There are many flaws with DCtoP but Matthew is not one of them. I speak as someone who is a diehard fan of Colin Firth. He is great, but I think Elizabeth is miscast although I admire Anna's acting talents. Matthew holds the whole story together from 1995 until today. He is a great Darcy and I'm sure that Colin Firth would enjoy his portrayal.
shareI agree with you about Matthew Rhys. I think he captures the look and tone -- his Darcy is still as flawed as ever but he has mellowed and is now a happy family man. I think I like him better than Firth.
shareI liked him as well. I think he got Darcy just right. I thought all the casting was good.
shareNot loving Mrs. Reynolds who was about 30 years younger than her book counterpart.
The housekeeper came; a respectable-looking elderly woman, much less fine, and more civil, than she had any notion of finding her.share
I think he's my new favourite, too.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Really....I'd love to see a whole mini with him, with Austen dialog - the whole nine yards. She's tolerable, yada yada. Except then we'd be hearing "he's too OLD!!!!"
shareBut the suggestion that "Colin firth [should be] proud of him" doesn't sit well with me. Do fans really need Firth's stamp of approval to allow themselves to enjoy this miniseries?
shareRandon, I was leaving that alone. Firth was not the first Darcy and, in my view, not even the most true to the book. Firth doesn't own the role and has no business "being proud" of anyone -- rather condescending if he was -- but if he enjoyed another actor's performance, that's fine. I like to think that Kenneth Branagh enjoyed David Tennant's Benedick, who maybe enjoy Alex Denisoff, who might have enjoyed Sam Waterston, ...etc.
shareYou're a good person, k-lo.
shareHah!!!
shareI wasn't sure about this Darcy until the scene with Lydia's theatrics in church where she clung to Darcy, and he had no choice but to escort her, utterly mortified by her behavior, but doing everything in his power not to show it and keep his dignity.
THAT was Austen's Darcy, right there. Proud. Dignified. Severe. Totally unwilling to take part in silliness, but always mindful of his station and of all the eyes that are constantly upon him.
And after that moment, he appeared to show resentment toward Lizzie for her sister's nonsense. It wasn't fair, but it's also hard to blame him. In that moment, that is. Lydia's behavior was, as he said, intolerable.
So I agree. Rhys saved this production.
Very good post, scarlettbees. Through Lizzy, Darcy learns humility - but everything's relative! He is still a rich aristocrat who prefers the company of intelligent people. There are going to be members of Lizzy's family that Darcy would rather see very occasionally! The difference now being that Darcy has learned to be a "gentleman" and not let his distaste show!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
THAT was Austen's Darcy, right there. Proud. Dignified. Severe. Totally unwilling to take part in silliness, but always mindful of his station and of all the eyes that are constantly upon him.
THAT was Austen's Darcy, right there. Proud. Dignified. Severe. Totally unwilling to take part in silliness, but always mindful of his station and of all the eyes that are constantly upon him.
And this description of the character is exactly why I love David Rintoul's portrayal.
You couldn't have liked Lawrence Olivier's Darcy? His performance and Greer Garson's were horrible in my opinion.
shareI think Garson's performance as Elizabeth was brilliant. Inspired. Almost perfect. She is pretty much exactly the Elizabeth from the book. Except for her age, and the P&P40 script doesn't tell us the character's age.
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Completely agree, Julie. Garson was a lovely Elizabeth.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
He was by far the most enjoyable Darcy I've ever watched. I'm not generally a Darcy lover, but this one made sense and was an actually believable and sympathetic human being. Kudos to Mr Rhys.
shareI adore Colin Firth, and the 1995 series, but I too loved Matthew as Darcy. Thought he was perfect in the role. I'd take a Mr Knightley over a Mr Darcy any day though.
shareHe's the best thing about it. I am very critical with the portrayal of Darcy and I am big CF fan, but Matthew really did a great job. Wished his counterpart as Elizabeth would have been a bit better.
shareOver_there, I think that Anna MM played this Lizzy as she was written (by PD James, not Austen). THAT is the problem with DCtP. The character's essential nature was missing. Even under stress, Lizzy should have a sense of humor, of the ridiculous, etc. And what did James do to poor Colonel Fitzwilliam.
shareI thought he was great. It's just a pity they cast an Elizabeth for him who looked ridiculous in the role. It was impossible to believe in them as a couple.
shareI don't like him as Darcy. The whole story falls apart w/ him playing Darcy!
shareI think Elizabeth is miscast. Anna is a great actress, but does not portray Elizabeth as described. She is not handsome enough.
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