Nov 29 2005
Pride & Prejudice (Working Title)
The film was enjoyable. True to the main themes of the book containing some excellent directorial moments that are especially impressive given this is Joe Wright’s directorial debut.
Working title ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Strengths:
- Convincing and entertaining portrayals of Mr (Donald Sutherland) and Mrs (Blenda Blethyn) Bennet. The best I’ve seen.
- Fabulous sets and scene locations (e.g. the tree rest-spot on the way to Derbyshire).
- Directional details used to clearly conveyed messages without ‘words’ or heavy reliance on acting skills. Particularly when conveying Mr. Darcy’s affection for Elizabeth.
Unlike the outstanding Capote, or Goodnight and Good luck, I was distracted from full immersion in the whole fantasy film-experience by irrtating trivialities. This left me prefering the longer, more captivating, 1995 BBC TV version.
Irritating trivialities included:
- Tightly laced bodice in one scene that is incosisitent with the regency style.
- General make-up inaccuracy: Glossy peach coloured lip gloss. Lizzie, NO! While lip gloss was available in white and red choice and use of colours was limited. HEAVY use of eye-liner by Bingley’s sister.
- Kiera Knightley’s posture and deportment was just POOR.
- Most characters appeared to be under instruction to make their hair look like it had never seen a comb. Many of the hairstyles were ‘rigidly’ held in scruffy-in-place (hairspray?).
The heavy advertising spin had overplayed the quality of this production which left me slightly disappointed.
As with all high budget period productions the ‘house’ film locations are stunning. Here are the main locations used for the Working Title production:
- Netherfield Park: Basildon Park
- The scene where Darcy proposes was filmed at the Temple of ‘Apollo’, Stourhead, Wiltshire
- Pemberly Exterior and some interiors: Chatsworth house, including the sculpture gallery. Chatsworth is actually mentioned in the book & is actually in the Derbyshire peak district where the fictional Pemberly is based.
- Pemberly interiors: Wilton house.
- Inn at Lambton: Haddon Hall, Lizzie’s bedroom.
- Longbourne: Groombridge place.
- The Rosings: Burghly House, Stamford, Lincolnshire. Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s house.
- Meryton: Stamford, Lincolnshire.
I spent many summer days in Stamford, visited Burghly house once and Chatsworth half a dozen times. Happy memories. No real equivalent in Washington State….
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Pride & Prejudice (Working Title)
