Adaptations - Jane Austen Ranked!
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- StarsColin FirthJennifer EhleSusannah HarkerWhile the arrival of wealthy gentlemen sends her marriage-minded mother into a frenzy, willful and opinionated Elizabeth Bennet matches wits with haughty Mr. Darcy.What can I say? This is the Mona Lisa of literary adaptations. It really has the texture of the written work, and communicates all the key features of the plot through excellent script, direction and acting. Some laughable voiceovers are used to convey written letters, but who cares? The cast is immaculate; Colin Firth is iconic as Darcy (esp. the "wet Darcy" bathing and swimming scenes). We also get definitive performances from Jennifer Ehle as Lizzie, David Bamber as Mr. Collins, and Julia Sawalha as Lydia, not to mention Alison Steadman, Adrian Lukis, Crispin Bonham-Carter (cousin of Helena), and Benjamin Whitrow. Victoria Hamilton (Mrs. Foster) appears in two other adaptations - Persuasion '95 and Mansfield '99. Fairly accurate costumes and dancing. Featuring Lyme Park as Pemberley, which has become a site of pilgrimage for Austen devotees.
- StarsRomola GaraiMichael GambonJonny Lee MillerEmma Woodhouse, a wealthy young woman living in the early 19th century, whose misplaced confidence in her matchmaking abilities occasions several romantic misadventures, which leads her into deeper meanings of love and lifeRomola Garai is universally lauded for this performance as the heroine whom Austen thought, "no one but myself will much like". As with P&P '95, it takes the time and garners the cast to do justice to one of the best of Austen's books while furnishing a vivid and humanistic atmosphere. This version gives special emphasis the the childhood circumstances of Emma, Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill, and the consequences thereof - in Emma's case, her sheltered existence. It has quite a bit of invented dialogue that effectively advances the important themes - esp. scenes between Emma and Knightly, and Mr. Woodhouse's sweet moments of self-awareness. Featuring both Edmunds from both Mansfield Parks - Johnny Lee Miller (MP '99) as Knightly and Blake Ritson (MP '07) as Mr. Elton. For me, Michael Gambon is the quintessential Mr. Woodhouse. Having met Emma by chance on the road before being introduced, Frank Churchill later claims he found his path to Highbury "like an arrow from a bow." - a nod to the archery scene of another film?
- StarsDominic CooperCharity WakefieldHattie MorahanThe sisters Eleanor and Marianne Dashwood try to find love and security in the 1800's. These two sisters coudn't be more different. Where Eleanor is calm and always acts proper Marianne is passionate and usally forgets herself.It has enormous emotional immediacy while remaining largely faithful to the book. It just lacks a little warmth. As with Emma '09, this version has an advantage over its Hollywood counterpart in the relatively unknown, age-appropriate cast.
- DirectorRoger MichellStarsAmanda RootCiarán HindsSusan FleetwoodTheatrical film of Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds & Amanda Root. Directed by Roger Michell.A lesser-read Austen work but much beloved by fans, and this is the best adaptation yet. The two leads, Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds, are rather homely but they are all the more fascinating and sympathetic. Victoria Hamilton, Phoebe Nicholls, and Samuel West are all great. Sophie Thompson (Miss Bates of Emma '96 and younger sister of Emma Thompson) is a standout as the narcissistic Mary Musgrove, and Fiona Shaw shines in the minor role of Mrs. Croft. The ending of this version features a note of magical realism that is often remarked on as jarring.
- DirectorAutumn de WildeStarsAnya Taylor-JoyJohnny FlynnMia GothIn 1800s England, a well meaning but selfish young woman meddles in the love lives of her friends.The heavy stylization - which some found to be off-putting - is thoroughly compatible with Austen's own incisive and humorous style. Each member of the cast is memorable; Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, and Johnny Flynn give fabulous idiosyncratic portrayals. I LOVE Josh O'Connor and Tanya Reynolds as the Eltons and Miranda Hart as Miss Bates. Bill Nighy is not quite the Mr. Woodhouse of the book, but delightful nonetheless. The quirky portrayals balance foible with charm. The arc of the heroine and the building romance between Emma and Knightley both have great poignancy. There's a nosebleed and a bit of innocent nudity which some consider out of place or unnecessary, but I am in favor. Emma agrees to welcome Harriet's tradie father to Hartfield at the end of this one, showing growth.
