Jane Austen Favorites

This post was inspired by my friend, Meghan, who is just now falling in love with Jane Austen! :O) She wondered what ones Jane Austen wrote and what ones I specifically liked since there are many versions of her classics! These movies just make me happy... plain and simple!!
(** - means that I own it if you'd like to borrow it!)

1. PRIDE & PREJUDICE (My favorite movie of all time!)

"Pride and Prejudice is a humorous story of love and life among English gentility during the Georgian era. Mr Bennet is an English gentleman living in Hartfordshire with his overbearing wife. The Bennets 5 daughters; the beautiful Jane, the clever Elizabeth, the bookish Mary, the immature Kitty and the wild Lydia. Unfortunately for the Bennets, if Mr Bennet dies their house will be inherited by a distant cousin whom they have never met, so the family's future happiness and security is dependent on the daughters making good marriages. Life is uneventful until the arrival in the neighbourhood of the rich gentleman Mr Bingley, who rents a large house so he can spend the summer in the country. Mr Bingley brings with him his sister and the dashing (and richer) but proud Mr Darcy. Love is soon in the air for one of the Bennet sisters, while another may have jumped to a hasty prejudgment. For the Bennet sisters many trials and tribulations stand between them and their happiness, including class, gossip and scandal." - IMDB (Internet Movie Database)

**I probably go against the grain as I prefer this version to the older version with Colin Firth portraying Mr. Darcy, although I love that movie as well! This one stars Keira Knightly as Miss Elizabeth Bennett and Matthew MacFayden as Mr. Darcy. I can feel the passion of the actors in this one and I don't know... I just LOVE it!

**This is the 6 hour version starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. I love this one as well, but you need to set several hours aside if you want to sit down to watch this one! Mr. Collins just cracks me up in this one! HA!

2. PERSUASION

"In 1814 England, 27-year old Anne Elliot lives an oppressive life with her father, Sir Walter Elliot of Kellynch Hall, and her elder sister Elizabeth, both of whom are incurable snobs. Eight and a half years ago, Anne been persuaded to refuse an offer of marriage from the man she loved, a young naval officer of no position or fortune. Now, after the Napoleonic wars, Captain Wentworth has gained both rank and money, and chance has thrown them together again. Anne finds herself confronted with thoughts of might-have-been as she watches Wentworth court her brother-in-law's sister, Louisa. But an accident causes Wentworth to realize whom he truly cares for, and he follows Anne to Bath. But her cousin William (the heir to Kellynch Hall) is also pursuing her and is rumored to be engaged to Anne. And she must overcome this last obstacle before she can persuade Captain Wentworth as to the true nature of her affections." - IMDB

**I love the 2007 version that appeared recently on Masterpiece Theater. Didn't you just love this movie, Meg??? This one stars Sally Hawkins as Anne Elliot and Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Fredrick Wentworth. *Sigh*

I love this version from 1995 as well. It stars Amanda Root as Anne Elliot and Ciaran Hinds as Captain Fredrick Wentworth. I love this movie... what can I say?

3. MANSFIELD PARK

"At 10, Fanny Price, a poor relation, goes to live at Mansfield Park, the estate of her aunt's husband, Sir Thomas. Clever, studious, and a writer with an ironic imagination and fine moral compass, she becomes especially close to Edmund, Thomas's younger son. Fanny is soon possessed of beauty as well as a keen mind and comes to the attention of a neighbor, Henry Crawford. Thomas promotes this match, but to his displeasure, Fanny has a mind of her own, asking Henry to prove himself worthy. As Edmund courts Henry's sister and as light shines on the link between Thomas's fortunes and New World slavery, Fanny must assess Henry's character and assert her heart as well as her wit." - IMDB

This is the version that recently appeared on Masterpiece Theater. It is the 2007 version starring Billie Piper as Fannie Price and Blake Ritson as Edmund Bertram.

**This is the 1999 version starring Frances O'Connor as Fanny Price and Jonny Lee Miller as Edmund Bertram.

4. EMMA

"Based on the Jane Austen novel, "Emma" tells the story of a young woman in England who plays her town's matchmaker. When attempting to match up her friend with the Reverend Elton, Emma starts to run into complications, which multiply amongst themselves with cases of mistaken intentions of love, a cast of supporting characters who each love someone else, but Emma doesn't know who loves who, and Emma finally realizing the one person she truly loves." - IMDB

**I prefer the 1996 version of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma Woodhouse and Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley. As foolish of a girl as she is, she is still likable in this version.

This version stars Kate Beckinsale as Emma Woodhouse and just does the character no justice. I wanted to slap her throughout the whole movie.

5. SENSE & SENSIBILITY

"When Mr. Dashwood dies, he must leave the bulk of his estate to the son by his first marriage, which leaves his second wife and three daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) in straitened circumstances. They are taken in by a kindly cousin, but their lack of fortune affects the marriageability of both practical Elinor and romantic Marianne. When Elinor forms an attachment for the wealthy Edward Ferrars, his family disapproves and separates them. And though Mrs. Jennings tries to match the worthy (and rich) Colonel Brandon to her, Marianne finds the dashing and fiery Willoughby more to her taste. Both relationships are sorely tried. But this is a romance, and through the hardships and heartbreak, true love and a happy ending will find their way for both the sister who is all sense and the one who is all sensibility." - IMDB

**The 1995 version starring Emma Thompson as Elinor Dashwood, Kate Winslet as her sister Marianne Dashwood and Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars. LOVE IT!

This version was recently featured on Masterpiece Theater and I loved this one as well.

6. NORTHANGER ABBEY

"Catherine Morland is taken to Bath, England by the wealthy Mr. and Mrs. Allen and introduces her to Georgian society. There she meets the social-climbing Isabella and John Thorpe, the handsome Henry Tilney and elegant Eleanor Tilney. After making an impression on Henry and Eleanor's father, the Tilneys invite her to their country mansion, Northanger Abbey. Catherine falls in love with Henry but realizes that love can be fickle and that money - and not just love - is an important consideration in the marriage business. The story is based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name, "Northanger Abbey"." - IMDB

I have to admit that this was my least favorite Jane Austen flick. It didn't really hold my interest and I felt that it ended way too abruptly.