Another reason to be angry about MP2
A lot of Janeites have very strong opinions (mostly negative) about the 1999 film adaptation of MANSFIELD PARK, and even years later there is still some fallout from the filming. The Independent reports that the doves released as part of the Henry Crawford’s Big Romantic Gesture scene are still living in Charlestown, a port town in Cornwall that stood in for Portsmouth in the film. A woman who has been feeding the doves ever since is retiring and fears that no one will feed the doves from now on. One hopes that the birds will be able to fend for themselves; and one hopes that future filmmakers will exercise more responsibility in using animals. Jane Austen loved nature and we suspect would have been most seriously displeased at such activity in her name.
September 7th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
I have to say I am sorry for those poor birds. Of all the adaptations of Jane’s works, MP2 is the one I dislike the most. And I hadn’t even read the novel yet when I saw it. I hated in by instinct alone. It’s a shame because they had such a great cast, and rather nice costuming.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
I, too, never read the book. But too sensual for JA. Good cast. Maybe they were influenced by P&P ‘95 when they tried to introduce sex into the story.
September 7th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
mansfield park was, admittedly, different from the book. in fact, i think that any adaptation [shorter than four hours, where there is the luxury of time to allow the story to fully unfold], one should view it as something entirely different. i am a huge fan of the novel, though i also really enjoyed the movie. i thought that it was wonderfully acted, the filming was spectacular.. i thought that it was a fun, entertaining movie with a plot loosely wrapped around our beloved Austen tale. i have always thought that this book deserved perhaps the most amount of praise compared to all of austen’s work - pride and prejudice, excluded, naturally
[cliche of me, but p&p will always be my favorite]. i think that it’s a beautiful story that girls of all ages and eras can relate with.
i think that austen would have been pleased with the mp2 adaptation. perhaps they should have made it clear that the storyline was but a loose idea of austen’s, but i think that two hours is a difficult time frame to work with. what was produced was a lovely love story - perhaps not what had been anticipated by diehard austen fans like ourselves, but worthy of some sort of praise all the same.
i thought that the ‘dove scene’ was excellent. it is a bit depressing to think that the birds are still fluttering about, but if they haven’t the ability to feed themselves, there’s a quandry in nature. not in the adaptation.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Oh, I agree. It’s a terrificly done movie. I watch it about every other night. I think Frances O’Connor and Jonny Lee Miller have great chemistry. And I say over and over, you can’t compare a mini series with a movie because of the time constraints.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Speaking for myself, I don’t compare it to a miniseries. I compare it to the book that it is purportedly adapting, and it comes up very lacking indeed. I do think it’s possible to adapt a book in two hours without destroying it and introducing themes that are not there.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
possibly, yes, though i have yet to see one. i did, however, think that they took a lot of creative/artistic liberty with mp2, making it more enjoyable. perhaps it should just be completely set apart from the book.. then people would be able to realize that it really is a lovely film. i do see your point, though, mags.
September 8th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
The ‘99 adaptation of Mansfield Park would have been pretty good, I think, if they would have stuck with the actual story. I could have done without the little tidbits of Jane Austen’s character infused with Fanny’s, and changes of circumstances, etc., in exchange for a version that more closely followed the book. I think the costuming, cast, production values are good; just didn’t like the script, I s’pose.