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starring: Saw
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786303921242
Format: Box set, Collector's Edition, Color, NTSC
ISBN: 6303921248
Label: A&E Home Video
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
Model: AAE-15400
Number Of Items: 6
Publisher: A&E Home Video
Release Date: December 23, 1996
Running Time: 300 minutes
Sales Rank: 47
Studio: A&E Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: January 14, 1996
Related Items:
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
Jane Austen's classic novel of 1813, Pride and Prejudice, still wins the hearts of countless schoolgirls with its romantic story of Elizabeth Bennet and her Mr. Darcy. Now, the 1996 BBC miniseries is winning over adults, with its faithful adaptation, gorgeous scenery, and superb acting. 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 enjoy excellent Austen adaptations such as Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion--this miniseries will round out the ultimate Austen 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
On the DVD
There's a lot to love (and a lot lacking) on the 10th anniversary limited edition. It comes in a tall, embossed green case that's out of place on a DVD shelf but blends right into a library of volumes. The three discs fit snugly in a sleeve, accompanied by a 120-page deluxe companion book. The main attraction, a retrospective documentary, features interviews with key cast members with the sad exceptions of Jennifer Ehle (who played Elizabeth) and Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy), which is bound to disappoint fans. Nonetheless, there are some amusing anecdotes from Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (played by Benjamin Withrow and Alison Steadman), Mary Bennet (Lucy Briers), Mr. Collins (David Bamber), Mr. Bingley (Crispin Bonham-Carter) and Mr. Wickham (Adrian Lukis), who all look drastically different--and younger--without their period costumes and hairstyles. One producer recalls that casting Colin Firth in the role with which his name is now synonymous was not an easy feat: he auditioned having gained weight and dyed his hair blond for another role, looking like 'an unmade bed.' Even Firth's own brother doubted his ability to pull off the dashing Darcy: 'Isn't he supposed to be sexy?'
The special features also include a walking tour of the shooting locations with Lukis and Briers and an A&E Biography episode on Jane Austen that focuses largely on the onslaught of mid-1990s film adaptations of her novels. If it's your first time purchasing Pride & Prejudice, this collector's edition is a nice one to own. But if you already own the movie, you're not missing out on anything here. --Ellen A. Kim
Beyond Pride and Prejudice 
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Stills from Pride and Prejudice (click for larger image)
Description:
Hailed as 'the best Austen of all' by The New York Times and deemed 'one of the best things ever done for television anywhere' by Sneak Previews, this brilliant adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel is A&E's most popular title ever. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (Shakespeare in Love) star in this Emmy-winning production.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - I Love This Movie!
I have this 10th Anniversary Limited Collector's Edition and watch it at least once per month. This version of the story, the screen play, the dialogue, the costumes, and the actors are far superior to the American version which stars that stick figure actress Kira Knightley. Yuck.
An amazing adaption of a wonderful story.
Rating: - Excellent! Job well done!
This is my favorite movie version of Pride and Prejudice and the bes that I have seen. The actors are convincing and the story line includes enough of the original story that you understand what's going on even if you hadn't read the books. An excellent job was done when this was made!
Rating: - Excellent - much better than the Keira Knightley movie
If you want to watch Pride and Prejudice, then this is by far the best version. Jane Austen wrote a great novel, with fantastic prose and this production does it justice.
It was a BBC series, and because it ran for a full hour (no commercials on the BBC!) for six weeks, you'll need to put aside 6 hours or split it up to watch it, but is really worth your time. It is very close to the original book. Albeit Mr D'Arcy did not swim across the pond in the book, but after seeing Colin Firth ... Read More
Rating: - 1996 vs 2006
2006: Given the time constraints of a movie, this version does not develop the characters very well which is the cornerstone of Janes' writing, the spoken word does not follow the book, the characters are not as mannerly as they are written in the book, major parts of the book are missing (ie., the Bingley sisters, many of the piano performances by Elizabeth are missing, some of the balls are not in this version), the English dialect is not constantly spoken. I given this version 3 stars.
1996: ... Read More
Rating:  - Love the movie with slight exceptions
First of all, I thought this was a great movie, and was extremely faithful to the book - I even followed along with the book ocassionally to see just how close they were and there were very few times when they did not match up word for word. The movie took a couple of liberties here and there (such as the scenes with Lydia and wickham), but mostly just to add to the movie - it did nothing to take away from it. Until watching this, the only version I had seen was the recent one with Keira Knightley. While I thought ... Read More
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