Pride and Prejudice The Making of (Eng) BBC 1995

Summary

The video script offers an in-depth look at the making of a television adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, 'Pride and Prejudice.' It emphasizes the production's commitment to capturing the spirit and energy of Austen's work, highlighting the importance of casting, location scouting, costume design, and the adaptation process. The producer, Sue Bert Whissel, and director, Simon Langton, share insights on their collaborative efforts to bring the beloved characters and settings to life, from the cozy Bennett household to the grandeur of Pemberley. The casting of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is discussed, along with the challenges and creative choices made in depicting the social dynamics and romantic tension between characters. The significance of dance in the period and the meticulous attention to historical accuracy in costumes and manners is also explored. The summary underscores the dedication of the entire production team to do justice to Austen's masterpiece, aiming to create a popular television event that remains true to the original novel's appeal.

Takeaways

• 📚 The adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice' aimed to stay true to Jane Austen's original novel, capturing its spirit and energy.
• 🎬 The production, led by Andrew Davies, emphasized the book's fast pace and dynamic events, contrary to the common misconception that not much happens in Austen's work.
• 🏠 The choice of locations was crucial in reflecting the social status and character of different households, such as the cozy Bennett home versus the grandeur of Pemberley.
• 🎨 The design and costume choices were influenced by the characters' descriptions in the book, with attention to detail in clothing and accessories to reflect their personalities and social standing.
• 👥 Casting was of utmost importance, with the need to find actors who could embody the well-known characters authentically, including the iconic role of Mr. Darcy played by Colin Firth.
• 💃 Dances were an essential part of the social scene during the period, and the series included English country dances that were carefully researched and choreographed.
• 📽 The editing process was key in the post-production, where the timing of shots could alter the focus and emotional impact of scenes, particularly in building the romantic tension between Darcy and Elizabeth.
• 🎶 Music was used to add a fourth dimension to the storytelling, providing an abstract layer that complemented the visual action and hinted at the characters' thoughts and emotions.
• 👩‍🦱 The actress playing Mrs. Bennett found the character to be vividly written, providing a rich base for her performance, which was described as attacking her lines like a bolting chariot.
• 🎭 Actors were required to perform various talents, including dancing, to authentically represent the period, with Colin Firth's iconic lake scene involving careful planning and the use of a stunt double.
• 📝 The entire production team, from the actors to the costume and set designers, aimed for authenticity and realism, with a deep respect for Austen's work and a desire to do justice to the beloved story.

Q & A

What was the overall aim of the production team for this adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice'?

The overall aim was to be as true as possible to the spirit of Jane Austen's original book.

What was the first thing that struck the adapter when reading 'Pride and Prejudice' with a view to adapting it?

The tremendous speed and energy of the book, with something happening on every page and enormous energy in both the characters and the action.

How did the production team decide to convey the energy of 'Pride and Prejudice' in the adaptation?

They decided to convey the energy right in the opening scene by taking the scene where Bingley and Darcy get their first sight of Netherfield Hall, involving them galloping across the countryside.

What is the role of a producer in a television production?

A producer commissions a project, works on the scripts, finds a home for it, and sees it through every stage from pre-production to post-production.

Why is finding the right locations considered fundamental to the entire design process of a period drama?

The right locations convey a lot of information about the characters, their social standing, and the era they live in, which is crucial for an authentic adaptation of a period novel.

How does the design of the sets and costumes reflect the characters' personalities and social status in 'Pride and Prejudice'?

The design team keys the characters to their houses, gardens, carriages, furniture, and decorations to create a cohesive image that reflects their personalities and social status.

What was the approach to the depiction of Meryton in this adaptation?

The approach was to focus more on the jolly aspects like the handsome soldiers, socializing, and shops, rather than dwelling on the harsher realities of rural life, as this was not an area of interest for Jane Austen.

How did the costume designer use the book to understand how the characters would dress?

The costume designer read the book and the script to gain a detailed knowledge of how the characters develop throughout the book, which helped in understanding their clothing choices.

Why is casting considered so important in the production process, especially for a well-known book like 'Pride and Prejudice'?

Casting is crucial because it directly impacts the audience's connection with the characters. For a well-known book, getting the casting right is even more important as audiences have preconceived notions of the characters.

What was the reason behind choosing Colin Firth to play Mr. Darcy?

The producer believed Colin Firth was an amazing actor who could embody the character of Darcy, despite initial reservations from some people, including Firth himself.

How did the editing process contribute to the storytelling of 'Pride and Prejudice'?

