As I haven’t recovered completely and it’s excusable for me to spend some time in a trifle way, let’s carry out, so to say, comparative analysis of different versions cast, and what’s more important, the main characters of it. .

Elizabeth Bennet
1940 Greer Garson
1995 Jennifer Ehle
2005 Keira Knightley
Liz Bennet is a girl of a sharp mind and tongue, ironical, sincere and even straightforward. Elizabeth 1940 turned out to be more sarcastic, Lizzie 2005 – more naive. Jennifer Ehle is undoubtedly the best. The imps hide in the eyes of her Elizabeth; meanwhile it’s clearly seen that she’s a person of character. Liz-2005 can make a very pretty smiling face, over which she sometimes switches; but the rest of the time she’s a girl with an ablush face of bonny lass. Liz-1940 is in her element while barbed words-exchange, meanwhile Liz-1995 contrives both to joke and look a real lady; Liz-2005 sometimes straggles to teenage cheek side. In general, the first place is given to Jennifer Ehle.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy
1940 – Laurence Olivier
1995 – Colin Firth
2005 – Matthew Macfadyen
I really wanted to look at Mr. Darcy in Laurence Olivier’s performance. Taking into account that the 40-th year movie proved to be very light and funny; so to say, nearly a comedy, Darcy-Olivier is very good. Meanwhile Darcy 2005 is a very handsome young man with a lack of magnetism and inscrutability. His face is mainly wry; the eye-brows are arched; though the moment of mutual intent-looking in the church is surely good. But there’s no doubt that Darcy-1995 in the face of Colin Firth is the best. 5 miniseries episodes gave him the opportunity to show the development of feelings, which were overwhelming his character. In an effort of time-saving both Darcies 1940 and 2005 had to fall in love with Lizzie from the very first meeting, what led to a complete failure of the main intrigue and idea, - who’ll tell me where I can find pride and what for is prejudice in the film now?

Mr. Charles Bingley
Bingley 1940 is just a smart fellow, Bingley-1995 is a smiling kind young man, though being under the thumb of his sister (and friends); but Bingley 2005 smiles so violently, that you begin to worry about the state of his cheeks. I even don’t dare to think of what will happen to Bingley in the next version! But the hairstyle of Bingley 2005 is cool! Bingley 1995 is the best.

Jane Bennet

Jane 1940 and Jane 2005 are very beautiful girls. Perhaps brunettes used to be the beauty standard in the 40-s, meanwhile in 2005 (just as in 1995) a blond was to play the part of beauty. To my mind the actress, playing Jane 1995 is not as beautiful as it is constantly said all the series long, to be more concrete, she’s unconventionally beautiful; but it was she who managed to show Jane’s kind heart and meekness best of all. And the first place is again given to Jane 1995.

George Wickham
Wickham-1940 is such a tom-cat with short moustache. It’s clearly seen that Wickham 1995 is a crook, that’s why it’s not very clear how he manages to charm women; though many people like scoundrels. When I saw Wickham 2005, at first I thought that Orlando Bloom decided to keep Keira Knightley’s company for old times' sake. It turned out that it wasn’t he. In general, the 2005-th is not convincing, as it’s not clear that he’s a baddie.

Mrs. Bennet
All the mummies are alike, but in 1995 version this broody hen is shown the best of all, - so vividly, that there emerges a strong desire to strangle her

Mr. Bennet
The characters of two first films are very much alike; meanwhile Mr. Bennet 2005 in the performance of Donald Sutherland surprised me a bit. Perhaps in order to strengthen the unpleasantness of the Bennets, Mr. Bennet is rather slovenly and is nearly a barfly. The only saving straw is the smile at the very end of the film, but it’s more the advantage of Sutherland’s charisma than the result of some reinterpreting of this character by the producer.

I liked Charlotte in the last version. While in those of 1940 and 1995 it was all the time repeated that “poor Charlotte” had no luck with appearance, rather pretty actresses were playing these parts. In 2005 version she had really no luck.

Lady Catherine of 1940 with her equine face was up right her character, but actually turned out to be a nice old lady, so we don’t take her into account. It’s a trifle thing for Judi Dench from 2005 version to make herself out a queen, but the character with her face should be much cleverer than her lady de Bourgh. But when you notice how the cheeks of Darcy’s aunt are shaking in 1995 movie, it becomes evident that this actress is occupying a fitting place.

Generally “Pride and Prejudice” 2005 turned out to be a sort of agricultural. There are pigs, geese. I understand that it’s an English village, but still the film isn’t about shepherds. The costumes and make-up are also strange. There are plenty of untidy, unshaven and disheveled men at the ball; the girls’ coiffures look as if they came to the ball right from the hayloft. And you know, the beginning of the ball reminded me of Bilbo Begging’s birthday party. And these poor dresses strongly resembling dressing gowns! I won’t even mention that the absence of bosom is usually concealed, if not accentuated at all… It is all vice versa in 1994 version. No one saved on the cloths, a number of bouquet-installations were erected on heads, and necks were all covered with jewellery, fingers - with rings. I do repeat – the film is good and light. It’s a pity they don’t sing there. In BBC series costumes are the best, that’s why it justly got many awards for the costumes (and not only for them), and this very version should be treated as the closest to Jane Austin’s book according to the spirit of time and the plot. And if the films of 1994 and 2005 don’t reveal the problems of characters, the serial discloses the intrigue entirely.

Thus, “Pride and Prejudice” 2005 is worth watching for Keira Knightley fans, while those who love Jane Austin, may watch it only for a tick. The 1940 film deserves watching because of curiosity and just for fun. But all those, who like everything relating to “real English” and Jane Austen creations, - you’re welcome to watch “Pride and Prejudice” 1995 BBC version. Strange as it may seem, but imdb rate recommends the same…

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