Jane Austen's Books & Adaptations discussion

This thread is for movies, TV shows, and web series based on Pride and Prejudice.

Post your reviews and impressions here. Discuss about old & new Pride and Prejudice adaptations.

Movies and TV Shows

Pride and Prejudice (1940 Movie - Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier)
Pride and Prejudice (1980 Mini-series - Elizabeth Garvie, David Rintoul)
Pride and Prejudice (1995 Mini-series - Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth)
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001 Movie - Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth)
Pride and Prejudice (2003 Movie - Kam Heskin, Orlando Seale)
Bride & Prejudice (2004 Movie - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Martin Henderson)
Pride and Prejudice (2005 Movie - Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen)
Lost in Austen (2008 Mini-series - Jemima Rooper, Elliot Cowan)
Austenland (2013 Movie - Keri Russell, JJ Feild)
Death Comes to Pemberley (2013 Mini-series - Anna Maxwell Martin, Matthew Rhys)
Omangwa Pyungyeon ("Lawless World") (2014-2015 Korean TV series)
Unleashing Mr. Darcy (2016 TV Movie - Cindy Busby, Ryan Paevey)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016 Movie - Lily James, Sam Riley)
Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe (2018 TV Movie; Lacey Chabert, Brendan Penny)
Christmas at Pemberley Manor (2018 TV Movie ; Jessica Lowndes, Michael Rady)
Marrying Mr. Darcy (2018 TV Movie; Cindy Busby, Ryan Paevey)
Fire Island (2022 Movie; Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora)

Web Series

Theatrical Adaptations (Musicals & Plays)

2011 Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice (Bob Jones University, adapted by David Burke) - (YouTube) https://youtu.be/9wysw3RYUac
2020 Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical by Paul Gordon (YouTube) https://youtu.be/sZC6-u13-dM

My thoughts on the 1980 BBC mini-series Pride and Prejudice starring Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul.



IMO this adaptation stayed most true to the book. It's 5 episodes so enough time to explore all of the characters and relationships. What other adaptations often omit and this one did particularly well is the character of Charlotte and her friendship with Elizabeth. You can see why these two would be such good friends. Elizabeth is as charming and witty (and as blind to the faults of her family members) as she should be. Mr Darcy is very stiff and it's very easy to misinterpret his behaviour as haughtiness. I was surprised how much I liked this series. Recommended to all who love their adaptations as true to the book as possible.

BTW I first watched it on YouTube. Since then I bought the DVD.

1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. IMO still the best on screen P&P.



My DVD Box set includes a very nice documentary on Making of the series with a lot of insight into the characters, the era, and how the series came to be.

Trivia: Andrew Davies (the writer) originally didn't want Colin Firth to play Mr Darcy. He considered him to be too chubby and too ginger. LOL! Thankfuly the producer Sue Birtwistle prevailed and history was made.

Today I've come across this theatrical adaptation of Pride and Prejudice on YouTube:

2011 Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice (Bob Jones University)



Adapted by David Burke
Directed by Ron Pyle
Scene design by Jason Waggoner
Costume design by Jeffrey Stegall
Lighting design by Richard Streeter



CAST
Elizabeth Bennet ..... Christi Massa
Mr. Darcy ..... David Bean
Mrs. Bennet ...... Carmen Scott
Mr. Bennet ...... Allen Fredericks

If you want to know more, check out BJU's webpage: https://www.bju.edu/events/fine-arts/...


Where to Watch: (YouTube) https://youtu.be/9wysw3RYUac



I quite enjoyed it. It compresses the plot into fewer scenes as one would expect. The play runs just shy of 2 hours afterall. Sometimes the abbreviations work sometimes they don't. There is no visit to Pemberley and Lydia's elopment is revealed right after Mr Darcy's first proposal. That's IMO the major flaw of this adaptation because there is no time for Darcy to realisticaly reflect on Lizzie's accusations and the change to his character is too abrupt. There is loads of Jane Austen's dialogue untouched which is always a plus to me. Lizzie, Darcy, Mr and Mrs Bennet are quite good.

♡

There were so many cuts but for the most part it worked fine.

E.g. The play starts with Mr Collins already visiting Longbourn. There is no Meryton Assembly, no Jane's (and Lizzie's) visit to Netherfield, the Gardiners appear only in letters, there is no visit to Pemberley. Lizzie never meets Georgiana.

The performances were surprisingly good for a university play.

I’m new to reading Jane Austen, but I love to listen to recordings and adaptations of her works.

I'm listening to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, narrated by Alison Larkin, who added a little extra to the book. There’s a review of Alison Larkin’s performance at AudioFile Magazine https://bit.ly/3sBYl7i

I am listening to the audiobook 2 chapters at a time on Tuesdays and Thursdays through AudioFile Magazine’s AudioBook Break’s Season 3 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast....

Fire Island - a 2022 American romantic comedy based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice directed by Andrew Ahn, written by and starring Joel Kim Booster.



