Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996)

The essence of the story is the antagonism between Mr. Darcy, a wealthy single man who believes Elizabeth to be beneath him, and Elizabeth, who upon being insulted at a dance by the aloof Darcy refuses to associate with him in any manner. Austen evokes incredible tension with the wit and flirtation of the two characters, and director Simon Langton (who also directed Upstairs Downstairs) successfully translates the repartee and conflict in this six-hour miniseries. Dialogue, for the most part, is painstakingly replicated, except when fleshing out and smoothing for modern sensibilities was necessary. Darcy, for instance, is drawn out, giving his personality significantly more depth. The acting sweeps you away to Regency England: Jennifer Ehle (of Wilde) is convincing as the obstinate Elizabeth, who, despite her mother's attempts to marry her off, spurs the attentions of Darcy. And Colin Firth (of The English Patient) will have women everywhere longing for a Mr. Darcy of their own.

For those who have been on an Austen binge--enjoying such excellent adaptations as Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion--this miniseries will round out the ultimate Austen video library. For those new to these romantic period pieces, this version of Pride and Prejudice will have you hooked and longing for more. One caveat, however: plan to watch it in an entire day, because very few have the self-control to not watch all six hours in a single sitting. --Jenny Brown

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Stills from Pride and Prejudice (click for larger image)

Spotlight Reviews
I love this the best. (2009-01-07)
Customer Review : 5
I love this movie. I have seen the other p & p movies made and by far I find this the most interesting and well done. Well worth by and watching multiple times.

Excellent (2009-01-07)
Customer Review : 5
This product was in perfect condition and this seller was a pleasure to do business with.

Whitley Jo (2008-12-26)
Customer Review : 5
I absolutely love this movie so much that I purchased one for my Mother. It just get's better and better every time you watch it... I would highly recommend it.

Outstanding Adaptation (2008-12-25)
Customer Review : 5
With over 1500 other reviews on Amazon for this DVD set, why write another one?

Because it's a great series, that's why!

OK -- confession time: I'd never been a fan of "chick" authors such as Jane Austen, but boy, was I mistaken! Friends at work turned me on to this series when it first appeared on A&E, and I was immediately sucked into the story. And what a great story it is!

The adaptation remains very faithful to the novel (a fact which I discovered when I read the book after I'd seen the series), so much so that a pivotal scene that occurs *exactly* half way through the book also occurs *exactly* half-way through the series.

Colin Firth plays a Darcy that I don't believe shall ever be equaled (a role that he seems to have reprised, time and again, in later films), and the entire cast, from top to bottom, is great. That, coupled with set and costume design that seems to authentically replicate the period, gives the series a lushness and depth that is a pleasure to watch.

The series stands up well to multiple viewings (always a sign of a great film). In fact, it's one of my favorite things to watch during the Christmas Holidays when it's cold and wet outside.

Anyway -- it's well worth five stars, and if anyone has not yet seen it (hard as that is to believe), my advice is: get thee to the video store!

educational standpoint (2008-12-24)
Customer Review : 5
As a high-school teacher for English foundations, I try my best to expose my students to the literature their peers in regular English classes receive. I must utilize movies as a visual aide supplement to help them connect with the characters, setting, dialogue... I strongly recommend using this dvd to support your curriculum to teach on all levels of student learning (auditory, kinesthetic, visual).