The Cajun Cheesehead Critic Ranks Pride and Prejudice Adaptations, by Jack Caldwell

Greetings, everybody. Jack Caldwell here.

The JA Universe was recently shaken by the titanic news that Netflix was producing a new adaptation of Miss Jane Austen’s most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice. Forgive me if I restrain my enthusiasm, given what they did with Persuasion in 2022. I have a feeling they will “Bridgerton-ize” P&P. But I could be wrong. We’ll see.

To be fair, P&P has been a target for adapting to the silver screen for many years. Some are good, some are not, and some are great. I have personally seen four of the most well-known ones, as well as five of the reimaginings/variations. Let us take a look at them, listed by my own personal preferences.

These are only the ones I have seen; therefore, I have no ranking for Pride and Prejudice (1952), Pride and Prejudice (1967), Death Comes to Pemberley, The Lizzy Bennet Diaries, or Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy.

First, the reimaginings:

5. Lost in Austen (2008) – I hated it. There is nothing good about it. I am surprised I sat through the whole terrible thing.

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) – a rather silly mash-up of Regency and zombies. It was okay, although I particularly enjoyed the opening ballroom scene and the hilarious proposal.

3. Austenland (2013): Surprisingly entertaining.

2. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) – Well done, although severely damaged by the unnecessary sequels.

1. Bride and Prejudice (2004) – Bollywood meets Jane Austen. Silly and addictive. Very well cast. Far and away the best of the lot.

Now, the adaptations (links to full reviews attached):

4. Pride and Prejudice (1940) – I hate putting it here, as this is a wonderful film. For crying out loud, it stars Greer Garson and LAURENCE FRIGGIN’ OLIVIER (the best Darcy ever)! The rest of the cast is fantastic. And most importantly—IT WAS FUNNY! Remember, Pride and Prejudice is a comedy!

Yes, I know it wasn’t set in the Regency. Recall there was something called World War II going on, and since they had some left-over dresses from Gone With the Wind, they moved the setting to the Victorian Era. Just go with it and have fun.

So, why is it placed here? Because of what follows.

3. Pride and Prejudice (2005) – This is the best of the movie adaptations. In about two hours, director Joe Wright gave us the themes of Miss Austen’s great work. It brilliantly made Elizabeth (Keira Knightly) young, and therefore far more clueless than other adaptations. Both Jane (Rosamund Pike) and Caroline (Kelly Reilly) were allowed to equal, or even surpass, Elizabeth’s looks. The cinematography was gorgeous. And there was a general kindness in the film.

Darcy? Matthew Macfadyen did okay.

These assets overcome the flaws—the incredible miscasting of Wickham (Rupert Friend) and Mr. Bennet (Donald Sutherland), a wasted Lady Catherine (Dame Judi Dench), and a complete misunderstanding of the Bennets standing in Meryton (no one of upper-middle-class would have pigs in the house).

2. Pride and Prejudice (1995) – Oh, I can hear the screaming now. Allow me to say that Andrew Davies’ adaptation, while very good in general, and great at times, it was not perfect. You can go to my full review by the link, so I won’t belabor my issues with the film (orange, pond swim, Mr. Collins, etc.). I will simply say that they had the time to put far more humor in the production and did not.

Acting-wise, Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle knock it out of the park. The rest of the cast was excellent. The costumes were spot-on (except for one character). A wonderful production, well deserving of its following.

But there is one better.

1. Pride and Prejudice (1980) – The best adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. Period. The cast is the best, the script is the best, the sound (not music) is the best. The only knock is the costumes, but I assume the BBC was nearly broke in 1980 and did the best they could.

What sets it apart from any other adaptation, except 1940, is the screenwriters left in the humor. Both Collins and Lady Catherine are allowed to be foolish, not slimy or wicked.

Just ignore the costumes, enjoy the acting by Elizabeth Garvie (the best Elizabeth) and David Rintoul (he seems wooden at first, but repeated viewings show the acting in his eyes allowed by the director). Malcolm Rennie is Mr. Collins.

So, there you are. Of course, I expect your list will be different than mine. That’s the fun part. I only ask that you give all this films a view (except maybe Lost In Austen).

Until next time, this has been the Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles.

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