a&e pride & prejudice fans: question
 

I just got the A&E DVD version of "Pride and Prejudice" (with Ehle and Firth). I was very excited, having watched my videos of it till they are all but worn out. BUT, I was disappointed because the color picture on the DVD is SO much blander and weaker than in the videos.
My husband ordered the DVDs thru Ebay, and they came to us "unopened," but I am wondering. Has anybody else noticed this on their "P&P" DVD? If I hadn't watched the videos so many times, I probably wouldn't have thought much of it. But all the actors look like ghosts (so white, like the light is overexposed)!
I realize some may point out this question doesn't belong here, but this is really the only forum I ever write in, and I didn't want to try to find some new place to ask this. Thanks!

I think you got a pirated version, I have owned it on VHS and now on DVD, and have not noticed any color wash-out problems.
I'd contact the ebay seller.

I know exactly what you mean, sarallison. My DVD copy is also "bright" and kind of washed out, unlike my sister's VHS copy. And I bought my copy for full price from a respected retailer. I guess I should have taken it back, it's a year or so now since I bought it. I still watch it occasionally and it always bugs me for about the first 20 mins or so.

BTW did you know there is a new movie version coming out soon November I think with Keira Knightley as Lizzie and Matthew Mc Fadyean (sP?) from "Spooks" as Darcy?

I saw a trailer for the new film the other day. As far as I'm concerned, the Ehle/Firth version is definitive, and recent, can't see why they're remaking it again so soon. What I really hope is that they're not going to modernize it; didn't Keira Knightley play a warrior-like Guinevere a few years ago? It would be a different story indeed if modern sensibilities are added, and Keira's Elizabeth chooses not to get married but decides on a business career in London instead.

elaine, I agree, I don't see how they could top the A&E version. And modernizing it would certainly ruin the story! In addition to the wonderful casting, I liked how closely the A&E version followed the book.

I am not much of a fan of films that change the works of Austen, especially to modernize them. The "updated" Masnfield Park of a couple of years ago was hideous. In contrast, a few years before that the film version of Persuasion was pefect.

However, I have to say that Clueless, the modern take on Emma, is one of the most fun and watchable films I know of. It is completely modernized, but still amazingly true to the spirit of Emma. I love Clueless.

And all this has nothing to do with the OP's original question. Sorry. ;-)

I also own the DVD version of the film, which DH and I watched last week in honor of our upcaoming trip across the pond, and my version has no color problems. I agree that your version is likely a pirated version.

Good luck straightening it out/getting your hands on a clean version. It's too great a film to be watched with any of the technical aspects below par.

Just gotta chime in. We're big fans of the original film of P&P, but we fell head over heels for the A&E production. Absolutely the best, in all regards, and difficult to imagine anything improving on it.

tuscanlifeedit, I agree with you about Persuasion. Of all the Austen adaptations that came out around that same time, it was the one I felt most captured the look and feel of life at that time.

Sorry, I don't know anything about the OP either. :-(

My favorite version is the original A&E one, with David Rintoul as the quintessential Mr. Darcy. But the new one is good also.

Underhill

I believe I may have rented the version of P&P you refer to. Isn't there a scene where Lizzie talks about kissing? That threw me off, and I didn't think the adaptation (if I am referring to the correct one) was true to the book in spirit.

Also, did A&E produce two versions? I thought the David Rintoul version was a public television production (or BBC?) but if I am thinking of something else, please let me know. I would not want there to be a film of P&P out there that I haven't seen!

I resisted liking the Colin Firth version--for a long time I still preferred the David Rintoul version (BBC) and in fact I own both. The Firth version grew on me, and over time, the superior film production values won me over, beside it the older version, to me, looks stagey and low-budget. They are different from each other, but the acting (and looks) in each are excellent.Rintoul looked closer to the right age, I have to say that Firth looked a little older (in appearance, not necessarily in actual age) than Darcy is described in the book.

I don't mind takeoffs, like "Clueless" that try to spin off the plot into a modern story. What I mind, is misguided contemporary attempts to endow characters from a long-past historical period, with modern motivations and behavior.

I loved the "Persuasion" film as well,thought it quite faithful to the book, especially since that vies with P & P for being my favorite Austen book.

Always nice to find other Janeites here.

Persuasion was ruined for me by the ending where Anne and Wentworth kiss in the street.
In an age when even writing to a man was improper, Anne's reputation would have been destroyed.