- DirectorJon JonesStarsGeraldine JamesMichael JuddJulia DeardenA young woman's penchant for sensational Gothic novels leads to misunderstandings in the matters of the heart.Adapted by Andrew Davies, and every bit as successful as P&P '95 but with a comparatively inferior source story. Nonetheless, perfectly cast and thoroughly enjoyable. JJ Field as Tilney is...chef's kiss. Regency Bath and Lismore Castle are beautifully featured. As in the 1987 version, fantasy sequences represent the overactive imagination of the heroine, however they are used more discreetly here. The ending is somewhat abbreviated, as it is made to seem as though Catherine and Henry marry regardless of Gen. Tilney's consent. Incidentally, Isabella Thorpe is played by Carey Mulligan who was Kitty Bennet in P&P '05. William Beck and Bernadette McKenna are quite good as the Thorpe siblings.
- DirectorAng LeeStarsEmma ThompsonKate WinsletJames FleetRich Mr. Dashwood dies, leaving his second wife and her three daughters poor by the rules of inheritance. The two eldest daughters are the title opposites.Emma Thompson is both screenwriter and star of this much-loved version of one of Austen's best. We love Thompson, but she is too old to play 19-year-old Elinor. Beside Kate Winslet as Marianne and Hugh Grant as Mr. Ferrars, the cast includes Imelda Staunton, Elizabeth Spriggs, and Robert Hardy (who also played Gen. Tilney in Northanger '87). Hugh Laurie is a treat in a minor role. Alan Rickman gives one of his best performances as Col. Brandon.
- DirectorAmy HeckerlingStarsAlicia SilverstoneStacey DashBrittany MurphyShallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other.Regarded as one of the best teen comedies of all time, this modernization of Emma succeeds where many similar attempts (e.g. P&P 2003) have failed. Honorable mention is hereby given to Fire Island (2022) and Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
- DirectorAdrian ShergoldStarsSally HawkinsAlice KrigeAnthony HeadAnne was in love with Frederick, who was rejected by her snobby parents 8 years ago. They've now hit hard times and rent out their mansion to his brother-in-law. He returns a Royal Navy captain. Will he remember Anne?A fine adaptation, but less successful than the 1995 movie, and the victim of some mediocre casting and strange choices that fans tend to disagree about (e.g. Wentworth lifting Anne onto the carriage - and the remarkable climax wherein Anne runs through Bath's Royal Crescent culminating in an awkward final kiss). Rupert Penry-Jones makes a handsomer Wentworth but not necessarily a more appealing one, and Tobias Menzies is too smarmy to be a legitimate temptation, however, Sally Hawkins is perfect as the heroine, and Anthony Head is great as Sir Walter. Wentworth buys Kellynch Hall for Anne at the end of this one - a satisfying twist of fate for the deserving heroine.
