It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. When Mr. Bingley comes to live in the neighborhood, Mrs. Bennett considers him the rightful property of one of her five unmarried daughters…
In Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice, the arrival of a young, well-off, eligible man named Mr. Bingley sends the Bennet household–with five girls of a marrying age–into a tizzy. But it’s the introduction of Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy (played with an imperious scowl by David Rintoul), that sets in motion the fate of Elizabeth Bennet (the adorable Elizabeth Garvie), resolved only after a labyrinth of social and personal complexities. Austen’s novels are miracles of skillful plotting, fusing a rich understanding of psychological motivation with whimsical turns of chance. This superb BBC adaptation from 1980 zips along, thanks to lively performances, fluid direction, and a keen grasp of the wit of Austen’s dialogue (expertly translated to the screen by British novelist Fay Weldon) and her satirical characters, who range from clever and kind to utterly odious. Due to its faithfulness and deep appreciation of the material, this five-episode miniseries stands up against any other film or television adaptation (at least nine to date), though Rintoul may not sets hearts aflutter the way Colin Firth did in the also excellent 1995 miniseries. –Bret Fetzer
Starring Elizabeth Garvie, David Rintoul, Emma Jacobs, Moir Leslie, Sabina Franklyn.
Shown on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.
Parents need to know that, despite a lack of objectionable material, this made-for-television miniseries’ extended length, antiquated language, and subtle themes make it dead boring for younger kids. Even older kids may find the stuffy cinematography and formal, stiff manners of Georgian England a turn-off. But for lovers of literature, especially that written by Jane Austen, this adaptation of her novel is a treat. – Common Sense Media