The editing process was critical in changing the focus of a scene and timing the shots between characters to convey the development of their relationship without making it self-conscious.

What role does music play in a period drama like 'Pride and Prejudice'?

Music provides a fourth dimension, adding an abstract layer that complements the visual action by hinting at thoughts and emotions not explicitly shown or stated.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Adapting Pride and Prejudice for Television

The first paragraph discusses the adaptation process of Jane Austen's classic novel, Pride and Prejudice, for television. The aim was to stay true to the spirit of the original book, capturing its speed, energy, and fullness of events. The adaptation wanted to reflect the characters' vibrancy and the constant action on every page. The opening scene was carefully chosen to convey this energy, focusing on Bingley and Darcy's first sight of Netherfield Hall. The producer's role, played by Sue Bert Whissel, is also explained, highlighting her responsibilities from commissioning the project to overseeing every stage of production. The importance of finding the right locations to reflect the story's social dynamics and the characters' statuses is emphasized.

05:00

🎭 Recreating the World of Jane Austen

The second paragraph delves into the meticulous process of recreating the world of Pride and Prejudice. It discusses the importance of understanding the social and political context of the time to build the setting accurately. The casting process is highlighted, with particular attention given to the characters' homes reflecting their personalities and social standings. The grandeur of Pemberley, the modesty of the Bennet household, and the contrasting flamboyance of Rosings are mentioned. The paragraph also touches on the selection of costumes and props that align with the characters' descriptions in the novel.

10:02

🎨 Designing the Aesthetic for the Adaptation

The third paragraph focuses on the design aspects of the adaptation, including the choice of locations, furniture, and decorations that contribute to the characters' images. The design team aimed to choose a level of reality that aligns with the book's themes. The costumes are influenced by the characters' portrayals in the book, with specific attention given to Miss Bingley's attire to emphasize her social standing. The casting process is again highlighted, with the importance of getting the characters right for the adaptation's success. The actors' interpretations of their characters, such as Mr. Collins' transformation throughout the story, are also discussed.

15:04

🌟 The Casting and Performance of Characters

The fourth paragraph emphasizes the critical role of casting in the production, especially for a well-known novel like Pride and Prejudice. The casting director's keenness on getting the characters right is highlighted, with examples such as David Bamber's audition for Mr. Collins and the contrast between his pre- and post-proposal portrayal. Alison Steadman's portrayal of Mrs. Bennet is praised, and the process of how actors like Colin Firth, initially hesitant, became invested in their roles is described. The physicality of the actors and the importance of their performances in scenes, such as Darcy's dive into the lake, are also covered.

20:09

💃 The Significance of Dance and Social Etiquette

The fifth paragraph discusses the significance of dance in the period during which Pride and Prejudice is set. It explains how dances provided opportunities for young people to meet and court. The process of researching and incorporating the dances into the adaptation is detailed, with the choreography reflecting the social manners and architecture of the time. The parallel between the intellectual and physical relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth during their dance is highlighted. The role of editing in the post-production process and the subtle use of music to enhance the romantic aspect of the story are also discussed.

25:10

🎼 The Role of Music and Authenticity in the Production

The sixth paragraph underscores the role of music in providing an additional dimension to the story, capturing the thoughts and emotions that are not explicitly shown. The importance of not overdoing the music to maintain the story's romantic tone is mentioned. The actors' experiences with the script, their connection with the story, and the effort put into making the adaptation as authentic as possible are highlighted. The anticipation and emotional investment in the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy are emphasized, with the cast and crew's hope that they have done justice to Jane Austen's classic novel.

Keywords

💡Adaptation

Adaptation refers to the process of modifying a work, such as a book, for a different medium, like television or film. In the context of the video, it involves staying true to the spirit of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' while converting it into a television series. The script mentions the challenge of capturing the book's energy and events, which is central to the adaptation's success.

💡Energy

Energy, in the context of the video, describes the lively and dynamic pace of the novel 'Pride and Prejudice'. The script emphasizes the need to convey the book's rapid and vigorous narrative style within the television adaptation, ensuring that the on-screen events and characters maintain the same level of activity and verve.

💡Period Drama

A period drama is a genre of film or television that depicts fictional or historical events in a past era. The video discusses the production of a period drama based on Jane Austen's work, highlighting the importance of accurate research and attention to detail to recreate the setting and social manners of the time.

