MASTERPIECE THEATRE: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE {PART 5 OF 5} (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program is a five-part adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel “Pride and Prejudice.” The fifth and final part begins as host Alistair Cooke introduces the program and notes that the Pemberley scenes were filmed at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire. In the episode, the sisters continue to fret about Lydia’s fate, and Mr. Bennet admits his partial guilt in the matter to Elizabeth. He sternly outlaws any future visits to the home from soldiers, which greatly upsets Kitty. Elizabeth sadly reflects that her feelings about Darcy have certainly changed, but her family, already considered too low by Darcy, is even less reputable now than before. They receive a letter from Mr. Gardiner explaining that Lydia and Wickham have not yet married, but will soon do so, although it will cost them a thousand pounds, a fee that they cannot afford. Mrs. Bennet is delighted at the marriage, but Mr. Bennet remains angry and refuses to accept the couple into the home until his wife and daughters finally talk him into it. Lydia soon arrives and happily encourages her sisters to travel to Brighton as well to find husbands, although Elizabeth thinks little of the approach. Lydia tells her that the Gardiners were most unsatisfactory company and lets slip that Darcy was present at the wedding, but does not elaborate, and Elizabeth quickly writes to the Gardiners for confirmation. She talks to Wickham again and he asks about her trip to Pemberley, and she mentions that Mrs. Reynolds did not speak particularly highly of him. He asks about Georgiana, whom he jilted, and about his supposed former inheritance, but Elizabeth sees the truth behind his words.
The Gardiners confirm in a letter that Darcy did indeed arrange for the wedding to take place and paid for it himself, and Elizabeth is stunned by the gesture, wondering if he could have done it for her. Lydia and Wickham soon leave, much to Mr. Bennet’s relief, but he is quickly annoyed again when he learns that Bingley is to visit. Jane assures Elizabeth that she is past her feelings for Bingley and does not mind seeing him, but Elizabeth herself is alarmed when Bingley arrives with “that tall, proud man.” Mrs. Bennet greets Bingley and Darcy and they discuss the “awkward business” of Lydia’s marriage, with Mrs. Bennet hinting heavily at the joy that comes with a daughter’s marriage. Bingley explains that he intends to stay in town for the duration of the hunting season, and Elizabeth later tells Jane that she suspects Bingley of still being in love with her. They are thrown together at another social engagement, and Bingley finally calls upon the house and Mrs. Bennet drags the other sisters away to give them time alone, during which he finally proposes, and Jane is ecstatic.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh makes a surprise visit to the home and meets with Elizabeth privately, imperiously demanding if the rumors about her engagement to Darcy are true, stating that Darcy will marry her daughter Anne and no one else. Elizabeth stands her ground and states that they are not currently betrothed, but refuses to elaborate on their history or give her word not to marry him in future, and Lady Catherine is outraged and leaves. Mr. Bennet then tells Elizabeth that he has received a letter from the nosy Mr. Collins denouncing this alleged engagement, and he is heartily amused at the absurd idea that Darcy could be courting her, much to her discomfort. Soon, however, Darcy arrives at the home again with Bingley, and as he walks alone with Elizabeth he states that he helped Lydia and Wickham out of affection for her and that his feelings towards her are unchanged, and she happily replies that her feelings have indeed altered for the better. He tells her that he was “properly humbled” by her and realized the error of his ways in regards to Jane and Bingley, and she acknowledges that he knows her weaknesses and loves her all the same. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are stunned and pleased by the couple’s announcement, and Mr. Bennet declares himself prepared to receive any other young men vying for his daughters’ hands. Cooke closes the program by describing the “tiny cult” that gathered around Austen’s works during her time, and how Sir Walter Scott’s fondness for her novels helped elevate her to later fame. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WGBH Boston, MA
- DATE: November 23, 1980 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:1176
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature - Adaptations; Romance
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jonathan Powell … Producer
- Joan Wilson … Producer
- Cyril Coke … Director
- Jane Austen … Writer, Based on the novel by
- Fay Weldon … Writer, Adapted by
- Wilfred Josephs … Music by
- Alistair Cooke … Host
- Elizabeth Garvie … Cast, Miss Elizabeth Bennet
- David Rintoul … Cast, Mr. Darcy
- Moray Watson … Cast, Mr. Bennet
- Priscilla Morgan … Cast, Mrs. Bennet
- Judy Parfitt … Cast, Lady Catherine de Bourgh
- Natalie Ogle … Cast, Miss Lydia Bennet
- Osmund Bullock … Cast, Mr. Bingley
- Peter Settelen … Cast, Mr. Wickham
- Sabina Franklyn … Cast, Miss Jane Bennet
- Tessa Peake-Jones … Cast, Miss Mary Bennet
- Clare Higgins … Cast, Miss Kitty Bennet
- Janet Davies … Cast, Mrs. Hill
- Elizabeth Knight … Cast, First Lady Guest
- Anne Maxwell … Cast, Second Lady Guest