- DirectorJoe WrightStarsKeira KnightleyMatthew MacfadyenBrenda BlethynSparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy. But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?The most popular Austen adaptation, and a favorite of many. The visuals, music and dramatic tone are as striking as those of Emma 2020, but in a totally different style - "dirty hem." The styles are 1790s, reflecting the time period in which Austen wrote the book prior to its 1813 publication. The pros of this version are: the Bronte-esque atmosphere, the soundtrack, the romance of it all, "You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, love, love you!", Darcy's electrically-charged hand flex, Judi Dench as Lady C, Matthew McFadyen as Darcy, Tom Hollander as Mr. Collins, Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Bennet, the casting of the Misses Bennet (including Carey Mulligan of Northanger '07) and the Gardiners, and Chatsworth House as Pemberley. The cons are: The reduction of the plot, Orlando Bloom as Wickham, the characterization of Mr. Bennet as played by a scruffy Donald Sutherland, the exaggerated squalor and slovenliness of the Bennets, Caroline Bingley's overly-diaphanous ball fashions, the inappropriateness of Lady C's midnight visit, The apparent happenstance of Lizzie and Darcy's final meeting on a misty hillside at dawn, the cringe epilogue, that bust of Darcy, and the oddly-memorable pig scrotum. Kiera Knightley as Lizzie is a neutral factor and opinion is divided on the details invented by the filmmakers to enhance the romantic plot such as the way Lizzie encounters Darcy at Pemberley. Unfortunately, the eccentricities of this version undermine what makes P&P P&P. Fortunately, the film is still extremely good, if unsatisfying to those who delight first and foremost in Jane Austen as an author. Emma Thompson (of the beloved S&S '95) contributed to the script.
- StarsElizabeth GarvieDavid RintoulMoray WatsonWhile the arrival of wealthy gentlemen sends her marriage-minded mother into a frenzy, willful and opinionated Elizabeth Bennet matches wits with haughty Mr. Darcy.The best of the old BBC mini-series adaptations. While these ventures typically fall short in casting, this at least has the pretty and charming Elizabeth Garvie in the Lizzie Bennet role, although David Rintoul does not have as much success with Darcy. Ultimately, it is a bit too monotone to match the impact of Austen's vivacious writing. Nonetheless, it is a faithful and serviceable rendition, and will by no means be an unenjoyable watch for completists and other Austenites.
- DirectorPatricia RozemaStarsFrances O'ConnorJonny Lee MillerAlessandro NivolaFanny, born into a poor family, is sent away to live with wealthy uncle Sir Thomas, his wife and their four children, where she'll be brought up for a proper introduction to society.The vague moral message, the implications of slavery and colonialism, and the seeming passivity of the heroine make this a tricky book to deal with. This is the best film version so far, although some details of the plot have been made juicier according to the vision of director Patricia Rozema. The central character, Fanny Price, played by Frances O'Connor, is given some of the traits and opinions of Jane Austen herself through the use of text from Austen's own letters (Daria of FullofLit has called it the Lizzie Bennet-ification of Fanny Price). The moral transgressions implied in the book are made more explicit, as is Sir Thomas Bertram's involvement with slavery and its effect on the behavior of his eldest son. It's unclear whether Rozema's attempt to grapple with these issues pays off, or whether her interpretation contains the core meaning of Austen's book. At least the film has a POV. Featuring Jonny Lee Miller (Emma '09) as Edmund, Victoria Jones (P&P '95, Persuasion '95) as Maria, Hugh Bonneville as an excellent Rushworth, James Purefoy (underutilized), and Lindsay Duncan in an curious double role as sisters Mrs. Price and Lady Bertram. Kirby Hall serves as the eponymous setting.
- StarsDoran GodwinJohn CarsonDonald EcclesWhile matchmaking for friends and neighbours, a young 19th Century Englishwoman nearly misses her own chance at love.Completists will enjoy comparing this early BBC mini-series to other versions and the original text whilst checking it off the list. Aside from the rather neurotic portrayal of the central character, the cast are suitable and the script affords many charming scenes for them to inhabit. Fans of "Are You Being Served?" will enjoy seeing Mollie Sugden (who played Mrs. Slocombe) in two scenes as Mrs. Goddard. Fiona Walker is delightful as the smug Mrs. Elton.
