Saturday, July 9, 2011

Pride & Prejudice (1980)

Pride and Prejudice (BBC, 1980)

Summary: In Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice, the arrival of a young, well-off, eligible man named Mr. Bingley sends the Bennet household--with five girls of a marrying age--into a tizzy. But it's the introduction of Mr. Bingley's friend, Mr. Darcy (played with an imperious scowl by David Rintoul), that sets in motion the fate of Elizabeth Bennet (the adorable Elizabeth Garvie), resolved only after a labyrinth of social and personal complexities. Austen's novels are miracles of skillful plotting, fusing a rich understanding of psychological motivation with whimsical turns of chance. This superb BBC adaptation from 1980 zips along, thanks to lively performances, fluid direction, and a keen grasp of the wit of Austen's dialogue (expertly translated to the screen by British novelist Fay Weldon) and her satirical characters, who range from clever and kind to utterly odious. Due to its faithfulness and deep appreciation of the material, this five-episode miniseries stands up against any other film or television adaptation (at least nine to date), though Rintoul may not sets hearts aflutter the way Colin Firth did in the also excellent 1995 miniseries.

Script: Fay Weldon
Directed by: Cyril Coke
Produced by: Jonathan Powell
Length: Approximately 265 minutes
Release Date: 13 January 1980
Costume Designer: Joan Ellacott
Soundtrack Composer: Wilfred Josephs

Cast:
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Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth Bennet

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David Rintoul as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy

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Moray Watson as Mr. Bennet

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Priscilla Morgan as Mrs. Bennet

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Sabina Franklyn as Jane Bennet

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Tessa Peake-Jones as Mary Bennet

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Clare Higgins as Kitty Bennet

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Natalie Ogle as Lydia Bennet

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Osmund Bullock as Mr. Bingley

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Marsha Fitzalan as Caroline Bingley

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Jennifer Granville as Mrs. Hurst

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Edward Arthur as Mr. Hurst

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Irene Richard as Charlotte Lucas

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Malcolm Rennie as Mr. Collins

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Peter Settelen as Mr. Wickham

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Judy Parfitt as Lady Catherine de Bourgh

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Miss Anne de Bourgh

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Miss Georgiana Darcy

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Barbara Shelley as Mrs. Gardiner

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Mr. Gardiner

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Shirley Cain as Mrs. Philips 


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Colonel Fitzwilliam 


Quotes:

  • Mary Bennet: It's been my experience, that an event looked forward to with much impatient desire, does not always brings its promised satisfaction. 
  • Elizabeth Bennet: We all love to instruct, though we teach only what is not worth knowing. 

Links of Interest:


Visit our P&P (1980) Photo Gallery!


Trailers & Clips:



The Bennets receive visit from Mr. Darcy & Mr. Bingley


My Music Videos:



Pride & Prejudice Themes

2 comments:

  1. I'm glad you liked this version, it's the best-acted so far, the actors were not only faithful to the novel but brought out even better. Mr Collins was superb - far more amusing and convincing than the novel.

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  2. I was madly in love with David Rintoul. Met him at the stage door after Richard ii in Bath and he was lovely, friendly and full of energy! Nothing like his portrayal of a Darcy or Dr Finlay.

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