"Pride and Prejudice" (1980) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Cyril Coke

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel)
Fay Weldon (adaptation)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

13 January 1980 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Singing | Affection | Austen | Dancing

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Sabina Franklyn	...	Jane Bennet (5 episodes, 1980)
Elizabeth Garvie	...	Elizabeth Bennet (5 episodes, 1980)
Clare Higgins	...	Kitty Bennet (5 episodes, 1980)
Natalie Ogle	...	Lydia Bennet (5 episodes, 1980)
Tessa Peake-Jones	...	Mary Bennet (5 episodes, 1980)

Runtime:

265 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Elizabeth Garvie was asked to read for the role of Elizabeth Bennet after producer Jonathan Powell saw her photo on her agent's wall. She auditioned the next day and won the part.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A musician in the assembly hall dance scene is playing a concertina. The concertina was not invented until the 1820's. Decades later than the story is set.

Quotes:

Elizabeth Bennet: We all love to instruct, though we teach only what is not worth knowing.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Pride and Prejudice Revisited (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Farewell to the Woodlands

Faithful, classic adaptation of story

This BBC version with Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth and David Rintoul as Darcy is faithful to the story and spirit of the book. Despite some flaws, it is much better than the A&E version. Apparently, the BBC version is coming out on DVD in summer 2004. The BBC Elizabeth is lovely, intelligent and lively within the social restrictions of the period. In contrast, the A&E version portrays Elizabeth as petulant and narcissistic and it feels like a contemporary character. David Rintoul is a physically striking and very aloof Darcy. It appears as if the director wasn't quite certain about Darcy because there are a few moments where he appropriately relaxes and shows some emotion. But this is inconsistent and there should have been a few more. Colin Firth in the A&E version is intelligent but seems more depressed than proud. The important relationship between Elizabeth and her father is shown in the BBC version but completely ignored in the A&E version. The BBC Wickham is very attractive,charming, and intelligent while the A&E Wickham is lackluster and not sufficiently attractive for this character.