VividSimon Simply Perfect

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Mischa Redfern I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

diverdiva This is definitely the quintessential version of P & P! The actors were all perfectly cast and I agree with previous reviewers that Elizabeth Garvie captured the spirit of Lizzie to a 'T' (as did David Rintoul with Darcy). Yes, it's production values are a bit primitive (1979 after all!), but you forget the settings because the script and performances are all so absorbing. True to Jane Austen and completely enjoyable. Quick quibble with some other reviewers, who are obviously Austen fans, but not very 'up' on British history ... P & P took place in Georgian England (George III - late 1700s to early 1800s), not Victorian England (1837-1901). Ms Austen was long dead by the time Victoria ascended the throne!

Hotwok2013 "Pride & Prejudice" is easily the favourite of all of Jane Austen's six published novels. Many literary critics have tried to analyse why her books are still so popular in this day & age around 200 years after they were written. Probably the best reasons are that the themes of her novels, (love & marriage), are relevant at any time period & that she was just so darned good as a writer. Taken purely as a love story It is probably without equal which explains why it has been adapted for film & television so often. This 1980 version stars Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth Bennett who plays the sensible & spirited young lady really well but, for me David Rintoul as Fitzwilliam Darcy is even better. To my mind, he plays the proud, haughty & extremely handsome Darcy precisely as written & envisioned by Jane Austen. He is aloof, stiff & unemotional which makes it easy to see why Elizabeth dislikes him so much at first. Quite a number of reviewers of this adaptation of Pride & Prejudice have criticised Rintoul's performance. They claim he plays Darcy with too little emotion & in comparison with Colin Firth's 1995 performance is dull, uninteresting & unromantic. It is true that he isn't as outwardly romantic as played by Colin Firth but I disagree with that criticism. Rintoul nails him precisely as written by Jane Austen & what a shame we cannot get her opinion!. Another standout acting performance is given by Judy Parfitt as Darcy's aunt Lady Catherine De Bourgh. Ms Parfitt has a natural regal bearing combined with a beautifully intoned speaking voice & can just nail an upper-crust woman effortlessly. She also plays her with such a commanding air that you almost cannot help disliking her. That, too, is also true to the spirit of the book as written by Jane Austen. Malcolm Rennie is also excellent as the pompous, somewhat comical vicar Mr. Collins. The scene in which he proposes marriage to Elizabeth & is rejected by her is particularly well played by both of them. Both Priscilla Morgan & Moray Watson are also extremely good as Elizabeth Bennett's mother and father, respectively. Sabina Franklyn also does well playing Elizabeth's very pretty older sister Jane who will fall in love & marry Darcy's best friend Mr. Bingley (Osmund Bullock). Tessa Peake-Jones plays her bookish younger sister Mary who later got a more fames television role as Delboy's love interest Raquel in Only Fools & Horses. Natalie Ogle plays the youngest of the five Bennett sisters Lydia who is fatuous & will enter into a hasty, sham marriage with the handsome, (but deceitful & untrustworthy), Mr. Wickham (Peter Settelen). None of the sisters attend the marriage ceremony & when they return from their honeymoon Lydia is eager to tell her sisters all about it. Elizabeth does not want to know & delivers one of the books most memorable put-down lines. "I do not think there can be too little said on the subject!". There isn't a weak performance by anyone in the entire cast. The 1995 TV production with Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle was pretty good, but this 1980 BBC production dramatised by Fay Weldon is closer to the book & definitely superior in my opinion.

TheLittleSongbird Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore the 1995 series, but seeing this version yesterday as part of my Jane Austen marathon this version is even better. The whole series is handsomely photographed, complete with sumptuous costumes and scenery and an evocative atmosphere, and the music is simple and of a beautifully hypnotic quality. The writing is thoughtful, witty and moving, as well as being true to Jane Austen's language, while the timeless story goes at a good length and pace and the crucial scenes and everything that made the book so good intact and with strong emotional impact. Elizabeth Garvie is a spirited Elizabeth, Irene Richard a superb Charlotte(much better than her Elinor in Sense and Sensibility) and David Rintoul a handsome and aloof Darcy. Judy Parfitt is also a sheer delight as Lady Catherine. So all in all, simply amazing and while ratings-wise I'd put this and 1995 on the same level as the best versions of the book, but as of now I give this one the edge. 10/10 Bethany Cox

arrietty01 I'm so glad others think as I do that this is an excellent version. I just don't understand why it is never mentioned in any reviews when reviewing new version of P&P. Even in IMDb, there is hardly any extra information. And is it true that this mini series is not available on DVD? I saw it on tape and it was such a good series and so true to book. I can see why the Colin Firth one is so popular; it was more sensual and as someone commented, Firth was more like a smoldering Heathcliff. I think that book influenced the movie because didn't you think the scene with Elizabeth and Darcy coming out of mist was more of Heathcliff and Cathy type scene? I suppose that's the next book that will be made into a movie yet again.I've just read a review of all the popularity of Austen books, movies and look-alikes and think it's quite good that they have become popular but am sad that no one will make movies like the above version because it is too purist. Everything for the new generation has to be 'sexy' and snazzy and cool. Oh well, even if one young person is motivated or interested enough to read a Jane Austen book after seeing one of the movies, then I'll be happy.