PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
UK, 2005, 128 minutes, Colour.
Kiera Knightley, Matthew Mc Fadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander, Rosamund Pike, Jenna Malone, Judi Dench, Kelly Riley, Claudie Blakley, Penelope Wilton, Simon Woods, Rupert Friend, Cary Mulligan, Tallulah Riley.
Directed by Joe Wright.
This most popular of Jane Austen’s novels is best-known for its many television versions, especially that of 1995 with Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. Last year, the plot was adapted (but followed the novel closely) for the very entertaining Bollywood-style extravaganza, Bride and Prejudice. Strange as it may seem, this present film is only the second version for the big screen. It is sixty five years since Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier were Miss Bennett and Mr Darcy.
Each version needs a good reason for superseding its predecessor. The question is, what does this 2005 version have to offer?
First of all, audiences will find it entertaining. Its recreation of the period, the era of war with Napoleon, is different. Instead of lavish Regency costumes and décor, director Joe Wright has opted for an earthier style. It is not glamorous. Rather, it reflects the social standing and family incomes (and lack of them) of families who were not considered part of ‘society’. The Bennett family is not necessarily uncomfortable. But, with five daughters who need husbands to support them (according to the law, daughters could not inherit so estates went to male cousins like Mr Collins), matchmaking was a full-time occupation.
The director also opted for filming on location rather than in studios. A wide selection of homes throughout Britain were chosen. Ordinary homes with the touch of the farm served for the Bennets. Grandly elegant houses were used for Mr Darcy’s home and that of Lady Catherine de Burgh. The buildings and interiors are impressive but the film also capitalises on both gentle and rugged locations in Derbyshire.
One of the key features of this version is that the actors are much the same age as the characters in the novel. Elizabeth Bennett is about twenty and Mr Darcy in his late 20s. Greer Garson, for instance, was at least twelve years older for the 1941 film and Laurence Oliver was in his early 30s. Colin Firth was, in fact, 35 when he played the part. This time Keira Knightly is almost twenty and Matthew Mc Fadyen twenty eight.
This means that Elizabeth is a mixture of mischievous girlishness and intelligent shrewdness. Keira Knightly (who has risen quickly to stardom from Bend it Like Beckham to the Pirates of the Caribbean series) is pretty and pert. While she discovers she has been harshly prejudiced against Mr Darcy, it is the potential for maturity rather than maturity itself that the actress conveys. Matthew McFadyen? is a very good Darcy. He alienates Elizabeth as well as the audience with his pride and his prejudices but, as he better understands himself and his feelings, we can understand how Elizabeth is attracted to him. Some of the intense interchanges between the two are quite powerful.
Mrs Bennett and her nerves have always been scene-stealers and Brenda Blethyn seems an obvious and good choice to play her. Surprisingly, Donald Sutherland plays the put-upon Mr Bennett. He is both genial and cowardly and the performance reminds us that he is to blame for not intervening in his daughters’ upbringing and his wife’s obsessive planning. He is not just simply the martyr to Mrs Bennett’s hen-pecking.
Most of the rest of the cast have cameos. Rosamund Pike is a mopy Jane, Jena Malone a giggly and flirtatious Lydia. A standout is Tom Hollander as Mr Collins in his wilfully obtuse proposing to Elizabeth as well as his obsequious attitudes to Lady Catherine de Burgh. She is played with grand hauteur by Judi Dench.
A more down-to-earth and realistic interpretation of Jane Austen’s world.
1.The tradition of screen versions of Pride and Prejudice? The 1941 classic? The television series, especially that of 1995? Audience familiarity with the plot, the characters?
2.The popularity of Jane Austen’s novels, critically, widely read? Her world at the beginning of the 19th century? Issues, style? Elegance? A touch of realism in a small focused part of England?
3.England at the end of the 18th century, beginning of the 19th? The background of the Napoleonic wars, the military, Wickham and the recruiting of soldiers? Their reputation? English society, the dominance of men over women? The role of religion? The estates? The emerging middle classes?
