Pride and Prejudice Movies: 1940

So I have now seen all 4 versions of the Jane Austen's wonderful novel and I felt like I could finally do some comparison posts! I will do a blog post for each version (1940, 1980, 1995, 2005) in which I discuss the movie and offer my thoughts on it.

I'll start with the earliest version, the 1940 movie starring Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy and Greer Garson as Lizzy.

WARNING!!! There MAY be spoilers after this point!!!

The Good:

1) It was a fun movie to watch. Honest. In fact it was so fun I laughed almost the whole time. I was "excessively diverted!"

2) I thought Lawrence Olivier's Mr. Darcy was actually rather good. I did enjoy his "smoldering" good looks (though it took me a while NOT to see Richard III standing there!). I liked his personality but there were a few times I had to laugh at the "clumsiness" his Mr. Darcy showed.

3) The other actors and actresses did a fine job in their roles. Perhaps they all didn't quite LOOK the part (the actress playing Charlotte was way too pretty) but they still did a decent job.

The Strange:

I can't exactly call this "The Bad" as I'm sure a lot of what was done was just the way it was in the late 30s and early 40s. Obviously they were showing to a much different audience than what movie makers have today.

1) The costumes. I started laughing within a few seconds of the movie starting when I saw the clothes and couldn't stop. HUGE hoop skirts, ridiculously large bonnets, and endless flounces and ruffles and bows. I felt like I had been dropped into Gone With the Wind. After some internet searching I discovered that the producers actually set the movie 40 YEARS LATER so they could have more elaborate costumes (and they did recycle some of the costumes from GWTW!). So this is not a Regency but something plunked right down in the middle of Victorian fashion. :)

2) Now I understand that all movie makers have a set amount of time for their movie but I felt they went wayyyy overboard with their mashing together of scenes here! There were a couple of instances where this happened.

3) The added scenes. Some of them were quite funny (the carriage race home from Meryton and Darcy "hiding" Lizzy from Mr. Collins come to mind) but it was just weird. And the weird twist at the end with Lady Catherine's visit to see Lizzy??!!!


Like I said, I can understand that a lot of this was done because of the era the movie was made in. Perhaps the way they changed things around suited the tastes of the early 40s but it is certainly comical to watch! This is NOT the worst of the P&P adaptions - I'll get to THAT one in a few days - but it is not an accurate representation of the Austen's novel. So, if you just love watching anything that smacks of Austen (and you like a good laugh!) then have fun watching. If you're a purest then I'd probably steer clear (unless you just want a good laugh). Its not horrible but its...different.

The Richard III Project

Readers of this blog will know my love and admiration for Richard III. I have longed for a new movie or TV show to be made about this King to "clear the air" and show him more like he might have been - instead of the monster Shakespeare and his Tudor contemporaries have made him.

British actor Richard Armitage has dreamed of making a film about Richard III and needs our help! He has a site set up and a petition to possible financiers to try to turn his dream into a reality. Please click the link below to go to the website and the link to the petition is near the top!

King Richard Armitage

You will find information about Richard Armitage and Richard III (who he is named for) at the site. You can also find information about Richard III here on my blog in several places.

What Would Shakespeare Do?

or rather...did Shakespeare do it?

That is the story driving the upcoming movie by Columbia Pictures Anonymous. The movie looks at the old rumor that William Shakespeare did not write all his famous plays; that he was just the front man for another writer who, for reasons to be revealed in the movie (politically based), wanted to remain anonymous.

You can watch a trailer here.

So what is this old rumor? Basically that the Earl of Oxford, not William Shakespeare, wrote all the plays. Who was the Earl of Oxford? A courtier in Queen Elizabeth I's court. What do I think of this old rumor and the movie based on it? I believe Shakespeare probably did write most of the plays and poems but could certainly have had some help along the way. As for the movie, I'll go watch it because it concerns one of my favorite time periods and historical figures (Queen E) and the idea behind it is certainly intriguing. Besides, the sets and costumes look gorgeous and that's reason enough for me to go see it (I'm always dying for a chance to see this time period on the big screen!).

Does it really matter if Shakespeare worked alone on his plays or not? They are still the wonderful masterpieces whether he wrote them or if someone else wrote them.

Coming to theaters 10/28.

A Tale of Two Emmas

I have fallen in love with Jane Austen's novel Emma and ever since reading it I have watched two versions of the story: the 1996 Miramax movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma and Jeremy Northam (sigh) as Mr. Knightley and the 2009 TV mini-series starring Romola Garai as Emma and Johnny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley. Both had their good points and both are a joy to watch but I have to say that my favorite is probably the 1996 version (mostly likely because of Northam's presence!). That being said, both movies had things I really liked, making it difficult to say for certain which was the better movie. Here is a run down...

