Duckface and Lady Catherine

What do you know - it popped right up on the screen - but it looks so lonely with a "0" by my name. So here is an question: Who makes your blood boil the hottest - Caroline or Lady Catherine?

I vote for Caroline Bingley, because she doesn't even have family "history" to excuse her snobbish behavior. After, their fortune was acquired in trade, so who is she to look down her nose at the Bennets' relations. As for being an accomplished woman, she doesn't fool anyone w/ her notions of what that means -- she's only spouting off on the things she (thinks she does) well. Mind you, I do not like her Ladyship, either, but she has somewhat more of an excuse for her bad behavior.

I guess Caroline gets my vote too. Lady Catherine actually seems a bit stupid to me which gives her an additional excuse for her poor behavior. Caroline seems to be rather clever -- or is she merely devious?

Add my vote for Duckface. Lady C at least has some justification for her behaviour (wouldn't *you* be waspish if constantly subjected to Mr Collins and his delicate compliments?). Lady Catherine is a bitter old woman, whereas Miss Bingley is a bitter *young* woman - most unattractive. I love Anna Chancellor's acting though - especially at Lucas Lodge with the "fine eyes" scene - she glances at Darcy with as much of the whites of her eyes showing as possible - classic! Saman

I am fascinated with all JA's shrews - Mrs. Elton, Mrs. Norris, MIss Biongley, Lady Catherine. Maybe it is knowing that while they are throwing their weight around during most of the novel, they will get theirs in the final chapter.

How about Mary Musgrove. Oh Lord she drives me nuts.

I also vote for Caroline Bingley - most definitely. I have always thought she had no excuse to look down at the Bennets or Sir William Lucas since her money was acquired in the same way. Lady C. is annoying, but she has some excuse; she is the daughter of an Earl, was probably always snobbish, and is a bitter old woman who has nothing better to do than interfere in other people's business. I don't think she would sit down an read a good book (Jane Austen, maybe?). On second thoughts, neither would Duckfa e - remember she only chose the book at Netherfield because it was the second volume of the one Darcy was reading and she threw it down in boredom pretty quickly. By the way I saw Anna Chancellor in a Poirot mystery last night. She looked really pretty and had very blue eyes. I thought that they were brown in P&P2. I must admit she is a very good actress - maybe that's why we all love to hate her in P&P.

]She looked really pretty and had very blue eyes. I thought that they were brown in P&P2. *trivia warning* they blue in the photos I've seen as well. Likewise Mr B and Mr C. Ehle's eyes in photos are hazel; all-in-all, I get the impression that my commercial tapes have a distinct brown overlay. I only saw 2 episodes televised, but as shown here they were closer in colour to the photos

I have heard reports that on various occasions in various film roles some performers have used colored contact lenses to appear to have some other eye color, however no such report has been circculated about P&P to my knowledge.

I should have been more clear - the photos I'm referring to are in the Making of P&P and the BBC hardback of P&P with the actors 'in character' - that's why I'm assuming the colour variation is arising in the production of the commercial video.

So should I (have been more clear) I was referring to the comment somewhere above that someone saw Anna Chancellor with blue eyes, though they were brown in P&P.

I agree with you all -- Caroline Bingley is more odious than Lady Catherine, perhaps because she has designs on Darcy, and we all want him to end up with Lizzy!

The confrontation between E. and Lady C at Longborn - could you have been that quick on your feet at age 20 in that situation? Not me. I would have cried and promised anything, just to get her to shut-up.

The confrontation between E. and Lady C at Longborn - could you have been that quick on your feet at age 20 in that situation? Not me. I would have cried and promised anything, just to get her to shut-up.

I thought that Elizabeth handled herself with great aplomb during that whole incident. In fact, the first time this scene took on life for me was in P&P2; in the 1940 version, it was played strictly for laughs; and in P&P1, it was very flat. I really felt the menace in Lady C. in this one!

