Those versions of Pride and Prejudice won't watch themselves...
Regular readers of the blog will remember that I recently wrote an article for the i newspaper picking out the best Jane Austen adaptations.
And now we are drilling down deeper, and concentrating just on Pride and Prejudice, because Netflix are going to make a new series of the book. I watched every existing direct version of the book, and many, many sequels, updatings, and other variants. And I have nine to recommend. You can read my article here:
Two additional points for blog readers: I am very grateful to fellow-blogger Kate Jackson (of crossexaminingcrime) for introducing me to the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, as featured in the article, a great addition to the oeuvre. And this is proof positive that she and I do not only discuss Golden Age mysteries! We know about other things too.
And secondly, I am very sorry that there was no room for my important perception that Kitty Bennet is the only character in all period drama and 19th century books who coughs a lot, and ISN'T dead by the end. Well done healthy Kitty.
I liked the book version of Death Comes to Pemberley. I thought the beginning had a quite a good attempt to mimic Austen's humour. I have yet to find anyone else who agreed.
ReplyDeleteNo, I think you might be on your own there. The beginning where she runs through the plot of P&P and updates us seemed a very odd structure to me - quite readable, but neither one thing nor the other, and then it was downhill from there. In my important view - yours equally important!
DeleteIn the library I saw a YA novel, Lydia's Diary (something like that), which supposedly shows that she isn't such a madcap as she is in P&P. There has been one novel at least about Mary, but is there one about Jane or Kitty, I wonder? (Perhaps Kitty is too healthy!)
ReplyDeleteThere's an excellent one-man play, Being Mr Wickham, written and performed by Adrian Lukis, who played Mr Wickham in 1995. It gives a slightly different angle on the events of P&P.
I read Death Comes to Pemberley, but wasn't very taken with it.
There are endless possibilities. I was sure I read somewhere that there was going to be a novel written from the POV of Charlotte Lucas, but I can't track it down - it was someone quite famous.
DeleteI have seen a report that Hilary Mantel was going to write about Mary...
The best adaptation of P&P may be the most controversial subject in Austen-land, possibly outdoing the Great Fanny Price Debate.
ReplyDeleteTee hee. When I told people I was writing about it I heard a lot of opinions!
DeleteOne thing people said - when I mentioned new version - was 'What again? Another one' - and while I totally agree that there are many neglected books that would make great TV series, it still doesn't seem unreasonable to have another P&P after 30 years!
Where do you stand on Fanny Price?
I think Austen did a pretty good job of portraying a painfully shy person. Fanny is pretty dull, though. (At least she had the courage of her convictions, eventually.) MP reminds me of a morality play, so I couldn't see Mary C as the heroine despite her being more fun.
DeleteThe general feeling with critics is that Fanny is 'always right', she does not have to learn and change as Lizzie and Emma do. And I do think it's well done that she ends up being the pivot of the household, and they don't realize they will be lost without her. But - she is so critical of others, and there is a note of pass-agg whining which is unattractive. And she is hypocritical: very much shocked by Mary's free talk, but she and Edmund enjoy a good go at others.
DeleteKingsley Amis says something like 'you wouldn't lightly ask Mr and Mrs Edmund round for dinner.'
That Anonymous was me, BTW. Fanny isn't made attractive, and you have to wonder where she got all her "correct" morals given her childhood at MP! I've come across Kingsley Amis' opinions about Fanny, and can't agree with his "monster of complacency" remark. Fanny may have been sure of her values, but she wasn't sure of herSELF. If she were complacent, she'd be more like Mrs Norris than like the Fanny we all know and love to disagree about!
DeleteBut not troubled by self-doubt?
DeleteI also like WH Auden's comments on Austen in general: I should do something on male critics of JA!
You could not shock her more than she shocks me;
Beside her Joyce seems innocent as grass.
It makes me most uncomfortable to see
An English spinster of the middle-class
Describe the amorous effects of ‘brass’,
Reveal so frankly and with such sobriety
The economic basis of society…
Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff, really? I am not sure whether I want to see the William Wyler film or not. The Lydia situation and how it is handled in film/TV fascinates me and is an interesting example of Austen's handle on sex/morality and reputation.