💡Casting

Casting is the process of selecting actors for various roles in a production. The video highlights the significance of casting in bringing the characters of 'Pride and Prejudice' to life, emphasizing the need to find actors who can authentically portray the personalities and nuances of Austen's characters.

💡Costumes

Costumes are the clothing worn by actors in a production to reflect the time period and social status of their characters. The video script discusses how the costumes for 'Pride and Prejudice' were influenced by the characters' descriptions in the book, aiming to reflect their personalities and social standings.

💡Locations

Locations are the settings where a production is filmed. The video emphasizes the importance of finding the right locations to convey the different social statuses and atmospheres of the various households in 'Pride and Prejudice', such as the cozy Bennet household, the grandeur of Pemberley, and the flamboyance of Rosings.

💡Director

A director is responsible for the creative vision and overall execution of a production. The video mentions Simon Langton, the director of the 'Pride and Prejudice' adaptation, and his collaborative work with the producer in casting, designing the look of the production, and overseeing the filming process.

💡Producer

A producer oversees the entire production process, from commissioning a project to its completion. Sue Bert Whissel, the producer of the adaptation, is mentioned in the script as being responsible for working on scripts, finding a home for the production, and seeing it through every stage, including location scouting and design.

💡Social Manners

Social manners refer to the etiquette and behavior expected of individuals in a particular society or era. The video discusses the importance of depicting the social manners of Jane Austen's time accurately, which includes how characters interact, bow, curtsy, and show deference to one another.

💡English Country Dances

English country dances were a popular form of social dance in the era depicted in 'Pride and Prejudice'. The video script describes how these dances were integral to social life, providing opportunities for courtship and reflecting the architecture, furniture, and landscape gardening of the time.

💡Editing

Editing is the process of selecting and assembling the raw footage into a coherent sequence in post-production. The video emphasizes the impact of editing on the narrative, noting that the timing and duration of shots can significantly influence the focus and emotional impact of a scene.

💡Music

Music in a production serves to enhance the emotional depth and atmosphere of the narrative. The video discusses the role of music in providing a 'fourth dimension' to the story, adding a layer of abstract thought and feeling that complements the visual action without being explicitly stated.

Highlights

Adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice' aimed to be as true as possible to the spirit of Jane Austen's original book.

The adaptation aimed to capture the tremendous speed and energy of the novel.

The opening scene was designed to convey a sense of energy and action, reflecting the book's pace.

Producer Sue Bert Whissel's role included commissioning the project, working on scripts, and overseeing the entire production.

Finding the right locations was fundamental to the design process, conveying information about the characters and their social status.

Costumes and character portrayals were influenced by how each character comes across in the book.

Casting was crucial, particularly for well-known characters from a widely-read novel.

Colin Firth was initially reluctant to play Darcy, but eventually embraced the role.

The scene where Darcy gets soaked was filmed using different shots and a blue mattress, not actually diving into the lake.

Dances were important in the period for social interaction and courtship, and were meticulously researched for authenticity.

The editing process is crucial, with the ability to change the focus of a scene through shot duration.

Music provides a fourth dimension to the story, hinting at thoughts and emotions not explicitly shown.

The production team strived for authenticity in every department, from acting to costume and set design.

The adaptation sought to recreate Jane Austen's vision, starting from her books and the importance she placed on certain elements.

The contrast between different locations, such as Netherfield, Longbourn, and Pemberley, was used to reflect the characters and their circumstances.

Characters' homes, gardens, carriages, and decorations were chosen to align with their personalities and social standing.

The production focused on the jolly aspects of life in Meryton, rather than the harsh realities of rural existence.

The adaptation aimed to do justice to Jane Austen's fantastic book and story, with a focus on the romance between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Transcripts

so

pride and prejudice is one of the most

popular novels in the english language

but how do you turn a classic book into

classic television

[Applause]

for this production of pride and

prejudice the overall aim was to be as

true as possible to the spirit of jane

austen's original book

andrew davis and i went to a screening

of another jane

austen it was about 1986 and we sat

together on the back row and watched it

and it was

it was very good very quirky but

afterwards

i i remember turning to andrew and

saying what i would really

love to do is a version of pride and

prejudice which is my favorite book

um and do it um in the way that really

reflects the book

when i read the book with a view to

adapting it um the first thing that

that came across was what tremendous

speed and energy the book had

it really goes like a train um there's

something happening on every page and

there's enormous energy

both in the characters and in the action

people talk about

nothing much happening in jane austen

this book is absolutely full of events

full of people dashing about full of

people falling in love breaking their

hearts

eloping with each other trying to seduce

each other and um

i i i just thought i wanted to convey

some of this energy in the adaptation i

wanted to

to get that into the very opening scene

so

instead of taking a scene with elizabeth

i decided to take the scene

in which bingley and darcy get their

first sight of netherfield hall

which would involve them galloping

across countryside and

convey that sense of energy right in the

opening shop

it's a fair prospect pretty enough i

grant you

oh it's nothing to pemberley i know but

i must settle somewhere

about your approval you'll find the

society something savage

country manners i think they're charming

then you better take it thank you i

shall

i shall close with the attorney directly

[Music]

