I have continued watching Mansfield Park and I have to say it grew on me – let’s face it it is not very pretty (although I read somewhere that it won a costume award), but it is closest to the novel.
As Linda Troost and Sayre Greenfield write in Jane Austen in Hollywood about this adaptation
...Moreover, while we may know that Edmund Bertram is not particularly physically striking, do we really want his earnestly bad hair style thrust constantly on our vision?
The hair styles in this version are particularly bad – wait until you see Mr Yates!
Visit to Sotherton
Here they are on the visit to Sotherton. Mr Rushworth has forgotten the key and Maria and Mr Crawford sneak around the gate.
Practising the Play
Rehearsals for Lover’s Vows – Mr Crawford and Maria are quite enthusiastic.
Now Henry Loves Fanny
The Maria and Mr Rushworth are married and have left for their honeymoon taking Julia with them. Henry is bored and decides to pierce a small hole in Fanny’s heart.
Fanny is in Portsmouth
Fanny is sent back to Portsmouth where it is hoped she will rethink her rejection of Frank’s proposal. This is Frank as his best – showing real concern for Fanny and treating her (awful) parents with courtesy and respect.
A chance encounter in London and Frank runs off with Maria – oops!
The Wedding
And finally Edmund realises he loves Fanny after all.
I think this is a very true adaptation and worth watching if you like Mansfield Park.
Next up the Patricia Rozema’s version