Austen on Film

Did everyone watch Mansfield Park last night? I’m undecided on my feelings. I think I need to watch it again.

If you ever need to see how many movie versions of the books there are the Jane Austen Society of North America has all of that on their website. You just click on the book title and there are all the movie versions. http://jasna.org/film/index.html

What are your feelings on Northanger Abbey? It’s only been made into a movie one other time. I wish they had all been mini-series. I liked Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park but I think they need to be longer to get the whole story. I would also love to see Persuasion done as a mini-series. One of my problems with the 2005 Pride and Prejudice is I don’t think you get a sense of how much time passes. I think it’s easier to accomplish when it’s a mini-series.

Spoiler Alert!!!

Forgive me if you didn’t watch Masterpiece Theatre’s Persuasion. You should probably stop reading now.

Why in the world did they change the delivery of the letter? Plus didn’t more of the letter get read write in the 1995 movie version? You barely hear any of the letter in this version. Mind you, Wentworth is better looking in this version (sorry Ciaran Hinds).  I was liking this production until the very end. The end made me want to pull my hair out. I wanted to throw something at the TV. 

Do not mess with the Austen.

Wentworth is my weakness

For some women cowboys are their weakness but for me, it’s Captain Wentworth. I have a confession to make. I couldn’t wait until January 13th to watch Persuasion. It is, after all, my favorite Jane Austen novel. The minute someone posted the ITV movie on YouTube last summer I sat in front of my computer and watched it. Mind you, I will still watch it when it airs tomorrow and I’ve pre-ordered the DVD from Amazon. There is just something about Wentworth that makes him stand out to me over all the other Austen heroes. Apparently I’m not the only one that loves him and will have to challenge author and Austenphile, Laurie Viera Rigler to a duel at dawn for him.

I made a friend read his letter. She gushes, “I believe that I would die, or at the very least, feel faint, if a guy sent me a letter like that.” Listen up, gentlemen. You don’t realize that that’s all it takes.  Not jewels or expensive trips or even flowers, just something that comes straight from the heart that no price can be placed upon.” The actor that portrays Wentworth in the Masterpiece/ITV movie is a very good physical actor. Just watch him even when he’s not speaking. Which is a lot because Wentworth doesn’t speak much.

Monday I will review the movie. Believe me there are things I am dying to discuss. Be prepared for spoilers.

Sundays with Jane

From Austin City Limits to the Complete Jane Austen, KCPT has your Austin/en fix covered.

Starting Sunday, January 13, KCPT will be broadcasting the BBC production of Persuasion in its entirety. PBS will be showing adaptations of all of Austen’s novels plus a new drama based on Austen’s life. According to PBS, “This is the first time in television history that her books have been broadcast as a complete collection.”