to me pride and prejudice is a very very

popular book and i wanted to make a

piece

of popular television

[Music]

the producer sue bert whissel oversees

the entire production

people are quite often confused about

what a producer does

um they can't understand the difference

between a producer and director it's a

question i get asked quite a lot

but essentially what i would do as

producer is

i would commission a project work on the

scripts find a home for it

and then see it through every stage this

is

somewhere between pemberley

yeah i think this is in so many ways

it's absolutely perfect it

is too well it's older than we are simon

langton the director and i would cast

it together and um

work with the production designer on the

concept of it

how the production's going to look um

go to look at locations together and and

do all that

stage running up to um the actual

filming of it

finding the right locations is

fundamental to the entire design process

but is designed for a period drama more

difficult

there isn't intrinsically a lot of

difference between doing

period and contemporary you're still

working on the same problems

you just have more limited resources

with a period drama

you obviously have to do much more

research um

and you've got more difficult more

difficulty

in spelling out the characters because

you have less

tools to play with than you would on the

contemporary

and you also have to be very careful as

to

every shot it's just that there's a lot

of

stuff from there stuff from here people

rushing

did we keep these lines sort of clear we

start with reading about the social life

if you start from understanding the

situation the political situation in the

country at the time

how people live and what their incomes

were then everything else

grows from that that lady i suppose

is your mother yes she is

mama this is lady catherine de berg

and that i suppose is one of your

sisters

yes mom she is my youngest girl but one

my youngest of all is lately married you

have a very small park here

and this must be a most inconvenient

sitting room for the evening in summer

why the windows are full west

indeed they are your ladyship but we

never sit in here after dinner

we have miss bennett

there seemed to be a british kind of

little wilderness on one side of your

lawn

i should be glad to take a turn in it

if you would favor me with your company

jane austen has like everybody she's got

her own specific

area that she's particularly concerned

with and um

what we're trying to do is to recreate

her vision

and so we would start from her books and

and the the

importance that she places on certain

things there's no point in

deviating from that it's important to

get every piece of furniture exactly

right for the filming right well let's

try it

three of us have to sit in a line

and this one

not very much room

that's a bit snug right

i had hoped to condole with your poor

father and your mother our father is

still in london sir and our mother is

not yet well enough to leave her room

ah

i think the locations have to be found

exactly right but but they convey such a

lot of information

the the the kind of cosy domesticity the

the natural scale of the bennett

household

and then you see netherfield and realize

that

there are much richer people in the

story

and then finally uh

you see the absolute splendors of

pemberley and and realized that that

elizabeth has been proposed to by a man

who owns most of derbyshire

um and the park which is so big that you

can't even see the house

i think we've seen woods and groves

enough to satisfy even your enthusiasm

for them lizzy

i confess i had no idea pemberley was

such a great estate

should we reach the house itself before

dark do you think be patient

wait

there stop coach

i think one would be willing to put up

with a good deal to be a mistress of

pemberley

the mistress of pemberley will have to

put up with a good deal

from what i hear she's not likely to be

anyone we know

how do you like the house lizzie very

well

i don't think i've ever seen a place so

happily situated

i like it very well indeed

pemberley really has to be

the most beautiful place it's not

particularly ostentatious it's

showing great taste it's got to show

history

it has to show a lineage that goes back

it's supposed to really be the epitome

of all that is

good about the aristocracy at that time

rosings is the opposite rosings is

probably more flamboyant large but over

the top

this is uh this is a character we don't

like so much

huntsford has to be a small

modest parsonage but with pretensions

um to grandeur and a certain amount of

fussiness about it

to reflect mr collins longborne the

bennett's house is really

just a comfortable family house with no

particular pretensions to anything

so we key the characters to that we try

and find

the houses that go with it the gardens

that go with it the carriages

the furniture the decorations that all

add to that

that image

[Music]

