“Confession: I have read Pride and Prejudice about 200 times. I get lost in the language; words like thither… mischance… I’m always in agony over whether Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are really going to get together. Read it, I know you’ll love it!”
Kathleen Kelly, You’ve Got Mail
Hi, my name is Ellie, and I love Jane Austen. All Jane Austen. Even her unfinished works. It’s true … and sad … and I am sure that they have a group somewhere for people like me [sound of my husband laughing hysterically], but that’s not the point of my thoughts today.
This last week, I was watching A&E’s Pride & Prejudice and was struck again by how good it is. And how no other version can compare. My apologies, Keira.
So, why should you watch A&E’s Pride & Prejudice and not the newest adaptation?
Here are my top five complaints about the film made in 2006:
- “The A&E version is 5 hours long and takes too much time out of life which is why the 2 hour version is so much better!”: If you’re going to take the time to invest in classic British literature, do it right! 5 hours, baby! Grabbing the newer version and saying you “get it” is like buying store-bought cookies or the woman who says she was in labor for 45 whole minutes. No pain, no gain. You CAN do this!
- Mr. Darcy’s aloof quality really stems from his shyness: Nice try, Mr. Matthew MacFadyen.
Please try again. Mr. Darcy was proud and slightly prejudiced. We get a big, fat hint on this one in the title! - Mr. Bennett was a farmer: Say what? At no point is this mentioned in the book, and in fact, in Elizabeth’s great and dramatic argument with Lady Catherine in regards to her parentage, she expresses that: “In marrying your nephew [Darcy] I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter: so far we are equal.” I’d love to know who thought up the farming idea. Really.
- Mr. and Mrs. Bennett’s total want of propriety in some way stems from alcohol: Untrue. In fact, this is the cringing “I can’t look away from the train wreck!” aspect of the story.
Elizabeth’s parents are actually that embarrassing SOBER. - Wickham is in some way misunderstood and isn’t as bad as you think: Oh, he is that bad. And probably worse. This was potentially the biggest omission of the new film – the development of Mr. Wickham’s character. If the powers that be took the time to let the audience know about Wickham’s predilection for girls of 15 and their fortunes, you would not be left wondering at the distress of the family when Lydia runs away with him.
I could go on, but I’ll stop. … about Regency style and behavior, how Elizabeth wasn’t an early feminist interested in throwing off propriety, how there wasn’t an instant connection between Elizabeth and Darcy … stop it! [pulling myself together]
So, in case I haven’t mentioned it … go find the A&E version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle! 
Signed,
The Snob*
*who is neither a literary or movie critic
**my apologies for all the images … I just can’t help myself. As a matter of fact, I don’t know that there are really enough … Okay, I’m done now.
