Pride & Prejudice — Who Did It Better?
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Pride and Prejudice has been adapted onto film more than any other Jane Austen novel. Within the camp of Jane-ites (women and some enlightened men who appreciate all things Austen) opinions run high as to the best version. There seems to be a constant push and pull over who captured the spirit of Elizabeth Bennet best, and more importantly, who mastered the role of the arrogantly brooding Mr. Darcy. The two most popular adaptations were the 2005 and 1995 versions with Kiera Knightly and Jennifer Ehle starring in the role of Lizzie Bennet respectively.
Recognizing that everyone has an opinion, I’m going to give you mine. My qualifications? An English BA under my belt and currently studying for my MA in English at PNW. Also, I’m a die-hard Jane Austen fan who has read her novels and is currently dipping into her early works. Side note: for a treat pick up The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen — Juvenilia. Austen’s early works show her command of storytelling at a young age, as well as her wicked sense of humor. But we’re supposed to be discussing adaptation, so back to business. For me, hands down the best adaptation is the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.
The 1995 version (here on out referred to as P&P95) was a BBC dramatization that was presented in six episodes. The format allowed for deeper immersion into the novel, and in my opinion was the most accurate rendering of the text. Andrew Davies wrote the screenplay and he skillfully blended Austen’s writing with the additional dialog needed to move the exposition in the novel forward. So there’s that.
However, as beautifully written and directed as P&P95 was, it was the casting that was sublime. Having read Pride and Prejudice more times than I care to admit, I had fixed in my mind just how the characters would look and act, as well as how they would sound. The casting director for P&P95 absolutely nailed it. Now, I could wax rhapsodic about some of the ancillary characters but instead I’ll focus on my two favorites, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
Jennifer Ehle was perfection as Lizzie. She positively glowed on the screen, bringing a nuanced performance that showed Lizzie’s wit and independence, along with her insecurities when sorting out her feelings for Mr. Darcy. It would have been easy to fall into a sort of one-dimensional romantic heroine role, but Ehle gave a heartwarming, credible reading to one of the most famous literary characters ever written. In one moment she is rolling her eyes at her mother’s embarrassing behavior, or giving Mr. Darcy a real put down — to his face (brave girl), or helping her sister Jane try to mend a broken heart. Whenever I watch this production (usually once a year during the holiday break) I can’t help thinking that Jane Austen would be proud of Ehle’s interpretation of her most beloved character.
Then of course, there is the man of the hour. Tell me, can you possibly picture anyone but Colin Firth playing the role of Mr. Darcy? His is the role that is probably the most difficult. How does an actor play an arrogant, prideful man that the audience still cares about? Firth was incredible in his transformation from total arrogant jerk to caring human being who put someone else’s needs before his own. It was a joy to watch. Especially when he walked out of the pond in his wet, white shirt. Ahem….
P&P95 was the perfect adaptation of a classic work of literature. The production distilled everything that was charming and bright in Austen’s novel. So, if you find yourself looking for something to do on a chilly winter Saturday, do this: get a Blu-ray copy of Pride and Prejudice (1995), make a pot of tea, snuggle up in a blanket, and be transported to the British countryside and relive the Regency era in all its Austen glory. You won’t be disappointed.
