emma and is a very unmodern heroine.Also Edmund is not a typical hero and is quite a drip.
Would have been interested to see how Andrew Davies would have adapted it.
My favourite adaption was 'Persuasion' with Amanda Root a few years back.

I really didn't like this adaptation, I thought it totally missed the point. It is actually IMO a very difficult book to film, but the Fanny character is so central and if you get that wrong (which I think they did), then it just doesn't work. Billie Piper was just too smiley and lively, that's not at all how I would have cast the Fanny who lurks in doorways afraid to go in.

Two reviews have been quite positive (Telegraph and to a lesser extent the Independent). Both said that Billie Piper's springiness was nice to watch but a total travesty of the novel.

Sounds about right, Marina. I didn't have any great expectations of it, so quite enjoyed it (rather to my surprise). Though as much for the way it looked as anything else.

It's got Hayley "I'm sooooo talented" Atwell in it I see, and the ever-reliable Douglas Hodge - so a good cast.
Looks like I didn't waste a tape after all

Yes I quite enjoyed it (hair was irritating tho) but I don't love the novel as, as others say, Fanny so drippy and Edmund so stupid.

But in this case Fanny was fesity so as such, it played quite well, tho not much like the novel.

I accused DH last night of really rating it as his fave Austen and he said Pshaw! I never read Jane Austen! You must be confusing me with {previous boyfriend}

I remember Douglas Hodge playing a young man (whose name escapes me) in an adaptation of Middlemarch - now he's playing father roles - I must be getting old.

Oh I can do better than that...don't you remember him as fresh-faced tiny child Declan in Capital City, alongside fresh-faced etc Jason Isaacs?
Was he Will Ladislaw in Middlemarch? Why am I thinking of Rufus Sewell in this role...

Was disappointed with Maggie O'Neil's Mrs Norris.
Thought she underplayed her.
She is such a grotesque character in the novel.

Ooh yes.
Rufus Sewell was Will.
Douglas Hodge was Dr Lydgate.
That was a fab adaption.
Juliet Aubrey was very good as Dorothea.

I've had to explain to ds why I am so peeved with the casting of the mighty Juliet as unreliable flint-hearted older woman in Primeval. He keeps asking me why I like Helen Cutter so much, and not "lovely Claudia" .
Dr Lydgate, of course

Yes - thanks ArcticRoll. Don't think I saw Capital City, though, Marina.

It was compelling Yuppie soap nonsense and a lot of the cast went on to do good work
But not quite in the league of Middlemarch or Mansfield Park!

God i used to love Capital City. And used to fancy Douglas Hodge but alas no more as he is an old fart now......and i haven't aged a day

I could not decide if I loved him or Jason more
I know I hated soppy Michelle though

I thought last night's adaptation was pretty abominable to be honest. Let's face it, Billy Piper's not too bad an actress but she should never have been cast as Fanny Price, and to have her racing downstairs, giggling etc was totally out of line with Austen's representation of her character. Lady Bertram and Mrs Norris also disappointing - Lady bertram looked the part but had far too much to say for somebody who is supposed to be utterly insipid, and as for her manouvring" Edmund into proposing - soooo wrong. Mrs Norris too cold and calculating without the necessary bustle and bumptiousness I thought. I did think that both Crawfords were very well cast though and yes, Edmund's a prat but I thought the actor played him pretty well. All in all though, I found it infuriating and wished I hadn't bothered!

But with your chatname you were unlikely to enjoy this I suspect!
Was Persuasion with Amanda Root your favourite ever Austen adaptation perhaps? I do think it is amongst the best

Clary - ROFL at your comment to your dh

I was surprised that I quite enjoyed this - in a muted kind of way. I have read the book, but eons ago, and couldn't remember anything about it!

Didn't like Billie's hair though.

I have not read the book.
Taped it last night gonna watch it on thursday.
I liked billie in that last one she did.
Ruby in the smoke?