The Best of Jane
Recently the tenth adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (starring Mia Wasikowska) was released. However, Bronte is in good company when it comes to classic literature, which has been repeatedly adapted for either television or the silver screen. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has also been produced for film or the small screen a remarkable 10 times since 1938.
Most Austen fans have strong opinions about the adaptations of each of her best-loved novels. Here are some brief reviews of a few.
Pride and Prejudice (1940 and 1995)
The first film of Austen's most beloved and revered novel starred Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet and Laurence Olivier as the proud Mr. Darcy. The movie changed the time period and a few other details, but the performances by Olivier and Garson remain pretty true to character. However, the one glaring character change was the personality transplant of Lady Catherine at the end. In this version, she becomes a sweet old lady. However, the spirit of the movie is kept intact by the interaction between Greer and Olivier as the destined-to-be-married main characters.
Fifty-five years after the Hollywood version, A&E produced its miniseries. This miniseries has the distinction of making a huge star out of Colin Firth. Firth has firmly staked his claim as the most memorable Darcy to date. The miniseries stayed very true to the book, and Elizabeth and Darcy's long road to love was given its proper due. Every area, including the choices made for the supporting cast, was spot on.
Sense and Sensibility (1995 and 2008)
Ang Lee's film starred Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The movie was very well acted, and Thompson received an Academy Award for her screenplay. The biggest sore point with this film is that lots of key plot points and interesting characters were left out. A few hardcore Austenophiles were dismayed with Thompson being cast as Elinor, but her casting didn't detract from the story of the two devoted sisters who learn some hard lessons about life, love, and the importance of reputation in the early 1800's.
PBS's Masterpiece Classic version of Austen's novel starred Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield as the elder and younger Dashwood sisters, respectively. The miniseries did a masterful job of capturing the novel, and the casting was also top notch. Where Thompson's screenplay came up short, this adaptation faithfully played all of the important beats of the story. In truth, PBS's Sense and Sensibility surpassed the Academy Award-nominated version.
Persuasion (1995 and 2007)
1995 was a great year for Austen fans. Three of her novels were adapted (Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, and Pride and Prejudice) into movies or miniseries.
The 1995 version of Persuasion starred Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root as Anne Eliot and her former love Capt. Wentworth. Although the characters were clearly older than their stated ages (27 and 29), the two-hour movie did justice to playing the revival of Anne and Frederick's long dormant love. However, Anne's growing relationship with her distant cousin, the treacherous Mr. Eliot (a huge plot point), was barely touched on.
PBS's Masterpiece Classic presented its adaptation of the novel in 2007. Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins star as the long-parted loves. Both did an admirable job portraying the main characters. Again, the production follows the novel closely, and the acting by both leads is restrained yet compelling.
Emma (1996 and 2009)
Gwyneth Paltrow plays the titular character in the 1996 movie about silly, young matchmaker Emma Woodhouse. Truthfully, of all Austen's heroines, Emma is the most difficult to like. She is privileged, vain, and immature. She meddles in the lives of others and nearly ruins the small chance of happiness for a poor young woman she calls a dear friend. One wonders how the sensible and wonderful George Knightley (ably portrayed by Jeremy Northam) would ever be interested in such a foolish young girl. Paltrow played Emma well, but she had a tough time making the sheltered and spoiled Emma likable or relatable.
BBC produced an excellent adaptation which focused more on the humorous nature of Emma's antics. Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller are the leads in this funny adaptation which managed to make light of Emma’s disastrous matchmaking attempts. By making the story a more lighthearted comedy, Garai was able to infuse Emma with a vibrancy and youthful vanity that could be forgiven once she saw the error of her ways. Also, by making a miniseries instead of a two-hour-plus movie, the BBC was able to flesh out the characters better and explore the story of Emma's transformation from meddling ingénue to love-struck heroine.
Why Women Love Jane
Each of the adaptations of Jane Austen's novels proves one thing: Her books continue to fascinate and draw in new fans. Women from different walks of life all adore both her books and their accompanying films. No matter which adaptation of her works you prefer, one thing is certain--there is no shortage of films, movies, and miniseries to choose from. Sources:
www.amazon.com
Austen, Jane The Complete Works of Jane Austen Allan Wingate Limited 1962.
Sharlene Scott - Sharlene is a mom, teacher, wife, and writer. As the mother of two special needs children, Sharlene is committed to leveling the playing ...
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