Period is difficult to get right in our present ignorant age. I've seen films where "Victorian gentlemen" don't remove their hats when coming indoors, where clergymen are referred to as "Reverend Smith" etc. etc.

Miss Prism, funny you should mention that kiss, I too have always thought it inappropriate at a time when ladies in a drawing room weren't even supposed to approach gentlemen, they were supposed to wait for the gentlemen to approach them.

Were clergymen not referred to as "Reverend"? I didn't know that.
Still, the rest of the film was quite good I thought.

By the way Miss P, did you ever leave a baby in a handbag in a railway station?

Oh, elaine! The original film of THAT is certainly never to be beat!

"To lose one parent may be regarded as misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."

I can't get at the Rintoul P&P just now to look--it certainly could have originally been a BBC production, then shown later on A&E. (Speaking of A&E, what happened to the arts part? All that seems to be on now is re-runs of network shows.)

As for Rintoul vs. Firth, I just think Rintoul displays the most pride of self.

this exchange prompted me to pull out my Rintoul P & P
It's a BBC production, says 1985 but frankly I thought it was older

Thanks for that info on the Rintoul version of P&P... I thought it was BBC.

On the kiss at the end of Persuasion: it seems to me to be a very minor concession when put in the context of the entire film. To my mind this is probably the least romannticized and most accurate adaptation on film of any Austen novel.

Did no one else see the horrid Mansfield Park I referred to above? It is so "adapted" that my stomach churned! I have a BBC version of film that is quite nice.

And how about "Emma"s? The Gwyneth Paltrow version is very weak, IMO, compared to the Kate Beckinsale BBC production. Anyone?

How funny. Today at "March of the Penquins" I saw a trailer for the new Pride and Prejudice. How many times are they going to try to remake this film? Although I'm sure Judy Dench will be great. Hasn't it been done enough already?

I can't dislike the Gwyneth Paltrow "Emma" too much, because Jeremy Northrup was in it, and that's almost enough for me.

Patrick, I think it was at "Penguins" here in NYC that I saw the P & P trailer myself. I thought "Penguins" was endearing, and certainly amazingly well-photographed and edited, but I was glad it wasn't any longer than it was. I do recommend it, though.

To saraallison11, I also agree that something is wrong with your copy. You can buy the DVD on the Barnes & Noble website. I bought mine at Best Buy and the picture is MUCH better than my VHS tape.
elaine, I agree with you. Enjoyed March of the Penguins but was happy that it did not last longer. Were there many children in the theater? There were several young children in the showing I went to. Was just curious if the parents realized it was a documentary...
I told my 8 year old cousin that I went to see it and all she asked was: "Do the penguins talk?" :)

Well, now that we're off the subject --and on to Penquins, I thought the film was absolutely beautifully photographed and wonderful to watch. But as a "documentary" I just wish they would have answered so many more of my questions. They kept saying it was over 70 miles, but never once did they indicate how long it took for that walk each time -- a few days? a week? how long? And how long did the mothers stay away when they went to feed? When the mothers or the fathers returned and didn't find their baby because it had died, and when a baby never found his father or mother returning, what happened? Do the "orphans" ever get "adopted" by childless parents? Since they showed a mother trying to steal another's baby it seemed likely, but they never talked about those "cross over" relationships. It was "pretty", but I wish it had actually been even more informative.

Sorry to go back on subject for a moment (then you all can go back to the penguins-haha:0), but thanks to all who chimed in to give their opinion about my very "serious" problem. I guess I'm just going to have to break down and "re-buy" it from a real store.
BTW, I enjoyed reading everyone's takes on Jane's movies and books. Tuscanlife, I'll bite about the "Emma" movies contrast. I agree completely that the BBC one with Beckinsale is superior to the Gwyneth version (although I do like Gwyneth). (Ironically, I also acquired a pirated copy of the BBC Emma off of...Ebay! Not on purpose of course!)
As for the new P&P with Keira Knightly, the preview I saw gave me a definite impression that it would not stick with the story, that it would be modernized and vastly feminized. I'll see it just for fun, but doubt it will be anything too special. The A&E version is my all-time favorite.

I just had to chime in, but about a&e p&p, not the penquins. I love it too and can not understand why they never have it on. Its not like they have a ton of other good stuff on that channel. I had a taped copy and don't know where it went, so its nice to know I can get a DVD.

and I apologize for the name-mangling earlier, it's Jeremy Northam

Patrick, I'm pretty sure I heard in the film that the mothers go away to feed for 3 months, and the fathers are egg-sitting and not eating for those 3 months.

