Finding Joy with Jane Austen

This blog has provided the opportunity for me to write about one of my favorite authors; Jane Austen. Jane has provided me with not only hours of reading pleasure but has been a source of such joy in three brilliantly done adaptations of her most popular novels. I hope you will take a few moments to read this blog and watch the accompanying videos. If you have not seen the movies, I hope this will inspire you to rent them and watch them. I am certain that you will obtain as much joy out of them as I have.

My favorite has to be Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Everyone was perfectly cast for the movie, including the spunky mother (Ms. Bennett). The soundtrack spectacular, the acting superb. I have not seen a version that I have enjoyed more and have happily spent many hours watching and re-watching this movie. My favorite scene, where Elizabeth is playing the piano and Mr. Darcy is watching her with such a look of admiration and love.

Here is one of my favorite clips of Mr. Darcy's second proposal.

My next favorite: Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thopmson and Kate Winslet, pre Titanic. I

love Alan Rickman in this movie, of course Alan Rickman plays Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies which is a far cry from the sensitive Brandon. However, were you aware that Hugh Laurie from House was also in this movie! Yes indeed, a stellar cast.

My favorite scene, MaryAnn is heartbroken over the loss of Willoughby and falls ill after walking miles in the rain to the overlook where she can see his estate so she can repeat the poem they recited together:

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
--William Shakespeare

Colonel Brandon finds her and carries her through the rain back to shelter. He goes to retrieve her mother because they fear she will not survive. Upon his return, he is told she is better and while he is closing the door to leave her room where her mother is comforting her, she sees him, calls his name softly and says "thank you". The look on his face, ahhh, it'll bring you to tears....no, not really! Well, me in my state of being the helpless romantic, it brings me to tears every time. Great movie, here is a clip when he first sees her playing the piano:

Thirdly is Emma the 1996 version starring Gwyneth Paltrow. This movie is sprinkled with outstanding actors as well, my favorite clip from this movie is the proposal under the glorious oak tree. I was so thrilled to be able to find the actual proposal clip...when Knightly says....I rode through the rain, I would ride through worse than that just to hear I might have some chance to win you!!...Oh boy.

There are so many aspects about these movies that I love, the interactions between couples, the love the main characters show towards the women they love, Dr. Darcy, Colonel Brandon, and Knightly all are such wonderful characters. The clothing, the balls and dialogue. It will take all your cares away for a while. I hope you will get a chance to enjoy them as well and please comment on any or all you have seen. I really look forward to your remarks.