MovieChat Forums > Pride and Prejudice (1940) Discussion > poor adaptation, enjoyable movie

poor adaptation, enjoyable movie

posted 10 years ago by chodorov
7 replies | jump to latest

Yes, this is a poor adaptation of the book. But so is the one from 2005. You can't do the book justice in a 2 hour movie without changing some details. The mini-series from 1995 is quite accurate and also a joy to watch. The one from 1980 may be accurate as some have claimed, but I couldn't even last through the first episode as it was so insipidly boring. As for this version, it may not be accurate, but the characters are a joy to watch because the acting is superb. Yes, Greer Garson is much too old to play Elizabeth, but she is a delight and wonderfully partnered with Laurence Olivier. Mr. Bingley is also enjoyable, even though one sees so very little of him. The movie from 2005 is so badly cast, especially Bingley, that it is hard to watch. Darcy is also no great actor. At least Jane is good, and Kiera Knightly is OK as Lizzie, if not great. And for those of you who complain about the costumes in the 1940 version, at least they are beautiful and the hair is combed and styled. In the 2005 film, they all look like unwashed peasants!

[–] Julie-30 10 years ago

Have you ever watched the 1995 version of Persuasion? If so, I imagine you must hate it.

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[–] chodorov 10 years ago

yes, I have watched it, but cannot remember it very well. I don't remember hating it, but rather liked it. It is not my favorite of Austen's books, I prefer Emma and P&P.

[–] Julie-30 8 years ago

Whether or not you liked the book has nothing to do with it. My point was that, since you didn't like P&P05 because of the hair or the dirt, then you shouldn't have liked P95 either because it shows people with messy hair, and also shows more of what life was really like in the late 18th/early 19th centuries. P&P95 is so pristine that, except for the costumes and the horses, it could take place today. Same with S&S95 and both of the Emmas that came out around 1996. P95 was the first of the more realistic period adaptations of an Austen (or any other) novel.

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[–] gshows-1 9 years ago

Poor adaptation? I've seen all film versions of Pride & Prejudice, except for the Keira Knightley one, and this is the best. It certainly has the best cast, though Colin Firth will always be my personal Mr. Darcy.

[–] aliholly-62819 9 years ago

While the 2005 version isn't exactly like the book it is pretty close. I think it's a fantastic movie

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

i don't think the 1995 one is that accurate, what with men jumping into lakes etc. I prefer the 1980 one. But the olivier film version is great fun.

[–] kenny-164 8 years ago

The OP failed to miss the point covered in the opening credits that this film is actually taken more from a stage production of the novel, and therefore explicitly enough we are told it is not a direct adaptation of the novel.

Slavish reproductions of literary works can be quite problematic. A novel of any length usually contains too much narrative to be covered in your typical length movie. Perhaps a tv series, like Mad Men, would be long enough.