Mr. Darcy is as interesting as wallpaper
in this version. Yes, he's proud and haughty to begin with but must he be expressionless throughout 90% of the film? I believe Colin Firth and Laurence Olivier played him best.
After having watched this version numerous times, David Rintoul is growing on me. I absolutely love EG as Elizabeth...very good casting and portrayal...IMHO. I shared your opinion about DR when I first watched it. It seem each "Mr Darcy" highlights a different feature. MM highlights his shyness. Colin Firth his pride. Rintoul his aloofness and haughtiness. I can't remember LO, having only watched that version once.
Also, IMHO, it seems each Darcy matches very well the person cast as Elizabeth. IOW Rintoul matches Garvie quite well. I don't think I'd like him opposite...say Ehle or Knightley. MM is good opposite KK...Ehle is good opposite Firth.
my god its full of stars
You bring up an interesting point about how the pairings work in each film/series. I really like that aspect of your response and I'll have to think about that as I re-watch, but I still think the movie made it seem like the only things appealing about Darcy were his wealth and his good looks. He seemed like that cardboard Prince Charming type of male character that shows up at the end of every Disney film with the sole purpose of saving the day and ultimately propping up the female protagonist. I mean, why would someone as interesting and engaging as Lizzie Bennett find him interesting at all? Lizzie is her father's choice for conversation--in such a time, he viewed her as an intellectual equal--and what is so cool about her rapport with Darcy in the book is that they engage in this verbal sparring.I absolutely love that aspect of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.
I think Colin Firth's Darcy is the best precisely because he brings a measure of personality to a character who would otherwise seem flat and dull. Darcy's not meant to actually seem shy (even though he actually is); he is meant to seem aloof and haughty. But this fellow had only one blank expression throughout the film. I didn't read him as shy at all.
No, he actually isn't shy. He's proud, aloof and haughty. He's reserved and isn't good with small talk.
But he's not shy.
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He's only shy with Lizzie, but this happens as his affection grows for her. Don't you remember the scenes where he shows up and abruptly leaves without being able to say much to her? I wouldn't call that reserve. Lizzie's intellect and wit disarm him to the point that he finds himself unable to rely on his usual self-assured recriminations of others.
The one thing I think the film actually does well is show how much impropriety Darcy's relations display as well. Lady Catherine de Bourgh (sp?) is atrocious and in her own way, so is her daughter. And of course Caroline Bingley is a hot mess too.
It's because he doesn't want to like her. He's not shy. Reserved, yes. Introverted, yes. But not shy.
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"Lady Catherine de Bourgh (sp?) is atrocious and in her own way, so is her daughter"
That is an interesting take. I am not sure how Austen portrays Miss de Bourg in the book. Is she really portrayed as atrocious in any way...unkind, inconsiderate, proud, etc.? Perhaps Julie knows.
I always felt sorry for her. Can one imagine growing up under the thumb of LCD? I can't remember which version it is, but in one, as Eliza is leaving one time, Miss de Bourge comes up and silently takes her hand but is unable to speak. That is probably not in the book but I liked it. I imagined she is unable to speak, almost terrified, after living her entire life...from infancy under the rule of someone how knows no bounds in squelching ANY view that is not identical to hers. It almost makes me weep to think of a little 3-yr old, trying to learn to communicate and with every little lisped attempt she got a rebuke and was told what to say and how to say it. It almost reminds me of poor little Jane Eyre. I can't even watch the beginning of JE screen adaptations it troubles me so...her as a two/three/four-yr old living up in a household where everyone hated and abused her.
my god its full of stars
Anne deBourgh is a rather pitiable creature. We know nothing at all about her, except that her mother is a harridan.
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When I said "in her own way" it's to suggest that there's irony in the notion of Miss de Bourgh's so-called "good breeding," because it's ill-breeding that's turned her into a wimpy, dull, and sniveling person with no personality, wit, character, or even talent. She perhaps is a good person inside, and she obviously has an overbearing mother, but the fact remains that she can't even hold an intelligent adult conversation with her guests which is a lack of propriety given the time. She's as bad as the Bennets, but for opposite reasons, because the Bennets say inappropriate things in public while Miss de Bourgh can't say anything at all. In both cases, they have good intentions.
And yes, it does come across the book.
I just finished watching this version again. I love the second proposal scene, the way Rintoul smiles, offering Lizzy his arm, and shows so much warmth.
Firth's Darcy is so awkward after the second proposal. He and Elizabeth are walking on a rough road, yet he does not offer her his arm even after they become engaged. They walk a very careful "measured" distance apart, and Ehle seems to be playing Lizzy as sort of "walking on egg shells" around Darcy, carefully protecting his fragility as though he might cancel their engagement should some bystander realize they're in love.