I'm with you, MaryC. I can't imagine anyone else in the role; even other English actors, though there might be one or two, would have a difficult time filling the part so completely or giving so much life to Darcy! As Susan Birtwhistle said, "Colin Firth is the definitive Darcy". I doubt there'll be another remake for another 25 years or so!;-)

] As Susan Birtwhistle said, "Colin Firth is the definitive Darcy". I doubt there'll be another remake for another 25 years or so!;-) __ Right you are, Inko. How could anyone dare try?

I wholeheartedly agree! Colin Firth is the definitive Darcy whether he likes it or not. I think Susan Birtwhistle is the true genius behind Darcy's success and CF is the mere mortal born with requisite components. Birtwhistle knew Firth was right and proved Firth was right while Firth dithered about....he just doesn't seem to get it.

There's no doubt that CF is the absolute ideal Darcy. But I wouldn't mind seeing Daniel Day Lewis or even Ralph Fiennes giving it a try. Those classical guys can really surprise you!

I see you are not quite ready to give it up Amy2. Well, maybe in another generation of actors there will be a likely prospect, but I doubt we will find one in this day and age. Dan and Ralph might do OK, I agree, but only if we had never seen CF in the role. I do think this topic does pose an attractive challenge, and of course, we will all continue to scrutinize likely candidates in all the movies, etc, we shall view for some time to come. My mind is still open on the subject, but just barely.

CF absolutely rules as Darcy; to me, he makes the role his own in the same way Yul Brenner did in KING & I and Rex Harrison in MY FAIR LADY. I just think it would be interesting to see somebody else attempt it, & my vote would go Daniel D. Lewis. That man is just so versatile, he's amazing: from the effete fop of ROOM WITH A VIEW to the dashing hero of MOHICAN to the Irish prisoner of NAME OF THE FATHER. Whew! I think he might be one of the more underrated actors out there, at least in terms of U.S. b x office.

As for Daniel Day Lewis's versatility, don't forget My Beautiful Laundrette. I thought that the enterprising English director had got a punk off the street to play that role, and did not recognize the same actor in A Room With a View. Jane

Glad someone hs seen _My Beautiful Laundrette_ apart from me!I loved it it, Jane. Did you?

]Glad someone hs seen _My Beautiful Laundrette_ apart from me!I loved it it, I have and I did...

Caroline and Anna, Yes, I thought Laundrette was terrific. Something different. There seem to be a high proportion of interesting British movies (considering what a little island it is) compared to American movies. I just saw Cold Comfort Farm, and found it quite charming, although some of the country accents could have used subtitles! A good chance to see Kate Beckinsdale play Emma while we wait to see her really play Emma. Jane

Jane -- I, too, enjoyed Cold Comfort Farm. There were scenes of LOL. (Especially when the one son is leaving for Hollywood and spends time saying goodby to the livestock!) Having seen this I believe Kate Beckinsale should do Emma quite nicely.

Wasn't Joanne Lumley from AB FAB in Cold Comfort Farm?

]amy2: Wasn't Joanne Lumley from AB FAB in Cold Comfort Farm? Yes, she played the friend of Kate Beckinsale's character, a relatively small part.

Hope I'm not fanning the flames, but I agree that CF was the only possible Darcy, but that my second choice would be DDL. He does show a remarkable range and, as Mr. Knightley said to Mrs. Elton, "I would have thought it well within [his] purview."

And DDL _does_ have those dark, smouldering looks!

Amy2: And DDL _does_ have those dark, smouldering looks! oh yes! For sheer hunkibility (not necessarily from an acting standpoint!), DDL's best is Mohicans. Oh Hawkeye, with your buckskins and your long hair flowing down your back, running through the woods, come rescue me, ooh baby, ooh baby! (sorry! I've been holding that in since this topic was begun and someone first mentioned his name...I could no longer contain myself! )

]oh yes! For sheer hunkibility (not necessarily from an acting standpoint!), DDL's best is Mohicans. Cheryl! If you can admit it here, I guess I can let you know that you're not alone. And who else? Mohicans is one of those movies I like to watch without the sound.

Yes, MOHICANS certainly increased my appreciation for early American history!

Oh Sisters! Bless you for coming to my aid concerning Mohicans! You are true friends to not let me hang out there, exposed, all alone! But Myretta, I need the sound on to hear the beautiful musical score and to tingle at Hawkeye's "I will find you!" *sigh*

And Mohican is a recently purchase tape of mine. Have only seen it once on TV and was most pleasantly surprised. Thought it had drooling possibilities and am saving it for one dull and rainy day. Glad to have my appetite increased by my dear fellow addicts Cheryl & Myretta, on whose opinions I feel confident to rely.

Refresh my memory - has anyone suggested Liam Neeson yet?

Kali -- I think I did. I LOVE that man. Do you think he's too old to play Darcy though? Here's another one - what about Jeremy Northam? He does have those dark, perfect good looks!

Inko, write a 40 something Mr Darcy.

