PBS 45 & 49

Pride and Prejudice stars Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet.

Pride and Prejudice: A Ridiculously Brief History of the Novel in Film
Or, A Consideration That Leads the Writer to the Conclusion That the 1995 BBC Version to Air on PBS 45 & 49 is the Finest Ever Made

Masterpiece: The Complete Jane Austen presents the six-hour BBC production of Pride and Prejudice Sundays at 9 p.m. on Feb. 10, 17 and 24

If you’re a Jane Austen fan, you may already be familiar with the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice that established Colin Firth as a leading man. From many an Austen fan’s perspective, this is the definitive film version of the novel — and one of the most satisfying rainy-Sunday-stay-in-your-pajamas-all-day-and-watch miniseries ever. It’s certainly the most satisfying of the three major film productions of Pride and Prejudice. Let us consider, saving the best for last …

Pride and Prejudice, 1940 It has all of the right period nuances, the right people in the right roles, and a tone and texture befitting an Austen novel. One shortcoming of this version starring Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet and Sir Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy is that it’s simply not long enough. (Is that thought similarly ridiculous to Emperor Joseph II's complaint in the film "Amadeus" that one of Mozart's compositions has too many notes?) See, the novel is narrative- and detail-rich, and we Austen fans like to wallow in detail. Olivier is a perfect Darcy, and Garson is a poised Elizabeth. But it’s just a feature film; it's not enough! The film’s background, however, is a little more intriguing. According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com — a fine resource for film lovers), Clark Gable was the studio’s first choice for Olivier's role. Egad! My favorite piece of trivia, though, is that the novel was adapted for the screen by Brave New World author Aldous Huxley, of all people. That’s just wonderfully weird.

Pride and Prejudice, 2005 I wasn't crazy about this production with Keira Knightley the first time I saw it, but I have grown to like it — for reasons that have little to do with the spirit of Austen’s novel. Being accustomed to other adaptations' almost oppressive stiffness and attention to the period's rigid social mores (even as Austen pokes fun at them), I initially found this film’s ambiance of pigs and mud and barking dogs disconcerting. "Nature?? There's no nature in Austen!" I kept thinking. Austen writes about a social universe. Yet, my pal Madhu's assessment is fair: “The Knightley version is probably more true to life, but the BBC version is true to the spirit.” Madhu went on to observe that Knightley’s interpretation of Elizabeth is too modern, imitating the actress’ forward-thrusting neck (see illustration) that suggests an aggressiveness and lack of modesty one doesn’t associate with the literary character. When my co-worker Diane Steinert asked me how I liked this version after my first viewing, I complained, “Too rustic.” But I had to admit that the lushness and the cinematography are gorgeous. And so is that insanely romantic scene in which Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) crosses a meadow at dawn to express his love to Elizabeth once again. Some of the narrative changes from the novel are, uh, changes (the one I just cited, for instance, despite its effect), and some of the casting doesn't work at all (Donald Sutherland is so wrong as Mr. Bennet). It is, however, an aesthetically pleasing film — rustic, lush and lovely — and the soundtrack makes one’s heart ache.

Pride and Prejudice, 1995 What can one say about perfection? This is the novel come to life. We’re talking Masterpiece-worthy in every respect — costume drama at its finest, perfectly cast roles and wholly immersing in effect. The screenwriter, Andrew Davies (known for the Bridget Jones films and tons of Masterpiece titles, including Bleak House), skimps on no detail. The actors who play Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins are impossible to outdo. Jennifer Ehle is a dignified, strong, charming Elizabeth. And Colin Firth? Well, I’m only human. While all three films are worth watching, this is truly the definitive version. You can watch it on PBS 45 & 49 Sundays, Feb. 10, 17 and 24 at 9 p.m.

Read about The Complete Jane Austen on Masterpiece at http://www.pbs4549.org/austen.htm.

Responses to Pride and Prejudice

March 24, 2008

Colin Firth... mmmm, yummy! My favorite element of the 6-part miniseries is the cut of the costumes (you can tell the designers were British - as opposed to the American team that did the clothes for the Ang Lee Sense and Sensibility). I think Madhu is correct about Keira Knightley looking too modern (I enjoyed the sketches particularly), but what drove me nuts about the 2005 film was the time wasted on useless fantasy sequences.

Ann V.

March 9, 2008

After seeing the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice by far the 1995 film was so much better. I think that Colon Firth mades a better Mr Darcy and Jennifer Ehle a Elizabeth. I must also note I love the use of horses in this film.

Bonnie Sue Casto

March 7, 2008

I enjoyed all of the above versions of P&P. However, my favorite is still the Elizabeth Garvey/David Rintoul BBC production from 1985. An Austen scholar friend thinks it is the most authentic reproduction, but like it because I like Rintoul as Darcy. (Although I am getting fond of Firth.) I believe the 1985 version (Originally shown on Masterpiece Theater in 4 installments of 1 hour each -- my old video is 226 minutes) is still available in DVD. Although I like to see it as written, I sometimes enjoy the variations and updates. Especially the ending change in Lady Catherine in the Olivier version. It is so totally wrong according to the way Austen wrote it; but it is so wonderful! And by the way, thanks for showing all these Austen masterpieces on Masterpiece! I have enjoyed all that I've seen thus far.

Holly Schwartz

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Lisa Martinez, PBS 45 & 49’s Vice President of Marketing & Development

As vice president of marketing and development, I oversee private sector fund-raising, including membership, underwriting and grants; external communications including publications, the Web site, community outreach, public relations and press relations; and promotional and fund-raising events.

I’ve been with PBS 45 & 49 for over 20 years, joining the station in 1985 as an intern. I worked in communications for the first 18 years and was then promoted to my current position in 2004. I'm a member of the North Central Ohio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and my civic involvement includes volunteer work for the Main Street Kent revitalization project and the Portage County Board of Elections.

I grew up in Canton, Ohio, graduated from GlenOak High School, went to The Ohio State University for a week and returned home because my dorm room was shaped like a piece of pie. (Who can live like that?) So I enrolled at Kent State, where I declared many majors, from advertising to secondary education, all the while taking the literature courses I really loved. Eventually I admitted I was an English major and earned both a B.A. and M.A. from KSU. I taught Freshman English as a part-timer at KSU over the years, until it dawned on me that grading papers is among my least favorite things to do. But I'm still in love with Kent after all these years. It's a unique place — small enough to be a town (a very non-suburban one) but big enough to allow for a bit of city anonymity.

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