If you have been reading this blog long enough you know I have an obsession for Jane Austen, Dan Stevens, and other period dramas so I often play "6 degrees of separation" with these obsessions so here you go...
Colin Firth acted with Julia Sawalha in Pride and Prejudice.Julia Sawalha was Lydia Bennet who liked to make to trouble and she grew up to be Dorcas Lane in Lark Rise to Candleford, who loves to meddled causing trouble.
Brendan Coyle and Claudie Blakley in Lark Rise to Candleford.
In the show Lark Rise to Candleford Julia Sawalha acted with Brendan Coyle.Before Brendan Coyle was the stubborn but wise Robert Timmins he played the stubborn but wise Nicholas Higgins in North and South with Richard Armitage.
Lark Rise also features Victoria Hamilton, who was also featured in Mansfield Park starring Jonny Lee Miller as Edward Bertram. Jonny Lee Miller also plays Mr. Knightley in Emma.
Victoria Hamilton is on the right
Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai in Emma proposal scene
Romola Garai stars in a lot of period dramas including Daniel Deronda, which stars Hugh Bonneville who is also featured in lots in of period dramas. She also worked with Reese Witherspoon in Vanity Fair.
Reese Witherspoon has starred in numerous films, but sticking with the period drama theme... she starred in The Importance of Being Earnest with Colin Firth.
I have posted some deep blog post so to lighten the mood I thought I would post this cheesy period drama montage video. I am kind of a closet "fan-video loving girl". When I fall in love with a movie, or TV show I love seeking out these fan-video music videos. I am going to say it is my hopeful romantic side that still wants to hold on to the story and not let it go, however it is probably just my geeky side.
It is funny as much as I love the love stories, I am more and more starting to appreciate the hero or heroine's journey(as the case may be). I have given my friend some books of mine to read and she gotten annoyed at me because the last few I have given her (I capture the Castle and A Northern Light) do not have the typical romantic ending. In fact the heroine leaves the "hero" of the story to have a very independent life. She thinks it is odd that I have such strong hopeful romantic feelings. I told her "I am giving her heroines that are strong that settle for nothing but the best in life." I have a very deep heart for love and sappiness but I think the only way to have true love is not to settle for anything but perfection. I know love will not be perfect (I am not expecting a Disney movie), I know it is hard work, but I also know that love should not feel like settling. I can watch sappy movies but at the end of the day the love stories I admire are the ones where the characters grow and empower themselves. So I am still on the look out for these heroines...
Some I highly recommend (highly bias but in no particular order)
Cassandra- I Capture the Castle
Molly Gibson- Wives and Daughters
Elinor Dashwood- Sense and Sensibility
Amy Dorrit- Little Dorrit
Fiona- The Tea Rose
Hadassah- A Voice in the Wind and Echo in the Darkness
Shelby Parker- The Princess
Mattie- A Northern Light
Fanny Price- Mansfield Park
Every heroine deserves a great moment in the rain. This is a truth from both period dramas (rather they happen in the book or not) and modern TV and movies. There just seems to be something about the rain that makes a scene more romantic. I am happy I let my heroine, Rose, have her moment...
At that moment we heard the overcast
sky give a little grumble and the pale gray sky was now presenting us with a
summer shower. Kelby without thinking took my hand and lead me to the Temple of
Diana. It wasn't really a temple just a folly. It had been popular in the
eighteenth century for grand estates to build these little arch ways and call
them temples. Now they mainly served as places to hide during the rain. But it
was the closest structure to the backwoods and a good place to wait out this
summer storm. Even though it was the closest structure we were still soaked
causing a shiver over my body. Kelby must have seen me shiver as he pulled me
close into his arms and held me there. I think outside of Marcus, who used to
hug me when I had bad dreams, Kelby was the first man to hold me.
"Come let's get me home,"
he said once the rain had stooped.
"Oh Kelby I do not want to go
home. I cannot face her."
