Review of the MGM 1940 Pride and Prejudice by Robert Darling

Pride and Prejudice, 1940, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Staring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier. Rating: three out of four stars.

Though this adaptation of the novel may infuriate some of the more dedicated Austen fans it is nonetheless a brilliant adaptation. The film starts in the busy Meryton, in a cloth shop, with Jane and Elizabeth shopping for material with their beloved mother. It is here that they get their first glimpse of their rich new addition to their neighborhood, Bingley and Darcy. Like is wont to happen in such situations everyone is put into frenzy and off they dash to home--including a brilliant carriage race between Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas. Small things like this throughout make the movie what it is. Not to mention the memorable lines like Mr. Bennet’s, “Yes, what is to become of the wretched creatures? Perhaps we should have drowned some of them at birth.” And Lady Catherine’s, “Well, she may have refused to refuse to marry you!”

            There are many parts of this adaptation that is different from the book but on the overall it pulls together and makes a nice movie. Looking at the ball where the Bennet family first meets the Bingley family and Mr. Darcy we see major differences from the novel. Mr. Darcy, here insulting Elizabeth, quickly finds Sir William to introduce her for the next dance showing that he has already taken an interest in her. They are already acquainted with the dashing Whickham and after Elizabeth turns down Darcy she accepts his offer in front of him. This, though not the way it happens in the novel, works for the film in the overall planning of the piece. It establishes the basic interest and obstacle from a very early point in the film, as is the need in a one hundred and eighteen minute production. Though more serious Austen fans will gravitate to productions like the 1995 miniseries this film still captures the main plot points (the separation of Jane and Bingley, Darcy’s unreturned interest in Elizabeth, Mr. Collins and his ability to appeal to people, and even Mrs. Bennet’s desire to marry off her daughters: see the seen at the assembly ball where she insist that Lydia must not look hot as it is very “unladylike”) and draws them together at the end.

            One of the many but most notable differences in this film adaptation is the ball at Netherfield, which happens to be a Garden Party in this version. Here again we have the differences but they work because 

they give added detail that adds to the effect of the film. After Darcy rescues Elizabeth from Mr. Collins he intends to show her how to shoot a bow something that could not have happened at a ball but because it was changed can give us, the viewer, a deeper understanding of the relationship that is developing between the two. It is Darcy’s intention to show her how to shoot but he is the one that feels foolish after she outshoots him. With this it shows the interest that Darcy has in a woman that is not the superficial woman that only cares for getting a husband, such as Miss Bingley who comes up at the end of this scene to take a lesson from Mr. Darcy.

            All of this adds up to create a good adaptation it takes the basic structure of the novel and adapts it to fit its own needs. It presents a film that perhaps Austen would have written if she had been in the film business during the nineteen forties. The cast also fits for the purpose each of them playing wonderfully their part. Laurence Olivier makes, in my opinion a wonderful Darcy as does Garson as Elizabeth, and who makes a better Mr. Bennet than Edmund Gwenn? The only fault in casting that I can make is the choice of Mr. Whickham, he comes across as very slimy from the very beginning. This is a problem because, how can Elizabeth be taken in by a man that the audience cannot?

            This is a good adaptation because it shows the audience a very descriptive view of the world that Austen wanted us to see. Such as the carriage race between Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas—this an over the top view of the marriage game that the mothers are playing. It also gives us a clear division of the classes (the sparkling dress that Miss Bingley wears to the assembly ball—wealth and power wear diamonds whereas the middle class wear much worn garments). One of the best scenes, and personal favorites, of the film show the differences in the education of men and women but also the differences in the education of class. This scene being the one after Jane arrives at Netherfield in the rainstorm. Comically we see a Jane that is only showing her face in profile to Mr. Bingley as the doctor explains her condition: Bingley must explain each of the ailments to her after the doctor so that she knows what is going on. All together the film provides a funny and insightful adaptation that can be loved or hated but must be given a chance.