Summary:
Too often, movie versions of great works of literature are not faithful to the book. Sometimes, directors dilute the original author's intent and make the viewing experience less enjoyable. Such did not happen to Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, at least not in the version - the 1940 movie starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson.
Too often, movie versions of great works of literature are not faithful to the book. Sometimes, directors dilute the original author's intent and make the viewing experience less enjoyable. Such did not happen to Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, at least not in the version - the 1940 movie starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson.
Undoubtedly, the book Pride and Prejudice is compelling, witty, powerful and entertaining, which containing one of the most cherished love stories in English literature: the courtship between Darcy and Elizabeth. As in any good love story, Darcy and Elizabeth must elude and overcome numerous stumbling blocks, which including their own personal qualities--- Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth is guilty of prejudice and Darcy of pride or we can say Elizabeth's pride makes her misjudge Darcy while Darcy's prejudice against Elizabeth's poor family---the title cuts both ways.
However, this paper will show that one of the main differences is that the film treats the story largely as a source of comedy. The overall tone of the piece is modified into a much lighter, less witty and serious, entertainment with chirping music, quaint, showy costumes from the Victorian period (rather than Austin's Regency era). But the changes are a big success which beyond my expectation a lot.
"An all-encompassing genre hybrid that merges dramatic film with comic elements or a strong comic lead."(From handout: Movie Genres). In this movie, everyone is a comic thus makes it more funny.
From the very beginning of the movie, five unmarried daughters of the Bennets coming on stage, the director send us audience a tone of comedy. Meanwhile, five daughters' mother, Mrs. Bennet leaves a deep impressive on me. Mrs. Bennet is a miraculously tiresome character. However, she plays an important role of the whole movie. Director takes perverse pleasure in poking fun at her by adding episode of the carriage race between her and Lady Lucas. And her fussy gossip in the shop shows her ready to marry one of her daughter to obtain a wealthy spouse when she sees Bingley's arrival. So I have to say Mrs. Bennet is foolish and embodies ill breeding, who agrees with the novel's opening words: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." By contrast, Mr. Bennet is a wit and has a sarcastic, cynical sense of humor that he uses to purposefully irritate his wife. Reserved and gentle Jane in the book is more sociable, who always tries to show her prettier side of her face to Mr. Bingley when she is sick. And I have to mention that Mr. Collins is an exaggerated character in the movie. He is the worst combination of snobbish and obsequious. When I first meet him, he reveals himself to be so full of self-importance and overdone politeness with his magnifying glass in his hand all the time. The bookworm--- Mary, her funny face makes me can't helping laughing. Her efforts to show her elegance and wit reveal more clumsiness, especially her terrible song for the company. Last but not least, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a rich and bossy noblewoman. She turns out to be an obstacle to the realization of the love between Darcy and Elizabeth for her attempt to control her nephew. But at the end of movie, she is the person who clears up the misunderstanding between two lovers and encourages Darcy to pursue his true love. Lady Catherine de Bourgh is another vehicle for movie's comic factor. It's a good change, though, which brings me a big surprise. Director uses these vivid characters to present a light and bright, and sparkling comedy to the audience. I think it is the movie version wants to send the comic tone to us.
Language proves of central importance to comedy in the movie Pride and Prejudice. And of course, my perception of comedy is shaped largely by their conversation.
After Mrs. Bennet's failure for insisting that her husband call on the new arrival immediately, she cried: "I am sick of Mr. Bingley!" "Oh, I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him." See, Mr. Bennet always bursts out of his sarcastic humor and dry wit while Mrs. Bennet 's hysterical excess drips from every sentence she utters. This can be also proved by his desire to annoy his wife, actually informs his daughter: "Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."
Collins's long, foolish speeches are another example for making stupidity comical. When Mr. Bennet talks about "Lady Catherine de Bourgh is a proud and haughty woman." Mr. Collins rejects it's a vulgar opinion, "Although I act as her ladyship's librarian, she has always spoken to me as she would to any other gentleman." He is such a man who is never aware of his own absurdity with no sense of how foolish he sounds.
As to the Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her last showup in the movie is quite comical. Her sitting on a musical box makes the environment more relaxed and also predicts the happy result of the conversation between her and Elizabeth.
Darcy 's first proposal to Elizabeth is a climactic part or a turning point of the movie. "I've walked the streets of London reminding myself of the unsuitability of such a marriage. Ah, the obstacles between us. But it won't do. I 've reminded myself again and again that I have obligations of family and position.... I love you." He spends more time emphasizing Elizabeth's lower rank than actually asking her to marry him. So, let us hear Elizabeth response to him. "Do you expect me to thank you for this extraordinary offer of marriage? Am I supposed to feel flattered that you have so overcome your aversion to my family that you are ready to marry it"" From their conversation, we come back to the title again--- Pride and Prejudice. In the words of the novel "He was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride."
Robert Z. Leonard's 1940 film "Pride and Prejudice" was an adaptation. But the plots in the movie are fast-paced and absorbing. The proper modification is a great success because of it can deliver the tone of comedy to us when we enjoy it.
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