Every generation has its Pride and Prejudice adaptation, and clearly, we here at Frock Flicks have our collective favorite, the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice. Indeed, we have devoted quite a few posts to the topic of its superiority over the last decade. So, for those of you who are still on the fence, let’s explore, in Top Five Friday fashion, all the reasons why the 1995 miniseries is the best.
1. The Best Besties
Let’s hear it for two of the unsung besties of the series, Mrs. Forster and her particular friend Lydia Bennet.
2. The Best Side Eye
Caroline Bingley is the reigning queen of the side eye, but Lady Catherine de Burgh gives her a solid run for the money.
3. The Best Smarmy Mr. Collins
David Bamber is the best-slash-worst example of a smarmy guy that almost all of us women have experienced. I love him and hate him for knocking it out of the park.
4. The Best Darcy
Like, come on. Don’t even try to tell me that any other Darcy comes anywhere near to perfection as Colin Firth does.
5. The Best Eye Roll
This series is loaded with excellent eye rolls, especially within the Bennet family.
Got more reasons why 1995 is the best adaptation of Pride and Prejudice ever? Tell us in the comments!
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Nothing to do with the costuming (which I think is great), but this adaptation is best at keeping faithful to the book.
It’s the best at capturing Jane Austens particular blend of humour-bordering-satire, and seriousness (particularly womens precarius position during this time). It’s propriety, pride, modesty mixed with scandal all dressed up in barely concealed snark. Not to mention my favourite Elizabeth Bennet, who truly has fine and parkling eyes, not just when she’s rolling them to high heaven.
*Sparkling
I feel 2005 Pride and Prejudice is the best…
Not even close. Not only do they not stay true to the book but they make the Bennett family look like a bunch of dirt farmers and the townspeople look raggedy.
Love this version of Mr. Collins in how “greasy” he appears and that his coat looks slightly large on him which makes him look always awkward.
The 1980 version is the best. But the BBC used this version to launch Britbox in the USA, and lavished money on it, so this is the one most people know. The 1980 Darcy might not be the sexiest, but he is the nearest to the book. And Elizabeth Garvie beats the 1995 Lizzie by miles. I didn’t like the caricature versions of some characters. It was as if they were teaching children by exaggerating each character, which, in a way, they were.
BritBox didn’t come out till 2017. We knew the 1995 P&P when it originally aired on A&E in 1995 in the US (back when that channel was actually “Arts & Entertainment” not whatever it is now).
My mistake. It wasn’t BritBox, it was one of the earliest co-productions with a US TV company, so it got a wider distribution in the US than previous versions. And it got more money, so they could spend on better locations. The 1980 version is more studio bound, but it was made for the BBC alone, with a showing on PBS. It got around £1 million per episode (6 in the UK). The 1980 version was co-produced with an Australian TV company, with a significantly lower spend. It’s my favourite.
The BBC used to do teatime adaptations of the classics, half hour episodes mainly in the studio. They started to branch out, and make the series a bit more lavish, and showing them in prime time, but it was the way I was introduced to a lot of novels that have stayed with me ever since. They were studio bound, and produced on the cheap, but they were still great. I remember Nicholas Nickleby and Lorna Doone especially. Thrilled.
Have to agree. I read the novel multiple times in the late ’60s, and when I first saw the 1980 version, everything matched the images in my mind.
Sorry, I never saw it on Netflix and it IS the best and closest to the book.
The 1980 Darcy was stiff enough, as if he had an iron rod in his coat, but that might make his eventual “unbending” more effective. Lizzie did have beautiful eyes, and seemed younger, more girlish than in 1995.
Ehle as Lizzie is really sexy as well as intelligent. One can see why Darcy is willing to put up with the awful mother and silly sisters to capture such a gorgeous woman.
I find it oddly satisfying that Anna Chancellor (Caroline Bingley) is descended from Jane Austen’s brother, Edward Austen Knight.
It has the best SMOLDER! (See gif #5)
My favorite is the 2005 one. Also, we’re getting two new adaptations of Pride and Prejudice! One is a regular adaptation by Netflix, and the other is a BBC adaptation of the retelling The Other Bennet Sister.
Plus a “contemporary retelling” which I’m not sure if that’s the Netflix on or somewhere else. Guess Austen’s on the upswing again?
The woman who ran Riversdale several years ago did a program on Federalist/Regency clothing and her slide show included ‘that d—–d wet shirt’.
