Two beloved Pride & Prejudice screen adaptations with upcoming anniversaries in September 2015!

By Jeane - April 28, 2015

September 2015 is less than 5 months away, I know, but it's going to be a big P&P anniversary month. Pride & Prejudice fans will have a double P&P anniversaries to celebrate come September. Whether you, as a P&P fan, prefer one or the other or both the 1995 TV mini-series (BBC and A&E) and 2005 film (Focus Features) versions of Jane Austen's over two centuries classic Pride and Prejudice, both screen adaptations are turning a decade or two with anniversary milestone of their own TV broadcast and film Cinema release in September. The Andrew Davies penned 1995 Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle first aired in the UK's BBC One network back in September 24th, 1995 (almost 20 years ago) and Joe Wright's 2005 Pride & Prejudice starring Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen first released in UK Cinemas (England and Ireland) back in September 16th, 2005 (almost 10 years ago...with its US Theater release 2 months later in November).

Revisit these two beloved and fan-favorite P&P TV & film adaptations by watching their trailers, reading synopsis, and feast your eyes with all the glorious promotional stills from both P&P 1995 and 2005 versions below...

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

starring Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen
See full cast and crew (via IMDB)
directed by Joe Wright
screenplay by Deborah Moggach
UK Cinema Release Date: September 16, 2005
US Theatrical Release Date: November 11 (limited); November 23 (wide)

Plot Synopsis:

The glorious world of Jane Austen is at last brought back to the screen in all its romance and wit in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice film. Faithful to the setting and period of the beloved novel and filmed entirely on location in the U.K. The classic tale of love and misunderstanding unfolds in class-conscious England near the close of the 18th century. The five Bennet sisters – Elizabeth, or Lizzie (Keira Knightley), Jane (Rosamund Pike), Lydia (Jena Malone), Mary (Talulah Riley), and Kitty (Carey Mulligan) – have been raised well aware of their mother's (two-time Academy Award nominee Brenda Blethyn) fixation on finding them husbands and securing set futures. The spirited and intelligent Elizabeth, however, strives to live her life with a broader perspective, as encouraged by her doting father (two-time Golden Globe Award winner Donald Sutherland). When wealthy bachelor Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) takes up residence in a nearby mansion, the Bennets are abuzz. Amongst the man's sophisticated circle of London friends and the influx of young militia officers, surely there will be no shortage of suitors for the Bennet sisters. Eldest daughter Jane, serene and beautiful, seems poised to win Mr. Bingley's heart. For her part, Lizzie meets with the handsome and – it would seem – snobbish Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), and the battle of the sexes is joined. Their encounters are frequent and spirited, yet far from encouraging. But a crisis involving youngest sister Lydia soon opens Lizzie's eyes to the true nature of her relationship with Mr. Darcy. The ensuing rush of feelings leaves no one unchanged, and inspires the Bennets and everyone around them to reaffirm what is most important in life. Pride and Prejudice brings romance, wit, and emotional force to the screen. Critics are calling it "Exhilarating. A joy from start to finish" (Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times).

Watch the official UK trailer for P&P 2005 film...

Pride & Prejudice (2005) Movie Stills
featuring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet
& Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy

(source: Working Title Films/Focus Features)

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet

(source: Working Title Films/Focus Features)

Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy

(source: Working Title Films/Focus Features)

Other P&P 2005 Stills

(source: Working Title Films/Focus Features)

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle
See full cast and crew (via IMDB)
directed by Simon Langton screenplay by Andrew Davies Total Episodes: Six (on BBC One)
Original Air Date: September 24, 1995 (first episode date)
October 29, 1995 (final episode date)

Plot Synopsis:

Pride and Prejudice is a six-episode 1995 British television drama, adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth starred as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's (Benjamin Whitrow and Alison Steadman) five unmarried daughters (Jane - Susannah Harker, Elizabeth/Lizzy - Jennifer Ehle, Mary - Lucy Briers, Kitty - Polly Maberly, Lydia - Julia Sawalha) after the rich and eligible Mr. Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter) and his status-conscious friend, Mr. Darcy, have moved into their neighborhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth. The New York Times called the adaptation "a witty mix of love stories and social conniving, cleverly wrapped in the ambitions and illusions of a provincial gentry."