Reviews

Kate Beckinsale is excellent as the manipulative and yet irresistibly charming Emma in this TV-adaptation of Jane Austen´s novel. When I read that novel I was sometimes quite doubtful whether the protagonist really deserved to be considered the heroine of the story: for honestly, she is so terribly self-righteous and scheming that one is tempted to dislike her seriously. Kate Beckinsale´s interpretation, however, saves Emma from herself so to speak: she is portrayed with all the innocence and generosity of her character in full view, and one can´t help but give in and like (not to say love) her in spite of her less amiable qualities. Kate Beckinsale is the main, but not the only, reason why this TV-series is so delightful; Raymond Coulthard is perfect as Mr. Frank Churchill, expressing this character´s personal magnetism to the full (which is all the more conspicuous because of this role being not very well handled by Ewan McGregor in the 1996-screen adaptation of Emma), and Mark Strong, Samantha Morton, Bernard Hepton, and Olivia Williams are all as they should be in their respective roles. This production is, in short, a great achievement and one to view many times with increasing pleasure.

This TV-series is perhaps not as well-known as the 1995-production starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and perhaps it doesn´t quite equal the magnificence of this more recent adaptation of Jane Austen´s novel. However, it is very good, and as its atmosphere and overall style differ pretty much from the 1995-production it is a relevant supplement to the latter, even if you´re as enthralled by Jennifer Ehle´s and Colin Firth´s performances as I am. Together the two TV-productions, both being perfectly true to the spirit of the novel, show the wide scope for variety when it comes to interpreting Jane Austen on TV. A peculiar feature of the 1979-production is that it is, as it were, theatrical; the actors and actresses deliver their lines with such distinct and dignified diction that it is almost as if they were staging a play. With some of them it occasionally becomes a little too much: particularly Peter Settelen is rather stiff and formal in the role of Mr. Wickham. But most of the cast manage to combine the theatrical touch with liveliness and credibility, and the result is a pervading air of calmness and serenity which is soothing to the nerves and makes every scene pleasant to watch. Malcolm Rennie is very good as Mr. Collins, lending this character a redeeming innocence and even a certain charm. Also noteworthy are Marsha Fitzalan, Judy Parfitt, and Moray Watson. The highlight, however, is Priscilla Morgan, who plays Mrs. Bennet with such vivacity and sweetness that it becomes possible to understand why Mr. Bennet could have been captivated by her in the first place and made the mistake of marrying her. Her performance alone is enough to recommend this TV-series, which, to sum up, is quite delightful without being supreme.

In my opinion Jane Austen´s novel "Pride and Prejudice" is one of the finest and most enduring novels ever written, and it is well suited for TV adaptation: the plot is clear and engaging and a number of the characters almost approach the archetypical. This adaptation, directed by Simon Langton and starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, is true to its source and perfectly succeeds in capturing the half humorous and half serious tone of the novel. With great skill Jennifer Ehle portrays Elizabeth Bennet as a peculiar mixture of tenderness and fiery temper, of intelligent discernment and easily deceived wilfulness. Colin Firth manages to convey all the nuances and inner tensions of Mr. Darcy´s personality without making him appear any less reserved than he is in the novel. Also worth mentioning for their remarkable acting are David Bamber, Julia Sawalha, Adrian Lukis, and, not least, Benjamin Whitrow, who, as Mr. Bennet, is everything I ever imagined Mr. Bennet to be: an intelligent, quiet man, resigned to the follies of mankind in general and his own wife in particular, but with a touch of irresponsibility in his character which is echoed in his daughter Lydia´s sanguinity and thoughtlessness. Alison Steadman is perhaps a little too boisterous in the role of his wife Mrs. Bennet; no doubt that Mrs. Bennet really is something of a trial in the novel too, but Alison Steadman´s interpretation of her in this TV-series borders on the caricature. However, this is only a very small stain on an otherwise thoroughly successful production. It is highly recommendable to all Jane Austen enthusiasts.

This is an excellent adaptation of a fine novel. It is always a pleasure to see Dickens´s novels successfully made into films or TV series, and this version of Martin Chuzzlewit is without question the best adaptation of a Dickens novel that I have seen. Like in most of Dickens´s works the main plot is sometimes a bit difficult to keep track of because of the many secondary plots which attract our attention, but as far as I am concerned this is not a very serious disadvantage, since the far most important element in any Dickens novel is the wide range of interesting and peculiar characters that fill the pages, and since the cast of this TV production of Martin Chuzzlewit manages to make a number of the characters even more fascinating than they are in the book. All the actors and actresses in this TV-series are good; many of them are brilliant. Most remarkable are Tom Wilkinson, Keith Allen, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Chambers, Philip Franks, Maggie Steed, and Julia Sawalha. Better acting than theirs in this production is not often seen. The entire cast seem in fact to have inspired and brought out the best in each other. An example of a character which has actually become more interesting as a result of the adaptation from novel to TV-series is the character of Jonas Chuzzlewit: Keith Allen´s interpretation lends him an even more profound air of gloomy desperation and twistedness than is expressed by the Jonas we meet in the novel. Pete Postlethwaite´s interpretation of Mr. Montague Tigg is likewise of such high class that it is almost an improvement on the book without being in the least degree unfaithful to it. I really cannot recommend this TV-series enough. People with a taste for Dickens can see it many times and still feel rewarded.