Ladies, after our discussion here of this gentleman for the role of Darcy, I found the following update from Reuters to really hit my funny bone... ''Oldman as Dr. Smith Danger, Will Robinson: Gary Oldman is in final talks to star as the persnickety Dr. Smith in a movie version of ``Lost in Space.'' Oldman's agent told Variety the role would help the actor fulfill his goal of playing something other than dark characters. ``He wants to do something that his seven-year-old son can see,'' the manager said. ``He's always wanted to pop up in something that is a high-camp family film.'' Oldman is the first actor firmed up for the movie and Tim Robbins and Kenneth Branagh report dly had been interested in the Dr. Smith role, too.'' Kenneth Branagh as Dr. Smith?!? The mind boggles....

Amy, First I've got to get him from 5 to 27!;-) After that, maybe, but considering the sequals I've read, I fear my performance would deserve no credit! For the moment, I'll stick to young Fitz!!

He's a charmer. Maybe I should take a crack at a Darcy of a certain age myself.

Jeremy Northam as Mr. Darcy? I've thought of that. I wonder if he's physically big enough, but otherwise I'm sure he would do a great job. But he's already been a fine Mr. Knightley, which sort of makes him too obvious a choice. And as I said, the point is moot anyway, b/c CF is the definitive Darcy...so I'll quit making suggestions.

I didn't greatly care for JN as Knightley. He wasn't nearly tall or old enough in relation to GP. Since we're talking about DDL in Mohicans, was I the only one doing some drooling and swooning over Wes Studi? Not suggesting him as a Darcy, mind, just remembering that he was memorable. CF has ruined the role for anyone else.

//a crack at a Darcy of a certain age // Amy! Are you serioius? Please have a try! Do not go back on this half promise now. I would so like to meat a Darcy more fit to adore for mature women. (though back at Pemberley we are all twentyish I hope).

Hope youare not seirioiuis!!! Some kind of robber's tounge hit me I guess. But if you would consent to totrory [;-)], it would be great.

I still can't process that Robber's Tongue, Ann, though it is intruiging.

]Robber's Tongue ??meat a Darcy... ;-)

How about this: Amy, write the 40something Darcy script. Send it to Sue Birtwhistle in 5 years and then if CF's career has fizzled out a bit (oh sure) and he needs the $ and ego boost THEN he'll play Darcy again. (the only problem is the wait, the aging of him and us, and the fact I may be sick of all this by then, or years of coffe-intake may have addled my brain as well as my kidneys so the only drooling I do will be gaga, watching him in Gone with the Bennets [the affecting tale of Lizzy's separation from Darcy on grounds of incompatible senses of humor]...

Will we get sick of this, Cecily? Probably. But my hope is we can all move on to another obsession together. Amy A Fellow Coffee Junkie (5 pots a day)

5 pots a day???? Surely not 100% caffeinated or pure French roast! The eventual osteoporosis bone-leaching alone is looming. If you can: 1) drink a cup of skim milk for every cup of coffee (I just add 1/3 cup dry milk to every cup of java I drink; 2) try to gradually switch down to a 50/50 pot of decaff with caff. A reforming Caffaholic meself (imagine an Irish accent)...

Just caught up reading this topic. I see the search still goes on for someone to replace Firth in the Darcy role, but to mess with perfection is sooo frustrating. Firth is just getting better and better with each new role. Just watched Nostromo again. Some bits of Darcy remembrances there. Like the old song says, "If you ask us we could write a book, about the way he walks, the way he walks, and looks.." (SIGH..)

Anna, you are such a teaser! As I write and mumble the words yo myself, I often tend to grab the first spelling that comes to mind. And if I don't take the trouble to read through it all, the errors remain. A dictionary is not always at hand... But us robbers like such handsome meat as Darcy and would gladly meat him for a chat in robber's tongue or some tonguewagging. One migth even enjoy to be affected with tongue-tie in his company ! This is all from the dictionary, so there is nothing improper to be feared ;-)

' words yo myself,' ...and.... 'gladly meat him' What can I say? But to write ten times on the blackboard to myself gladly meet him. I'm properly humbled...and at the same time bursting with pride on behalf of my first emoticon. I love those faces; who pray is the artist(...just avoided to put 'drawer' there)?

Ann2, I love your fractured English almost as much as I love you! *samooch*

Ann2, I love your fractured English almost as much as I love you! *samooch*

In fact, it seems that I love you so much, I had to post it twice!

Ann2 ]my first emoticon. Yay! ]I love those faces; who pray is the artist(...just avoided to put 'drawer' there)?

Amy, be careful in writing for the "older" demographic. Per Hollywood, we don't exist. Do you REALLY drink that much coffee/day? Yeh! A fellow addict! Into espresso/latte?

Amy 2 Amy2: Older demo. Per Hollywood, we don't exist. That is why the idea of the Nation of Pemberley has such merit. The system in our country shall be quite different/ Do you REALLY drink that much coffee/day? Yeh! A fellow addict! Into espresso/latte? Some days I am afraid I do. Yes, I love latte, but not by the potful. And I do like places that still don't know what latte is, like that deli in Beverley Hills? Nathan's, is it?

The Carnegie Deli on Rodeo Drive? Or Nate N' Al's a little farther up? What will Hollywood do, I wonder, as the baby boomer generation starts to age, and more and more moviegoers are no longer between 12 and 13?