- CreatorAndrew DaviesStarsRose WilliamsCrystal ClarkeKris MarshallAbout Charlotte Heywood, a spirited and impulsive woman, who moves from her rural home to Sanditon, a fishing village attempting to reinvent itself as a seaside resort.Starting with the rump of Austen's unfinished final project, Andrew Davies (P&P '95, Emma '96, Northanger '07) fleshes out this mini-series set in a burgeoning titular seaside resort. Predictably, it fails Austen's standard but it does reasonably well with the elements she sets forth. Ultimately, not very interesting. I wonder what Austen would have done with Miss Lambe, the only POC character she ever created. The character in this show is giving Tattycoram from Little Dorrit (2008).
- DirectorDouglas McGrathStarsGwyneth PaltrowJames CosmoGreta ScacchiWhile matchmaking for friends and neighbours, a young 19th Century Englishwoman nearly misses her own chance at love.Following on the success of Clueless, the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma is certainly enjoyable but too broadly drawn to do the book justice. The script fares poorly in comparison with the likes of S&S '95. Moments of humor are translated so stupidly as to seem condescending. The props and costumes are chintzy and the lighting is awful. Elements designed to give style and personality look quite strange, such as goldfish bowls on stands sitting out in the woods. The most memorable imagery comes from Emma and Knightley's archery scene - possibly inspired by the Victorian P&P '40. The cast is star-studded to a distracting degree, and full of Americans with bad accents who are too old for their parts. Ewan MacGregor as Mr. Churchill (in bad wig), Alan Cumming as Mr. Elton, Juliet Stevenson as Mrs. Elton, and Toni Collette as Miss Smith all stick out like sore thumbs. However, I rather like Sophie Thompson (sister of Emma) as Miss Bates and Jeremy Northam seems appropriate as Knightley.
- DirectorDiarmuid LawrenceStarsKate BeckinsaleBernard HeptonMark StrongFaithful, enchanting adaptation of Jane Austen's nineteenth-century tale of Emma Woodhouse--a clever young woman whose mischievous matchmaking schemes nearly end up jeopardizing her own shot at romance.Starring Kate Beckinsale (see also, Love & Friendship) "Jane Austen's Emma" is a fine version which suffers from some of the same deficiencies as Persuasion '07 and Mansfield '07. It covers the story adequately, but many of the characters and turns of plot, which are so memorable in other versions, fade into blandness. Beyond this, the filmmakers have added scenes and details to throw the story into social context - the chicken thieves at the beginning and end, the servants at the strawberry-picking party and the Box Hill excursion, and the harvest celebration toward the end - but they end up merely being rather perplexing. The scriptwriter's other attempts to convey thematic details through dialogue and fantasy sequences are not always successful. Many find Mark Strong too stern and overbearing, not to mention the character's odd references to Emma's infancy during what should be the story's most romantic moments. It has the feeling of something that went straight to video with the intension of being shown in literature classes as an alternative to the flashy Paltrow version of the same year.
- DirectorRobert Z. LeonardStarsGreer GarsonLaurence OlivierMary BolandThe arrival of wealthy bachelors in town causes an uproar when families with single daughters aggressively seek engagements, including the Bennet family, with five eligible daughters.An enjoyable specimen of the classic Hollywood costume piece based on a stage adaptation by Helen Jerome. It comes in just below Wuthering Heights '39 and somewhere above Anna Karenina '48. Annoyingly, the thing is set ca. 1830 rather than the Regency era, replete with remarks on the novelty of the waltz and such. The movie was marketed as a screwball rom-com: "Bachelors beware! Five gorgeous beauties are on a madcap manhunt!" We get a string of parlor scenes full of great lines and comedic bits. The plot is coherent enough, but subtle augmentation of the details and characters results in big changes in the significance of the whole. The course of Lizzie and Darcy's romance is quite notably different. Lady C. de B. is merely testing Lizzie to ensure that she isn't marrying her nephew for money. Austen's wit glimmers through here and there, but it's been forced through the Hollywood machine and reduced to nothing more than bonnetty nonsense as the tagline would indicate. Incidentally, there's a garden party instead of the Netherfield ball, no visit to Pemberley, Collins is, allegedly, not a clergyman and, in the final scene, we see Kitty with Denny and Mary with a bespectacled beau who accompanies her singing with a flute. However, Olivier and Garson are pleasing to watch, and Mary Boland is quite funny as Mrs. Bennet, as is Edna May Oliver as Lady C. This film seems to have originated some ideas which were taken up in Emma '96 - specifically, archery and puppies.