Amy2, yes, me too. Lady Catherine really had some weight behind her malelovence in P&P2. And E. seemed to be experiencing real emotions of indignation and pain over the lady's insults and criticisms.

I was so disappointed when I saw what they did with lady Catherine in the 1940's version.

I really thought that the confrontation between Lady C. & Elizabeth was one of the most powerful scenes in the production. Ehle outdid herself once again!

Darcy's first proposal and Lady C's confrontation. I could(and have) watched these scenes over & over. Both were superbly acted by all parties, however, Ehle was amazing. Remaining composed in both situations when personally, I would have severley lost it!!!! Cleo

Edited from the "Propose new threads here" topic--- From: Amy Wolf (amy2) * Fri, Nov 22, 1996 (11:33) * 3 lines I'd like to propose we discuss Caroline Bingley's intense jealousy of Lizzy, and how almost everything she does merely increases Darcy's desire for L. ============================================= From: Tay (Tay) * Fri, Nov 22, 1996 (13:31) * 2 lines Like for instance the time she gazes at Darcy with adoration and says, "He is a man without fault"? And how Lizzie, by her pert remarks and fine eyes was able to win his admiration at the end? Sometimes, I can't help feel a bit sorry for Caroline Bingley, although I suppose she deserves what she got. =================================== From: Rebecca Davey (Becks) * Fri, Nov 22, 1996 (15:41) * 1 lines Duckface, that's all I have to say! ================================= From: Amy Wolf (amy2) * Fri, Nov 22, 1996 (16:22) * 5 lines I love her great setups so that Darcy can convey how he's really feeling about Lizzy. Like at Netherfield, when Lizzy & Jane leave, Caroline comments that Mr. Darcy must be pining her absence, and he says: "No, quite the contrary, I assure you." Or at the end, at Pemberly, when she is ragging on Lizzy, even down to her teeth, and forces Darcy to admit that which only causes pain to herself (bad paraphrase of Austen here). ========================================== From: Inko (Inko) * Fri, Nov 22, 1996 (17:31) * 2 lines Or at Netherfield, when they were talking about accomplished women and when Lizzy leaves the room (this is in the book only) CB says Lizzy is trying to recommend herself to the other sex by disparaging her own and adds "in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art." To which Darcy replies "there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable." I love this scene because it's the first indication in the book hat Darcy can see right through CB and all her affectations. ========================================= From: Ian Davey (geekman) * Fri, Nov 22, 1996 (19:08) * 1 lines G'day, Perhaps Miss Bingley should have gone for more walks breathing the fresh country air and getting a little tanned by the sun. ==================================================== From: kathleen elder (kathleen) * Fri, Nov 22, 1996 (20:03) * 9 lines Watched an Agatha Christie mystery on tv last night -- something w/ Hercule Poirot. Any way, our Miss Bingley was in it and looked quite beautiful (age was probably mid to late twenties). Not at all like Caroline or the Duck-face. From the book, I always had the impression that Caroline was both younger and more beautiful than in P&P2. But Anna Chancellor did a marvelous acting job. I especially like the scene after the look at Pemberley when Darcy tells how much he admires Lizzie. ============================================== From: Joan, too (jwinsor) * Sat, Nov 23, 1996 (02:11) * 1 lines The very fact that we all so love to hate Caroline speaks to the excellence of Anna Chancellor's performance. ======================================================== From: Katy Kendall (kendall) * Sat, Nov 23, 1996 (09:32) * 1 lines Caroline - the lady we love to hate. She is every snob who ever ignored us, every a** who ever chose to dislike us before knowing us, the self-proclaimed center to the 'in' crowd in high school who made sure we were 'out'. Pay backs are tough, Caroline! =============================

Thanks, Katy.

*Trivia Warning* I think that JA must bear a lot of the blame for the fact that the name"Caroline is often assumed to be synonymous with "Upper-class Bitch" even in this day and age-I speak from personal experience here- but "Catherine" does not bear the same stigma. If Caroline Bingley is a bitch of the first order, then her big sister is not far behind. Although not quite as vocal, she can be just as poisonous.No wonder little brother Charles is so unsure of himself!Lady Cath. believes she is doing for the best of all concerned,but Caroline is all selfishness and spite. I vote for Miss B as the worse of the two.

