#elizabeth garvie

[pemberlian]

Pride and Prejudice - 1980 / 1995 (1/2)

[didanagy]

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1980)

dir. cyril coke

[saimusage]

Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice" 1980 version

[rheinlegendchen]

An evening with Pride and Prejudice (1980)

This is undoubtedly an unpopular opinion, given the enormous fandom surrounding the 1995 Colin Firth Spectacle, but the 1980 mini series does just about everything better than any other screen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, the reason being that this one is true to Jane Austen's novel.

Moray Watson's Mr Bennet jumps straight from the pages right onto the TV screen.

The actors portraying the protagonists may not be the "sexy picks" of later versions, but they excel in their roles without seeking the spotlight for themselves.

Elizabeth Garvie deserves all the praise she gets for her portrayal of Eliza Bennet.

The casting choices for Elizabeth, Mr and Mrs Bennet, Charlotte, Mr Collins and Lady Catherine etc. are all superb. Everyone involved is committed to a faithful representation of Austen's cherished story.

David Rintoul, looking at Colin Firth's fame for playing Darcy with either envy, admiration or contempt

David Rintoul's Mr Darcy is the epitome of a Regency nobleman, even if as a consequence his line deliveries seem stoic and his movements appear wooden. But it just wouldn't do for this Darcy to disregard his rank in society, not even around his future wife.

Yes, the 1980 production might be dull in comparison, its atmosphere stuffy and the characters buttoned-up, but this just reflects the stifling conservatism, the stern formalities and the reserved decorum of the era, when one misstep in society could ruin an entire life.

Most importantly, this series presents courtship and marriage not as a romantic endeavor (as is so often the modern perspective), but as social business negotiations between eligible candidates whose attractivity as spouses is measured by their virtue, reputation and respectability (with varying sums of money thrown into the bargain).

If you look at Pride and Prejudice less as an entertaining love story, but rather a truthful staging of the source material, this series is your best choice.

[claudia1829things]

Ranking of "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" Adaptations

Below is my ranking of the straightforward screen adaptations of Jane Austen's 1813 novel, "Pride and Prejudice":

RANKING OF "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" ADAPTATIONS

1. "Pride and Prejudice" (1995) - The highly acclaimed six-part BBC miniseries starred Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. Adapted by Andrew Davies, Simon Langton directed.

2. "Pride and Prejudice" (1980) - The BBC's five-part miniseries starred Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul. Adapted by Fay Weldon, Cyril Coke directed.

3. "Pride & Prejudice" (2005) - This 127 theatrical movie starred Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. Adapted by Deborah Moggach, Joe Wright directed.

4. "Pride and Prejudice" (1940) - This MGM featured film starred Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier. Adapted by Aldous Huxley, Helen Jerome and Jane Murfin; Robert Z. Leonard directed.

5. "Pride and Prejudice" (1967) - The BBC six-part miniseries starred Celia Bannerman and Lewis Fiander. Adapted by Nemone Lethbridge, Joan Craft directed.

[itspileofgoodthings]

Favorite Mini-series/TV show/New Watch of the Year: Pride and Prejudice (1980)

I have been aware of this adaptation for so long and have meant to watch it for forever and this was the year I finally did! There are things it can’t do or be in comparison to the book, scenes I wished were longer, lines I wished hadn’t been cut (of what adaptation is this not true) but what I was most surprised by—and maybe I shouldn’t have been but I still was—was how warm and human and romantic it was. Especially Darcy and Elizabeth! They are not a “stuffier” version of this iconic couple; their essence is not stilted or overly restrained to the point of losing the romance. They’re one of the best ways to play it. But because they ARE restrained and take no modern liberties, the adaptation is better equipped than most, if not all, to take you on the real journey of Darcy and Elizabeth, where you can actually see and understand what they get wrong about each other and why. And then they show you why they are such an iconic love story and why they will work! Its faithfulness to the book in its fundamental spirit of intelligence and restraint and correctly balanced humor lets the love story shine without overlaying it with that tinge of specifically modern angst we often brings to P&P.

This is the kind of adaptation where, instead of a kiss at the end, she just takes his arm. But somehow it IS the most romantic thing you’ve ever seen. (See above!) Darcy both softens and comes alive in that final scene; you see him unbend, display eagerness and liveliness. He seems so truly in love, he seems young. In a way that is so true to the book and to the book’s essence! It hits all the harder because you’ve earned this version of Darcy through the natural holding back and, again, restraint this adaptation doesn’t shy away from. And it makes especially Darcy come through in a way I don’t think I’ve ever seen captured elsewhere.

That’s the fun of Pride and Prejudice, distilled in an adaptation!

[austenreusedcostumes]

This Brown Spencer is worn on Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1980) and many years later worn on Beth Angus as Meg Dashwood in Sense & Sensibility (2024)

[thatscarletflycatcher]

Pride and Prejudice (1980) - Episode 1 Dir. Cyril Coke