Pride and Prejudice: A Viewer's Comments to Director, Joe Wright

Pride and Prejudice: A Viewer’s Comments to Thank Director, Joe Wright
by Jessie A. Moser

I am on my umpteenth viewing of Pride and Prejudice and owing to the secondary gain of illness, I’ve decided to watch with the director’s comments engaged. As someone who used viewing the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice as her personal reward system, I was determined to be a hard judge of Joe Wright’s version. My first opportunity to see the movie was on the big screen on the night of a snow storm with my husband and daughter on New Years’ Eve. We all loved it. When I received the DVD for a present on St. Patrick’s day my husband was rewarded with his personal reward system. The role of Jane Austen in modern marriage is, I think, fodder for another day. For now, let me say that this is an open letter of thanks to Joe Wright.

I first must thank Joe for casting Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. He was perfect in this role. In an interview, Matthew said the costumes required him to change his posture and manners. I wonder if clothes could redeem a bit of civility in our society? Matthew could set the trend. Joe, you say that actors with brawn are hard to find: I will add that they are more like men and perhaps being lost along with the loss of land and landed activity. Matthew redeems the species.

Joe, the music is wonderful. What I cannot glean from the bonus material is more about the piano player composer, though you do mention him. I suppose I will be buying a sound track to transport myself to the Peaks while I drive around in suburban sprawl.

The actors on the bonus background bits long for family and hated that their camaraderie had to end. I hope you have a reunion for them. I would suggest that another Elizabeth Gaskell book be written into a screen play. I’m probably going to look for episodes of Spook and anything else Matthew may have been in. Matthew is married to Keely Hawes, an actress who appeared in another period piece movie based on Gaskell’s book, Wives and Daughters. There are other Gaskell titles awaiting discovery. Perhaps I could persuade you if I attempt the effort.

I’ve engaged the English subtitles now; they bring back bits of the dialogue that are lost, at least to my ears. The lines said by Donald Sutherland when Lydia says, “You’ll never guess Mama,” and his reply, “You’ve taken the veil” are rediscovered in caption. And another comment Donald says when the pig is in the house I hear now. And why is the pig in the house I wonder?

Joe, I don’t need me to tell you that the two years you reportedly spent eating and sleeping with the screen play were well worth it but I’ll tell you so anyway because after listening to your director’s comments, I like you, I really like you.

Mr. Collins has made me very hungry for boiled potatoes and I intend to indulge myself and my family tonight with the same faire. Someday I shall paint a scene, perhaps the one of Blossom running into the gaggle of geese, or Lizzie by the pond with the same gaggle taking off in flight above it.

I deserve to win the trip to Pemberly advertised on the DVD because I’ve probably watched the movie more than anyone with the exception of you and the editor. I wonder if the cast likes to watch the movie over and over again to relive their happy times making this film. I think the reason I love these period pieces is to touch a rural past. We have lost much.

Carriage scenes are not as boring as you suppose Joe. What is it about driving by with a phaeton with ponies that sounds so right? How did people evolve to enjoy eating with servants lined up behind them? How did I evolve to sit and watch TV instead of living more?

Thank you for the locations that you used in this film. The estate mansions that you chose to film in are truly amazing and perhaps the only “travel” I will have the opportunity to engage in as an adult. There are scenes that would make wonderful paintings. If I paint a series I shall gift you with one. Perhaps the geese, since it is one of your favorite scenes. Or the girls lined up on the sofa at Netherfield.

Joe, if you revise the DVD, the caption on the subtitle for Lizzie’s reasons for refusing Mr. Darcy includes a line “the center of the world when “the censure of the world is meant. I’m fearful for Asian viewers who might use the film to learn English. You’ll want to fix that in the subsequent editions.

I love, I love, I love your casting. I love the sun coming up between Darcy and Elizabeth. I love the fancying and the dalliance and the analogy you make to Lizzie and Darcy as seven years olds, and I love looking back at Lizzie in the mirror as if I am her. Thank you for that. Or as you say, God bless you for that. Now that it is evident that I’ve spent entirely too much time watching your work… I do hope you get to read this.

Was there a scene left out of the DVD? I remember a scene where a bed is being prepared for Lydia and Wickam’s visit? Is this a memory from another version or a deleted scene? I LOVE the way you depict the Bennett’s home. They seem like real people.

I love the carriage breaking down on the road to Darbyshire. You have excellent taste in music, like Lady Catherine, you have excellent taste in all things. That oak tree that they rest under in Sherwood Forest is going to motivate many visits to England. The Prime Minister will be writing you letter of thanks as well.

I’d wished you’d spoken a word about the deer herd and how did fountains work in 1797?
The dialogue that occurs prior to Lizzie discussing the likeness of the statue to the original is lost except for the English subtitles. Of course this is all to be discovered by people that play the subtitles or who turn the volume up very loud. I found this helpful in several parts. I love the sculpture with the lady in the veil. Is it totally made of marble or is the veil put over the marble? Does Darcy get to keep his statue or is it going to remain in the mansion where you shot that scene? More tourists will want to know. I’m sure the Pride and Prejudice tour guides are gearing up for a busy season, writing their travelogues even now, as you read my thank you letter. I wonder if you will; read this I mean.

The light is playing across Lizzie’s eyes again and that music, that piano bit in the Peaks is playing the strings of my head and heart again. God bless you for that.

I was surprised at Lizzie knowing about the amount that would need to be settled on Wickmam to marry Lydia but then your version adds a bit of worldliness to Lizzie that might be taken for evidence of extensive reading.

Final thanks must be added that Lizzie’s love of walking may persuade me to also walk but how I will long for the picturesque views afforded Lizzie; no wonder she was drawn out of the drawing room.

I am impressed with other thoughts too---the fact that in the end Darcy walks from Netherfield to Longbourne to see Lizzie as she did in the reverse to show affection for her sister. The losing of certain characters Aunt Philips, allows the heart of the story to flow well.

I think there should be a fashion for men in long floor length robes with open collars and white cuffs; yes, this should be all the rage. In the end, so many people “got it right” first Jane Austen, then the screenwriter with help from Emma Thomson then the actors themselves brought so much to it, and all carefully choreographed by someone named Joe Wright. Aptly named you are Joe, for you did indeed get it right.