] Lady Cath. believes she is doing for the best of all concerned Lady Cath. believes without question she knows what is best for all concerned, but I do agree that she is the lesser of two evils.

*Trivia Warning* I happen to be a Katherine myself. I think the difference may be the fact that Katherine is pronounced as two syllables (Kath-ryn) and Caroline is pronoucned as three (Car-o-line). It is careful pronunciation of every letter in your name that gives it that upper-class ring. And it is classy. With both Caroline Kennedy and Princess Caroline out there, the upper class label is going to stay.

I was supposed to be named Caroline, but after Caroline Kennedy was born, my mom decided that everyone would think she'd named me after her (nothing political, she's a democrat - she just didn't like the idea of naming kids after a celebrity). Anyway, since I didn't get it, I decided long ago that my first born daughter would be named Caroline. Now all I need is to get around to having kids! :)

Regarding Lady Catherine: Has anyone else noticed that she seems to be wearing her bloomers on top of her head? Just like when I was a little girl and would put my pajama bottoms on my head to pretend that I had long hair.

I must say, all of those "married women" caps look like the wearer is only missing their PJ's so they can go straight to bed!

Going back to the names.... I was christened Caroline because my mother thought it was unusual, or so she told me. Since she was a mega Austenite and Regency fan, I have often wondered whether she didn't have Queen Caroline of Brunswick (GeorgeIV's wife ) and Lady Caroline Lamb (Byron"s Lover ) in mind too.Both of them were a bit off the wall. Another bit of trivia...Lady Catherine's clothes and espcially here Pyjama hat were supposedly based on a portait of Queen Caroline......

Did they diliberately choose the WORST colors for Lady C. and the Bingley sisters? Or were those awful oranges and browns the highest of fashion?

awful oranges pre-empting the summer of '96 maybe?

According to "The making of P&P" book, page 53, Dinah Collin, the costume Designer dliberately set out to make as big a contrast between theglamour of the Bingley sisters and the pretty simplicity of the Bennet girls, therefore she put them in much stronger colours and a lot of silk and glitter. Personally, I don't mind browns and oranges, but I agree that they can be hard to wear. Perhaps they contribute to Caroline's ugliness. Poor Anna Chancellor!

Those hats! And feathers! Vivien Leigh would have looked bad. . .

When I was about the age of the B. sisters, we still wore hats in the daytime. The strict rule was (who knows why) hats were for the day time only - not to evening events - church, shopping, whatever. Every time I see the Bingley sisters with their elaborate hats at an evening party, I snorkel and remember how crass they would have appeared in my youth and how crass they look now. I sometimes wondered if the costume designers were thinking about the same ruls of fashion and trying to play on our memories of good and bad taste.

I definitely think the costumers were going for a bit of comedy in the Bingley sisters' hats. Ditto Lady Catherine's "bloomers on her head." Someone had mentioned this on the board -- I was re-watching last night, remembered the comment, and "could barely keep my countenance"!

I personally think Caroline is worse than Laddy C.-at least Lady Catherine is far away at Rosings, but Caroline is always around. Also, Lady C. is frank and honest, but Caroline is hyppocritical (about Jane etc) Ugh!

I think we hate Caroline more because she's a direct romantic rival of Lizzy's (in _her_ eyes, at least).

.. Caroline is always around... Marsha - I love it. I bet Charles feels the same way!

Yes, but, I would have to say the L.C. has position, money, and the power to which she would use to cause more problems for Lizzie then Caroline would.I don't see really how Caroline would be around the Darcy's after they are married but L.Catherine could be around a lot if she so choosed. I don't like Caroline either but L.C. is a control freak.

I vote for Mr. Hurst. When Lizzy enters the dining room the first day at Netherfield (just after Darcy pronounces the Bennets unmarriagable) Hurst doesn't even have teh decency to stand when the lady enters the room. How shocking!