Emma - The title character is played in the 96 version by Gwyneth Paltrow and by Romola Garai in the 09 mini-series. I can't say that I feel either of them are the "perfect" Emma Woodhouse. While Paltrow had the easy grace and dignity I would have expected from a lady of Emma's situation, I found myself liking Garai's personality a bit more. Paltrow just came across as a bit too haughty for the part and I have never felt Emma was haughty. Neither really "looked" like I have always pictured Emma, either; Garai didn't seem quite good looking enough and Paltrow seemed a bit too ... ethereal. Though in the end I think I'd pick Paltrow's Emma because, on occasion, Garai's seemed a bit ... clownish.

Mr. Knightley - I'm sorry but for me there can be no other Knightley except Jeremy Northam. Johnny Lee Miller played the role in the 09 series and he did a fine job but for me, Northam IS Knightley. Everything about his performance says "Regency British Gentleman." The manners and behaviors of a 19th century English gentleman come so easily to him that you would think he was born in the time period. Miller's portrayal, while good, seemed a bit too rough and stiff for my taste.

Harriet Smith - This was really a toss up for me. Toni Collette played the part in the 96 movie and Louise Dylan had the role in the 09 mini series. I actually liked both of these ladies but for different reasons. Dylan's Harriet looked more like the Harriet I envision from Austen's description but I positively LOVE Collette's portrayal of the character. Dylan's portrayal just got on my nerves occasionally and Collette just didn't LOOK like Harriet. If I could mesh the two I think we'd have the perfect Harriet Smith.

Jane Fairfax - Again, this was a bit of a toss up for me but I think in the end I actually prefer Polly Walker's Jane in the 96 movie over Laura Pyper's portrayal in the 09 version. To me, Walker had the beauty and grace that Jane is said to have had (over and over and over), though she seems a bit old for the role. Pyper's personality was very sweet and genteel, like I would expect from Jane, but she just didn't have the beauty that Jane was supposed to possess.

Miss. Bates - Hands down I prefer Sophie Thompson's (did you know she's Emma Thompson's sister?) Miss. Bates in the 96 movie over Tamsin Greig's in the 09 series. Thompson's portrayal was spot on in my opinion. She had the sweetness and silliness of the character down perfectly. Greig's version did not have the lightness about it and it really left me a bit cold. In fact, in the famous scene where Emma insults her at the Box Hill picnic, my heart aches for Thompson's Miss. Bates while I feel absolutely nothing for Greig's.

Frank Churchill - Chalk one up for the 09 series here! While I like Ewan McGregor, his portrayal of Frank in the 96 movie is almost so bad it hurts. I don't know if was just the way the part was written but it really was laughable (though there are some scenes that I really loved). And what in the world did they do to his hair?? Rupert Evans did a good job with the part in the series. He looked the part for one and his personality seemed to fit, and while there were a few times when his attitude really annoyed me, he had the charm I'd expect from Frank.

Mrs. Weston - I really can't say which of the two I liked more. Greta Scacchi's version in the 96 movie really had the "motherly" aspect I see in Mrs. Weston and her age seemed more appropriate, though I do think she may have been a bit too good looking to have been "just a governess." She also had a grace and dignity I would expect from a lady who had been paid to teach a young girl how to be a lady. Jodhi May did a fantastic job and she looked much more like I envisioned Mrs. Weston but to me she seemed a bit too young to have been a governess for seventeen years.

Mr. Elton - I think to pick a favorite here will depend on the type of Mr. Elton you envision. If you like a slightly arrogant but slightly comical Mr. Elton, then Alan Cumming's portrayal in the 96 movie will be to your liking. Cumming did a wonderful job with the role though his version is much more humorous and you can't quite take him seriously sometimes (I LOVE the scene where he sits between Emma and Knightley at the Christmas party). However, if you would prefer Mr. Elton to be oozing arrogance and come across as almost creepy, then Blake Ritson's version in the 09 series is right up your alley. I honestly think I prefer Alan Cumming's Mr. Elton for the main reason that I find Ritson's just too creepy to watch! His arrogance is sickening while Cumming can make you laugh at him.

Mrs. Elton - While both actresses did a fine job with the role, I'm going to have to go with Christina Cole's version in the 09 series over Juliet Stevenson's more comical portrayal in the 96 movie. While I LOVED Stevenson's comical Mrs. Elton I think Cole's portrayal is much more accurate in her arrogance and bossiness. She does a splendid job as coming across as an overbearing, arrogant, selfish Mrs. Elton, which I always envisioned when I read the novel (I could use a much more colorful adjective to describe how she appears in the movie, which is spot on for Mrs. Elton, but I never know who might be reading my blog!). Cole's Mrs. Elton also has the look and age I would expect.