Set in the iconic Pines, Andrew Ahn's "Fire Island" is an unapologetic, modern-day rom-com showcasing a diverse, multicultural examination of queerness and romance. Inspired by the timeless pursuits from Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice," the story centers on two best friends (Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang) who set out to have a legendary summer adventure with the help of cheap rosé and their cadre of eclectic friends.

You can watch it on Hulu in the US and on Disney Plus in Europe.

In a CNN article reacting to the new Netflix Persuasion adaptation the author wrote about international appeal of Jane Austen and among non-white adaptations she mentioned a Chinese movie Mr. Pride vs. Miss Prejudice (2017). In original: 傲娇与偏见 - Google translate says it's "Pride and Prejudice". It's Pride and prejudice reimagined as a modern teen rom-com.



"A Beijing drifter accidentally picks up a fuerdai (second-generation rich man) and gets pursued by a gaofushuai (tall, rich and handsome).

Destiny has its way of bringing love to a web blogger named Tang Nannan. She is an aspiring writer with an imaginative mind that is often too unconventional for the average person. Hoping to make it big, she daydreams a bit too excessively. One day, she accidentally ruins Zhu Huo's proposal to his ideal girl and immediately makes an enemy out of him. Holding on to their own pride and prejudices, the two end up in a living arrangement where they have to cohabit. Zhu Hou's good friend Xiao Jian Jun falls in love with Tang Nannan at first sight and starts to actively pursue her. Instead of helping, Zhu Hou creates more conflict and that's where their love begins.

(Source: ChineseDrama.info)

~~ Adapted from the manhua by Mei Mei Mao."

You can watch the movie on YT with English subtitles.

Having watched the first 20 minutes - it's shooting right to the top of my worst JA adaptation list - terrible script, incredibly horrendous "acting" - these kids were clearly chosen based solely on their looks, talent had nothing to do with it (unfortunately). Actors from Hallmark movies seem like thespians compared to these wretches. Even if the target audience is the teen-girl crowd - I think that they deserve better than this. And really can we complain about teenagers being shallow and stupid when we feed them this kind of garbage?

Are all Chinese movies this bad? I remember watching The Wandering Earth on Netflix - it was pitched as the greatest Chinese epic sci-fi, it was bigger in Chinese theatres than contemporary MCU flicks - and it was hilariously bad in every respect other than SFX which were decent to great.

Pride and Prejudice, a Latter Day Comedy (2003 Movie - Kam Heskin, Orlando Seale)



"Jane Austen's classic is transplanted to modern-day Utah. While her college roommates search for love, aspiring writer Elizabeth Bennet focuses on her career but constantly finds herself fighting haughty businessman Will Darcy.

Elizabeth Bennet is a hard-working, intelligent college student who won't even think about marriage until she graduates. But when she meets Jack Wickham, a good-looking playboy, and Darcy, a sensible businessman, Elizabeth's determination is put to the test. Will she see through their exteriors and discover their true intentions? Based on Jane Austen's timeless tale Pride and Prejudice, Bestboy Pictures presents a comedy about love, life and feminine persuasion."


[Kam Heskin & Orlando Seale as Lizzie & Darcy]

This YA/teen comedy is a weird cross between Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and the movie "Ten Things I hate about you" with Mormon culture as a backdrop.
Lizzie, Jane, Lydia, Kitty and Mary are college students/ roommates sharing a student flat. They are dealing with societal pressure to marry young (not explained, but implied that it's for religious reasons). Lizzie is an aspiring steampunk fantasy author who doesn't want to get married. She goes to school, writes her novel, works parttime in a bookshop, avoids unwanted attention/marriage proposals from a fellow college student Collins and flirts with a "bad boy" Jack Wickham. Bingleys move into town and throw a huge welcome party, Lizzie's best friend Jane falls in love and Lizzie keeps bumping into Darcy, Bingley's haughty and unpleasant (and rich) English friend.

Terrible acting with the exception of Kam Heskin (though she has little to work with). The Script is bad overall. It's dull, unfunny and in turn loud and non-sensical.

Bingley is an absolute airhead (worse than in 2005 P&P), Kitty is a stupid clutz constantly being hit in the head, Mary is a nerdy idiot trying to attract Collins (and in the end she succeeds!). There are no Mr and Mrs Bennet, no Lady de Bourgh. Darcy's presence in a small Mormon town doesn't make any sense and is never addressed. The Las Vegas ending is terrible!

One positive I can think of is Collins - a young boorish Mormon who resembles the book Mr Collins better than middle-aged sleazeballs from 1995 and 2005 adaptations.


[Collins]

The movie gets 2 stars from me, only because I have watched the abominable Netflix Persuasion last year.

You are braver than I am. I am so leery of all new adaptations!

I saw this one like a decade ago (or more) and was not impressed, though I think I liked the fact that Lizzie drove a VW Beetle (though I am not even sure it was in this adaptation ;) Agree on the 2 stars.

