Jane Austen’s modern relevance
The BBC examines the continuing popularity of Jane Austen’s stories on film.
Given the enduring popularity of the books and attendant films, it looks as though Austen mania will be with us for a while yet.
“The appeal of adapting Austen is that her novels have more dramatic incident than a year’s worth of EastEnders,” says Ian Freer, associate editor of film magazine Empire.
“These are beautifully constructed stories of heartbreak and happiness populated by good-looking people and adorned with period finery which is the stuff of populist movies.
The fact that they also come with a set of social restrictions that can be translated into any environment - from a US high school in Clueless to an inter-racial romance in Bride And Prejudice - increases their appeal as they still feel contemporary and relevant.”
We were amused by this tidbit:
And, Bridget Jones’s Diary offers more than a passing nod to Pride and Prejudice - Bridget is a Mr Darcy obsessive who ultimately ends up with a man called Darcy (played, ironically enough, by Colin Firth).
We would argue that Mr. Firth’s appearance in the Bridget Jones films is not ironic in the least. 
October 9th, 2004 at 10:04 pm
…and yet noone will make a decent movie of Northanger Abbey! By the way, I’m thinking of Romola Garai for Catherine.
October 9th, 2004 at 10:25 pm
Hmm. I like her but Catherine needs to be very young, a teenager really, I think.
October 9th, 2004 at 10:50 pm
Romola Garai is perfect for Catherine, although if i was looking at another English young Lady i might look to one of the HP kids, if Emma Watsons contract with Harry Potter Runs out i think she would be another excellent choice for Catherine. ~R
October 11th, 2004 at 7:04 pm
Romola’s in her early twenties and with the right make-up could easily pass for a teenager. I’ll have to think about Emma Watson. My fisrt thought is she’s too pretty!