Penguins, that is.
:)

Dear Patrick,

I agree with you that "Penguins" left as many questions as it answered. It was beautiful, as you said.

I have to disagree with you about another remake of P & P. I take from your name that you are of the male persuation. No female of my aqaintance would feel there are too many versions of P & P! LOL!

I believe elaine is of the female persuasion and here is what she said above:

"As far as I'm concerned, the Ehle/Firth version is definitive, and recent, can't see why they're remaking it again so soon."

Yes, once I have determined which is the best, I see no need for additional attempts, especially so soon after the last, which to my mind will either suffer by comparison, or worse, give those not familiar with the book, the wrong ideas of what it's about. "Wrong" meaning contrary to Austen's view and intent, not mine.

I love Judi Dench, but can't see her as Lady Catherine, Lady Catherine should be tall and spare, in my mind's eye.

About the penquins, elaine. I thought the three months was how long the males went without food, but that included their first march there (however long that took), the courtship time until the laying of the egg (and how long did that all take?), etc. It was just so hard to get a clear idea of the time sequence of all the "events".

With Keira Knightley as the lead, I'm guessing that the production company is going for a young demographic, trying to bring the teens in. The new film is listed on the Internet Movie Database, and there are some links to the official site, if you want to know more. http://www.imdb.com
There's one user comment that is mixed. I'm sure I will like Dame Judi!

Judi Dench is such a great actress, I bet she'll make you believe she's tall and spare.

Sorry that I have nothing for the OP, but as Jane Austen is being discussed, then I "must have my share in the conversation"!

I absolutely agree with tuscanlifeedit that the film version of Mansfield Park was hideous! Smarmy double entendres, just a coy, cloying attitude throughout! Gaa!

But I thought Persuasion was just right. The kiss was indeed a distraction, but was only a jarring moment to me. Amanda Root was perfect.

And the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma was indeed truer to Jane Austen that the Gwyneth Paltrow one, but the frothy feel of the latter was quite appealing. Mr. Knightley in the former (Mark Strong?) was just all wrong, to me.

My favorite of the Jane Austen adaptations is the Jennifer Ehle P&P. Well produced, faithful to the book, and also a happy film! I agree that it's definitive, but then it's one of those stories, like Romeo & Juliet, for which every generation of paying moviegoers must have its own film version. The A&E version does seem recent to me, but to Keira Knightley fans it must seem of roughly the same vintage as the Greer Garson version!

I am indeed a fellow Janeite, elaine, though not a scholarly one. But I did recently join JASNA.

BTW, does anyone here also go to pemberley.com?

Sorry to seem thick here, but what's A&E? The Colin Firth/Ehle production was made by the BBC?

Kate--

A&E stands for Arts & Entertainment, a cable TV network in the US. It broadcasts a fair number of made-for-BBC films, repackaged as "A&E productions," and is the only venue for many US viewers to see them.

aha! Now I understand.

Anyway, to add my tuppence worth. I hold the Firth/Ehle BBC production up as the finest yet made. Being 6 hours long, they really didn't need to alter/chop down the story at all, and I just can't see a 2 hour film doing the book justice.

Although I think Knightley has the right amount of feistyness for the role, and there's been a lot of press in The UK about how the production will be a lot more 'real' in historical detail (muck and grime and scruffy clothes) than we're used to, which should be interesting.

I do wish people wouldn't keep going on about that handbag incident.
A three volume novel is about the same weight as a baby after all.
It all turned out very happily and I have been married to Canon Chasuble for nearly 40 years.

Pemberley in P and P is supposed to be based on Chatsworth.
If you've ever been there you can see that Elizabeth did very well for herself.

Do you know, it's the supposed resemblance of Pemberley to Chatworth that is a major reason for my very much wanting to see Chatsworth, which I haven't managed yet.
That, and the Duchess of Devonshire's own interesting history.

Smallti, not familiar with JASNA, will look it up, thanks. By the way, BBC-America is another channel that shows lots of UK tv productions.

Speaking of tall and spare, in that Rintoul P & P production, I thought that Judy Parfitt was a wonderful Lady Catherine, still young (as Lady C might very well be) and a fashion horse herself, though haughty as all get-out.