My favorite is the 2005 film. We’re getting two new adaptations, though. One is a regular adaptation by Netflix, and the other is a BBC adaptation of the retelling The Other Bennet Sister.
Colin Firth is a fine actor but as a leading man, he is a big girl’s blouse, effeminate and ineffectual. The 1995 version is a poorly acted farce. The film version with Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley is infinitely superior, and far more romantic. I pity you 1990’s metrosexuals and your miniscule intellects. You way you fawn over the 1995 version is rather pathetic, as are you all.
Hopefully you are not really meaning to insult so many people who love different versions than you. Each version has it’s adherants and detractors. Let’s agree to disagree and keep it polite.
Your comment is rather extreme, wouldn’t you say? We’re talking about a television program, remember?
HEY. You don’t get to be blatantly rude on our site. I’ll probably delete & ban you, after I let everyone else slap you down a bit.
I love the 1995 version. It was my first time to be introduced to Jane Austin. I was literally in tears. It was so touching. How I wish we have other stories filmed that way!
Here,here!👍🏼
I find addendums to the new dialogue such as “don’t judge me Lizzie” ineffectual, as well as lingering closeups of Keira Knightly – move the narrative along! Not fond of Olivier and Garson, never saw the 1980 version, don’t care to have zombies added to my narrative. For me this is the Goldilocks adaptation.
Didn’t Knightley’s Lizzie say”What are YOU doing here, Mr Darcy?” when she, a visitor, met him at his own aunt’s home? I don’t think the real Lizzie would have been that boorish no matter how much she disliked him. And Jane Austen’s Lizzie and Darcy would’ve had the sense (and courtesy) to come in out of the rain.
Keira Knightley as Lizzie is SILLY. Elizabeth Bennett is NOT silly
Absolute rubbish! Read the book many times and enjoyed Firth’s interpretation whereas i found Macfadyen’s version a little too wooden. Loved Keira Knightley though. What I take issue with is your comment on the intellect of people who disagree with you.
You are not qualified to criticise me.
I wonder what Miss Austen herself would say to Mr. Lilley’s opinions?
(And I haven’t heard that silly expression since Boris Johnson called Jeremy Corbyn a big girl’s blouse several years ago: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49593110 )
I’m a 1990s metrosexual with a miniscule intellect, AND I do fawn over the 1995 version!
You got me to a tee!
If only everything – Everything! – in Life was more like 1995 P&P!
Oh, my goodness! P&P 1995 A&E version is the absolute best, in my opinion. I love it.
I am an old man who has watched that show so many times, probably matching my 80+ years. I never tire of it.
Jennifer Ehrle is magnificent as Elizabeth. No other actress, other than my all time favorite, Greer Garson, can compare.
Thank God for giving Jane the words to pen for the wonderful and inspiring work that will last forever.
My bests would include:
1) Best casting. Everyone from Lizzie to Fitzwilliam to Anne de Burgh to poor put upon Hill looks exactly right for the part and the time period.
2) Best locations. Nothing against the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, but Chatsworth is a bit too grand for Mr Darcy. The 1995 version of Pemberley is grand and huge but not ducal. The Bennett’s home is also perfect and there are no barnyard animals wandering indoors. (WTF was that, Joe Wright?!!!)
3) Best slow burn payoff. Truly period perfect – Lizzie and Darcy don’t kiss until after the wedding ceremony – pretty much what was considered respectable 200 years ago. Somehow that’s a lot more satisfying than seeing EVERYTHING in action (Rivals, I’m talking about you!).
1995 A&E is the best just cuz. . . It’s practically perfect in every way. Best Darcy, best Elizabeth, best parents, best Catherine, best sisters, best castles and homes, and on and on. And it flows so well, as Jane meant it to; taking you through all of the emotions. I find that the more recent one has some awkward scenes, that aren’t explained and leave the viewer uncomfortable. For instance, when Elizabeth and Darcy are talking over each other, when Elizabeth peeks in the room where Darcy is listening is listening to his sister playing the piano. Just don’t mess with perfection.
I don’t think I’ve seen the 1980 version, but absolutely love the 1995 one (except Wickham was supposed to be gorgeous, and he fell terribly short of that mark in my opinion). This version seems to be the closest adaptation to the book, which is obviously a masterpiece. The Knightly version drove me nuts with its differences.