Hurst rhymes with wurst, and that's exactly what he looks like to me- a sprawling sausage of gluttony and physical appetites in general. Possibly the shallowest JA person to me. I also dislike Miss Steel in S&S, though, for her brand of conniving and troublebrewing. Somehow Caroline at least has humor in her persona, as Anna C. played her.

Actually, most of that is thanks to Rupert Vansittart - JA gives us remarkably few clues (for her) regarding the details of Mr. Hurst's character.

Donna's right -- Lady C. can cause a whole lot more trouble for Lizzy after the marriage than C.B. can. How does Austen resolve the Lady Catherine thread in the book? Does she reconcile with Darcy, and deign to visit the "polluted" shades of Pemberley? Help me -- I can't remember!

Darcy patches things up with Lizzy's help and Lady C visits after all. I most like the epilogue's reference to Mr Bennet becoming a frequent visitor. What a sweetie.

Lady Catherine: I really do not believe she can cause many problems for Elizabeth. She lives far away. She is very fond of and proud of Darcy. Continuing her war with Elizabeth will alienate Darcy. She is a stupid, selfish woman who must have a limited realm of influence over a few people dependent upon her and a few others of little understanding. People of sense will ignore her if she tries to turn them against Elizabeth. And the tabloids, who would gladly publish anything they could get her to sa , (foolish woman she, this would be fertile ground!) were not around then to operate on the modern scale. Miss Bingley, on the other hand, is clever, and being younger with no settled home of her own, is more mobile. Distance will never keep her from Pemberly. Once Charles and Jane settle in the next county, distance will never be a problem for her. If she ever figures out why her previous assaults on Elizabeth were ineffective, she could find ways to influence people against Elizabeth. And she will probably out-live Lady C. to be a thorn in Elizabeth's side long after the Lady has gone to her eternal re ard. Anyone want to speculate on a suitable eternal reward - to eat dinner every night with Mr. Collins?

I don't know if I agree. Lady Catherine is Darcy's "almost nearest relation" and she has enough money & power to cause a lot of bother. If she keeps up her hatred of E., it seems that every family function could be pretty awkward. Likewise, I think that C.B. loses most of her leverage when Darcy marries Lizzy. Her eternal reward -- being made to hear Mary play & sing forever?

"Her eternal reward -- being made to hear Mary play & sing forever?" Capital! Capital! While at dinner with Mr. Collins.

Actually I feel a little sorry for Mary. Anybody care to speculate on her fate? I think JA says in one of her letters that she married one of her uncle's lawclerks. She might have been bitter over being rejected by Mr Collins.

] Actually I feel a little sorry for Mary. Anybody care to speculate on her fate? I think JA says in one of her letters that she married one of her uncle's lawclerks. She might have been bitter over being rejected by Mr Collins. ___ Hi Carl. Welcome. You know, I'll bet Mary did not expect much. Therefore she was probably not bitter. It is very funny to think of her longing for Mr C, though, fantasizing about him &c. Amy

What about Kitty? Did JA ever drop what kind of guy she might have ended up with?

Kitty was respectably married to a clergyman who held a living near Pemberly

Thanks! I didn't think she was destined for a particularly rich husband.

The marital outcomes of Kitty and Mary were not resolved in the book, but rather, through JA's letters and other writings after the book was published. Everybody wanted to know what happened to so-and-so, so Jane invented postscripts for some of them, that survive to today.

I've come on to this thread late, but... Re: 24:46 -- I have the "Jane Austen Punishments List" in the Jane Austen jokes file Re: 24:52 -- I have James Edward Austen-Leigh's summary of Jane Austen's follow-on comments at the beginning of http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~churchh/austseql.html

Was watching P&P2 tonight and during the Lizzy/Lady C. confrontation in tape 6(?), and it seemed to me that Lady C. sounded like Our Miss Brooks - Eve Arden. except Miss Brooks never sounded as cross and unpleasant as Lady C. Did I imagine that or has anyone else noticed the voice similarity?

