Jane Austen

[sun-star]

Originally posted by dawningoftime
I like both of them. If you combined both of them you'd have the perfect movie.

I agree. The BBC one was a little odd at times, but I thought Kate Beckinsale was a better Emma than Gwyneth Paltrow.

Has anyone seen the black and white version of Pride and Prejudice (from the 1940s, I think)? It's a while since I saw it but if I remember correctly they changed the story a lot - now that's a brave film-maker!

[dawningoftime]

oh my word, I saw that. That was really bad. Made it look as if Lady Cathrine actually approved of Lizzy, but was arguing with here just so she could see if Lizzy would make a suitable wife.

[Mercutio]

I saw that version. It was good, I think Mr. Knightley was the perfect mix of Northam's version (light and friendly) and Strong's (brooding, confused about his feelings). But he seemed to old for the part!

[BeardofPants]

Okay, so I've started reading P & P, and I'm loving it! It took me a while to get into it, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I just got up to the bit where Lizzy turns down Darcy's marriage proposal. Classic stuff! Mrs. Bennet, my god, how can that idiot have managed to birth someone so ... sensible... like Lizzy. I hate her!

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Okay, so I've started reading P & P, and I'm loving it! It took me a while to get into it, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I just got up to the bit where Lizzy turns down Darcy's marriage proposal. Classic stuff! Mrs. Bennet, my god, how can that idiot have managed to birth someone so ... sensible... like Lizzy. I hate her!

Yes. In the BBC mini-series you just think she's a stupid fool! And aren't you so annoyed that Lizzy turned down the proposal!



Austenites (as you all should be called ); another good period movie (its actually more around the turn of the century, 1900), is "A Room with a View," based on the short story by...Forester.

And don't forget to visit the Entmoot of Austen on the web-- www.pemberley.com
Its a great messageboard, info on everything possible, etc.

[BeardofPants]

Originally posted by Mercutio
Yes. In the BBC mini-series you just think she's a stupid fool! And aren't you so annoyed that Lizzy turned down the proposal!

No, because I didn't particularly like his character (don't hurt me! ), but now that I've progressed well into vol III, I can see the various attractions to Mr. Darcy, and so I want to kick Lizzy for turning him down!

[Rían]

Originally posted by BeardofPants
Okay, so I've started reading P & P, and I'm loving it! It took me a while to get into it, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I just got up to the bit where Lizzy turns down Darcy's marriage proposal. Classic stuff!

Great scene!

I'm glad you're liking it - it just gets better, IMO, as it goes on.

[BeardofPants]

I finished it last night. I really enjoyed it, but the ending was a bit of a let down for me. It felt a bit hurried and weak. Of course, I WAS reading it whilst waiting for take-aways, so that might've jinxed it somewhat. Darcy though, what a babe!

[Rían]

Yeah! *sighs*

I love the part where it says (roughly) Elizabeth gloried in every sensible sentence of her aunt and uncle - poor thing! she was so embarassed by her family, and so glad to have at least 2 relatives she could be proud of!

I love the proposal part, too - so humble yet honest and straightforward and passionate by Darcy - "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever." And how Austen doesn't give Lizzy's actual answer. And how Darcy's "heart-felt delight" was shown on his face, but Lizzy wasn't able to look at him (but WE, the readers, got that glimpse!)

Was it in this book where it said something about someone not speaking much, but something like "the 5 parts of speech shone out from his eyes, and she could combine them at her ease"? I like that idea.

[Mercutio]

Another P&P is coming out. With Keira Knightley as Lizzy and some Scottish actor nobody heard of as Darcy. Imagine Darcy saying "She's tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me" about Keira! Inconceivable! And plus, the '95 or whatever version with Firth and Ehle was amazing. It was, is, and will always be the definitive P&P.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

Another P&P is coming out. With Keira Knightley as Lizzy and some Scottish actor nobody heard of as Darcy. Imagine Darcy saying "She's tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me" about Keira! Inconceivable! And plus, the '95 or whatever version with Firth and Ehle was amazing. It was, is, and will always be the definitive P&P.

Bach! No! Keira Knightly? thats like asking John Goodman to play Don Quixote!

[Mercutio]

This is from From How to Become Ridiculously Well-Read in One Evening, compiled by E. O. Parrott (Viking, Penguin Books, 1985). It's a collection of spoofs (about 1 page apiece, attempting to cleverly summarize famous works of literature). Ask me for a book and I'll see if it's in there (but they take a while to type up.) They range from letters to poems to sonnets to newspaper headlines to conversations.

