Regardless of quality, adaptations are a means of bringing classic stories into another era, sometimes even a new generation. I am hard pressed to think of a story in which this is more true than Pride & Prejudice. The classic 1813 novel by Jane Austen is a mainstay in romantic literature, having been examined by many, even today. Naturally, given the popularity of the novel there have been a number of adaptations, both for television and the big screen, bringing this classic tale to audiences worldwide. The first adaptation was released in 1940, but there are at least 16 adaptations that vary in both setting and faithfulness to the novel. Today our focus is on the adaptation created by one Joe Wright, which is Pride & Prejudice (2005).
The movie was released in the United Kingdom in September, 2005 and in the United States two months later. Joe Wright directed this adaptation from a screenplay written by Deborah Moggach, enhanced with a score composed by Dario Marianelli. The film stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, Matthew Macfayden as Mr. Darcy, Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet, and Brenda Blethyn plays Mrs. Bennet. Additional characters are brilliantly performed by Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods, and Rupert Friend. The plot is as follows: When the affluent Charles and Caroline Bingley as well as their friend Mr. Darcy arrive in the town of Meryton, the Bennet matriarch immediately hatches a plan to marry off her eldest daughter to the eligible Mr. Bingley. However, this tale is all about the second eldest of the Bennet offspring, one Elizabeth Bennet and her evolving relationship with the refined, yet very proud Mr. Darcy. For love to finally bloom, both must move past their misconceptions of the other.
The intent of the film from a creative perspective was to adapt Pride & Prejudice for a younger and more mainstream audience. This is reflected in both the performances and dialogue. With very little input from the studio, Moggach spent two years adapting the script for this film, seeking to retain the spirit of the novel whilst making it a touch more relatable. True, the book goes into greater detail on many aspects, but in my opinion the spirit of the book was maintained. In terms of adapting the novel’s plot and storyline, the film remains faithful. As with most film adaptations a couple of characters ended up being omitted and a couple of scenes from the book were minimized or removed. This was so that more emphasis could be placed on the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Naturally, when you try adapting the story from a 300+ page book into a 2-hour movie, some things won’t translate well to the big screen. But in this case, throughout most of the film I actually felt the book coming to life. I think this adaptation is very enjoyable from a film goer’s perspective, mostly because it did a good job of being faithful to the novel.
I also have pleasant things to say about how this movie looks and sounds. The movie was filmed entirely on location in the UK, so the visuals are of some impressive looking vistas. My compliments also extend to the costume design by one Jacqueline Durran, who had previously won an award for her work on the film Vera Drake. Durran sought to create costumes that would differentiate this film from the 1995 BBC adaptation. This was the design philosophy across all aspects of the film, as the director wanted this film to stand on its own, a feat that was successful. The locations wonderfully set the tone and the score only adds to the excellence, featuring accompanying motifs by the English Chamber Orchestra.
The performance of Knightley and company is another high point of the film, the writing reflects the nuances of Austen’s work, with the actors accurately portraying the characters in delivering the dialogue. My compliments especially go to Knightley, Macfayden, and Sutherland. However, that doesn’t mean the other performances are lacking, quite the opposite. The material is well-written, acted, and directed, leading to quite the treat for film goers.
The movie itself was a financial and critical success. Pride & Prejudice grossed $121 million across its theatrical run against a modest budget of $28 million. The film also took home four Academy Awards, including an award to Joe Wright for Best Promising Newcomer, as this movie marked his directorial debut. Wright had primarily been a television director, but to prepare for his work on this picture he did extensive research on Elizabethan period pieces.
With as many adaptions as there are of this story, it is exceedingly difficult for any of them to have a lasting impact on pop culture. And while this film hasn’t become a cult classic like some earlier adaptations, it is still a strong film that conveys a clear respect and passion for the source material, making it an enjoyable romantic story for movie goers. Even if this particular adaptation doesn’t suit your fancy, there is a strong likelihood that one of the others will. Regardless of that, I think this is a strong film. It is definitely a must see!