Yeah, I noticed the Eve Arden /Lady C. vocal similarity! Another is a Darcy/Capt. Kirk of STAR TREK similarity in the Part 6 moment when Bingley says "So I have your blessing[to propose to Jane]?" Look at the way Darcy moves his head and listen as he vocalizes "Do you need my blessing?"etc. IT'S PURE KIRK!(like scenes where Kirk would get this slightly ironic manner & look talking to a crewman) We could probably find many others, such as someone said on topic #4 that Darcy resembled a young singer Tom Jones as D. leaned back in his chair, exhausted from writing the letter to E. Anyone see/hear any others??

] Look at the way Darcy moves his head and listen as he vocalizes "Do you need my blessing?"etc. IT'S PURE KIRK! ___ LOL, France. You have some extra rich neural connections I do not possess.

Yes I have notice a similarity to Sir Lawrence Oliver after the first proposal before he walks up the stairs to write the letter to Lizzie.When walks into the light at that moment he reminds me of him. When he says No,forgive me forgive me.{sigh}When he leans back in his chair he looks like SLO to me. I don't really care for TJ.

Donna, I thought he looked very like Laurence Olivier after he got out of the carriage at the first assembly in Meryton and he looked up at the windows. When I first saw that upward glance I immediately thought SLO!!

He is such a cutie-pie more so then SLO he seems more approachable. I do admire SLO who doesn't he was such a wonderful actor. I guess it has to do with his vast "Shakesphearian" background.

I'm with you, Donna. CF seems to be a much warmer person, and his Darcy also becomes a much warmer one than Olivier's. SLO was a great actor and a great "STAR" as in the 30's and 40's there were other such great, unapproachable stars. But I think CF is more of a chameleon as an actor - he can change appearance, tone, body language, and personality to fit the role which I don't think SLO ever did.

Yes,yes a "Chameleon" I like him very much indeed.

Donna and Inko- "He is such a cutie-pie more so then SLO he seems more approachable...CF seems to be a much warmer person, and his Darcy also becomes a much warmer one than Olivier's." Whew, it IS getting warm in here. ;-) I realize that this tangent is becoming #4-ish, but (heck, it's HIS site practically, ain't it?) on recommendation I did check out A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY- FILM DISCUSSION site (have also seen film) and I agree with Carol's? comment about how, even at just 26? and in a different role, CF sunning himself on the tomb (right before the minister's wife wakens him) is a very kissable-looking stunner! (Where is MY fencing foil and pond? I shall conquer this!)

Oh, I have not seen A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY but have read serval discussion. Sure would like to. I like "very kissable-looking". I guess I am back to "drooling" Oh well, can't help myself.

LOL Cecily and Donna. Maybe we'd better head back to Topic #4 before we slobber all over this one!!;) Oh yes, that scene in A Month in the Country is gorgeous, as well as the final goodbye scene in the belfry with Mrs. Keach - oh those eyes.

I can't agree that Olivier didn't have the ability to change looks/mannerisms for a role. How can you compare him in WUTHERING HEIGHTS to he played in BOYS FROM BRAZIL?! Or his mid-European grandfather in A LITTLE ROMANCE to Lord Nelson in THAT HAMILTON WOMAN? Egad, the man was a virtual chameleon!

Exactly. Laurence Olivier is one of my most favourite actors (they usually tend to be stars from the 30's and 40's.) I especially love his performance in Rebecca - nothing can match that wonderful condescending attitude of his towards adorable Joan Fontaine! But I don't like his Heathcliff; he wasn't too cruel. And his Darcy was too stiff, and a bit akward.

Yeah, he definitely played Darcy as aloof. Though he warmed up quite a bit in that first proposal scene with Greer!

I remember admiring his performance in "Richard III" as well as Rebecca and some Tjechov play "Uncle Vanja" ?