- StarsCelia BannermanLewis FianderMichael GoughMr. and Mrs. Bennet have five unmarried daughters, and Mrs. Bennet is particularly anxious to find suitable husbands for them.Nobody's favorite version of P&P, but it does a fair job. The script and acting are really very good, but the casting does not entirely satisfy. Delightful performances, however, from Michael Gough (Alfred from the Burton-Schumacher Batman films) and Vivian Pickles (Harold's mother from "Harold & Maude") as Mr. & Mrs. Bennet and Sylvia Coleridge as Lady C. The vibe is very Dark Shadows or Doctor Who.
- StarsAnn FirbankBryan MarshallMarian SpencerAnne Elliot is convinced to break off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth. When her father rents the family estate to Admiral Croft, Anne is forced to accompany Frederick. Will he and Anne rekindle the old flame?Watchlist. As with the other early BBC miniseries, the bouffant hairstyles and flowy garments come straight from the cover of a paperback bodice-ripper.
- StarsJoanna DavidCiaran MaddenPatricia RoutledgeMrs. Dashwood and her two daughters, Elinor and Marianne, are faced with the prospect of Mrs. Dashwood's stepson and his wife moving into their home at Norland.Watchlist. Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth Bucket of "Keeping Up Appearances") as Mrs. Jennings.
- StarsIrene RichardTracey ChildsAnnie LeonTwo sisters of opposing temperaments find love and some heartbreak in Jane Austen's 18th century classic.Watchlist
- DirectorCarrie CracknellStarsRichard E. GrantHenry GoldingBen Bailey SmithEight years after Anne Elliot was persuaded not to marry a dashing man of humble origins, they meet again. Will she seize her second chance at true love?Aside from the color-blind casting (Which... bravo! More of this please.), and Richard E. Grant (we stan) as Sir Walter - this Persuasion is badly misconceived. It takes everything that's wrong with Mansfield '99 and Sanditon, and runs with it. The introverted heroine is "updated" as an anguished but spunky misfit. The Fleabag-style fourth-wall breaks and contemporary language are decidedly jarring (see, octopus dream; see, "He's a 10"). The repressiveness of Regency morality is set up as a paper tiger to be knocked over à la Bridgerton (see, Lady Russell's continental naughtiness). Ultimately, due to pointless augmentations of character and plot, the core meaning of Austen's work is nowhere to be found. In fact, the film stabs in so many weird directions it fails to coalesce around any kind of core meaning at all. Consequently, although it pretends to be a romance like P&P '95, the hurdles along the way have been rendered pointless. (David Copperfield 2019, while infinitely more charming, suffers from similar errors of judgment) Maybe I'm being too harsh, but if the filmmakers wanted to make something other than Persuasion, they should have done so. Thankfully, it has been widely recognized as a failure so, hopefully, future endeavors will be informed by this example.
- DirectorWhit StillmanStarsKate BeckinsaleChloë SevignyXavier SamuelLady Susan Vernon takes up temporary residence at her in-laws' estate and, while there, is determined to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederica--and herself too, naturally.Based on the posthumously-published epistolary novel "Lady Susan", this is the second Austen adaptation to star Kate Beckinsale. Chock-full of attractive visual content and witty lines, but a discernable plot never seems to emerge from the concoction. I gather that Reginald DeCourcy is one of Jane Austen's funniest characters, but this portrayal is just too stupid to be attended to. Chloe Sevigny (as Alicia Johnson) stands out among the cast for good or bad reasons. Hugh Laurie counterpart Stephen Fry also registers as present among the cast.