To Grace Beal, have you seen the BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South? I think you’ll like it. I also hear BBC did a 2008 adaptation of Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles that you might like (though Hardy is MUCH darker than Austen—almost Russian!).
I’ve seen them all and the 2005 is the best.
1995 had 6 hours, 2005 had 2. 1995 had best sets, Mrs. Bennett, Rosings Park, Wickham, tied on best Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. 2005 had best Mr. Bennett, Jane, Mr. Bingley, Bingley’s sister, intense romance. 1995 is a streaming series, 2005 is a movie.
I love both versions. But 1995 reigns in my heart and sensibility. Yes I use that word deliberately. I have to confess my wife was battling cancer six times and we just kept going back to that movie. The compression of the Keira Knightley version is exquisite. How often do films match the amplitude of the written version?
I love both versions tbh,but because 1995 takes place over several episodes we get more context and deeper character development. I enjoy spending the extra time in the story
I absolutely adore both versions of the movies and choose watching according to my moods. I’ve watched them over annd over; ant at least a thousand times plus. I almost equally love all the characters but if I had an eye roll that could be seen it would be for Mrs. Bennett.Her voice and stupidity drive me crazy. Grating like nails on a chalkboard. Great acting on her part but difficult to tolerate. Read Matthew McFayden didn’t like playing Darcy but it was made for him. Colin has my heart though, on everything he does. Will continue to enjoy them.
I love Colin Firth but Matthew Macfayden and Keira Knightley are the best actors for Pride and Prejudice.
The 95 version definitely has the best costumes and set, but Ehle didn’t work as Elizabeth for me (she felt too mature and elegant, not a person walking to netherfield in the mud with wind mussed hair), so it’s behind both the 80 and 05 versions in my personal ranking.
(And yes, I do know we see Ehle’s Elizabeth’s wade in mud, but even as I see it, I do not believe it, idk🤷♀️)
I like this version a lot (my siblings and I also watched it a LOT as kids, so nostalgia is part of that). I would prefer not to get into a war about what is “best” though – can we not all enjoy different things? Personally, I enjoy this one and I can appreciate aspects of other adaptations – for example, I really didn’t care for the leads or the overall vibe of the 2005 movie, but I liked their choice for Mr. Collins! He was fun and awkward in a slightly different way from the magnificently awkward David Bamber :)
Perhaps I should add that I’ve never been a “heart eyes for Mr. Darcy” kind of girl. I like the character, and as a kid I thought Colin Firth played him well, but if I’d had a school locker (home-schooled haha) I wouldn’t have had photos of him taped inside my door, y’know? Among Austen men, I think my favorite is Captain Wentworth.
I wish they would stop making adaptations of Austen books, however, and expand their sources of inspiration! Georgette Heyer wrote some fantastic novels in the Austen style – why not adapt some of them? “Sylvester,” or “The Unknown Ajax,” or “Cotillion” would be fun to see!
Agreed. I’m ready for Austen and Brontë moratoriums and a spotlight on other authors.
I second the motion for movie adaptations of Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels. Smoldering romances, but also more comic moments.
It has the best glances between Elizabeth and Darcy! Those looks speak volumes. My favourite moment where they look at each other is during the scene where Elizabeth is turning the pages for Georgiana while she plays the piano. Wow!
Colin and Jennifer really make you believe this couple are falling for one another and have such an intense attraction/emotional connection and they each feel this deeply.
My Brit husband, also an Austen fancier, is fond of 1995, but thinks Steadman overdoes it as Mrs. Bennet. I enjoy her performance, but he’s probably right.
There was a meme going around a while ago imagining the cast of Muppet P&P (Fozzie Bear = Sir William Lucas; Sam the Eagle = Mr. Collins, etc). That’s when I realized that Alison Steadman basically played Mrs. B. as a muppet.
Of course the Bennett family are masters of the eye roll – they are, after all, also the leading cause of eye rolling in Austen Country.
The part of the 1995 series that has secured itself in my heart forever is the scene where Mr. Bennet gives Lizzie his blessing for the Darcy marriage after she gives her assent that he’s the best man she’s ever known. The why he says “I wouldn’t have give you you to anyone else” and kisses her on the forehead with such profound sadness/happiness just makes me bawl my eyes out every time.
Another reason to prefer the 1995 version: Like the novel, it takes seriously the scandal arising from Lydia running away with Wickham. The 2005 version seems to want to minimize the incident, as if modern audiences could see nothing particularly wrong with a girl shacking up with a roué.