I understand he was wonderful playing a burned out song-and-dance man. And the film was. . .???

amy2 -- are you meaning the movie "The Entertainer"?

Has anyone seen August, the Uncle Vanya set in Wales with Anthony Hopkins?

If I'm not mistaken, Hopkins also composed the music for August.

Directed, too.

Yes, Kathleen, the film was THE ENTERTAINER. Haven't seen it, but I understand that Olivier was amazing.

Amy2 -- I saw THE ENTERTAINER a long time ago. I remember little about it, but I do remember thinking that Olivier was good (but so very different from many other of his parts that it took a while to get used to him).

He really was amazingly versatile. And he continued to be so even in his later years.

Rebecca was a wonderful film...it captured the mood of the book perfectly. Also enjoyed THW...the story intrigued me...and I love Vivien Leigh...

I thought THAT HAMILTON WOMAN was a really great film. You don't hear too much about it these days though...

For some reason, a lot of people don't like the stuff Sir Larry and Ms. Vivien did together. I hear that their ROmeo and Juliet was a really bad film, but I loved THW. It's a very bittersweet story, and done well. Admiral Nelson is a just the type of character Olivier was meant to portray. Why wouldn't people be able to appreciate this film?

I have no idea. I just loved THW. And Leigh really did look radiant. Go figure.

I loved THW also. I headed to the encylopedia and then the local library trying to find out more about Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. I was fascinated that even World Book gave a few lines to the mistress in their short biography. Local library was no help though. I would love to know more about them. I have seen a few scenes of the new adaption of the story with Lady Hamilton a very loud and vulgar person but cared little for it. One day I will get to the university library and perhaps learn more.

Katy, the later version of Lady Hamilton as loud and vulgar is historically more accurate as far as I can remember. She was certainly neither as beautiful or as refined as Vivien Leigh made her. But I did and still do love the movie. BTW it was just called "Lady Hamilton" in England.

I think it was an Alexander Korda film. And released at a time when Britain needed a lift during WWII. . .

"Lady Hamilton as loud and vulgar is historically more accurate" somehow, this doesn't surprize me -- but I think I will skip the movie anyway. So, Inko, what became of Lady Hamilton after Lord Nelson died?

That part of the movie is pretty accurate so far as I know. She was left without any money, destitute, and more or less on the street. Lady Nelson was left the house, money, honour, and everything that Nelson would have been entitled to had he lived.

".. more or less on the street" Is nothing else known of her after Lord Nelson died? Did the child survive to adulthood? Did she literally live on the street? Could Nelson have provided for her if he had thought to?

Did not Susan Sontag write a novel on this subject? Or am I confusing things.

You know, after watching P&P again, the person I wanted to thwack wasn't Ducky, or Lady C.- it was Mrs. Bennet. She reminds me just too much of my aunt, I suppose. I would say that Mr. Collins reminds me of my World History teacher, but that would be cruel- to Mr. C.

I must agree with you on Mrs. Bennet. Don't you love how she and Mrs. Phillips suddenly "remember" how much they had distrusted Wickham!?! "There was always something about his eyes"! She comes across as stupid, but really she knew exactly how to get her own way, didn't she? I still dislike Duckface, though. I love it when Darcy puts her in her place after E. leaves Pemberley that night. "having forced him to say what gave no one any pain but herself."

Don't you love how she and Mrs. Phillips suddenly "remember" how much they had distrusted Wickham!?! "There was always something about his eyes"! Similar to how Mrs. Dashwood "remembers" there were things she didn't like so much about Willoughby, now that Marianne is with Colonel Brandon? Loved Elinor's smile upon listening to her mother!

How about Mrs B's sudden switcheroo after the marriage arrangements had been set. "Oh, I knew he [her brother] would manage everything." Then a minute later he was guilty of something dreadful -- what was it?

I also like her changing views on Bingley after he's left Netherfield. When she's talking to Lizzy in the garden: "Well, just as he pleases. No one WANTS him to come." Of course, if he showed up that second, she'd prostrate herself at his feet.

