First Impressions of the 1980 Pride and Prejudice (part 1)

Yes, that is a deliberate title. I was singing the praises of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice (or P&P2 in the Old Republic of Pemberley parlance) on Facebook and some of you recommended this one. I thought it was on Prime, but apparently not on the UK. But as I had my heart set on it for Friday night, DVDs were purchased. Here we go!

Episode 1:

First thoughts, the lines seem pretty close to the book. 

Actual day dresses with higher necklines and/or fichus! 

Women working at night, good thing. 

Kitty looks like the 1995 Lydia. Jane looks like Maria from P&P2. Generally they look very similar, that’s going to give me trouble, I’m not great with faces. 

I don’t think I like this Mr Bennet any better than P&P2. He seems even more teasing. Mrs Bennet seems a little more appropriate aged. 

A lot of monologuing to ones sisters. 

Why is there a tapestry on the table? Why are the lines alternating ladies and gentlemen for that matter. 

Darcy has some jaw on him! 

Actual gloves in the evening! Interesting building for the ball. 

I like the picture of Mr Bennet snuffing all the candles while his wife is nattering on about the ball. 

Long stays, pretty period-appropriate. 

Interesting cinematographic idea to go “I wonder what they’re saying of us” and cut to the others. Also interesting to have one party undressing and the others still playing cards. 

Not sure about the heavy (eye) make-up, but I suppose it was the 80s. 

Is this slow paced? It feels slow-paced... Maybe it’s the overacting. 

That’s a very polite picture of people listening to the music. Quite conspicuous of Darcy to move. VERY impolite to start other instruments while Mary is playing. Oh but Mrs Bennet gets the Netherfield line. Sir William seems a bit older... 

Ah, the ‘fine eyes’ speech, soon followed by the ‘only way’ speech and the ‘silliest girls’ speech. 

If it wasn’t all so true to the book I’d be starting to think Andrew Davies plagiarised the lot for P&P2... 

Nooooo, not walking in the actual rain! That’s ridiculous! That’s completely out of character for Elizabeth. The whole point is that Jane couldn’t get back because of the rain. That kind of behaviour is much more Marianne Dashwood. Not convinced by this AT ALL. 

Is that the same music as in P&P2? I’m sure it is... 

Ok, Darcy is growing on me. I like his voice. 

Very 1700s furnishings, quite appropriate for a house that’s rented out. 

Oh dear god the mother is visiting. She kept her hat on at least, maybe she’s not staying long. 

FOUR AND TWENTY FAMILIES

Cringing at the mother quite as badly as Bingley’s sisters... 

I’m enjoying the riling of Darcy by Bingley. Hey a reel, I’m sure I’ve danced to this. 

Oh the “take a turn”, followed by the usual things. 

Ah good, we’re leaving. Bloody hell Caroline, that’s mean. 

I like the cut to Darcy and Bingley looking wistful or bored. 

Episode 2:

Can Mrs Bennet stop GOING ON about Charlotte Lucas? 

Mr COLLINS! Very tall isn’t he! Again, comedy background music for Mr Collins. I’m not convinced I like him scouting out the property. He is a bit obvious about the plans to marry one of the daughters in this. As is Mrs. Bennet in suggesting Elizabeth. Like the details for the carriage in Meryton. Random soldiers not so much. 

Bloody hell Denny, stop praising Wickham. Not sure adding dialogue here is quite necessary. Introductions from horseback? Oh dear Mrs Phillips is very vulgar. 

Does Mary’s hair deliberately look like Maria Von Trapp? 

Netherfield!!! Such an angry Lizzy. Fans!! Inappropriately close as well as clumsy dancing from Mr Collins. What a strange dance this is that Lizzy and Darcy are dancing. 

I’m currently wondering where they are going to gain the time that this one is shorter. 

*cringe* Mrs Bennet is back. 

*double cringe* Proposal. I’ve never seen ‘gritted teeth’ acted so well as by Mrs Bennet here though. 

Collins’ hair is awful. I like Lizzy’s “well I thought you were never speaking to me again, I can’t wait” look. 

The whole experience is rather like listening to a cover of a favourite song (or indeed, the original if you’re used to a cover), it’s all nearly the same but not quite. 

Such a comedy sneaking for Mr Collins. Oh there’s an actual tote-a-tete scene between them. Yikes. 

Don’t mention the war! Oh Mr Wickham is engaged? Novel! Miss King has not inherited 10000 a year. Oh no Sir WIlliam in the visit? Or Maria, but nobody ever remembers Maria... 

ROSINGS! ROSINGS seems mostly big. Oh Mr Darcy is there already. I like the servants. No Fitzwilliam? I’m not sure Dr whatsits rules for health are any recommendation if Anne is following them. I’m tempted to make a stain on velvet to see if it can be removed with butter. My instinct is it won’t. Ah here he is. 

The housekeeper’s room would not have had a pianoforte... How is Lizzy’s taste affected by her sister’s being out? What’s the nonsense with the hat? 

Such an angry Lizzy!

`proposal!

I may even prefer the intonation in this one. Not keen on the monologue in the head afterwards. 

Quire a lot of changes in the letter here.  

Not keen on this monologue either - I prefer the flashback. 

The iPAD/blogger combo seems to be a bit troublesome, so I’ll break off here and start a new post for the second DVD.