in terms of the design for somewhere

like meriton

we can choose our level of reality and

we can choose the level

that is directly relevant to the book

and to the piece that we're doing so

on this occasion we'll concentrate more

on the jolly aspects

the handsome soldiers and the

socializing and the shops

we won't be dwelling on poverty we won't

be dwelling on

any of these sort of real solid hard

edged

aspects of rural life

because it's not an area that jane

austen was particularly interested in we

we see meriton really through the eyes

of her characters

[Applause]

costumes are also influenced by how each

character comes across

in the book

[Music]

shall we be quite safe here mr darcy do

you think damn tell you where to spend

an evening

[Music]

miss bingley would never have been seen

in a in a print dress

she would always warn silk or very fine

embroidered muslin

we also gave miss bingley very very big

feathers

um although anna chancellor is over six

foot

um in order to emphasize her haughtiness

and

her high social standing because she

just wants to look

as you know as as posh and as snobby as

possible

to get a real sense of the characters i

read the book and the script

um to have a you know detailed knowledge

of of

how they develop throughout the book so

that i can start to

understand how they would dress

[Music]

well casting it's a tourism to say

casting

is important it's probably the most

important thing or

aspect of the whole production process

uh particularly uh for a book

that is so well known because unlike

other novels which have been adapted and

successfully done

pride and prejudices i think i'm writing

saying is one-off if not the most widely

read

uh classical novel in english language

if we've got

allison and ben mr mrs bennett yeah so

if you like this

even more enhanced uh responsibility and

a part of

the casting the sisters don't actually

process to get those people absolutely

right

i mean we're very very keen to have

david bamber as mr collins now

when we first auditioned david bamber

for mr collins

um i thought he was the ideal person for

this job

and he absolutely proved it when he came

in to audition because he

he performed the proposal scene

um and he did it completely seriously

which is the only way it works my

reasons

for marrying are first that i think it's

a right thing for every clergyman to set

the example of matrimony in his parish

secondly that i am convinced it will add

very

greatly to my happiness and thirdly

which perhaps i should have mentioned

first

that it is the particular recommendation

of my noble patroness

lady catherine de berg mr collins she

said

you must marry choose properly she said

choose a gentle woman for my sake and

for your own let her be an active

useful sort of person not brought up too

high

find such a woman as soon as you can

bring her to huntsford

and i will visit her

in approaching the character um what

i've what i'm attempting to do

as opposed to what i'm achieving is

to show a contrast between the

pre-proposal

collins when he first arrives in our in

the case of this adaptation

which is episode two and the post

proposal which is really when you see

him

in rosing's park and a huntsville

parsonage

observe that closet cousin elizabeth

what do you say to that

well is it not the very essence of

practicality and convenience

lady catherine de berg himself was kind

enough to suggest that these shells be

fitted exactly as you see them there

shelves in the closet happy thought

indeed

i think that in the rosing scenes my

fingers

show more of a servile rather dark

and sardonic and unpleasant character

alison stedman is an extraordinary

actress and

and i've always thought that and we

thought that um i've admired intensity

for

for all various film she's done

and this is admittedly slight risk as

she's probably said herself is a

completely new

avenue for her talents um

uh when we did go to the read-through

and start the wreath

it was always a very nerve-wracking day

you get i think there's something like

100 people there

um and she has

she almost starts the dialogue off uh

she

she attacked it like a bolting chariot

it was most extraordinary confined

unvarying i would have him know we died

with four and twenty families

as an actress i am constantly on the

lookout for

fun roles things that are going to be

interesting and give me plenty of scope

to

be creative have you seen charlotte

lucas since i came away

yes she called yesterday but sir william

what an agreeable man he is that is my

idea of good breeding and those who

fancy themselves very important

and never open their mouths quite

mistake the matter

when i was offered this part i hadn't

read

the book so i first of all read the book

and then read the scripts and of course

as soon as i read it

i could hear the voice of mrs bennett

she just comes off the page so

beautifully written the character is all

there it's all there it's like a box of

chocolates you know you just

ready to dive into and and i just

couldn't

couldn't resist mr bennett you all

wanted immediately

we are all in uproar you must come and

make lizzie marry mr collins

for she vow she will not have him and if

you do not make haste

mr collins will change his mind and he

will not have her

i'm not the pleasure of understanding

you yeah what are you talking

about oh mr collins and lizzy

lizzy declares she will not have mr

collins and mr collins begins to say he

will not have lizzie

what am i to do on the occasion seems a

hopeless business

speak to lizzie about it yourself tell

her you insist upon her marrying him

let her come in

i particularly wanted colin firth to to

play darcy

um and some people thought it was an odd

an odd choice and i think colin himself

thought it was an odd choice and

um he in fact said no at the beginning

and i

absolutely had to insist that he think

again and

do it uh for him to to take the part and

he said he came to a stage where he

realized that if anybody else played the

party he'd be immensely jealous

because the part had taken over him um

he's an amazing actor physically

himself he doesn't actually look like

darcy

but i think you'd agree or i hope

most people would agree that he actually

looks incredibly like darcy when he's

playing darcy

[Applause]