Amy: How about Mrs B's sudden switcheroo after the marriage arrangements had been set. "Oh, I knew he [her brother] would manage everything." Then a minute later he was guilty of something dreadful -- what was it? Mr. Gardiner's sin was to be so high handed as to have Lydia be married in London rather than at Longbourn..."I do not see that! Why must that be?" Silly, silly woman. Or when she is so afraid that Mr. Bennet will fight Wickham and be killed, but when Mr. Bennet is to come home, "Oh, who will fight Wickham and make him marry her?" But my favorite turn-around is her attitude towards Darcy, "Oh, what pin money you shall have! Pray find out what his favorite dishes are!" ;-)

I wouldn't call Mrs. B. sillt all of the time. I just think that the things that you pointed out above that she said, she said to make herself seem to be in the best possible light- of course Lizzy and Mr. B. would remind her of her turn-around fairly often!

I guess Mrs B's best scene was not shot, when Lizzy tells her of the engagement.

How did she react in the book? Was she stunned into silence, or did she go into a tizzy?

Amy2: How did she react in the book? She was silent for fully 10 minutes! And then went into the above mentioned "what pin money you shall have" speech..."Why Bingley's wealth is nothingcompared to his!" Terribly crude and crass, you know, typical Mrs. Bennet! ;-)

Jane Austen tells us that Elizabeth "reserve to herselfthe application for her mother's [consent. She knew that her mother's manner (whether she rejected ]. . . . whether she [Mrs Bennet] were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense". Actually, it seems to me that Mrs Bennet's reaction did complete justice to her sense! And Alison Steadman could have had a field day with that scene. ;-)

Kathleen said Mrs. Bennet's reaction did complete justice to her sense! I agree that it did - or was it her lack of sense?? Alison Steadman could have had a field day with that scene.;-) Oh yes, I'd love to have seen it. I can just visualize her, after Lizzie had gone back to her own room, flying down the corridor opening Lizzie's door and saying in her loud voice, "And a special license. You must and shall be married by a special license." At which point, of course, Kitty and Mary would also descend on Lizzie's room and the excitement in the corridor would continue long after Lizzie had closed the door with a sigh of relief!!;-)

Or perhaps the best part of all: Mrs B's utter silence upon first hearing the news. (I still believe she was for a split second jealous)

But would the 10 minutes of silence have filmed well? ;-)

]But would the 10 minutes of silence have filmed well? ;-) How about this: (Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet in Mrs. B's room.) E: Mama, Mr. Darcy had proposed and I have accepted. Mrs. B: (Silent and totally still) E: Mama, did you hear, Mr. Darcy and I are to be married. Mrs. B: (Remains silent and still) E: Mama, are you all right? Mama? Mama! Mrs. B: Lips moving, but no sound coming out--Mr. Darcy, 10,000 a year, 10,000 a year, 10,000 a year ..... At this point E either A) runs some smelling salts under her nose or B) dumps a pitcher of water over her (the choice is yours). Mrs. B thus recovers and goes into her pin money speech.

Carolyn -- wonderfully imagined. I personally like the pitcher of water, but I imagine Elizabeth would be nice and use the smelling salts. And don't forget, Mrs B has to fidget, get up and sit down again! I shall just imagine Allison Steadman here. ;.)

I still like the idea of Mrs. Bennet being played by Eric Idle or Michael Palin.

#102 At this point E either A) runs some smelling salts under her nose or B) dumps a pitcher ofwater over her (the choice is yours). Carolyn, how evil of you to give us that choice! You know how most of us would want to choose, don't you?

#105 Carolyn, how evil of you to give us that choice! You know how most of us would want to choose, don't you? Susan, I am sure we are ladylike and will do the "right" thing. ;-)

I'm still fond of my idea that Mrs. Bennet should be played by Hugh Grant. Such palpitations of his heart & flutterings!

] Mrs. Bennet should be played by Hugh Grant. Such palpitations of his heart & flutterings! the very thing!