Melindam, you're right. It's the one with Lizzie driving an old VW Beatle around.

Laurie, modern adaptations are like a lottery. Your chances of hitting jackpot are slim to none. But I'm an optimist. I keep on trying. :)

I will watch Fire Island sometime soon. Lots of booktubers have been recommending it this year for JA July.

I forgot to add this modern theatrical adaptation. The Czech National Theatre adapted Pride and Prejudice in 2016 and they've been playing it ever since several times every season. I bought tickets as a Xmas present for myself and my best friend. We went about a week before Xmas last year.


[The Bennets]


[Darcy, Bingley, Caroline, Elizabeth and Jane]

Official website: https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/sho...
Extended trailer & Behind the scenes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83kPU...

Director: Daniela Špinar
Cast: Lucie Juřičková, Jana Stryková, Magdaléna Borová, Lucie Valentová / Veronika Lazorčáková, Denisa Barešová, Jindřiška Dudziaková, Iva Janžurová, Jana Preissová, Alena Štréblová, Marie Štípková, Kateřina Winterová, Anna Peřinová / Kateřina Bejčková, David Prachař, Pavel Batěk, Šimon Krupa, Filip Rajmont, Patrik Děrgel, Matyáš Řezníček

Well I am too lazy to write a full review. Here is what stood out to me. The performances were too stylized. It was a director's choice. These actors are amongst the best our country can offer so I am under no delusion that all of them had a bad night at the same time. But my friend was confused enough to ask me during the intermission "whether she's crazy or the actors have been this terrible at acting".

Pavel Batěk (48) and Magdalena Borová (42) are now too old to play Darcy and Lizzie. Maybe in 2016 (the year this production premiered) they were appearance wise on the brink of being believable as being in their early 30s and mid 20s respectively. Unfortunately it's no longer true.

Some interesting directorial choices: Mary Bennet is portrayed as a non-verbal autist (made me a bit sad we didn't get any of Mary's dialogue from the book). Mr Collins is an agressive physically and verbally abusive man/husband which is apparent from his behavior during the proposal and later on we see Charlotte as a cowering victim of domestic abuse absolutely terrified of her husband.

Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical



https://youtu.be/sZC6-u13-dM

Director: Robert Kelley
Music: Paul Gordon
Writers: Jane Austen and Paul Gordon

Cast
Elizabet Bennet: Mary Mattison
Mr Darcy: Justin Mortelliti
The cast also features Monique Hafen Adams, Samantha James Ayoob, Lucinda Hitchcock Cone, Taylor Crousore and Heather Orth.

A worthy effort but in my opinion a bit of a miss. They used modern language for the songs and more period appropriate language for spoken word. It clashed. The music wasn't memorable.
Casting was fine. I particularly enjoyed Mrs Bennet - a surprisingly understated and sympathetic portrayal. Costumes were a hotchpotch of regency and modern. Terrible wigs all around with a dishonorable mention for the dead cat Jane Bennet wore on her head.

When it comes to music and songs I prefer Paul Gordon's Emma.

Nice overview of most of Pride and Prejudice adaptations, release dates and cast included:

Pride & Prejudice: The 17 Best Movie & TV Adaptations https://dimensiaktual.com/2024/08/pri...

Being Mr Wickham by Adrian Lukis

The play was destroyed in this Guardian review:
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/art...

I might still give it a chance.

Rewatched Paul Gordon's Pride and Prejudice

Additional info:

Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich, and proud Mr Darcy. Based on the story by Jane Austen.
Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?

Based on the classic novel by Jane Austen, is a new musical adaptation by Tony Award nominee Paul Gordon (Broadway’s Jane Eyre). The show was filmed at the Tony Award-winning TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, CA., where it played its world premiere from December 4, 2019 to January 4, 2020 and established an all-time box office record.

Credits:
Samantha James Ayoob as Lady's maid and Townsperson
Seton Chiang as Footman and Townsperson
Taylor Crousore as Mr. Wickham
Travis Leland as Mr. Bingley
Mary Mattison as Elizabeth Bennet
Justin Mortellitit as Mr. Darcy
Heather Orth as Mrs. Bennet
Sharon Rietkirk as Jane Bennet
Michelle Skinner as Lady's Maid and Townsperson
Heather Mae Steffen as Lady's Maid and Townsperson
Chanel Tilghman as Kitty Bennet
Melissa WolfKlain as Mary Bennet
Tara Kostmayer as Lydia Bennet
Monique Hafen Adams as Miss Caroline Bingley / Ann De Bourgh
Lucinda Hitchcock Cone as Lady Catherine De Bourgh / Mrs. Gardiner
Sean Fenton as Captain Denny/Colonel Fitzwilliam
Brian Herndon as Mr. Collins/Mr. Gardiner
Dani Marcus as Charlotte Lucas/Georgiana Darcy
Christopher Vettel as Mr. Bennet/Pemberley Steward

Robert Kelley Director
Paul Gordon Book, Lyrics, Music