Andrew Davies luvs Jane Austen
icWales has an article about the success (and overseas sales) of Andrew Davies’ television adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Bleak House in which Mr. Davies discusses his next project, a BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
“I haven’t started it yet but I am very happy to be adapting the novel,” Davies said. “Jane Austen is still my favourite novelist and I am pleased to be able to work with her writing.”
The adaptation won’t be Davies’s first foray with Austen. In 1995 he enjoyed resounding acclaim for his BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which shot Colin Firth to fame as the inimitable Mr Darcy.
With the weight of that production weighing on his shoulders, Davies admits that the pressure is on to get the adaptation right.
“I had hoped that there wouldn’t be any pressure but of course there is a little,” he said.
“But I treat each project separately and try to push things like that to the back of my mind.”
Dorothy (who admits to a weakness for Dickens) just peeked over our shoulder whilst bringing us a fresh pot of Orange Pekoe and expressed a wish that Bleak House might make it across the pond.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:38 am
Good luck following up on Thompson’s S&S. Bit of the shoe being on the other foot now (How dare they adapt that novel when the perfect adaptation already exists?)
December 19th, 2005 at 1:19 am
Well, I’ve seen so many versions of some Shakespeare plays that the idea of different versions of JA doesn’t bother me that much anymore. I just want them all to be good.
December 19th, 2005 at 11:13 am
I’ll be glad for another adaption. I didn’t really care for Emma Thompson’s S&S. It stretched things too much from what they really were; added things that were unecessary when more of the book should have been added instead; and we didn’t get a kiss at the end. Well, there is the deleted one on the DVD, but what about Marianne and Brandon? I liked the 1983 version except for the two male leads and the fact that Margaret was missing.
December 19th, 2005 at 11:18 am
This is how I think the new film should end.
Since Marianne doesn’t fall in love right away with Col. Brandon I hope they show a passing of time at the end of the film; kind of an epilogue. Maybe some scenes with no talking and beautiful music. Just a shot of Elinor and Edward’s little cottage with them outside playing with a couple of their children; possibly a sneaked in kiss. Then a scene with Marianne reading in the library. Col. Brandon walks in to write a letter or something. His presence is very distracting to Marianne. Instead of reading she keeps looking at him. Finally, he turns and reads the message on her face loud and clear. He slowly rises to his feet and approaches her. He stares down at her, then slowly (as if in a trance) touches her face. They of course kiss, break apart, laugh, then hug. That would be the end.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:57 pm
Bleak House IS coming to Masterpiece Theatre, Jan. 22 - Feb. 26 2006!
December 21st, 2005 at 6:49 pm
Hrm interesting… can’t wait until there is some casting news… I think ET’s adaptation emphasized the suppression of emotion too much, but what do Austen fans think? Is Elinor repressed or is she balanced?
December 21st, 2005 at 10:16 pm
Well, Elinor didn’t almost die from having controlled emotions, and Marianne almost did from having UNcontrolled emotions. So there’s your lesson right there.
And no, I don’t think she is repressed. Not unhealthily so anyway, it’s just her personality.
December 22nd, 2005 at 4:25 pm
Hope you don’t mind my recommending it here, but Andrew Davies’ Bleak House is the best thing I’ve watched since P&P3. It’s totally compelling, hilarious in places, and I cried buckets at the end.
December 25th, 2005 at 12:31 pm
I really should read Bleak House. Unfortunately, it’s just that, for some reason, I tend to prefer Dickens adaptations to Dickens novels. The only exception is Great Expectations.
*hangs head in shame*