"Miss Rose, one must never be
afraid to face your fears." With that he took his thumb and brushed the hair that had fallen in front
of my face. "But perhaps you need some tea to strengthen you up." And
he gave me a little smile.
I
was only eleven so I could not explain how I really felt then but I mark this
down as the beginning of my love for Kelby Gray.
As a young girl, Jane Austen wrote stories and plays for her family for entertainment. She presented a different and very honest kind of voice during a time when more books were coming out, but they were of lesser quality. Austen was clearly giving the world some quality work (I mean, does quality work get turned into a modern day rom-com?).
An example from the movie Becoming Jane of Jane Austen's writing as a hobby.
I love seeing how much Jane Austen has inspired people around the world. She is not just an author of love stories but if you give her a chance she brings out the best in people. I love the first lesson from this post of turning a hobby into your career.
On Friday I was getting coffee with my friend, we come from different back grounds and we have different passions and I think our passions bring us together. We admit we are both geeky but I think everyone as there geeky parts... some people geek out over video games, others geek out over Broadway musicals, and a lot people geek out about sports. But the point of it is to find a passion and pursue it.
So many times I consider her my inspiration for my writing. I mean I literally used her story of Sense and Sensibility as a basis of my story Sisters in Pine Haven. She had a heart to write about every day things or interactions and make them special. Her stories have lasted through generations and have been re-made and updated. For Example:
I know I can only hope to as inspirational as her... but I do so want to make an impact in this world, rather it be in my writing or doing my best to live out my faith.
Sunday in the heat of the day I watched the 1940's Pride and Prejudice. It was interesting to watch. I was for warned that the movie was based off the play and not the book so I was curious to see what changes would happen. I thought the plot changes took away a lot of the great details of the story but what was hardest for me was to see them in completely wrong period outfits.
I have known for awhile that the costuming in this film was wrong and for that reason I avoided this film but on a horribly hot day with nothing to do and being only $1.99 to rent on YouTube I thought I would give it a chance.
First plot change we meet Wickham in the first few minutes and he actually attends the assembly ball. Then at the assembly ball Mr. Darcy first insults Elizabeth but then begs a man to introduce him to her and asks her dance... what? Elizabeth is quick to turn him down and then accepts a dance from Mr. Wickham.
Other plot changes were also okay but I didn't like them for example The Netherfield ball becomes a garden party and Elizabeth shows off her archery skills to Mr. Darcy, which I thought was just humorous. And then the couple seems almost friendly until Mr. Darcy hears Mrs. Bennett talk about how Jane had captured Mr. Bingley. After this Mr. Darcy does not want to dance with Elizabeth.
Of course Mr. Collins has the awkward proposal and the even more awkward refusal. Then when Mrs. Bennett tells him Elizabeth's character is unruly he believe Lady Catherine De Bourgh would not be happy about this in his match and this seems to be the catalyst which makes him propose to Charlotte Lucas. So good job Mrs. Bennett.
Up to now all these plot changes are acceptable but the real change happens when Elizabeth goes off to visit Charlotte. The visit is fine and Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth and of course she turns him down. In the other Pride and Prejudices I have watched I felt heartache over the refusal and in this one I didn't feel the same emotional agony to see Mr. Darcy refused. It might be because I didn't have the crush I have had for the other men who played Darcy and I think that is emotional attachment to Darcy is very important because you are suppose to be hurting for both Elizabeth and Darcy at this moment.
Then after her refusal she returns to home to find out that Lydia has eloped with Mr. Wickham... what no Pemberly? That hurts. Then Mr. Darcy comes to explain his hatred for Mr. Wickham (yep no letter either) and asks if he can be of some use to help locate Lydia and Wickham... "NO! He is suppose to be doing this in secret!" I wanted to yell at the TV. Ugh!
Lady Catherine De Bourgh comes to call on Elizabeth and for some reason says that she has the power to take away Mr. Darcy's money if he marries some one that is not of her liking. "What? That is not true! Why are you messing with the plot?" It turns out not to be true she was just saying it to see if Elizabeth would refuse Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth does not refuse Mr. Darcy saying she is okay being poor. Lady Catherine leaves to report to Mr. Darcy, who just happens to be standing outside. He hearing that Elizabeth will not refuse him goes in a proposes again... What about Jane and Bingley? They are not talked of much, which is sad.
The best thing about this version was seeing Mr. Bennett who the same actor as St. Clause from the classic Miracle and 34th St.
So with the costumes being wrong and some of the plot changing I didn't really like this version of Pride and Prejudice and I feel sorry for people who lived then because there was not another Pride and Prejudice at least that I know of until 1980.
I feel I will have to look up that adaptation though I feel after losing my heart to Collin Firth and Daniel Vincent Gordh no man will ever be a good enough Mr. Darcy.
Minus the 2008 Darcy from Lost in Austen I have fallen for the Darcys
{pic}
I have spent a lot of time since being out of school for the summer escaping into period dramas but the one I have recently been obsessing with is Lark Rise to Candleford. It stars some pretty familiar people... well familiar if you are obsessed with Downton Abbey and Pride and Prejudice both BBC and the 2005 version. One is Brendan Coyle (aka Mr. Bates) who plays Robert Timmins a mason that has high political beliefs in equality but also lots of hard work to make his way in the world. Hie wife, Emma Timmins, plays Charlotte Lucas in the 2005 P&P , she is the good wife always sticking by her man but does frequently get annoyed with his pride.
The next Julia Sawalha who plays Dorcas Lane the serious but mischief loving post-mistress. Who is better known as another mischief character Lydia Bennett. She is frequently saying "It is my one weakness" and she says about most everything from different kinds of cakes to warm baths.
The main focus of this period piece is two little towns, the hamlet known as Lark Rise and the big/small town of Candleford. The hamlet is where our main character Laura Timmins comes from and in the first episode she moves to Candleford to assist her mother's cousin Dorcas. I love her for many reasons... she is head strong but yet very sensitive and always tries to help. Also she is considered "buttoned-up" but really she has such a soft heart but she only lets those close to her see it. She wants to do the right thing but frequently makes mistakes. She also writes in her journal all the time.
There are some other colorful characters like Robert the mail man with his strong faith and always quoting the Bible. Sometimes I do not like how they make the religious characters ridiculous but he is so humorous in his righteous ways. Then there is Minnie who is the goofy maid but trying hard to right in the world just goofs up a lot. There is also all the hamlet people like Queenie and Twister who add lots of humor into the plots. And like any good small town shows there is always 1 episode visitors who come and shake up the towns and then leave after all is settled. Also like any good period dramas there is love interest. We watch Laura and Dorcas have loves and hear breaks. I am about to finish season 3 of 4 so I am not for sure how it ends but it does seem that once Dorcas adopts her son Sydney her heart is more settled. So now I eagerly await to see if Laura will end up with Daniel or Fisher. If you know do not tell me.
Oh I can get so lost in these period pieces... they are my one weakness and thanks to people uploading them on YouTube I can have my little heart go a twitter for them. I hope if you are like me and want to lose your heart to a period drama you will watch and fall in love with this show.
I know I am going to shock a lot of people when I say this, but I do not like Jane Eyre. For some reason when I tell people I like Jane Austen they assume I like Jane Eyre as well... but I do not. I read the novel before freshman year of college and didn't like it. Then a friend of mine told me to give it another try. I told her I would watch the new version (2011) because lots of people said it was the best version and if I liked it I would again try to read the book. I thought I must have missed something, since everyone I know who likes period pieces likes Jane Eyre so I was willing to give it a second chance but after watching the movie I still don't like it. So am I still missing something?
I just don't understand. Jane Eyre is a heroine who seems to have no faults and every good hero's journey story, a hero or heroine must have faults and over come them. But Jane just seems too passive. And let people tell her where to go, what to do, and she never seems to speak up for herself. I mean besides when she speaks up to Mrs. Reed (her aunt) but this willful girl does not seem to last. She just seems to accept all the wrongs in her life.
I also did not like Mr. Rochester. He spends time flirting with one girl, then declares his love for Jane, and all this time he is married to a crazy woman. How are we suppose to fall in love with a man who is purposefully leading Jane down a road of heart ache? After the marriage is discovered, Rochester still wants her to stay with him... what as his mistress? (Not cool Mr. Rochester.) He seems rather selfish.
But Jane cannot stand being in the same house as him and runs away. At least here we get some emotions from her as she breaks down and cries. But after that the plot starts to rush and eventually Mr. Rochester's wife dies and he is now blind. Jane goes back to love and care for him. When the credits rolled by I said "that's it?" "What?" I felt the conclusion was too fast.
After looking for pictures for this blog I have seen some mixed reactions to this movie, so I don't think I am the only one who thought this way. I must say props goes to the art director or location finder because the back grounds were beautiful and dark when needed to tell the story.
I think I will stick with my Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell and maybe explore the world of Dickens.
If you love this novel/story can you please let me know what I am missing.
This weekend being my first weekend out of school I was basically a lazy sloth and I was able to watch some good period dramas... thanks YouTube.
Over the weekend I watched Sense and Sensibility (2008)... that one I checked out from my school library. I have wanted to check it out many times from the library, I did not because I knew I was too busy with school so this was my end of year treat to myself. I have written about it in my Chinese Food and Jane Austen Post. So though I will not waste time re-writing the review of it I do love posting pictures of my fan girl obsession... Dan Stevens.
From there I moved on to Emma (2009). I am still a fan of the Gwenyth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam version (1996) the most, I think it is because it was my first one. I will say that the minni-series is far more accurate to the book and as I am re-reading it I am noticing those details. Romalo Garari does play Emma very well being a good balance between selfish, naive but also completely lovable. Also Jonny Lee Miller plays a great Mr. Knightley being firm when needed but when he confesses his love to Emma, it is so sweet.
The proposal scene
And while this story is more accurate to the novel I still love the line "I need not call you Mr. Knightley but my Mr. Knightley." My heart goes a flutter when I hear that; I know this is not in the book, but in the book I have noticed that after they are engaged Mr. Knightley does call her "my Emma." Awe so sweet.
Then I watched Romalo Garari (who you might recognize from Amazing Grace or Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights) play Gwendolen Harleth another spoiled girl used to having men fall at her feet but when her family is penniless she enters into a loveless marriage with a Mr. Grandcourt (played by Hugh Bonneville aka Lord Grantham) instead of becoming a governess. Then attempts at having an affair with Daniel Deronda (played by Hugh Dancy).
Side note: I am going to guess being a governess is bad because a lot of these movies the characters act like it is fate worst than death.
Back to movie: It was fun watching Hugh Bonneville play such a bad guy. And though I do not support affairs, it was sad to watch this because there was no happy ending for Gwendolen and Daniel. There is a happy ending though for Daniel and his lady love. But I probably will not be watching this film over and over again because minus the awesome costuming the story just seemed to drag on. I guess I should have known as the book was written by George Elliot. I have only read her book Silas Marner and that story dragged on till the last 4 or so chapters. Also I give George Elliot props for making the hero and heroine (the couple with the happy ending) both Jewish people, this seems very progressive for the time period that she was writing in. So in the past YouTube has been good about finding films they think I would like (thanks to them I discovered the Lizzie Bennet Diaries) I would say this is a YouTube recommendation fail. However, if you watch it you might recognize two women as there are two characters who have at one point or another played a Mrs. Weston in Emma.
The next one I watched was Little Dorrit. Important thing to know when watching this was it is written by Charles Dickens. Dickens wrote most of his stories in news papers so just little sections at a time and the minni-series seemed true to this having only half hour episodes (minus the first and last one). Also there is a lot of intertwining plot lines that seem very disconnected but then come together at the end. The basic plot line is Amy Dorrit was born and raised in the debtor's prison as her father has lived there 20+ years; as she is not officially a prisoner she goes out and works doing some sowing. Through this she meets Mrs. Clenman, not a nice woman, and when her son, Arthur Clenman (played by Matthew Macfayden aka Mr. Darcy (2005)) finds out he is kind of shocked to learn Amy is hired because of his mom's charity. Apparently his mother has no charity. Arthur then hires a private investigator to find out the Clenman's connection to the Dorrit's because he believes his family has done the Dorrrit's wrong and that is what his mother is making up for. (Okay so minus some twist I didn't really understand maybe I will need to re-watch it some time). Arthur through the investigation becomes friends with the Dorrits (and the father and brother are quick to take advantage of that) and also finds out the Dorrits are actually wealthy. Upon this discovery the Dorrits leave England to become cultured and to separate themselves from their past. Amy is kind of like the Anne Elliot of the story very selfless but her family wrapped up in their own silly lives think she is foolish. Through more twists (I don't want to give everything away) there is a happy ending so yeah! I will say this was a YouTube recommendation win... I will want to re-watch it to understand plot point and I didn't feel like watching 14 episodes was a waste. I just have to get used to Dicken's way of a plot line. Plus I get to watch Matthew Macfayden who can rock a top hat.
I have been Jane Austen fan for over 11 years. I can't say if it started when I actually read the books on my own or when I finally enjoyed all 5 hours of the BBC Pride and Prejudice and falling head over heels for Collin Firth. Needless to say Jane Austen has filled a great majority of my life. In high school though I felt I was the only girl my age who read Jane Austen and it was a little lonely being in love with characters that existed only in books. So when I started meeting girls in college I probably got overly excited to share my love with others. I am also happy when new movies or books help people discover the awesomeness of Jane. So yes I have read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies... and I would actually recommend it. But the thing I love most about Jane is that while her stories are great as period drama's to watch on a rainy day with a cup tea, her stories are so universal they can be updated and still be relevant to today. My favorite modern adaptations have been Bridget Jones' Diary, Clueless (an adaptation of Emma) and Bride and Prejudice.
While I can watch these movies over and over I have lately become obsessed with the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. In short they are vlogs (video blogs) retelling of a modern Pride and Prejudice. But they are also so much more with multiple layers of communication through Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. And like every good Jane Austen update they capture your heart.
Ep.1
Not only do you hear the story from Lizzie's point of view you all get to watch the Lydia drama unfold.
And you get to watch Gigi and Darcy save the day.
These are just the first episodes from the three intertwining story lines... that come into use at different times to tell the complete story line of Pride and Prejudice.
If you have read the novel or seen any of the movies you know the plot, and if you love the book or the movies you might be skeptical about a modern update on a classic. Well let me just say I was there. I love Jane and sometimes I feel Hollywood does not do her justice. So I was skeptical when YouTube kept suggesting I watch these videos. But after catching up and watching about 50 episodes in a weekend I was addicted and then in Episode 60 we FINALLY get to meet Darcy.
Seriously they did good with the casting of Darcy. Though Colin Firth, will always be THE MR. DARCY... I think the actor Daniel Gordh does a wonderful job being Darcy.
I will always love the British accent but thanks to this retelling I also love the Newies cap and bow tie (I know it might be a bit hipster... but I cannot help it).
If Tumblr and Facebook can be trusted I hear there is word that Emma might also become a vlog... oh I can't wait to see who will be cast as Mr. Knightley. He is another favorite Jane Austen hero of mine.
from Emma
I do not think Jane could have ever realized what an impact she has made on the world. And how her six novels could forever be causing ripples through the lives of her readers.
Now, I must move on with my day. Thanks for reading my nonsensical post.
P.S. Thanks YouTube for knowing what I would like. And a specially big thanks to my friend who shares my obsession with Jane Austen... you always make me smile.