this scene gives the impression that

colin firth as darcy

gets soaked in the lake at pemberley

in actual fact this isn't quite true

the scene is put together using lots of

different shots which sometimes require

several takes from different angles

so the film crew doesn't want colin to

get wet too quickly

he does dive but not into the lake

it's onto this blue mattress

meanwhile his stunt double is about to

jump in the lake

all under the watchful eye of these

professional divers

here to take care of everyone's safety

colin did get to swim underwater but

this sequence was filmed on a different

day

using a special water tank

[Music]

even if they don't always do their own

stunts actors in period dramas like

pride and prejudice

may be required to demonstrate other

talents

like dancing

dances were immensely important at this

time

um they gave an opportunity for young

men and women to meet

and to court if you like

so they were always eagerly awaited i

started by rereading the book

and marking all the points where dance

is mentioned and dances are mentioned

and dancers are mentioned

and also i marked all the places where

they bow and they curtsy and they

reverence and they come and they go and

they

show their sort of social manners how

they behaved at that point in time

[Music]

these english country dances that you

see in pride and prejudice

were danced in the country houses and in

the court

and mr beveridge's margaret is a supreme

example of that

and it has this harmony which almost

reflects the architecture of the time

the furniture of the time the landscape

gardening of the time

there is a reflection in their

relationship i remember hearing you once

say that you hardly ever forgave

the resentment once created was

implacable

you are very careful are you not

allowing your resentment to be created

i am there's almost an intellectual

fight between them

at the same time as that's going on

there's something totally harmonious

happening between them

physically

and never allow yourself to be blinded

by prejudice

i have not may i ask to what these

questions turn

[Music]

really to the illustration of your

character i'm trying to make it out

and what is your success i do not get on

at all

i hear such different accounts of you as

to puzzle me exceedingly

[Music]

you should feel when you look at the

dance these are two people who

are going to at some point really get on

extremely well

[Music]

editing is the third aspect of the whole

production process

you have pre-production you have the

actual production itself and then you

have post-production

uh which is almost entirely editing it's

the editing process and how

you put it together you can change the

whole

focus of a scene simply by staying on

one shot one second longer than another

[Music]

the beauty of the love between darcy

and and elizabeth that it is held back

almost to the last moment and and it's

the timing of the shots between the two

of them

uh too long in either way would have uh

made it self-conscious but it's not it

is just the right time

[Music]

i think as far as music concerned

actually what you do in a sense is

provide

a fourth dimension something which is

not said or

seen in terms of the visual action but

something

more abstract which is thought and and

hinted at

now you can ruin it by making it too

strong

too obvious but you can help it

by just in some mysterious way

keep it going in a romantic sense please

allow me

to thank you on behalf of all my family

since

they don't know to whom they are

indebted

if you will thank me let it be for

yourself alone

your family owes me nothing much as i

respect them i believe i thought only of

you

you are too generous to try for with me

if your feelings are what they were last

april tell me so at once

my affections and wishes are unchanged

but one word from you will silence me on

this subject forever

oh my feelings my feelings are

ashamed to remember what i said then

my feelings are so different

in fact they are quite the opposite

[Music]

oh it's a lovely book um

it's a classic love story even the

fellas on the unit who don't really

normally like much period drama they

they've all read it and they think it's

wonderful they couldn't put it down

so they've had a few of the problems

saying oh it's great

we all hope that we've done justice to

this fantastic

book of jane austen's this fantastic

story

i mean we've all gone to a lot of

trouble not only from the acting

department every department

um the design of the costumes and the

the wigs if necessary and the makeup

we're not allowed to wear any

makeup and mascara and things which is

in quite a shock to some of us

not to be able to put a flick of mascara

on but we've tried to

stick absolutely and make it as real and

authentic as possible

i've read it now hundreds of times but

every single time

i wait to see if elizabeth and darcy are

going to get together

i still suspend my disbelief until until

that moment and i long for them for it

to work out

so it is the best romance

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

you