Pride and Prejudice on TV and Film

1938: BBC TV

This little-known 55 minute television version of the novel starred Curigwen Lewis as Elizabeth Bennet and Andrew Osborn as Mr Darcy.  Perhaps not surprisingly, there is little information available about it today.

1940: Film Version

Starring Greer Garson as Elizabeth and Laurence Olivier as Darcy, this stood out as the only film version of the novel for 65 years.  The screenplay was adapted by Aldous Huxley from a stage version of the novel and released by MGM, winning an Academy Award for best set design.  For purists, there are some problems: the costumes are lavish, but more generic ‘Hollywood old’ than truly in keeping with the period; the ending is altered with hints at romance for all the daughters, even Mary; Greer Garson, at 36, might be considered a little old to be playing the 20-year-old Elizabeth Bennet, however good her performance.

However, the film is a lively, fun and romantic adaptation of the novel with some fine acting, and manages to remain surprisingly faithful to the original book, especially when compared to other Hollywood adaptations of the period.  It’s well worth watching.

1952: BBC Mini Series

The first of several mini series adaptations by the BBC, this starred Daphne Slater as Elizabeth and Peter Cushing (more famous in his Hammer horror films roles) as Darcy, and ran over five episodes.  As with all early television shows, it seems to have been lost in the mists of time although one can only wonder at how Peter Cushing might have portrayed Mr Darcy!

1958: BBC Mini Series

Only six years later, the BBC embarked on yet another adaptation, this time running to six 30-minute episodes, although it used the same script as the 1952 version.  The role of Elizabeth was taken by Jane Downs, and Alan Badel played Darcy.

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1967: BBC Mini Series

With the advent of colour television, this six-episode mini series brought the beauty of the sets, locations and costumes to life for the viewer in a way that hadn’t been seen before.  Lewis Fiander starred as Darcy, while Celia Bannerman played Elizabeth Bennet.

1980: BBC Mini Series

Released early in 1980 (and sometimes called the 1979 version), this was adapted by novelist Fay Weldon, with David Rintoul as Darcy opposite Elizabeth Garvie’s Elizabeth Bennet.  Although the BBC’s 1995 version is much more well-known and a lusher production, this earlier adaptation has its share of fans because of what some see as its more accurate portrayal of the spirit of the characters of Lizzy and Darcy, and the faithful recreation of Austen’s dialogue.  As with other period adaptations of the time, the pace is occasionally lacking, and the acting may seem a little stilted for more modern tastes, but still, many fans are prepared to declare this version as their ‘definitive one’.

1995:  BBC Mini Series

Undoubtedly the most famous TV adaptation, and considered by many to be ‘the ultimate’, this highly romantic six-part series starred Colin Firth as Darcy and Jennifer Ehle, who won the Best Actress BAFTA for her performance, as Elizabeth.  The series also won an Emmy award for Best Costume Design and  Andrew Davies won the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain award for Best Dramatised Serial.

This was a much larger-scale production than the 1980 version, with more outdoor scenes, lavish production values and an extensive cast.  It also features Colin Firth’s famous ‘Lake Scene’ (not to be found in the book) and for that reason alone is considered essential viewing!

Anna Chancellor is wonderfully condescending and snobbish as Miss Bingley, and a young Julia Sawalha portrays a suitably shrill and irritating Lydia.  Of course, debate rages as to whether Ehle’s performance is ‘lively’ or ‘petulant’, whether Darcy’s is ’smouldering’ or ‘depressed’, and whether the performances of several others (notably Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins) are ‘wonderfully expressive’ or ‘bordering on caricature’.   However, it would really be churlish to accuse the series of not remaining faithful to the book (despite a few additional Darcy scenes), as large portions of the dialogue are faithfully reproduced, and yet this adaptation still manages to be lively and pacy in a way that older versions couldn’t always manage. 

2005: Film Version

Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley starred in this Oscar-nominated film adaptation, which, coming at the end of such a long list of previous adaptations, was always going to be compared with what had gone before.  On the whole it stands up to this comparison, being rather more gritty in its setting and locations, especially at Longbourn, and yet filled with beautiful scenery and lavish costumes as well as fine acting.  Even purists must be forced to admit that a 127-minute film version (seven minutes longer in the US!) simply can’t do the same justice to Austen’s writing as a 300-minute mini series, so some omissions and occasional rushed plotlines should be excused.

Many have complained at the ‘mangling’ of Austen’s dialogue, and it is true that liberties are taken with both the original novel and historical accuracy – all those ladies out and about without bonnets, and Eliza Bennet meeting Darcy in her nightgown are two examples that spring to mind!

Although Keira Knightley is obviously portraying Elizabeth Bennet as somewhat of a ‘modern woman’, she does do a fine (and age-appropriate!) job of showing all her inconsistencies, prejudices and strong opinions, though it is rather hard to imagine any man looking at her and finding her ‘not handsome enough to tempt me’! As for Darcy, well his complex personality cannot possibly be explored in such a short running time, but we do at least see in Macfadyen’s performance the painful adjustments that are needed in order to gain Elizabeth’s love.

Add to all this a very able supporting cast including Donald Sutherland (strange accent aside) and Brenda Blethyn, given much distinction by Dame Judi Dench as Lady Catherine de Burgh, and all in all this is a very enjoyable film experience.

But is it Jane Austen?  Well, that’s up to you to decide!