Pride And Prejudice — BBC TV series review (1980) | |
Starring David Rintoul as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet, this is the five episode (4-1/2 hour) BBC version which can be purchased on DVD. Because I enjoyed my recent viewing of the 1940 version, I went looking for this version to add it to my watchlist for viewing and / or potential purchase. Lo and behold, this version is currently (as of June 2023) available as a playlist on YouTube for free. Although the YouTube playlist version is patchy – 60-plus mostly 3-to-5 minute videos – the transitions between episodes are fairly smooth. Most only re-show the final few second or two of the previous video before continuing afresh. While “smooth”, I was left with the feeling I’d not seen the entire series because, in a number of the videos, there was a near simultaneous change in scene. My reaction was: “I think they’ve edited something out or put the episodes in the playlist in the wrong order.” (So much for my comments of the playlist editing.) | |
The story is essentially: small village with landowner family of five female daughters is thrown in a tizzy over the arrival of a very “suitable” bachelor. Even better, the bachelor comes with a friend, who is also a very suitable bachelor (Darcy). Lizzy takes an immediate dislike to Mr. Darcy while the oldest sister (Jane) falls madly in love with the first bachelor (Mr. Bingly). Blah, blah, blah, happy ending. The book – and its movie adaptations – is supposed to be a romantic-comedy / drama. Like the book, this adaptation is more romantic than comedic. There are no “ha-ha” laugh scenes, at all. It’s mostly sarcasm in the dialogue which is, to me, amusing, but not “funny”. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this version of P&P in terms of casting and adherence to the original book. I am a big fan of this book (subject material) and, because I’m so familiar with the story, I’m always looking forward to my favorite parts being portrayed in / with varying interpretations. As mentioned in my 1940 version review from earlier this week (ok, it was yesterday), I read the original novel (and reviewed it) by Jane Austen back in 2018. | |
Both Garvie and Rintoul are very good in their lead roles individually, and, to me, demonstrated just enough chemistry to make the story believable, while not trying to bring our current societal standards to the 19th century (the book was published in 1813 AD) where they would have been inappropriate. Rintoul’s portrayal differs from Olivier’s by playing the role of an English landed-lord with a graceful gentlemanliness, which came across (to me) as effeminate by when done by Olivier. This portrayal is much closer to the “no grace at all, stiff but manly-man” portrayal of Matthew Macfadyen in the 2005 movie which introduced me to P&P. A third main point and definite positive for me was the return to character (vis-à-vis the 1940 version) of Darcy’s aunt who refuses to accept the marriage of Darcy to Lizzy for reasons of societal class difference and because the aunt believes Darcy to be “given / promised” to her own daughter since childhood. The aunt appears as the haughty unredeemable character, which I believe she was meant to be in the original book. | |
Final recommendation: Strong to very strong. This is a very arguably the best interpretation of the book I’ve seen to date. Rintoul is more manly than Olivier yet still more proud / refined than Macfadyen. Garvie is not as photogenic as Keira Knightley (2005), but far more so than Greer (1940) or Jennifer Ehle (1995). Two more thoughts which are probably only of significance to me: the costumes (women’ dresses) are far better (more appropriate) than the 1940’s verson. They don’t appear “US civil war era” Southern Bell, like the 1940 movie, but nor do they appear as simple / sturdy as the 2005 movie. The 1940’s version runs 112 minutes (1 hr 52 min), this 1990 version runs at 265 minutes (4-1/2 hrs), the 1995 runs at 506 minutes (8hrs 26 min) and the 2005 version runs at 129 minutes (2hrs 9min). Should the run length / duration matter? I would hope the quality of each version would make them comparable, but, on reflection, it’s probably not so and I am actually comparing apples to oranges. And, finally, I still think I need to sit down and binge these and some of the other versions (“Bride” and “Zombies”), not to do more head-to-head comparison reviews, just to enjoy them again. I will almost certainly purchase this version if it ever comes close to my price point and if it is available in a standard US viewing format. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2023 | 15 Speeds With Big Knobby Tires |
And Still More Pride (1980) | |
2022 | Taking The Chance To Improvise |
2021 | A Bit Like Politics |
How About Tonight? (I’d Really Like To See You Tonight) | |
2020 | Independent Isolation |
2019 | This Pilgrim Has Had A (Mostly) Happy Road |
2018 | And Men, Too |
2017 | Damned If You Do |
2016 | A Storm Over The Horizon |
2015 | What About Today? |
2014 | Idiot, n. |
2013 | Temporary Reality |
2012 | The Great Objective |
2011 | Read A Book |
And Still More Pride (1980)
June 7, 2023 by kmabarrett
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