4.The film’s use of décor, locations – realistic and authentic? The buildings, the places?
5.Costumes and décor – the less-wealthy middle classes, the elegant rich? The mixing of the classes in the local dances?
6.The title – with reference to Elizabeth, with reference to Darcy?
7.The age of the cast, closer to that of the characters in Jane Austen’s novel than actors in previous versions? A more realistic presentation?
8.The portrait of the Bennett family, their home? The middle class? The farm and the animals wandering around? Mr Bennett and his being quiet, laidback, ironic comments, tolerant of his wife, his daughters? His relationship with each of his daughters, fondness for Jane, admiration for Elizabeth, his correction of Mary, his giving up on Lydia and Kate? His relationship with his wife? The experiences and his reactions? His final decisions, supporting Elizabeth to marry Darcy? Mrs Bennett as the mother hen, love for her husband, love for her daughters, her chatter and gossip, drinking, her manner? Her desperation in marrying off her girls, the motivations? A frivolous and surface woman? With each of her daughters, her ambitions? Out and about, her behaviour at the Bingleys’? Welcoming Bingley into the house and sending everybody out of the kitchen? Her quick adaptation to Lydia’s eloping?
9.Jane, the oldest, the need to marry, meeting with Mr Bingley, the attraction, the dance? The possibilities for her future? The bad impression of her parents, Darcy and his intervention, Mr Bingley leaving? Miss Bingley and her arrogance? Deigning to go to the local dance? Jane going away to London, being hurt? Her return, her confiding everything to Elizabeth? Introverted, not revealing her true feelings? Mr Bingley’s return, Darcy arranging the return, the proposal?
10.Elizabeth as the central character, the second daughter, her age, charm, independent spirit? Her joy, laughter? Her love for her sisters? Confidante of Jane? With her parents, tolerating her mother, closer to her father? Going to the dance, the embarrassment of hearing Darcy’s comments on her? The antagonism towards Darcy even while dancing? The clashes, the verbal interactions? The talk, at home, the meals? The encounter with Darcy, his coldness, and yet his advance, his coming through the rain to see her, at his house? The talk, the proposals? Her condemning him about Wickham and his treatment of Wickham, his explanation of Wickham’s lies? The relationship with Lady Catherine de Burgh? Visiting Mr Collins? Mr Collins, his arrival, his proposal and his refusing to listen to Elizabeth? Her friendship with Charlotte, Charlotte marrying Mr Collins, her visiting and seeing Charlotte at home? Lydia running off, Mr Darcy arranging the marriage, her discovering the truth by accident? The reconciliation, the talk, the declaration of love?
11.Wickham, his charming Elizabeth, his stories about Darcy later proved untrue? Lydia, the attraction, running off? Darcy arranging the marriage? Lydia’s return, giggling and joy, her mother’s reaction? Mary as plain, singing and playing the piano, her father telling her to stop? Kate and being flirtatious?
12.Mr Collins, his inheriting the property? His visit, pompous attitude, the patronage of Lady Catherine? His manner of talking, the proposal to Elizabeth and his not hearing her refusal? Marriage to Charlotte? The visit and his incessant talk?
13.Charlotte, her friendship, lack of prospects, marrying Mr Collins, Elizabeth’s shock, keeping house and her being satisfied?
14.Lady Catherine de Burgh, haughty? Her patronage of Mr Collins? Her presumptions, Elizabeth’s visit and the meeting, Elizabeth playing, Lady Catherine talking over her? Her arrival at the Benetts’ house, the arrogance of her interrogation of Elizabeth about her relationship with Mr Darcy? Elizabeth’s firm reaction?
15.The aunt and uncle from London, taking Jane, their visiting, the travel, the experience of travel in England at the time, Elizabeth and the journey, visiting Mr Darcy’s house, the tour, hearing the truth about him, meeting Mr Darcy?
16.The film’s detailing of life in the village, the farms, the shops, the dances, people and their interactions? The travel style of the times?
17.The audience familiar with the story, but the value of this version as being more realistic and situated, not in a studio, but in the actual countryside?
