March: Jane Austen Film Adaptations

... because no discussion of Jane Austen in our modern context is complete without a mention of the wonderful films that have been made of her stories! :)

Which are your favorites? Did you read the books or see the films first? If you could adapt any JA book to film, which would you pick, and why?

Good idea!

The 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice is excellent (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/). Although I seem to be the only (straight) woman in the world who didn't think Colin Firth was perfect as Mr Darcy. Although even my husband admits he got suckered into the story. (Halfway through a re-watch, I had to swap discs, and he put down his newspaper, thinking it was at the end of the story and worriedly told me "but Jane has to marry Mr Bingley!")

He's also a fan of the BBC adaptation of Persuasion in the same year (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114117/). It's a beautiful adaptation of a great story. Lovely period detail, too.

The BBC product of Northanger Abbey in 2007 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844794/) amused me greatly, and I'm currently trying to find a copy to buy. (Looks like it's no longer on sale in AU! May have to look overseas.)

Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility is excellent, although I don't think I've seen it all. When her character breaks down at the end and starts sobbing, I generally join in.

For Emma, I'm torn between the Gwyneth Paltrow version (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116191/) mostly because of Jeremy Northam, who is downright dishy in a frock coat (and an excellent cast overall); and "Clueless" which is a brilliant reimagining (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112697/).

I'm yet to find a version of Mansfield Park that I like... But I haven't read the book yet, either!

#2 I'm with you on the BBC Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion (my favourite, I think). The film version of Sense and Sensibility I almost prefer to the book as it's one of my least favourite of the books. I thought the film of Emma abridged the story very well although I didn't think Jane Fairfax was right. I also enjoyed the recent BBC serialisation of Emma with Romola Garai (sp?).

I have copies of the recent TV adaptations of Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Mansfield Park ready to watch but the reviews of, especially Mansfield Park were not very favourable - Billie Piper was definitely not right for Fanny Price. I watched some of the Persuasion but Anne seemed to be always running about and breathing heavily, which is not my impression from the book.

This version of Mansfield Park (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0178737/) was enjoyable but not quite true to the book. At one point an incident from Jane's own life is used for Fanny, and certain aspects are rather sensationalised - not quite x-rated but not Sunday Teatime Classic Serial either! There was a good BBC serial in the 80s(?) with Sylvestra le Touzel as Fanny and Nicholas Farrell as Edmund. It was several episodes long so nothing was left out.

#3> The adaptation of Mansfield Park with Frances O'Connor changed the book too much for my liking. (Although I haven't read the book, but there were certain incidents that I'm sure Jane Austen never wrote!) I think I saw the 1980s BBC adaptation, but that would have been back in the 1980s, so I can't remember whether its good or not...

I'd forgotten about Billie Piper as Fanny Price! Totally miscast.

Can't say I have seen them all, but my fav of the ones I have seen is Sense and Sensibilty. Not only a great movie, but the way the story unrolls in the book is a work of genius. I think I would have liked to have know Miss Austen.

I have to admit, I love the BBC adaptations of Jane Austen novels. I wasn't much into the last movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I think the BBC mini-serie had spoiled me for any other version.

The BBC ones are very good. What amazed me rereading the books was how close they kept to the book.