PRIDE AND PREJUDICE {PART 1 OF 6} (TV)
Summary
Part one in this six-part miniseries, based on Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel about divisiveness amongst the classes in 19th century England and the love between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The program begins with best friends Charles Bingley and Mr. Darcy galloping across the Netherfield estate, which Charles plans to lease. Nearby, Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet picks flowers. Returning home, Lizzy finds her sisters spatting. Mrs. Bennet soon learns about Charles moving in and thinks him a perfect match for one of her five single daughters. Mr. Bennet, however, refuses to visit with Charles simply to marry off one of his children, upsetting his wife. That night, Lizzy and her eldest sister, Jane, discuss their beliefs on marriage. Lizzy thinks that, since the Bennets aren't very wealthy, Jane will have to "marry very well." The next day, the Bennet sisters are excited upon learning that Charles will be attending a local ball. Mrs. Bennet is especially delighted.
At the dance, Charles is welcomed warmly. The Bennet sisters gossip about those accompanying Charles -- his sisters, Miss Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Louisa Hurst, his brother-in-law Mr. Hurst, and Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet informs her daughters that the handsome Mr. Darcy is also incredibly rich. Then, Charles approaches Jane and kindly asks her for a dance. However, the roguish Mr. Darcy refuses to dance with any of the Bennet sisters as he stands disagreeably in the corner. Mrs. Bennet finds Mr. Darcy's arrogant behavior despicable. Jane has a rousing time with Charles, but Lizzy and her sisters find no companionship during the evening. Mr. Darcy thinks Jane to be the only attractive girl in the room and refuses to engage with any others. In fact, he only finds Lizzy to be "tolerable," not attractive enough to entice him. Afterwards, Mrs. Bennet and her daughters discuss Jane's triumphant evening. They also discuss how Mr. Darcy slighted Lizzy, raising Mr. Bennet's ire. Lizzy plans on never dancing with Mr. Darcy. Meanwhile, Charles discusses his great evening while Caroline and Louisa grill Mr. Darcy on why he shows no interest in Lizzy. Charles doesn't understand why Mr. Darcy goes through life so dismissive of all around him. The next day, Jane discusses with Lizzy how much she likes Charles before Lizzy mocks Mr. Darcy.
Later, Lizzy's best friend and neighbor, Charlotte Lucas, arrives to invite the Bennet girls to a party her father, Sir William, is throwing. There, Mr. Darcy yet again broods in the corner while Jane and Charles continue their flirtation. Then, Mary, the middle Bennett daughter, is forced to abandon her concerto and play a jig on the piano to enliven the party. Lizzy and Charlotte discuss whether Jane should quickly try to lock down Charles into marriage. Charlotte also notices that Mr. Darcy seems to stare at Lizzy. Then, Sir William ropes Mr. Darcy into asking Lizzy to dance, but she now refuses him. Afterward, Mr. Darcy tells Caroline that he might be attracted to Lizzy. The next day, Jane is invited to dine with Caroline and Louisa. Mrs. Bennet encourages her to see Charles while in Netherfield and to try to stay the night. During the meal, Caroline and Louisa grill Jane before she falls ill with a fever. Lizzy insists that she go to Netherfield to check up on Jane. En route, Lizzy runs into Mr. Darcy and requests that he take her to Jane. Lizzy finds her sister ailing in bed and tends to her. Charles encourages Lizzy to stay at Netherfield while Jane recovers. That night, Lizzy dresses for dinner before joining the Bingleys and Hursts as they engage in parlor games. Caroline begins showing hostility toward Lizzy. Mr. Darcy begins to compose a letter to his young sister Georgiana, whom Caroline considers "quite accomplished." The next day, Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by younger daughters Lydia and Kitty, arrives in Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet chastises Darcy for looking down upon "confined and unvarying" country living. Wanting to make amends, Charles gentlemanly decides he will throw a ball once Jane recovers. That night, Caroline invites Lizzy to join her for a "turn about the room," during which she spars with Mr. Darcy. Eventually, Jane has recovered and she and Lizzy head home, with Lizzy noting that she has never been so happy to leave a place in her life.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: January 14, 1996 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:53:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:48070
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature - Adaptations; England -- 19th century - Social life and customs; Romance
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV, 1996
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael Wearing … Executive Producer
- Sue Birtwistle … Producer
- Julie Scott … Associate Producer
- Fiona McTavish … Associate Producer
- Simon Langton … Director
- Andrew Davies … Writer
- Jane Austen … Based on the novel by
- Carl Davis … Music by
- Colin Firth … Cast, Mr. Darcy
- Crispin Bonham-Carter … Cast, Mr. Bingley
- Jennifer Ehle … Cast, Elizabeth Bennet
- Benjamin Whitrow … Cast, Mr. Bennet
- Polly Maberly … Cast, Kitty Bennet
- Julia Sawalha … Cast, Lydia Bennet
- Alison Steadman … Cast, Mrs. Bennet
- Lucy Briers … Cast, Mary Bennet
- Susannah Harker … Cast, Jane Bennet
- Marlene Sidaway … Cast, Hill, the housekeeper
- Kate O'Malley … Cast, Sarah, the maid
- Anna Chancellor … Cast , Miss Bingley
- Rupert Vansittart … Cast, Mr. Hurst
- Lucy Robinson … Cast, Mrs. Hurst
- Christopher Benjamin … Cast, Sir William Lucas
- Lucy Scott … Cast, Charlotte Lucas
- Norma Streader … Cast, Lady Lucas
- Lucy Davis … Cast, Maria Lucas
- Andrew Grainger … Cast, Ostler
- Roy Holder … Cast, Hodge, the gardener
- Paul Moriarty … Cast, Col. Forster
- Victoria Hamilton … Cast, Mrs. Forster
- David Bark-Jones … Cast, Lt. Denny
- Roger Barclay … Cast, Capt. Carter
- Annabel Taylor … Cast, Maggie, the maid
- Neville Phillips … Cast, Fossett, the footman