Pride and Prejudice, by Mary Holtby

``Marry well'', is Bennet tenet: Bingley singly must remain
Since classy Darcy (Lizzy-dizzy) thinks he's far too good for Jane.
Rummy mummy, jaunty aunty, these would drag both gallants down --
Plus the younger siblings' dribblings over officers in town.
See the specious Wickham trick 'em with his tales of birthright gloom,
See how hideous Lydia's ruin looms before she gets her groom;
Glassy Darcy saves the bacon, shaken out of former pride:
Is he Lizzy's destined love, to shove her prejudice aside?
Has she clout to flout that matron, patroness of priestly coz
(He whose ludicrous proposing Rosings rules -- like all he does)?
Darcy oughter court her daughter, destined his through two decades...

``Mulish, foolish girl, remember Pemberley's polluted shades!''
Dare she share his great estate, or can't Aunt Catherine be defied?
Yes! and ere the bells ring jingly, Bingley too shall claim his bride.

Emma, by Joyce Johnson

Miss Bates has a visitor:

'My dear Mrs Cole, how very kind -- yes, quite well, I thank you -- do pray take a seat. We have such news! Have you heard -- No? Well, I think it is all a secret, so perhaps I should not say but no one had any idea -- except Jane and Mr Churchill, of course, and all the time we thought he was only calling about my mother's spectacles. Dear Jane is much better already -- we are so thankful. Do oblige us by taking some refreshment -- one of Mr Knightley's baked apples -- some cake? Miss Woodhouse called yesterday and was so good as to taste a small slice and pronounce it delicious -- such kindness. She is now out with Jane -- she takes the news extremely well, considering -- no sign of disappointment -- Box Hill, yes, delightful -- but I am afraid my silly chatter sometimes -- however, Mr Churchill did seem so very attentive -- but then we are all so fond of the excellent Miss Woodhouse -- but to think all this time -- one can hardly credit -- it was poor Mrs Churchill dying, you know, that let it all out. We have surprises indeed in Highbury, do we not, Mrs Cole? First, Mr Elton suddenly brings back a bride -- charming -- but some thought he showed a marked preference for Miss Smith, some thought for another -- I never notice such things -- and now on top of Jane being engaged to Mr Churchill we hear Miss Smith is to marry the good Mr Martin of Abbey Mill Farm -- oh, must you be going? So sorry you will not take a baked apple, one of Mr Knightley's -- he will be marrying next, I should not be surprised -- so much talk of marrying going on -- and there's our dear Miss Woodhouse -- what could be more suitable?'

[sun-star]

LOL I've spent hours in bookshops reading that book (since I'm too stingy to buy the thing).

I like the bit:

"classy Darcy (Lizzy-dizzy)"

as long as you don't have a Northern accent of course.

[Khamûl]

I've just finished Pride and Prejudice and despite my expectations, I actually liked it. I didn't expect to like a book that basically consisted of people standing around talking. But much to my surprise, I liked it except for the fact that it was slow reading for me. I guess all the intrigue and drama kept me interested (as well as all the idiots that abound in that book).

[sun-star]

Yes, I don't know why anyone should think another adaptation is necessary, for the moment at least. I do see the advantage of casting a slighter younger Lizzy (she is meant to be only 21) but I thought Jennifer Ehle was excellent, and Keira Knightley's really not of the same standard. I'm interested by the idea of Matthew MacFayden as Darcy - he's a talented actor, but I don't think he'll have the same... er... impact as Colin Firth did on the female audience

However, there was talk at one point of casting Orlando Bloom as Darcy so maybe we should be grateful for small mercies...

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by sun-star

However, there was talk at one point of casting Orlando Bloom as Darcy so maybe we should be grateful for small mercies...

*phew*

[BeardofPants]

I'm now reading Northanger Abbey, and I have to say that I'm enjoying it *more* than P & P. I'm just loving it so much, and some of Catherine's comments are just hysterically funny. I'm up to just past vol I, and already, Isabella is driving me nuts, and as for her stupid brother.... Wow, I guess it really is a testament to Austen, that I find some of her characters so despicable! (to echo what a previous poster said).

[Rían]

Be sure to read Sense & Sensibility, too

[BeardofPants]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

Be sure to read Sense & Sensibility, too

I do plan on reading it at a later stage, but it will have to wait a bit until I've caught up on my reading. (too little time!)

[Lief Erikson]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

I'm now reading Northanger Abbey, and I have to say that I'm enjoying it *more* than P & P. I'm just loving it so much, and some of Catherine's comments are just hysterically funny. I'm up to just past vol I, and already, Isabella is driving me nuts, and as for her stupid brother.... Wow, I guess it really is a testament to Austen, that I find some of her characters so despicable! (to echo what a previous poster said).

I've seen the movies to many of Jane Austen's books. Northanger Abbey happens to be the only one I've actually read, but it was excellent! I vastly enjoyed some of those parts with Catherine in the Abbey. Blundering around in the dark for ages to open that cabinet, for example . Or have you gotten that far? Sorry, won't give any more spoilers, but that book was really hilarious .