Chillichap's Review - Pride and Prejudice 1995 BBC TV Series Starring Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle & Alison Steadman

Chillichap’s Review — Pride and Prejudice 1995 BBC TV Series Starring Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle & Alison Steadman

Darcy and Elizabeth

My heartiest greetings to you all!

I’ve been itching to write a review of this BBC adaptation of the classic story Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I can remember watching the series on TV in the nineties and being utterly hooked. What made this event remarkable was that I was in my early twenties at the time and was on something of a hedonistic rampage. Most of my time then was either in pubs, restaurants or on the cricket pitch. In this era of my life, any TV programmes that I watched had to be blooming good to leave a lasting impression. This did. If I were to say to you that I’ve watched this adaptation twenty times, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration (my suspicion is that it’s at least twice that). These days, my youngest daughter is as hooked on this drama as I am, and we know many scenes by heart, word for word. When either or both of us need cheering up, we set aside a day to watch the entire series. I earnestly hope you enjoy my review of this classic TV series. Please remember that I am reviewing this adaptation and not the original story.

Introduction

• Title of the Series: Pride and Prejudice
• Year of Release: 1995
• Directed by: Simon Langton
• Screenplay by: Andrew Davies
• Based on: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Synopsis

Wealthy strangers arrive near ~Meryton village turning the world of the Bennet family upside down. With their estate entailed away to a male cousin, Mrs Bennet dreams of her girls finding love and being whisked away by rich suitors. But love never takes a straight course when pride and prejudice are concerned.

Main Cast and Characters

• Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet
• Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
• Alsion Stesdman as Mrs Bennet
• Julia Sawalha as Lydia Bennet
• Susannah Harker as Jane Bennet
• Benjamin Whitrow as Mr Bennet
• Crispin Bonham-Carter as Mr Bingley
• Adrian Lukis as Wickham
• David Bamber as Mr Collins
• Emilia Fox — Georgiana Darcy
• Barbara Leigh-Hunt as Lady Catherine de Bourgh

EPISODE 1

Mrs. Bennet, a mother of five daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia), is over the moon, when Mr. Bingley, a wealthy gentleman, moves into neighbouring Netherfield Park. She hopes to marry off one of her daughters. However, Mr. Bennet, declares he is reluctant to visit Mr Bingley, but later mischievously reveals he has met Mr Bingley much to the delight of his wife and their daughters.

At a local dance, Mr. Bingley is smitten by Jane. His friend, Mr. Darcy, who was rumoured to be twice as rich as Bingley, shows no desire to socialise. He appears proud and arrogant, turning down dance offers, including one from Elizabeth.

Elizabeth’s opinion of Mr. Darcy plunges further at Netherfield, where she helps nurse Jane back to health, who had caught a cold after a soggy horseback ride to visit Mr. Bingley’s sisters.

EPISODE 2

Longbourn welcomes Mr. William Collins for a two-week stay. He is a very sycophantic character and next in line to inherit the Longbourn estate, as the Bennets had no sons His mission is to marry one of the Bennet daughters and secure their future.

Mr Collins is quite an oddity. Elizabeth unfortunately becomes the object of his affection and they dance together. This is one of the best bits of the series, where Mr. Collins resembles an uncoordinated frog, leaping about to the dismay and embarrassment of Elizabeth.

During a walk around Meryton, the Bennet girls are introduced to one George Wickham-a new recruit to the militia. Mr Wickham befriends Elizabeth, telling tales of mistreatment at the hands of the infamous Mr. Darcy. Apparently, a church position, promised by Darcy’s late father is blocked by Darcy, deepening Elizabeth’s hatred of him. However, Darcy seems to be showing signs of being smitten by Elizabeth.

The tension simmers between Darcy and Elizabeth. as she reluctantly accepts his hand to dance at a ball. Later, back at Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet tells a very worried Elizabeth that Mr Collins has something to say to her. He proposes to Elizabeth and is instantly rejected by her. This causes Mrs Bennet to throw a tantrum and speak to Mr Bennet. Another great moment of the series is when the excellent Mr Bennet gives Elizabeth a lifeline by telling her:

“An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. — Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.”

Fortunately, Elizabeth’s close friend, Charlotte Lucas. invites Mr. Collins to visit her family.

EPISODE 3

Elizabeth is stunned to find out that her best friend, Charlotte Lucas, has agreed to marry Mr. Collins. Meanwhile, the party at Netherfield packs up for London, leaving behind nothing but gossip. Jane stays with her relatives, the Gardiners, in London, but appears to be given the cold shoulder by the Bingleys when she visits them. She doesn’t see Mr. Bingley and assumes he no longer holds any affection for her.

In spring, Elizabeth is invited to stay at Charlotte’s new home with Mr. Collins in Kent. They are neighbours of Rosings Park and are invited to dine there by Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a most formidable character. She seems to take a shine to Elizabeth. But who should arrive as surprise guests? None other than Mr Darcy with his friend and cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.

It is revealed in conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam, that Mr Darcy was behind Bingley and Jane’s split. Mr. Darcy makes an unexpected move, confessing his burning love for Elizabeth and ‘despite his better judgement' proposes to her.

