<p>Having been unwell, H brought home the six episode BBC version as well as Bride and Prejudice. Saw the UK version of the Working Title production a month ago.</p>
<p>Here is my choice for ideal cast, setting and script:</p>
<p>Script: BBC–by a Austenian mile.
Elizabeth: BBC The sharpness of her intellect makes her attractive.
Jane: None of the above showed the Austen portrait of The Ideal Woman:a great beauty with a heart of gold. Bend It had a greatest beauty but the heart wasn’t on display. The BBC Jane was not photogenic, sadly.
Darcy: BBC. The misplaced arrogance only Firth could get away with. Loved it. Agree with others about the Bronte-esque quality of MacFayden.
Mrs Bennet. Split vote–Written character award goes to BBC (for showing the ugly, crass side of Mrs Bennet). Actress award goes to: Brenda Blethyn. I lowered the volume every time Allison Steadman’s falsetto sounded in the BBC version. Horrible!
Bingley: Bend It. Naveen Andrews. Yummy. Of course, he completely eclipsed Henderson, the Kiwi playing a particularily flat American.
Mr Bennet: None. The BBC was FAR too leisurely to be believed. Prince Charles isn’t that carefree. Southerland was too North American and modern.<br>
Setting: Working Title–despite the farm animals in the passageways. The country dance scenes were fairly dripping with sweat. The scenes of Pemberly made me drool too. Mr Bennet was a more believeable gentleman farmer in that setting.</p>