P&P (2005) for Dummies


I started a topic/thread about this in my P&P forum here to help Answer most of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the 2005 film adaptation, Pride & Prejudice from all of you P&P fans/movie lovers and visitors of this blog. I got inspired by those How to... for Dummies books  and thought I'd repost them (along with the graphic/banner for dummies I made P&P style) here and I'll start a series of entries to make it easier for all of you to find answers to the most frequently asked questions relating to the P&P movie that's been bugging you.
 
Okay, let's get it started here...


1. Why did the UK/International release version of P&P '05 film have a different ending than the U.S. version?The American release version included a final scene (not in the novel) of the married Darcys ("Mrs. Darcy" scene) enjoying a romantic evening at Pemberley. This ending did not test well with British audiences executives (at Working Title Production), so it was cut for UK and international release. The British version ends with Mr. Bennet's blessing upon Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's union, thus circumventing the last chapter in the novel, which summarizes the lives of the Darcys and the other main characters over the next several years.

UK/International release ending scene stills: 
 


The U.S. ending ["Mrs. Darcy" scene]
stills:



2. Why is the UK ending shorter? 
As stated in the answer of question #1, The American release version included a final scene (not in the novel) of the married Darcys ("Mrs. Darcy" scene) enjoying a romantic evening at Pemberley. This ending did not test well with British execs, so it was cut for UK and most of the international release. Also, in addition...here are 2 related articles about it... 

From Times Online: Why new Pride & Prejudice is abridged in Britain...executives at Working Title, the British film production company, cringed at the ending to their adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice and decided to lop it off.The change came about after executives watched a screening of the longer film in America. David Livingstone, vice-president of Universal marketing and distribution, said that the American audience loved it but the British executives had reservations. “There was a moment when somebody said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if it ended with Donald Sutherland?’,” he told The Times. The extra scene was kept for the Americans, as well as some Asian territories that prefer emotion to be “laid on quite thickly”, Mr Livingstone added. And from Times Online as well: There is also some uncertainty over which ending to use. Two have been tried out in previews. Thompson’s has Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Mr Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen) on a balcony after their nuptials; Moggach’s has Mr Bennet (Donald Sutherland) asking for any other suitors for his remaining unmarried daughters. Who will win out? 

3. How different is this version to other P&P Film adaptations? 
Director Joe Wright was the only P&P director to use complex, sweeping tracking shots that last several minutes, travel through multiple rooms, and highlight the different activities of many people. This technique creates a strong feeling of exploring an entire era in one location. Also, this was the first film adaption to cast a leading actress (Keira Knightley) who was Elizabeth’s age, 20. 

4. What are the differences about this film and the original novel?Most works of literature undergo significant cuts when adapted for film; in this production, the story was compressed into 2 hours and 9 minutes of screen time. Some of the most notable changes from the original book include:
  • Heavy time compression of several major sequences, including Elizabeth’s visit to Rosings Park and Hunsford Parsonage, Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley, and Lydia’s elopement and its subsequent crisis.
  • The elimination of several supporting characters, including Louisa Hurst, Mr. Hurst, Maria Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, the Gardiners' children, and various military officers and townspeople.
  • The elimination of several sections in which characters reflect or converse on events that have recently occurred - for example, Elizabeth's chapter-long change of mind after reading Darcy's letter.
In addition, the filmmakers changed several scenes to more romantic locales than the ones in the book. For instance, in the film, Darcy first proposes outdoors in the rain near a beautiful lake; in the book, this scene takes place inside a parsonage. In the film, his second proposal occurs on the misty moors as dawn breaks; in the book, he and Elizabeth are walking down a country lane in broad daylight. 

5. What are the English Country Dances done in this film?
  • The English Country Dances done in the film are:
    o Young Widow - Listen to the audio midi here
    o Wakefield Hunt - listen ---> midi
    o The Bishop (This was used when Lizzie and Mr. Collins were dancing at the Netherfield Ball) - listen ---> midi
    o Dutch Dollars - Listen ---> midi
    o Tythe Pig (This was used when Mr. Darcy & Caroline Bingley were dancing at the Netherfield Ball) - listen ----> midi
    o Black Bess - listen ---> midi
    o Duke of Gloucester's March - listen ---> midi
    o Moniek's Maggot (only tune used)
For more information on the English Country Dances used in the movie, check out EarthlyDelights.com or the direct link to: Dances in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice Movie.

More will be posted here soon! Keep checking this topic for more in the upcoming blog entries!

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