Daisyrambob

The first time I saw this version I felt disappointed. The Ehle/Firth version was still fresh in my mind and I felt loyal to it. However, in their version I'd disliked the portrayal of Mrs Bennett and Lydia and each time I watched it, I found myself resenting and skipping the most cringe-inducing scenes. On re-watching this later version, those two characters were downplayed, while remaining relevant and likeable. I felt the scenes with Whickham/Miss Darcy also suitably reduced while the film concentrated on the burgeoning affection between Darcy and Elizabeth. Highlights for me: Darcy/Elizabeth's eye contact at the Assembly Room ball, his nervous glove-fiddling at the parsonage, their rain-soaked proposal/refusal at the amazing Mausoleum, Mr Collins' amazing proposal and his (later) whimper at the dinner table when Elizabeth stood up to Lady Katherine, Whickham yanking Lydia back into her carriage seat on their departure (to shut her up), Darcy's joy at seeing his sister and easy smile when welcoming Elizabeth and her aunt/uncle, AND the amazing meeting in the morning mist at the end. Wrong notes for me: Jane's simpering "a thousand times "yes" to Bingley, Charlotte's over-aggressive "Don't you dare judge me". The musical score was just gorgeous and did what it was designed to do - reflect the developing emotions of the main characters, opening with "Dawn" played by Jean-Yves Thibaudet as Elizabeth returns home through the fields reading. Locations: The Bennetts' house (stunningly beautiful and characterful (pig wanders through it), Bingley's house (suitably grand) and of course Pemberley (off the scale grand). I love the film and try to watch it every few weeks.