Scenery - This goes to the 09 series because it just shows so much more. The scenery in the 96 version were beautiful - what little you actually saw - but there is just so much more included in the 09 series. I really loved seeing more of the homes where the different characters lived; Donwell Abbey in the 09 version is exactly what I would have pictured (though I did prefer the Hartfield that is shown in the 96 movie). I think showing more helps a modern audience grasp the times so much better.

Storyline - I believe I have to give this to the 09 series simply because it shows so much more of the story than the 96 movie. Yes, I know the 96 movie had to fit the whole story into two hours, and they did a fine job with it, but there was so much that was left out that is just fun to read in the novel. The mini-series was able to include so much more of Austen's original story and gave some characters (which had been virtually left out of the 96 movie) new life, namely John and Isabella Knightley. I do have to say that some of the individual lines from the 96 movie were fantastic (Northam's wonderful and powerful "Badly done, Emma! Badly done" for one). I also liked the opening of the series where they show how the three "children" (Emma, Frank, and Jane) came to be in their respective situations.

So there you have it. My run down of the two versions I have seen. Looking at it, it seems that I prefer more of the actors and actresses in the 96 version but I like the actual storyline and scenery from the 09 version. I'd say its pretty much a draw for me, though I do think I like the 96 movie better overall. Both movies had good points and bad points and in the end, each viewer is going to have their own reasons for liking or disliking one or the other.

This Day in History...

Can't find anything for today!


October 5, 1930 - The British Airship R101 crashed in France while en route to India on its maiden voyage. It is thought the crash was caused by overloading.

October 5, 1962 - The Beatles release their first hit record "Love Me Do."

October 5, 1962 - The first James Bond film "Dr. No" is released.

Mr. Knightley - My Favorite Austen Hero

Until about three weeks ago if you had asked me who my favorite Austen hero was I probably would have said (after much thought) Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility. I wouldn't have really called him a "hero" (and he certainly wouldn't have called himself one!) though that is what he is classified as but he is quite the gentleman and you can't help but love him for his attachment to Marianne. I have seen several different adaptions of the book and by far my favorite portrayal is the one by Alan Rickman. He really seemed to fit the part and his voice! Really, what can be said about his voice but wow!

However, about three weeks ago I finally picked up and read Emma ... in about a day. Really. It was marvelous; a fantastic comedy of manners with some very comical moments and very memorable characters. And the most memorable? Mr. Knightley of course! He has now become my favorite Austen hero. He was, after all, Jane's favorite hero and created in him her "ideal Regency English gentleman." And boy did she ever!

A little background on the character for those of you who have not read this novel (and if you haven't...why??): Mr. Knightley of Donwell Abbey is the principal land owner in Highbury (the little town where the story takes place), is about 37 or 38, and a close friend of Emma Woodhouse and her father. In fact, Emma's older sister and Knightley's younger brother are married and living in London so there is a very close relationship between the families. Knightley is intelligent, kind, sensible. and very generous. Being an old friend, he is very concerned with Emma's "upbringing" (though she is 21 in the story...) and worries about her. He is the only person in the novel who can gain the upper hand with her and is the only one who will find fault with her (which is something she needs). Knightley just wants (so he thinks) Emma to be the wonderful young lady he knows she can be and sees that as his reason behind his constant concern over her activities. Of course, his feelings run deeper than he originally expected. At the end his patience does win out and he wins the woman of his dreams.

So that is a very generalized look at Mr. Knightley but there is so much more to him! He is quite the gentleman, friendly to every one despite their "situation" (remember there were strict social classes at this time all dependent upon how much money one had). He always goes out of his way to help the impoverished Mrs. and Miss. Bates and their niece, Jane Fairfax (so much so that some believe he is going to marry Jane at one point!). He also considers his tenant farmer Robert Martin a friend; Martin even comes to him for advice on whether to marry or not. So while he is obviously aware of his own situation in the community he is not at all snobbish about it and uses his position to help as many as possible. Even when Frank Churchill arrives Knightley is able to be the perfect gentleman around him, never revealing how much he dislikes him and suspects Frank isn't all that he seems. There are some wonderfully humorous moments between Knightley and Emma that show he is quite funny and witty. Even when he is lecturing Emma, he is not at all unkind and you can tell by his words and manner that he truly wants to help her. After she insults Miss. Bates at the Box Hill picnic you can tell that his anger with her stems from his extreme disappointment in her behavior, knowing she is a better person than that (and feeling this change is because of Frank Churchill). You will not find Mr. Knightley covering the pages of the novel but his presence is there even if he, physically, is not; Emma is usually concerned with what Mr. Knightley will think and even finds herself guided by his opinions (even if she is not aware of it).

