2016 #122
Robert Z. Leonard | 113 mins | TV | 4:3 | USA / English | U
Robert Z. Leonard | 113 mins | TV | 4:3 | USA / English | U
The first adaptation of Jane Austen’s ever-popular novel, MGM’s film is a compromised endeavour: by executives softening dialogue and rewriting characters; by changing its setting to permit grander costumes; by Gone with the Wind using all the Technicolor stock, forcing the lavish production to shoot in black-and-white.
Nonetheless, it emerges a solid take on Austen (until the ending goes thoroughly astray). Laurence Olivier is a suitably moody Darcy and, though far too old for the part, Greer Garson makes a witty Lizzy.
Massively overshadowed by later adaptations, this remains an entertaining version for anyone not too concerned about textual faithfulness.
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I actually didn’t realize they had already started adapting Austen as early as 1940. Olivier, you say? This I’ve gotta see.
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I only knew about it because it happened to be on TV.
I’d not looked into this before, but from what I can tell there wasn’t another film adaptation of Austen until the 1995 Sense and Sensibility! (Lots of TV, though.)
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