GENRE: Drama. A BBC/A&E miniseries, 1994

DIRECTOR: Simon Langton

SCREENWRITER: Andrew Davies based on Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice" 1813. [Davies has also been involved in writing the screenplay for Bridget Jones's Diary, 2001]

MUSIC: Carl Davies

PRODUCER: Sue Birtwistle [previously worked with Colin in Dutch Girls].

MAIN CAST: Colin Firth [Mr Darcy], Jennifer Ehle [Elizabeth Bennet], Julia Sawalha [Lydia], Alison Steadman [Mrs Bennet], Benjamin Whitrow [Mr Bennet], Barbara Leigh-Hunt [Lady Catherine] et al

ABOUT THE SERIES: Pride and Prejudice is said to be Jane Austen's best-loved work. It is certainly her most popular, and more so after BBC's recent adaption starring Colin Firth as Darcy. Austen mixes in P&P a formula which ever since have been copied in many books, films and TV soap operas. In P&P Mr Darcy's pride leads to prejudice and Elizabeth's prejudice stems from a pride in her own perceptions. Despite their deep percipience, both are ironically subject to failures of perception and Elizabeth and Darcy are in for a bumpy ride before they finally can meet as equals.

trivia
From BBC, June 2001: Star's pillowcases auctioned for charity Pillowcases that once belonged to celebrities such as actor Colin Firth have helped raise more than £2,000 for terminally ill children. Bridget Jones' star Colin Firth's pillowcase went for £101.... Sweet Dreams!

A set of first edition Jane Austen novels has been sold at auction in London for almost double their estimated price. The highest price paid at the auction was for a pristine copy of Pride and Prejudice sold for £23,500 to a bookshop in Henley on Thames./.../ Several very popular adaptations of Austen's works have contributed to the Austen interest, though she has always been a favourite with readers worldwide. A BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth thrilled the nation in 1995. And Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding has said that her story is based on Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The casting of Colin Firth, who starred as the very popular Mr. Darcy in the BBC adaptation, as Mark Darcy in the film Bridget Jones's Diary was a nod to the connection.

awards
Jane Austen figured largely in the BAFTA television award ceremony 1996. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth's perfomances as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, and Benjamin Whitrow's portrayal of long-suffering Mr Bennet, earned them Best Actress and Best Actor nominations. In the end, Jennifer Ehle was the only one to recieve an award for best actress.

BBC's viewers later voted Colin their all time favourite actor at the BBC's 60 Anniversary Award the same year. Click here for pictures and a transcript from Colin's thank you speach.

• Video: PAL and NTSC format video available.
• DVD [several regions] available.
• Music casett and CD with the music score available. This recording contains Carl Davies's music [not the period dance music or music by other composers used in the TV series - see below] EMI/Angel Records/BBC [7243 8 36090 2 4].
  
  

BBC have made two documentaries: Pride & Prejudice - From Page to Screen and Perspectives on Pride & Prejudice [educational set].

• From Page to Screen include brief scenes of filming and rehearsals and interviews with Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle and other members of the production.
• The Perspectives tape is divided into five sections: Social setting, Relationships, Characterisation, Uses of Irony and Resources. The last section includes the openings of the 1967, 1980 and 1996 adaptions of Pride and Prejudice. This tape has the same interviews as From Page to Screen, but on this tape the interviews are longer and include interviews with more members of the cast.
  
  

My New Zealand friend Lisa Warrington has listed the other music played in Pride & Prejudice:

• At the Meryton Assembly: the musicians play [in order] The Touchstone, A Trip to Highgate, Mutual Love (Jane and Bingley's first dance), First of April, The Happy Captive (while Darcy insults Elizabeth).
• Lucas Lodge: Mary Bennet plays Air Con Varizzioni by Handel, and the dance music she plays is The Pleasure of the Town.
• Netherfield: Caroline Bingley plays Rondo All' Ongarese by Haydn.
• The Phillips' party: Mary plays Nel cuor piu non mi sento by Beethoven, and the dance music The Barley Mow.
• The Netherfield Ball: Mr. Collins and Lizzy dances to The Shrewsbury Lasses. Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance while the musicians play Wildboar's Maggot . Darcy and Elizabeth dance to Mr. Beveridge's Maggot. The pianoforte music later on during supper include Ombra Mai Fu' Bra by Handel (played by Mary B) and Rondo Alla Turka by Mozart (played by Mrs Hurst).
• The Phillips Christmas party: Mary plays God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Grimstock (first dance) and - while Wickham dance with Mary King -The Corporation.
• Pemberley: Elizabeth plays and sings Voi Che Sapete from La Nozze di Figaro by Mozart and then Georgiana plays Andante Favore by Beethoven
• Longbourn: [near the end of the series] Mary plays Variations on Nel cuor piu non mi sento by Beethoven. More info about the contradances can be found here.