- DirectorIain B. MacDonaldStarsJulia JoyceDouglas HodgeMaggie O'NeillThe classic tale by Jane Austen of family scandal, social graces, and the unrequited love between cousins.Billie Piper is charming as the notoriously reserved heroine, but the storytelling isn't giving her much help in expressing herself. It seems to boil down to a lot of conversations in gardens and conversations in parlors, the content of which, while genteel, has no dramatic impact. You would think that most Austen adaptations boil down to this, but you really suffer from this impression while watching this movie. The coming-out ball and Fanny's return to Portsmouth are dispensed with for no good reason. Blake Ritson (who plays another vicar in Emma '09) lacks charisma as the clerical romantic object. However, Hayley Atwell is quite enticing as Mary Crawford.
- StarsAnna MasseyAngela PleasenceSylvestra Le TouzelImpoverished Fanny Price is sent to live with her more affluent uncle and aunt. The arrival of new neighbors brings a chance for romance to Fanny and her cousins.It seems like the later these BBC mini-series were produced, the worse the cinematography got. This one looks like a documentary of an immersive 1980s Regency role-play retreat. There's a lot of shaky hand-held footage and the stationary shots are quite boring and conventional. The sound mixing is terrible; the voices of different persons come at different volumes, and the rustling of garments, crunching of gravel, clomping of boots on wooden floors and reverberation of voices in interior locations distract from every scene. Nonetheless, until something on par with the Andrew Davies adaptations comes along, this is the only version of Mansfield Park that really takes a stab at faithfulness to Austen's plot. Sadly, like the other BBC Austen mini-series of this era, it comes off as monotone. This version may prove enjoyable to more patient viewers who can absorb the plot from this kind of presentation without getting bored and letting their mind wander, but that sort of person will certainly get more out of simply reading the book. Anna Massey is notable here as Aunt Norris. Angela Pleasance, on the other hand, is insufferable as Lady Bertram. For what it's worth, I couldn't help seeing her as Lady Middleton during my most recent reading of S&S. The rest of the cast fail to leave any lasting impression. “The water in Majorca don't taste like what it oughta!”
- DirectorGiles FosterStarsKatharine SchlesingerPeter FirthRobert HardyCatherine Morland is a young woman who enjoys reading Gothic Novels. She is invited to Bath by a family friend, Mrs. Allen, and there she meets Henry Tilney and his sister Eleanor. Upon returning to her home with her family, Eleanor invites Catherine to come along as her guest and companion. There Catherine's imagination continues to flourish and she begins to suspect a dark secret at Northanger Abbey.More interesting and stylish than the previous BBC Austen series, but universally disliked. The melodramatic acting hampers the characterizations, the plot is fatally simplified, and key moments have been poorly handled. As a result, the character arcs and the satire are lost. Fantasy sequences are used improperly and the weird soundtrack is laughable. There's a scene of public bathing in the Roman thermae which I rather liked. All of these silly details are attempts to convey the gothicism of the Regency Era, in the same way that "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992) conveys the gothicism of the Victorian Era. However, here they drag the story into the 1980s, and the final product ends up being more reminiscent of The Pirate Movie.
- StarsLarry BrantleyJordan WallChristie AbbottBased on "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. Wishbone stars as Mr. Darcy while Joe has to deal with David and Sam falling out over rumors about who's asking who to the school dance.Who is the best Mr. Darcy; Matthew McFadyen, Colin Firth, or Wishbone? In each episode of this PBS series (beloved by nerdy millennials, such as myself, who grew up without cable TV) Wishbone, a Jack Russell terrier, imagines himself as a character in a piece of classic literature that casts light on the situation in which his human family and friends find themselves. In this episode, he becomes Mr. Darcy in an abbreviated retelling of Pride & Prejudice. The moral of the story is to value character over external trappings. He sure is cute in his little period costumes. This version can't really compare with the others but I couldn't help but to include it. See also, "Pup Fiction" (1997), dealing with Northanger Abbey.