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Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition Customer Reviews (133 - 135 of 229 Reviews)

CAPTIVATING ENTERTAINMENT
I loved this story from the beginning to the end. Each scene was a polished jewel of dialogue, scenery, and melody. How pleasant to enter a world that values character, refinement,and family cohesion. The length of the production allows the development of depth of character which is missing in so many movies. The actors, scenery, and costumes are so well chosen that I became swept away into another time and place. I relaxed in the professionalism of the production, suspended disbelief, and gave myself over to pure enjoyment. It has replaced "Gone With The Wind" as my favorite viewing experience.

Not My Cup of Tea
This highly lauded production offers much, much better production values than the previous BBC effort. (It would be difficult not to, but more on that subject later.) Unfortunately with the decided exception of the leading man, it is difficult to say it improves on the earlier version's casting. In fact, I had the feeling the agent for the actress who plays Elizabeth had insisted on veto power on casting of the other sisters. Jane who should be a staightforward beauty is nothing of the kind, but appears nearly cross-eyed and impossible to photograph in a flattering way. Add enormous shoulders, suited to holding up the roof of the Acropolis, and nothing that suggests anyone would notice her on a crowded dance floor and the viewer begins pining for the sweetness and beauty of Maureen O'Sullivan. And no matter how desparate, Mr. Wickham would never have run off with so unattractive a Lydia. Also, whatever the fashions of the day, the sight of an extremely well-endowed Elizabeth bursting out of the top of her dress seems rather more Fielding than Austen. We're supposed to be enjoying Jane Austen's wits, not Jane Mansfield's - well, for the sake of decorum - mammaries . This is not the age of King Charles II.
Of more importance is what has been left out. This version downplays the comic for a more 'serious' reading, and reduces the impact of the minor characters. This certainly works to the advantage of the main couple, but badly weakens the entire complex organization of Austen's dovetailing stories. The earlier BBC version gives us more fleshed out supporting characters, and if you doubt this try comparing the time and dialogue of the fathers. This is especially so in the case of the horrendous (and horrendously funny) cousin, Mr. Collins. The earlier BBC script gives Mr. Collins four times as much screen time - rightly respecting Austen's great comic creation. But many women don't care for such things, or at least so the producers must have felt, for the screenwriter of the newer production has carefully trimmed these aspects down, in the process shifting the tone from comic revelry to a more simplified story built around one central relationship. Moreover the leading pair does nothing to dispell this impression - with far too much seriousness and far too little high comedy. Perhaps they should have been cast together in Wuthering Heights instead of Pride and Prejudice.
However, I must say I was appalled on first viewing the earlier BBC treatment. The crudeness and paucity of production values, the ghastly opening direction, the washed out quality of the images, all led me to turning it off almost before I began. It was only after reading innumberable positive reviews here on Amazon that I could attempt to try it again. Having done so I can only suggest it does take some 'getting used to.' But if you can make it through the first hour I think you will be rewarded. In short, the earlier version should not be discarded as yesterday's news. It offers a great deal, and frankly covers the story with greater care and detail.
Jane Austen purists will howl, but neither of these productions can come within a country mile of the 1940 movie for depth of casting. The talent MGM lavished back then on this single feature is almost incomprehensible. The experience and skills on display are no longer possible to approach, let alone duplicate. And the black and white photography is exceptional. The complainers who rail against the famous 'wrong period' bonnets opening the 1940 film seem to be so upset about this detail they miss the brilliance of this marvelously choreographed scene. In comparison the far more ridiculous business of the modern day Darcy's wet t-shirt seems a good example of why people who live in an age when houses display far more glass should be careful before tossing brickbats. And if Greer Garson is too old, it is also true that directors always face enormous difficulties in casting young women - just look at Shakespeare's Juliet. A youthful Juliet and the lines fall flat. Generally an actress gives the role time - it has been said you can't do it justice till you're over forty! Perhaps if we could bring a young Katharine Cornell back from the past we might properly catch the elusive Elizabeth. Garson, both the most beautiful actress on the English stage of her day, as well as possibly her ages best dramatic actress, gives the role a regal majesty all out of proportion to the role. Her archery scene makes her more the Goddess Diana, regal and bemused by men's ignorance of women's gifts and talents. It's certainly too much, but none of the other adaptations achieve a moment as sophisticated and Olympian as this.
Given the prices of these DVDs and/or videos it is possible to buy more than one. And I strongly urge you to consider the poor relation - the earlier BBC Pride and Prejudice - with an eye 'unprejudiced' by fancy sets and lusher color photgraphy. You might end up enjoying it.


A great opportunity
Usually this kind of adaptation from a literaty work does not work out, but in the case of Pride and Prejudice it worked wonderfully. So, bying the DVDs is a great opportunity for fans of Jane Austen to watch on our own tv screens the images we create in our minds when we read her masterpiece, which is Pride and Prejudice.

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