Ever one to watch any filmed incarnation of the greatest love story ever written (aside from “Jane Eyre”, that is), I rented the 1980 BBC version. This weekend I saw episodes 1-3, with 4 & 5 being on another disk due to arrive in the next couple of days from Netflix.
Let the inevitable comparisons begin:
1) I couldn’t keep the younger sisters straight. While I knew which actress was Jane (because she was so amazingly beautiful), I couldn’t keep Lydia or Kitty straight at all. Never knew from scene to scene which was which. For that reason, I much preferred the A&E Lydia & Kitty.
2) David Rintoul, as Darcy, gives Colin Firth a run for his money. And I can’t believe I just wrote that, but it’s true. Much like the remake done last year with Keira Knightley, this 1980 version features much younger actors, and David Rintoul does a GREAT job as a scowling Darcy – much along the same lines as Firth. McFadyen (opposite Knightley in last year’s version) played it wholly different – more shy than haughty. While I definitely liked a *lot* of McFadyen’s performance, I have to give it to Rintoul and Firth – with them now in a very close run for top place. I’ll solidify my opinion more once I see the last two chapters of the 1980 BBC version.
3) Wickham. MUCH prefer A&E’s Wickham over the other two HANDS DOWN. There’s no debate about that one.
4) Mr. & Mrs. Bennet. Each elder Bennet has been played differently by all three casts. While I like the dithering of Brenda Blethyn in the Knightley remake, she’s a dullard compared to her A&E counterpart. The BBC Mrs. Bennet is not flighty at all, just very matter-of-fact about what needs to be done in order to get her girls properly married off. For this reason, I prefer the BBC Mrs. Bennet, while prefering the lazily ironic Mr. Bennet from A&E.
Keeping everything straight thus far?
5) Elizabeth Bennett. While a much older actress in the role, I still love Jennifer Ehle’s A&E performance. Knightley seemed *too* impetuous and emotional in her portrayal, in my opinion. The BBC Elizabeth is decent enough in the role, but nothing to write home about. She does make some comical faces in reaction to Catherine deBourgh, however, that made me laugh out loud. Yes, Eliza is supposed to be young (despite A&E’s Ehle playing her much more maturely), but there is something about Ehle’s performance that I absolutely love. A&E wins that one.
So far we’re two points for BBC (Darcy & Mrs. Bennet), five points to A&E (the younger sisters, Darcy, Mr. Bennet, Wickham and Elizabeth). No points for Knightley’s version, which is surprising since I love that version and quite possibly may like it more than BBC’s version.
The one thing I definitely like from the BBC version is the voiceover work for Elizabeth Bennet. I like hearing her thoughts through each episode to help me know what she’s thinking as opposed to wondering. For instance, when Elizabeth reads Darcy’s letter after his initial proposal, Elizabeth clues us in that she is very gratified by the proposal despite her refusal of him. We never got that in the A&E version.
Having said all this (is this my longest movie review?), I must say I’m looking forward to finishing the BBC miniseries, if only to make the final decision as to whether Colin Firth reigns supreme.
You’ve peaked my interest enough to want to rent this BBC version. A good thing to watch during a snow storm.
I’ve seen all 3 as well, Jane (matter of fact I think I might own all 3) and Firth reigns. I loved the movies so much I finally read the book (and then Sense & Sensibility too, which is also a good movie).
The BBC series is closer to the text of the book, but I think the A & E is closer to the spirit of it. I cast my vote for Colin Firth as definitive Darcy.
I 2nd that vote Talmida, there is only 1 Darcy, Colin Firth!!!
Marmie, do you mean “piqued”?