ReplyDeleteI didn't rate the film very highly - but it does deserve to be included.
DeleteI very much agree, it is intriguing. The Fay Weldon 80s version has several moments where Lydia is being told to put lace across the top of her dress, to hide more of her chest, but it keeps 'slipping' out of place. Weldon was clear and blatant about what was going on.
Olivier was almost affable as Darcy, which affected the "romantic tension"!
DeleteYes I agree - he coulud be quite a brooding actor (eg in Rebecca) but didn't bring it out here. Apparently he did not think Greer Garson was a suitable Lizzie, which can't have helped. I like GG but she really didn't fit the role.
DeleteI think she would have been very good if they'd ever made a film of the Provincial Lady, see recent entry. And now I'm thinking, why not a splendid TV series of the Diary?
Yes! Greer Garson no longer available of course but how about another Lizzie actress, Anna Maxwell Martin, as the PL? And I could also see Matthew Rhys as Robert, and maybe Olivia Colman as Our Vicar’s Wife.
DeleteSovay
I think the PL might be a challenging character to put on film, because so much of the humor is in her thoughts. Not that a good actress couldn't convey her personality and her reactions to the various happenings, but for instance the "notes to self" would be hard to get over without narration. And all the wonderful "wondering" !
DeleteThe fourth wall would have to be broken but I think it could work. Still considering who should play Lady Boxe.
DeleteSovay
So many great suggestions! It would take a good writer, but I think could really work. I like Anna Maxwell Martin for the PL.
DeleteA "mouldering" Darcy would be in a state of slow decay, was he supposed to be smouldering instead?
ReplyDeleteYou are the first person to mentiont that to me! It jumped out at me, it definitely should be smouldering....
DeleteHere's an opportunity for us all to climb into Regency get-up in Bath
ReplyDeletehttps://janeausten.co.uk/pages/festival-event-grand-regency-costumed-promenade
Blimey, fascinating! anyone doing a new Austen film should arrange to be there with cameras, cheap extras ahoy!
DeleteI do agree with you about the 1995 version, Moira. That one sets the standard (OK, the lake, but still...). In my opinion, all the details are done right. Great article, and thanks for mentioning the Bollywood version - that's one I haven't seen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margot - that version really was the gold standard. And I do recommend the bollywood version for a comfortable afternoon's viewing.
DeleteThe P D James book. Let's see...a highly talented crime writer creates a crime story using the the people and relationships created by English lit's leading light. How could it go wrong? And yet, it did. The book was dire. The tv adaptation surprisingly good.
ReplyDeleteme again. Susan. I loved loved the Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
DeleteWe agree exactly! and yes hooray to the Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
DeleteThere should be a spin-off in which Kitty is forced to become a governess after Mr Bennett’s death, but then solves the mysterious case of the poisoned caterpillars and finds a whole new career opening out as a genteel private investigator whose every cough is meaningful.
ReplyDeleteSovay
🤣 to Kitty Silver! Three cheers!
ReplyDeleteThis is a pure gold idea (or should that be silver....?) the perfect mashup!
DeleteOn reflection I think she should be a widow when she takes to governessing - best way to explain the change of name. It’s taking shape in my head … and goes to show that ANY topic can lead back to Golden Age mysteries!
DeleteThat was Sovay again
DeleteWouldn't Kitty have to mature quite a lot before becoming the next Miss Silver? Somehow I can't see our Maud ever behaving like the Kitty in P&P. I doubt if she would have followed Lydia's lead everywhere!
DeleteShe would, but marriage and widowhood might change her attitude to the world. In some ways Mary might be the better candidate for 19th century Miss Silver - I have to admit my vision was inspired by CiB’s comment on Kitty’s cough!
DeleteSovay
I think we have a lot of great ideas floating around here! I like Kitty for it myself, and not just because of the coughing.
