Excellent adaptation, better than earlier versions!

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2005)

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. In particular I found the central performance by Keira Knightly carried the film, along with splendid support from Brenda Blethyn, the other Bennett sisters and some of the minor characters such as Tom Hollander's Mr Collins. The cinematography is ravishing and the music underscores the atmosphere very effectively. Maggoch has adapted the novel effectively, focusing it more strongly on Lizzie, with the male characters more to the background - just as in the novel. The principal casualty of this is Wickham, who is relegated to pretty boy louse with but a few lines. Inevitably comparisons will be made with the 1940 Garson/Olivier version, and the 1995 BBC TV mini-series - and this film, stands up very well compared to these - in fact, I'd argue its the best of the three. The 1940 version is principally interesting for the changes an American studio made to make the film interesting to its audience - the carriage race between the Bennetts and the Lucas family - the invitation with 'please bring this invitation with you', the Bennetts packing up to leave town after Lydia's disgrace, the choice of a Victorian setting, which the 34 year old star thought would more flatter her figure, the archery contest and the turning of Lady Catherine de Bourgh into a sympathetic character at the insistence of the actress, Edna May Oliver, playing her. The BBC version's tone was set by the opening titles - ravishing needlework, and glossy handsome locations, and heroines with improbable décolletage. Visually there is a big difference compared to the BBC version - here the Bennetts live in the country, mud and all, in the BBC version it was sanitised for its American co-producer's audience (dirty finger nails were not allowed). The other big difference between the BBC and this version is that in the former, given more time, adaptor Davies 'opened out' the story to show us more of Darcy - in the film Maggoch does not, arguably being 'truer' to the novel, for those who worry about such things. Both Ehle and Knightly make creditable Elizabeth's - Knightly possibly more 'girlie' and Ehle more 'knowing' - both excellent in different ways. On the secondary parts the film is stronger, with Blethyn avoiding the Dickensian caricature Steadman fell into in Mrs Bennett, similarly Tom Hollander's Mr Collins avoided the grotesque of his BBC precursor, David Bamber. Finally, Darcy - given the adaptor's focus on Lizzie I think MacFadyen does the lingering glances and aloofness hiding shyness as well could be done. Its difficult following in the footsteps of Colin Frith's wet shirt...but I think MacFadyen succeeds. In summary, a very successful adaptation, thoroughly enjoyable - and my favourite of the three.