The Best Pride & Prejudice Adaptation
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BBC’s Pride and Prejudice 1995
Runtime- 5hr 27min (6 episode series)
Air date- January 14th, 1996
Director- Simon Langton
Writers- Andrew Davies
Filming locations- England, UK
Where to watch- stream or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Tubi, and Roku Channel
Starring Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
Personal Challenge for this BBC Series
Writing about BBC’s Pride & Prejudice 1995 was a huge challenge. What new or unsaid thing could I say? I could be an absolute troll, make stuff up, or just be redundant. For now, I am wrapping up posting about Pride & Prejudice and focusing on other novel adaptations. But I did not want to continue without posting something about this series. I thought it would be weird and just not right. There are other Pride & Prejudice adaptations that I have not touched on yet, but I do want to have a well-rounded blog of all of Austen’s novels.
I did brainstorm an idea for a blog series that was inspired by this BBC series. But it is going to take some time for me to complete.
Right now, I want to highlight what made this BBC series set itself apart from other Pride & Prejudice series they have done in the past and what made it very successful.
For those who are hardcore Austen fans, this is nothing new. For those who are just getting into Jane Austen’s works and movie adaptations, I hope this encourages and excites you to watch this adaptation.
Cinematography
If you read my Thoughts on BBC’s Pride & Prejudice 1980, you would know that I had some issues with the filming, most notably the lighting. This series is a complete 180. You can see everything, the picture quality is well done and beautifully captures the scenic landscapes. It is not something the audience usually thinks about when it is already done well. But it makes a huge difference and impacts the viewing and the ability to enjoy it.
Creative Liberties
BBC’s Pride & Prejudice 1995 is revered for its faithfulness to the book. But some scenes and moments did not happen in the book. Yes, there may be a few general changes, since it is difficult to portray word for word from book to movie, or even a TV series. The changes I am referring to are the creative ones that bring out on-screen characters more than what was described in the novel. I am speaking most about Mr. Darcy.
The famous lake scene is not something you see in Jane Austen’s novel at all. Yet it was put in there to create vulnerability in Darcy’s character, and to make Elizabeth’s embarrassment a lot more heightened.
Another one that takes residence in my mind, is when Elizabeth is staying at Netherfield to aid a sick Jane. Elizabeth is seen through a window playing with a Great Dane outside. Who is watching her through that window? Mr. Darcy, again in a vulnerable situation, just out from his bath. Of course, in a more private setting.
These additions build up the romance and provoke feelings, as well as add more personality to Mr. Darcy’s character than from what we know. It is done very well that it flows with the story and fits naturally.
The Details
On YouTube, you can find a few short videos on behind-the-scenes and the making of Pride & Prejudice. In this video, you have interviews of people involved with the film discussing the care and effort into making it.
One thing that struck me is the attention to historical details and accuracy. Again, referring back to my Thoughts on BBC’s 1980’s Pride & Prejudice, it seemed like the costuming and possibly some other props did not have as much mindfulness of historical accuracy as this series did.
Even little things as adorning each character to historically accurate costuming, yet the details fit the individual character’s personality. Like how Caroline Bingley wears feathers, more color, and expensive fabrics.
Final Thoughts
This is overall an amazing series BBC has put out. It really shouldn’t be compared to Pride & Prejudice 2005, since they are both on different levels of entertainment. You have one, which has a novel fit into two hours, and the other which has almost six hours of screen time. I do not think it is fair or just to compare or pit both of them against each other. I do have to mention, this Pride & Prejudice is five and a half hours long, about three times longer than a feature-length film. You get a lot more of the story for you to enjoy!
