Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Coming Out at 16 September 2005 in theaters.
Drama, Romance
Pride & Prejudice is romantic drama film directed by Joe Wright, in his feature directorial debut, and based on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel of the same name. The film depicts five sisters from an English family of landed gentry as they deal with issues of marriage, morality and misconceptions. Keira Knightley stars in the lead role of Elizabeth Bennet, while Matthew Macfadyen plays her romantic interest Mr. Darcy. Produced by Working Title Films in association with StudioCanal, the film was released on 16 September 2005 in the United Kingdom and Ireland and on 11 November in the United States.
Screenwriter Deborah Moggach initially attempted to make her script as faithful to the novel as possible, writing from Elizabeth’s perspective while preserving much of the original dialogue. Wright, who was directing his first feature film, encouraged greater deviation from the text, including changing the dynamics within the Bennet family. Wright and Moggach set the film in an earlier period and avoided depicting a “perfectly clean Regency world”, presenting instead a “muddy hem version” of the time. It was shot entirely on location in England on a 15-week schedule. Wright found casting difficult due to past performances of particular characters.
During the late 18th century, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their five daughters—Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia live in rural England. As the Bennets have no sons, their estate, Longbourn, is destined to be inherited by Mr. Bennet’s cousin, Mr. Collins, a pompous clergyman. Mrs. Bennet, meanwhile, is eager to secure her daughters’ futures through suitable marriages; she is delighted when wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley moves into Netherfield, a nearby estate.
Bingley is introduced to the local society at an assembly ball, along with his haughty sister, Caroline, and his aloof friend, the handsome and rich Mr. Darcy. Bingley is enchanted with Jane, while Elizabeth takes an instant dislike to Darcy after he coldly rebuffs her and later makes demeaning remarks about her that she overhears. While visiting the Bingleys, Jane falls ill and must stay to recuperate. When Elizabeth later walks to Netherfield to see Jane, she verbally spars with both Caroline and Darcy.
Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Jane Austen (novel), Deborah Moggach, Emma Thompson
Stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Talulah Riley, Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan
Cast:
| Keira Knightley | … | Elizabeth Bennet |
| Talulah Riley | … | Mary Bennet |
| Rosamund Pike | … | Jane Bennet |
| Jena Malone | … | Lydia Bennet |
| Carey Mulligan | … | Kitty Bennet |
| Donald Sutherland | … | Mr. Bennet |
| Brenda Blethyn | … | Mrs. Bennet |
| Claudie Blakley | … | Charlotte Lucas |
| Sylvester Morand | … | Sir William Lucas |
| Simon Woods | … | Mr. Bingley |
| Kelly Reilly | … | Caroline Bingley |
| Matthew Macfadyen | … | Mr. Darcy |
| Pip Torrens | … | Netherfield Butler |
| Janet Whiteside | … | Mrs. Hill |
| Sinead Matthews | … | Betsy |
| Roy Holder | … | Mr. Hill |
| Rupert Friend | … | Mr. Wickham |
| Tom Hollander | … | Mr. Collins |
| Jay Simpson | … | Meryton Milliner |
| Judi Dench | … | Lady Catherine de Bourgh |
| Rosamund Stephen | … | Miss de Bourg |
| Samantha Bloom | … | Rosings Governess |
| Cornelius Booth | … | Colonel Fitzwilliam |
| Penelope Wilton | … | Mrs. Gardiner |
| Peter Wight | … | Mr. Gardiner |
| Meg Wynn Owen | … | Mrs. Reynolds |
| Tamzin Merchant | … | Georgiana Darcy |
| Moya Brady | … | Lambton Maid |
| Mark Arends | … | Dancer |
| Billy Burke | … | Lydia’s Dance Partner |
| Kate Copeland | … | Dancer |
| Stephen Humby | … | Soldier |
| Bret Jones | … | Specialist Period Dancer |
| Arnold Montey | … | Soldier |
| Liam Thomas | … | Gentleman |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia