Austen Season begins in March
It looks like ITV is beginning their “Austen Season” in March with the broadcast of MANSFIELD PARK.
In one of four dramas commissioned for a Jane Austen season Billie Piper stars as Fanny Price, for the latest adaptation of the classic Mansfield Park.
Taken from her poverty stricken home to live with her rich aunt and uncle (Jemma Redgrave and Douglas Hodge) Fanny is never allowed to forget her humble background. When a glamorous socialite arrives at the house she fears she may lose the only person she really loves, her cousin Edmund.
Before anyone gets all excited…only three films were commissioned; the fourth is a repeat of the adaptation of EMMA starring Kate Beckinsale.
We are very amused by the phrase “glamorous socialite” for some reason. (Almost as good as the cover copy for Persuasion 1995, in which Lady Russell is referred to as a “scheming socialite.”)
As a reminder for those who haven’t seen it, these films will be broadcast in the U.S. on PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre beginning in November 2007.
ETA: Masterpiece Theatre will broadcast the films starting in January 2008.
Thanks to Alert Janeite Amo for the link!
January 1st, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Glamorous socialite? Maybe, if they don’t make Mary C. wear an ugly wig like in the 1983 version. That was jsut plain dowdy.
January 2nd, 2007 at 9:39 am
Most of that version was dowdy. I liked Bernard Repton as Sir Thomas though.
January 2nd, 2007 at 9:57 am
Is it too much to hope that some kind Janeite would put up a torrent? I mean, not that I, personally, would ever dabble in such doings, but perhaps it could provide a happy moment for some less upright Janeites.
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
A question: when is the new version of Sense and Sensibility due, and who is making it? We know all about Persuasion, MP and NA, but nothing about that one. Is it still on?
January 2nd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I liked the 1983 MP. Bernard Hepton was a good Sir Thomas, and Anna Massey is hard to beat as Aunt Norris.
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Lisa, the BBC is making the new S&S, and it has not yet started filming. It still appears to be on for broadcast next autumn.
January 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Also liked Mr. Repton as Sir Thomas, and Anna Massey as Aunt Norris, but thought Sylvestra Le Touzel as fanny was a little….not to my taste.
January 4th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Mags, thank you. Is it just me, or are they leaving it really late, if they haven’t even started filming yet? How are they going to cast it and shoot it and edit it, and still broadcast it withing this year?
January 4th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
I envy those across the pond who’ll get Mansfield Park first.
I like the 1983 version. Anna Massey and Bernard Hepton were very good as Aunt Norris and Sir Thomas, as were Nicholas Farrell as Edmund and Jackie Smith-Wood as Mary.
January 4th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Rosa Cotton, I liked the 1983 version too, very much, and I own a copy. But you all must admit that Jackie Smith-Wood’s wig was ghastly!
January 4th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Jessica, I also have that version on tape. Yes, I will admit Jackie’s wig was ghastly, as well as the actor who played her brother. And the whole production was low budget. Yet despite those short comings, I really like it.
January 8th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Here’s a new clip from ITV’s Winter Season with glimpses of the new Northanger Abbey!
http://www.itvmedia.co.uk/default.asp?section=104&page=406&subpage=1999