Elizabeth instantly rejects Mr. Darcy’s proposal, revealing her disgust for his arrogance and pride. She also reveals that she is aware of him ruining Jane’s love life and his awful treatment of Mr. Wickam, leaving Darcy upset and deflated.

EPISODE 4

An emotional Darcy, quill in hand, writes a lengthy letter to Elizabeth, which he hands to her. In the letter, he admits to misjudging Jane’s feelings for Bingley. He then explains the true character of Mr Wickham, revealing him as an inveterate gambler who once tried to elope with Mr Darcy’s fifteen-year-old younger sister, Georgiana for her inheritance.

Meanwhile, back at Longbourn, Mr. Bennet lets Lydia tag along with the militia to Brighton after she’s personally invited by the colonel’s wife.

Elizabeth accompanies the Gardiners to Derbyshire, where a surprise visit to Pemberley is on the itinerary, The scale and beauty of Pemberley leaves Elizabeth speechless (she later jokingly says that this is when she realises she’s fallen in love with Mr. Darcy). They take a tour of the house, and the housekeeper recounts tales of Darcy’s kindness. It’s revealed to the housekeeper that Elizabeth knows Mr Darcy.

Darcy arrives home earlier than expected and decides to take a refreshing dip in the lake. This is one of the most iconic scenes from British television, as a soaking-wet Mr Darcy unexpectedly encounters a most surprised Elizabeth. Elizabeth wants to leave immediately, but Mr Darcy manages to salvage the awkward situation by playing the perfect host to the Gardiners and showing them around his estate.

EPISODE 5

Elizabeth and the Gardiners are invited to Pemberley, where Elizabeth and Georgiana, Darcy’s sister, make a connection. Elizabeth sings an enchanting song and then she and Mr Darcy gaze at each other for the first time with what appears to be mutual admiration.

The next day, a letter arrives for Elizabeth, revealing Lydia’s scandalous elopement with Mr. Wickham. Mr Darcy appears and finds Elizabeth upset. She explains what has happened and Mr Darcy leaves rather quickly. Elizabeth is left wondering if she’ll ever see Mr Darcy again.

Back at the Bennet household, the family is in meltdown over Lydia’s antics. Finally, a letter is received from Mr. Gardiner to reveal that Lydia and Wickham have been found, and a wedding is to take place. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, apart from Mr. Bennet who wonders what the cost has been to make such an arrangement with Mr Wickham.

Elizabeth reveals to Jane the romantic attention that she has been receiving from Mr. Darcy.

EPISODE 6

Lydia and Mr. Wicham have now married in a small private ceremony. The couple decides to visit Longbourn before they go up north to a commission secured for Mr. Wickham by his remaining friends. Lydia inadvertently reveals that Mr. Darcy was present at their wedding, much to Elizabeth’s shock.

With the arrival of Autumn, Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy return to Netherfield. Darcy apologises to Bingley for meddling in his love life. Lady Catherine de Bourgh makes the unprecedented move of visiting Elizabeth to scotch rumours of a Darcy-Elizabeth engagement. A resolute Elizabeth confirms they’re not engaged but won’t promise to stay away from Mr Darcy. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is effectively sent away with a flea in her ear.

Mr Bingley proposes to Jane and Darcy, and Elizabeth take a walk together. She confronts him about his role in Lydia’s marriage and expresses gratitude. Darcy asks Elizabeth if her feelings for him have changed. Elizabeth confesses that her feelings are now the opposite of those she expressed back at Rosing’s Park. Darcy reveals that it was Lady Catherine’s visit that gave him hope. The Bennets are gobsmacked-especially Mr. Bennet, until Elizabeth explains her true feelings for Mr. Darcy. The series culminates in a double wedding, where Jane marries Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth marries Mr. Darcy. The final scene is Mr Darcy and Elizabeth kissing as their wedding carriage whisks them away.

Conclusion

British drama doesn’t get better than this, in my humble opinion. Andrew Davies does a remarkable job translating the novel to screen. The music throughout is lively and vibrant, equally matched by the cinematography, which has some of the best British landscapes on display. Every actor seems perfect in their role. As Colin Firth smolders on screen, a very headstrong, independent Jennifer Ehle proves to be the perfect antidote to his pride and prejudices, which eventually dissipate into love, There are so many great characters. My next favourite is Benjamin Whitrow as the long-suffering Mr Bennet. He’s surrounded by gaggling girls and likes to retire to his study a lot for a read and a crafty sherry. Alison Steadman as the often-cackling mother hen, Mrs Bennet, is sublime. How she manages to keep that falsetto voice up throughout, I’ll never know! Finally, my last favourite is David Bamber as Mr. Collins, who fawns, bows, and scrapes throughout, attempting to ingratiate himself into society. He really gets under your skin. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime situations where everything clicks into place. I just wish that Jane Austen was around to see this interpretation of her fine writing. I wouldn’t change a single thing and for this reason, it gets top marks.

Thanks for reading

Matt AKA Chillichap