Masterpiece: Pride And Prejudice starts tonight on PBS.

[Orsino]

If you've ever wondered what's so great about Jane Austen, tonight is the night to find out: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/prideandprejudice/index.html

This is the adaptation that doesn't go all Hollywood, changing shit around, cutting important stuff and dirtying up the screen with lousy acting. This is the one--the one they knew they shouldn't even try to remake yet again. It's five hours of perfection, over three successive Sundays, starting tonight. You'll see authentic costumes and fine performances all around. You're gonna watch tonight.

Unless you're some kind wuss, that is, or unless you'd rather watch it all at once on DVD for the twentieth time or so. :patriot:

[momophile]

1. is Alan Rickman in this?

or is that something else?

[BuelahWitch]

2. That is the most wonderful Mr. Colin Firth!

The ONLY Mistah Darcy for me! :loveya:

[chimpymustgo]

5. I love Matthew Macfadyen in the Joe Wright version with Keira Knightly.

The cinematography...the music...on top of amazing performances!

[Darth_Kitten]

7. Then it's Disco Darcy for you.....

[BuelahWitch]

9. Uh oh

Is "Disco Darcy" the new "Rick Roll"?
:yoiks:

[Lavender Brown]

8. I was totally indignant when the newer version came out

while I now appreciate both versions of Darcy, Colin Firth is the definitive one for me too. :sigh:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. I'd like to give Colin Firth a DU heart

Because he's just so...
:loveya:

[Lavender Brown]

6. That's Sense and Sensibility

:) He was great in that!

[Aristus]

3. I'm a guy, and I don't mind saying I love this adaptation of P&P.

Mostly for the reasons you might think. (gorgeous ladies with their boobs hanging out. B-) ) But also because of the incredible writing. The wit, sophistication, humor and pathos. Just incredible.

Jennifer Ehle is stunning, in every way. :wow:

My favorite line from the book isn't in there, but because it was part of the narrative, and not dialogue:

"Mr. Collins apologized profusely, and continued to do so for fully a quarter of an hour." Great stuff. :-)

[Orsino]

4. There's a whole lotta telling vs. showing in the book...

...but the author was only twenty years old, tops, in an era before people knew how to write novels effectively. Besides, it mirrors the isolation of a Regency deb, and often (as in your example) it is very wittily handled.

[Common Sense Party]

25. Me, too. This is a definite chick flick, but I'm one man who loves

watching it.

You know a film is good if it can keep my attention for 5+ hours, and there isn't an explosion, hot swimsuit scene, or kung fu fight in the whole thing.

My wife and I--and our two daughters--love watching this.

The Keira Knightley version was a travesty. She did all right, I suppose. But the other actors...ugh.

[supernova]

10. Crap! My DVR isn't recording this

because my power is off!! :x :cry:


Luckily, I have the DVD. :-)

I do think this is the best version going so far.

[AlCzervik]

11. he is so handsome! I've seen so many versions of Pride but i'll be watching tonight

for sure.

*****swoon*****

[PassingFair]

12. PERFECT casting!

The scenes in Bridget Jone's Diary and sequel, with
the women constantly rewinding the part where he
walks out of the river in his wet shirt are HILARIOUS!



When my husband first saw him emerge from the water, and
then the camera panned up and over to his estate, he exclaimed,
"By God! I'd do him!"

:rofl:

[PassingFair]

18. Google darcy - wet shirt:

[Misskittycat]

13. Thanks for the reminder. This version was perfect. n/t

[MorningGlow]

14. DROOOOLLLLL

One of my all-time favorite miniseries! Thank the gods when they decided to redo all the Austen novels for "Masterpiece", they had the good sense to leave this one alone. Must watch--I only have this on VHS, and I have no idea where our VCR is since we moved.
:woohoo:

[rocktivity]

15. Watched this on A&E--didn't like it

not compared to Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, at least.

:headbang:
rocknation

[tigereye]

16. that's a good one

Firth is smoldering. SIgh.


There's just something about dark haired, brooding men.

[Flaxbee]

17. oh, I love this series...

actually have it on VHS; need to get DVD...

I didn't think I'd like the movie version with Keira Knightly, either, but I really did -- the A&E version was sweet and intelligent, but a few of the scenes in the Knightly movie were just so *intensely* romantic.

But still, the A&E version is my favorite. Colin Firth is wonderful, and the rest of the cast is terrific, too. You're right - there is no need to try to remake this for decades, if even then.

[BuelahWitch]

19. The casting is wonderful

Julia Sawalha, aka as AbFab's "Saffy", is fantastic as the youngest sister Lydia. The young women all look like they could be from that period. Not overly skinny nor too much Hollywood-type makeup.

[elfrangel]

20. I wish I had known....

What good is it to have a DVD recorder when you don't know when the good shows are on? Great argument for the TiVo. LOL

I love this series, it is one of my favorites of the story.


edit:spelling...

[laconicsax]

21. It's available on DVD

2 discs instead of 6 VHS cassettes.

[Misskittycat]

22. This version has additional scenes and lines that apparently

were cut from the version shown on A&E years ago.

[Common Sense Party]

26. Like what scenes?

I want to know if they're on my DVD or not.

[Misskittycat]

27. There's a little bit more dialogue in several of the earliest scenes; one

of the ball scenes is longer than the TV version. I'd really have to see it again to be more specific.

I taped the 1996 TV version and have watched it many times, so the additional material, however slight, really struck me. I understand that there is a 2006 10th Anniversary DVD edition in addition to the 1996 version (VHS or DVD???)that could be bought. I don't know if those two versions vary a bit, or if it is a matter of what was chosen for the TV audience. The original TV version had to accommodate a 6-hour time frame with commercials, so that may account for some material being omitted.

[Orsino]

28. The 10th Anniversary DVD set package doesn't promise any extra footage...

...so I presume that my older DVDs are complete.

This should not be as important to me as it is. :hi:

[Misskittycat]

30. There was nothing crucial in the extra bits so far. It was just interesting.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. I love that series...

I watch it on DVD, annoying the heck out of these actionflick obsessed men in the house, by taking up 5 hours (actually about 6 hours, since I watch all the special features) of precious Die Hard time.

[MrCoffee]

29. You and MrsCoffee should get together for her bi-monthy screening of the DVD

[applegrove]

31. My absolute favourite adaptation. I love it.

[Thirtieschild]

32. This is by far the best P&P but...

Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Collins were better in the 1980s version, Mrs. Bennett more scatter-brained than angry, and Mr. Collins hilariously pompous. Both Lady Catherines were great. I watch both versions about once a year. Also read the book every year or so.

[Darth_Kitten]

33. Kick with Disco Darcy!!!

[KatyaR]

34. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get into that last night.

I've watched all the other episodes of the Jane Austen stories, and I liked them, but this one was slow and dry to me. And I just don't see what everyone sees in Colin Firth (sacrilege, I know).

I'm looking forward to Sense and Sensibility myself.