Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Pride and Prejudice is a humorous story of love and life among English gentility during the Georgian era. Mr Bennet (Donald Sutherland) is an english gentleman living in Hartfordshire with his overbearing wife. The Bennets 5 daughters; the beautiful Jane (Rosemund Pike), the clever Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), the bookish Mary (Telulah Riley), the immature Kitty (Carey Mulligan) and the wild Lydia (Jena Malone). Unfortunately for the Bennets, if Mr Bennet dies their house will be inherited by a distant cousin whom they have never met, so the family's future happiness and security is dependant on the daughters making good marriages. Hilarity ensues after the arrival in the neighbourhood of the rich gentleman Mr Bingley (Simon Woods), who rents a large house so he can spend the summer in the country. Mr Bingley brings with him his sister and the dashing (and richer) but proud Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). Love is soon in the air for one of the Bennet sisters, while another may have jumped to a hasty prejudgment. For the Bennet sisters many trials and tribulations stand between them and their happiness, including class, gossip and scandal.

Trivia: Emma Thompson did an uncredited and unpaid re-write of the script. She receives a "Special Thanks" credit at the end of the film. Joe Wright was not initially keen on Keira Knightley playing Elizabeth, believing her to be too attractive. He changed his mind upon meeting her, deciding her tomboyish attitude would be perfect for the part. Keira Knightley was preparing for her role in Domino while she was filming this, and had already cut her hair. She had to wear a wig during the last few weeks of filming and long sleeves to hide her muscles. The actresses who make up the Bennett family (Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Talulah Riley, and Carey Mulligan went to the Bennett house location, in Kent, before the crew, and played Sardines (similar to Hide and Seek in America) in order to get better acquainted with the house and each other before filming began. The US version has a different ending: after Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth's conversation, a scene follows where Darcy and "Mrs. Darcy" are at Pemberley talking about their happiness (the Sixteen Candles ending). Although never mentioned in the film, Mr. Darcy's first name is Fitzwilliam. At the beginning of the movie, Elizabeth is shown reading a novel titled "First Impressions" - this was Jane Austen's original title of her novel before she altered it to "Pride and Prejudice".

One of the things I like about movies is that they can provide a common experience for people. This movie has become one for me. A couple of weeks ago my sister-in-law Kara mentioned to my brother that she didn't have Pride & Predjudice on DVD and should have told somebody because it was her favorite film (she loves Jane Austen). Well, I just happened to hear her say that and since I had yet to get her something for Christmas I got her that. Now, I had not seen the movie before, although I don't know why since I like Keira Knightley (I mean who can't like that infectious smile?). So I planned on telling her that we had to watch it together. Well, I told her I had not seen it and the first thing she said was we had to watch it. Fortunately we were at my parent's house and they have a brand-spanking new 40 inch HD TV so naturally we had to watch it on that. I have known Kara for over 10 years, she is married to my brother, she has given me a beautiful niece and two wonderful nephews. I am the godfather to one of her children. As far as I can remember this is the first time we have done anything where it was just me and her alone. Of course it made it so much better that she was so excited about getting the movie. It will be a movie experience I will remember for a long time. The movie was good, the companionship was better. Thank You Kara.