There have been a few different TV and movie adaptions of this wonderful story but my favorite is the 1996 Miramax version with Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma and Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley. As another blogger stated, "he is the definitive Mr. Knightley," a statement with which I heartily concur. Northam is wonderful in this role. Besides being oh so suave and handsome (yes, all the Knightley pictures in this post are of him!), he really brings the character to life. He just has gentleman written across him. His mannerisms, his humor, his emotions all fit with the Mr. Knightley of Austen's novel - and he looks so comfortable and at ease in those Regency clothes! Throughout the movie I find my eyes drawn to him whenever he appears, he really steals the scene! He does a superb job with the script; in fact some of the most memorable lines (or scenes) are his. His "Badly done, Emma. Badly done" is one of the most famous lines from the movie. After seeing this movie I have found it very easy to picture Northam's Mr. Knightley in the various sequels or retellings of Emma I've come across (the best, in my opinion, is Barbara Cornthwaite's George Knightley, Esquire).

I love this movie so much that I have yet to return it to Netflix! Of course when I've gone looking for it in the $5 section at Target, I can't find it, though I've seen it numerous times over the years! I highly recommend this movie to any Austen fans; I do not think you'll be disappointed. Besides the wonderful Mr. Northam, there is some other fantastic acting in the movie. Get it! Watch it and see for yourself what a wonderful job Mr. Northam does with this character! I am very glad I watched Showtime's The Tudors before I saw this movie. Northam plays Sir. Thomas More in the series and I think I would have cried to see my Mr. Knightley meet More's horrible end!

Yay for Robins!!

Or...I'm really looking forward to the new Robin Hood movie starring Russell Crowe. It opens on May 14th and my hubby has said he wouldn't mind seeing it. Yay! I don't have to go by myself!

There have been so many versions of this legend (and legend it is, though there probably is some basis for it in the lives of real people) and so many of them have landed on the big screen. There is a BBC TV series about it as well.

Who can forget the oh-so-manly green outfit of Errol Flynn?

Why, yes, it is a lovely shade of kelly green; makes me feel manly. I can give you the number of my dyer.

My personal favorite (really, it is) is the Kevin Costner version which came out in 1991. Yes, cheesy acting (though I do so love Alan Rickman) and an almost equally cheesy plot but I still loved it. The scenery was beautiful.

As a matter of fact I do use Garnier Fructis.

This newest version, starring Russell Crowe as a much more realistic Robin and Cate Blanchette as a very warrior like Marion, is going to give viewers a (supposedly) much more realistic look at the way life was in the 1200s - gritty, dirty, and violent. I am really looking forward to this, especially since I have read so much about this time period (via Sharon Kay Penman's wonderful Here Be Dragons and Elizabeth Chadwick's novels about William Marshal). I am sure there are going to be issues with historical inaccuracies but really...it is Hollywood. Would we expect them to actually portray something correctly? :)

Shhh...be vewry, vewry qwiet...I'm hunting wabbits.

What Would You Like to See on the Big Screen?

There have been several movies and TV shows over the years based on historical characters. Unfortunately, most of them cover basically the same people (the Tudors). Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching things on the Tudors (especially Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I) but there are many other intriguing personalities from history that I would love to see on the Big Screen.

Thus my idea for this post. Who would YOU pay money to see on the Big Screen? These are just my top picks though there are several more that I would pay money to see!

1. Richard III/The Sunne in Splendour - You knew he had to be #1 on my list! I would love to see Sharon Kay Penman's outstanding novel made into a movie and I would sit through a long one for this! It would just be nice to see a movie on Richard that is NOT based on Shakespeare's play, thus painting him as a horribly deformed and evil man.

2. Llewelyn the Great/The Welsh Trilogy - I fell in love with Llewelyn (and his grandson with the same name) while reading Sharon Kay Penman's trilogy. With all the action, love, betrayal, wars, etc, etc in these novels they would make the perfect movie! I would love to see the entire trilogy on screen but any of them would do for me at this point!

3. William Marshall - After reading Elizabeth Chadwick's novel on his life I would enjoy watching it in action. I think it would be interesting to see bits from his childhood (being the hostage of King Stephen) throughout his time trying to serve various Plantagenet kings.

4. Katherine Swynford/John of Gaunt - Anya Seton's novel about their love affair was delightful to read and (with all the "love" in it) would make a great movie. Considering how many kings and queens came from their union, I'd love to see them in action. And they were such great personalities in the novel!