DeleteThe 1980 version is the gold standard for me. Mr Collins is the right age, nobody gets wet through for any reason whatever, Mrs Bennett is believably nervous and not shrieky (sorry, Alison Steadman, but you just don't match up) Moray Watson is the best ever Mr Bennett, and you have already mentioned David Rintoul so I don't have to go on saying how it is really the best.... I know the sets and costumes are not as good as later versions, but who cares? NB the Gardiners are also excellent. And Pemberley is a believable house for Darcy's income, as he certainly couldn't have kept Chatsworth up on ten thousand a year. And, as you so rightly say, nice dog too ....
ReplyDeleteI've watched that 1980 series twice now in the past two months (to write the two different articles on Austen) and was increasingly impressed by it. Yes, some of the production values look clunky to modern eyes, but Weldon really was a good writer, and the acting is splendid, as you say, and the characters are not made cartoonish.
DeleteI remember at the time there was discussion of the 'impossible conversations' that I mention in the article - eg Charlotte teases Lizzie about her parents' marriage in a way that is hard to imagine - but I'm more forgiving now, she had to get the story out somehow!
Is the 1980's version the one in which Mr Collins invents a sort of diving apparatus which amuses Lizzie and Charlotte? I remember thinking that Garvie had lovely eyes but Rintoul seemed awfully stiff to me--not a handicap in that role, just that I wanted to stick a pin in him sometimes.
DeleteI thought he was just right for the role, and very handsome. I just looked him up to see what else he did and was surprised to find that he is Scottish - he seems so English!
DeleteThis has reminded me that the 1980s version does have possibly my favourite Lady Catherine!
DeleteI thought all the casting was good in that one...
DeleteThe book about Charlotte Lucas is called "Charlotte", and is by (Helen?) Moffett.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you! I knew I'd seen it, but somehow couldn't track it down.
Delete1995 is my favourite. The first one I saw was Olivier/Garson (a local cinema put it on for school students studying the book) and then the Rintoul/Garvie a year or so later, in about 1983/1984 (either it took a while to get to Australia, or else I didn't notice it in 1980, not having read the book at that stage). Even at the time, I remember finding it a bit flat, and I didn't like the way so much narrator comment was put into the voice of the characters. So for me, 1995 was the adaptation I had been waiting for.
ReplyDeleteDid you watch the Mormon version? I wasn't totally surprised to see it NOT listed in your list of 'best variations', although I did think it had a couple of redeeming, or at least interesting, features.
It's not the popular opinion, but I really didn't like Bridget Jones. I just felt that as a character she was everything Elizabeth Bennet isn't. Also, it relied a lot on embarrassment comedy, which isn't my thing.
Should you be interested (and apologies for the blatant self-promotion - let me know if you want me to edit out this final paragraph) I gave a presentation looking at the different screen Darcys, and how each one is a product of its own time, which is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/xqhWjCDyqiE?si=kUOfAvccAbW1iwgW&t=18
And did you watch the Wishbone version? I guess that would be categorised as a variation, although it is in a period setting ...
DeleteI'm with your minority opinion about Bridget Jones. She's funny, but I think she's a much less balanced and mature person than Elisabeth. (I also enjoyed the Wishbone version!)
DeleteI will certainly want to watch your YouTube piece, and I'm sure other readers will too. I will look tomorrow.
DeleteI loved Wishbone, such an exemplary children's programme, and P&P was perhaps its summit. We watched it when we lived in the USA (and the children and I can still sing 'What's the story Wishbone?') - I don't know if it was ever shown in the UK.
The oddest sequel, of sorts, is probably Darkness at Pemberley by T.H. White. The Darcys' 20th century descendents play an important role.
ReplyDeleteI described the book on the blog as starting well, and then becoming preposterous, but in a 'just not for me' way - others like it. Have we discussed it before?
DeleteI didn't like them King Arthur books either. Though I think I enjoyed one about taming a goshawk? I'm probably unfairly prejudiced against him: there's a certain kind of privileged mid-century literary man who makes me bristle, and he is Exhibit A.
I don't remember anything really about the book, more than that it was very weird to make the connection with P&P.
DeleteIt started out as a very GA detective story, set in an Oxbridge college, then turned into a very weird horror story at Pemberley. The two halves really didn't match up....
Delete