Cheryl, such forbearance and sweetness ! And Anna glad you did not put those drawings in the drawer ;-} ! You both make my day brighter!

My suggestion for someone else to play Darcy would be Paul Gross. For those of you who don't know who he is he's a Canadian actor who looks a lot like CF. He recently played Constable Benton Frazer on the wonderful drama Due South. I was upset when it was canceled but was thrilled when I heard this week that it will be returning to CTV in the next few months. Thank God the producers and the network had the sense to listen to its loyal viewers and give us back this uniquely funny show.

I have a friend from Canada who is absolutely ga-ga over this Paul Gross, and I have to admit he does look pretty good in the promos for the show, even though I've personally never seen it.

I've seen Due South, and Paul Gross is handsome, but he actually reminds me a lot of a younger version of Larry Hagman (of I Dream of Jeannie and Dallas fame)! But then, I do watch a LOT of Nick at Nite.........

Tracey -- I am most delighted to meet another Nick at Nite fan. (Do you also watch Nick at Nite's TVLand?) I sort of agree about Paul Gross, although I think he's cuter than a young Larry Hagman. And, I haven't ever seen him smolder the way Firth/Darcy did.

Alas, my cable company is not so enlightened as to carry TV Land (sigh). I suppose it's a good thing; I never get to bed before 1am as is (the aforementioned I Dream of Jeannie addiction--it airs at 12:30 am here). I wonder what a Paul Gross smolder would be like.......

Oh Paul Gross can smolder all right. Anyone who has seen him in the 20s period drama, Chasing Rainbows(it aired twice on the CBC, don't know if it ever nade it to the US) can testify to that. He played this tough, sexy guy from the wrong side of the tracks who gets involved in a love triangle with his best friend's fiancee. But as for Paul Gross as Darcy-only CF. I agree with Amy, he is just as much Darcy as Gable was Rhett, Bogie-Rick, Errol Flynn-Robin Hood....

] I was upset when it was canceled So was I! ]but was thrilled when I heard this week that it will be returning to CTV in the next few months. New episodes? or reruns? ]I wonder what a Paul Gross smolder would be like....... I think he would do it really well. I remember the Victoria(?) episodes.

Due South will be returning to CTV with new episodes. It is going into production again with Paul Gross as producer (I believe, I'm not 100% sure) and writer of some episodes. David Marciano (Ray) will be on sporadically. This was one great Canadian show that should have never left the air! I'm glad it's coming back. I think he would smolder very well indeed!

And this show will air starting Saturday on Showcase, check local listings.

Y'know who could play a cool satire version of P&P? ROBIN WILLIAMS. Like one of those old Peter Sellers or Alec Guinness movies, he could play all the main parts, in different wigs, costumes, voices, etc. With the magic of film fx, his Darcy could be deflated by his Mrs. Bennet, etc. Or get the cast of ARE YOU BEING SERVED? to do a parody of P&P. Or, Monty Python. Or, MUPPETS AT PEMBERLEY.

] MUPPETS AT PEMBERLEY. OK, CF and JE as D & E, of course. Miss Piggy...Caroline Kermit.......Bingley Fozzy........Sir William Gonzo........Mr. Collins Rizzo........Wickham

Oh I love those Carolyn! Goofball Gonzo as Mr. Collins, and Rizzo the Rat as Wickham! Inspired! ;-)

Love your casting Carolyn. What about The Grouch for Mr. Bennett (I will be in the library (trash can) and not to be disturbed! Cookie monster for Lydia - as far as I could see, whenever she sat down she nibbled on chocolate or complained she was hungry!

Nick at Nite is the Greatest! I've been watching since its inception in '85...I'm quite of the mind that God watches Nick at Nite...;)

Great casting job Carolyn, Oscar could also be Mr Hurst and Mrs Hurst one of Gonzo's girlfriend chicken. Animal for Mr. Bennet, is kind of wild with a soft heart :)

I actually went to the Nick at Nite touring show a few years back. It was fun. I want to know what part "Grover" would play in P&P?

Grover would be Bingley...;)

]Grover would be Bingley...;) No, no Kermit is Bingley, Grover could be Mr. Gardiner. Also (additional casting) Charlotte....Fishlips (Girl singer for Dr. Teeth) Mr. Hurst....Lance Links (the Captain in Pigs in Space) Lady Catherine...Waldorf or Astoria (the one without the mustache) Musicians: Meryton Assembly Band...Dr. Teeth with Animal on Drums Netherfield Ball Band...The penguin orchestra

Wow, you guys sure took off with that flippant concept, huh?! Personally, If it were a P&P with Muppet music, I could see Tim Curry (Long John Silver from their Treasure Island film) playing a devilishly cute Darcy! And Jeremy Irons (who guestspotted/sang long ago on Muppet Show) could be a wicked Wickham.

Irons. Can he sing?

Amy: Irons. Can he sing? He sang as Scar in The Lion King...not well, but he can carry a tune...;-)

Ralph Fiennes could smolder as Darcy I think? Any comments on that?