5. The Heretic Queen - I loved Michelle Moran's book about Nefertari. I am not very familiar with Egyptian history so I can't say how accurate her portrayal was, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would love to see a movie about this Queen.

6. Edward II/Queen Isabella/The Despensers - Reading Susan Higginbotham's novel The Traitor's Wife sparked my interest in this period of English history. This crazy love triangle (and maybe a pentagon if you add in Piers Galveston and Roger Mortimer) is full of movie potential! Knowing Hollywood...they might just add in the hot poker...


So...who would YOU like to see immortalized even further on the Silver Screen??

This Day in History...

Okay...so not exactly a HISTORICAL tidbit but I don't care! :)

March 1, 1940 - English actress Vivien Leigh won an Oscar for her performance as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind.

New Movie: Ironclad

I came across this trailer today. It is a movie, scheduled for release this year, about the rebellion against King John that lead up to Magna Carta.

The preview looks good...guess I'll have to wait and see if there is any substance to it.

Ironclad - Teaser Promo [VO]
by Lyricis

Who Would you Want to Be???

Here is my first fun post for the Round Table week! I was thinking of this all weekend and couldn't wait to post it and see what comments appeared (I do love comments!).

So my question for all you historical fiction lovers (and anyone else of course):

You've just been given the lead roll in a movie about your favorite person from history! Who are you?

I kind of have a tie here actually! My top pick would have to be Eleanor of Aquitaine. She is such an interesting and mysterious lady. People are still have questions about her hundreds of years after her death! She was an intelligent, witty, strong, ambitious woman who was the mother of a dynasty that lasted for 300 hundred years. Not only did she go on a Crusade with her first husband, Louis of France, she became Queen of England, was caught in a rebellion with her sons against their father (her husband) Henry II, and endured 16 years of captivity at his hands (and lost two sons during that time). Who wouldn't want to play this clever and sexy lady?


My runner up here would be Anne Neville, the wife of Richard of Gloucester. I know she probably wouldn't be considered a MAIN player in history but I think she is a lady worthy of some attention. She was the daughter of Warwick the Kingmaker, was married off to Edward Prince of Wales by her father in order to secure an alliance with Marguerite d'Anjou, ended up in the clutches of the Duke of Clarance (and he possibly hid her in an inn as a kitchen maid hoping to keep her from marrying Richard so he could get his hands on her inheritance), and was finally married to Richard. Even then she had a hard time of it. She was ill a lot, her son was very frail and she eventually lost him, and she had to endure the rumors and scandals floating around about her husband.

If I Were Producing a Movie - Edward II and Isabella

Another installment of my "If I were producing a movie" where I pick a historical person (usually from British history...come on...that's my specialty!) and I try to decide which modern actors and actresses I think would do an awesome job in the roles.

This time I'm gonna tackle an interesting period from British history...the story of Edward II, his neglected Queen Isabella, and his male favorites. This ought to get interesting!!

As always, if you can think of a more suitable person for a particular role, please let me know!!


Edward II -


Queen Isabella- Kate Winslett (I think she'd do a bang up job in this role!)



Piers Galveston - Henry Cavill




Hugh le Despenser - Paul Walker





Hugh le Despenser (the elder) - Mel Gibson John McEnery




Eleanor le Despenser - Debra Messing




Roger Mortimer - Jude Law




Prince Edward -

If I Were Producing a Movie - Lady Jane Grey

She was only Queen of England for 9 days...and that was at her parents' bidding (supposedly they beat her and locked her in a closet until she agreed). Poor Jane is often overlooked being stuck in between such Tudor figures as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. I think a story about her would be interesting to watch.

Please feel free to comment and let me know if you think someone would be a better fit for a part! Still working on this one!

EDIT AUG 28 - Thanks again to the folks at Goodreads for suggesting some actors/actresses for some of these parts!

Jane Grey (child) - Abigail Breslin Elle Fanning

Jane Grey (older) -Ellen Page (I think she could pull this off)

Frances Brandon - Claire Forlani

Henry Grey -Daniel Craig (wouldn't he just look wonderful in doublet and hose??)

Duke of Northumberland - Hugh Laurie (I love him...)

Guildford Dudley -Daniel Radcliff

Thomas Seymour - Jude Law

Princess Mary - Charlotte Gainesbourg

Catherine Parr - Kate Winslet (old enough?)

Princess Elizabeth -Evan Rachel Wood

Henry VIII - Ray Winstone (He did so good when he played this role in another movie and he could pull off a very sick and fat Henry!)

Edward VI - Freddie Highmore