Pride And Prejudice: Ranking The Adaptations Worst To Best

2. Pride And Prejudice (1995 BBC Miniseries)

The 1995 BBC miniseries staring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle is, to many, the quintessential adaptation of Austen's novel. From the set designs to the dialogue, this version is faithful to the book and captures the story remarkably well due to the mini-series format and the time alloted to the development of the plot and the characters. It's faithfulness to the book is what makes this version great. This was also the first adaptation done on film, so it lacks the stiffness of previous British versions. Sue Birtwistle, the director, set out with a vision for a modern day telling of P&P. She wanted her version to be:

€œA fresh, lively story about real people. And make it clear that, though it€™s about many things, it€™s principally about sex and it€™s about money. Those are the driving motives of the plot.€

Jennifer Ehle presented us with a captivating Elizabeth. Twinkly-eyed, rosy cheeked and armed with wit and charm. Ehle does a wonderful job of portraying the headstrong Lizzie. Ehle's constant smirking was a drawback for me, and some may even classify her as smug throughout portions of the series. Her chemistry with Firth's Darcy is terrific, and it's not surprising that Ehle and Firth dated during filming. Speaking of Darcy, lets talk about Colin Firth. Colin Firth's star-making turn as the brooding, dashing Mr. Darcy may be the highlight of this version for many. It also just so happens that Firth is criminally handsome - just look at that face. It should be illegal. Firth's body language is so subtle, and his eyes, like Ehle's, are so expressive, which goes extremely far when acting in a Regency time period drama. Also - that lake shirt scene at Pemberley, when Elizabeth and Darcy accidentally encounter each other - that wet shirt. Does anything else need to be said? One of the things that stuck out to me was how Alison Steadman's overacting transformed this version's Mrs Bennet into a caricature. We know how irritating and insufferable she was in the novel, but we also were able to recognize her humanity and at times sympathize with her desire to get all her daughters married. Steadman dominates her scenes in the worst way imaginable. Five and a half hours is a long while to sit through a BBC drama, but if you love the book and you haven't seen this version, you simply have to make the time. All this being said, there is one last adaptation that I dare to rank higher than this near-perfect miniseries. Don't come for my head yet - my intention isn't to anger '95 purists, but instead to offer a different perspective.