I thought I could start my participation in this blog with the review of the three adaptations made, until now, of “Mansfield Park”. I’ve read the book recently, wasn’t that pleased with it, I thought it to be quite different. Austen had already displeased me with “Emma”, but I gave the movie a chance and I ended up liking it more than the book. Wondered if the same would happen with “Mansfield Park”, and there I was chasing after the different adaptations.
I decided to start with the ITV’s 2007 adaptation since I had it at home. I must say I had already seen by ITV’s adaptations of “Northanger Abbey”, which I loved, and “Persuasion”, which I hated. The reviews for this adaptation made me dread it a bit, it was pictured as being even worse than “Persuasion”, one of the reasons why I postponed its watch, but I decided to give it chance, after the reading of the novel. It couldn’t be worst, right? Wrong!
I should start by saying that Billie Piper isn’t one of my favorite actresses. I’ve seen her in “Doctor Who” and really disliked her acting, it seemed quite superficial and without real emotion. Fanny isn’t one of my favorite characters either, so it was difficult to like the character in this adaptation. Besides that, it was tiresome to see her running from one side to the other (seemed to be a trend on ITV’s adaptations as Anne Elliot in “Persuasion” did it too while reading Wentworth’s letter), when the character is supposed to be somewhat frail and preferring indoors to outdoors, where the only things she would like to do was gardening or riding a gentle mare, not playing badminton, and running, dancing and being giddy all the time.
But Fanny wasn’t the only character that wasn’t like the original character from the book. Actually the entire adaptation had some liberties that quite deconstructed the work Austen did in her book, when it came to the relationship between characters, where there was jealousy and different moral values. Parts were cut and modified, as well as dialogs. Some characters suffered an extreme makeover, as Lady Bertram, who seemed more active than she should. But what really bugged me was the pace. It was faster than the book, but everything seemed to pass in a blink of an eye, when it should be noticed the passing of time and the evolution of the relationships. The end really made me roll my eyes and that isn’t a good sign.
After this adaptation, I stumbled upon the 1999 version and realized why I thought the book to be different. I guess I read too many reviews of this movie, the adaptation that has the greater number of changes when comparing it to the book. Some themes were largely spoken of, as slavery and the social difference between Fanny and the rest of her family.
Here Fanny (Frances O’Connor) is a very witty, intelligent girl, strong and still has defects, apart from her jealously towards Mary Crawford, which made it easier to care and relate to her. Edmund was well portrayed by Jonny Lee Miller (who had a smaller part in an earlier adaptation of “Mansfield Park”) and here he seems to have been in love with Fanny for a long time. This was a big liberty taken by the director, but it was well explored and even credible, quite contrary to what happened in the ITV’s adaptation, where in a second Edmund discovers himself in love with Fanny.
As told, in this version many changes were made, as the slavery theme. I thought it was nice the way Tom (here played by James Purefoy) was given a strong moral concerning this point, going against his father and providing an ‘excuse’, so to speak, to his libertine ways. Henry Crawford (Alessandro Nivola) was a likeable character as well, charmer and with clearer intentions concerning the women.
This was a pleasanter version than the ITV one. But there was still one version left to watch. When I learned there was a copy on the library, I didn’t hesitated and borrowed it.
This last adaptation was the first made, in 1983 by BBC. I’m a fan of BBC’s adaptations and this one was no exception. I loved it and prefer it to the book, as it happens with Gwyneth Paltrow’s “Emma”.
This version is the only one that remains faithful to the book since time wasn’t an issue as this is a 6 episodes series. The boring parts were put aside and Fanny, here portrayed brilliantly by Sylvestra Le Touzel, was more likeable and seemed to grow more than she did in the book. Aunt Norris was perfect, really despicable, and the remaining cast was awesome as well, really faithful to their characterization in the book. Maybe not Henry Crawford, Robert Burbage didn’t quite convince me about the duality of his actions and of his attachment to Fanny, but we can relate to her in her disliking of him.
Every important scene is present on this version. Fanny was really nice to know, I actually could relate to her in this version, and was pleased by her happy ending, again similar to the book. We understand it might have been some time until she and Edmund got married, and I loved to see them in the garden with a puppy, probably one from Pug’s latest litter, as it was promised by Lady Bertram. It was a really nice ending.
Overall, I really loved the BBC’s series and the 1999 movie better than I liked the book, but the ITV version really didn’t brought anything new and was, by far, the worst adaptation I’ve seen of “Mansfield Park”.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks you for a great post Whitelady! :-)
I must confess to only have watched the ITV version of 2007. Like you I wasn’t much impressed and I also don’t like Billie Piper as an actress (didn’t like her in The Ruby in The Smoke either). Now, after reading your comments I’m looking forward to spend a quiet afternoon watching the others.
I may have to reread the book first though because I want to catch all the little details mentioned and all the changes made.
I did like ITV’s Persuasion but mostly because I like Rupert Penry Jones and Sally Hawkins so much. For me the best Persuasion is the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds adaptation. If you haven’t watched it yet I highly recommend it. :-)
I’m still behind with Austen’s work, haven’t read all her books and have yet to watch Mansfield’s adaptations, so I can’t really comment on them.
But one thing I’m certain of, is that I’ll hate ITV’s 2007 version without a doubt. Billie Piper is hateful, I’ve watched a couple of Doctor Who’s episodes and don’t get the hype at all. Most of the time I felt like hitting her over the head with a stick! :-P
Thanks for this wonderfult review post, Whitelady! :-)
I simply hated ITV’s Mansfield Park! ;-) It’s the worst of the three new adaptations without any doubt. Everything seemed fake and over the top. The fact that I could really never relate to Fanny (what a huge casting mistake they made choosing Billie Piper) made things even worst. Mansfield Park is my less favorite book by Jane Austen, but this version was a complete disaster…
Between the 99 and the 83 version, I certainly prefer the latter, even if sometimes it feels a little bit stiff. I completely agree with you, it’s the most truthful version and even those who don’t care for the book might enjoy it.
The one with Jonny Lee was nice but it could also be called another name entirely since they took so many liberties with the story. ;-) Frances O’Connor created a delightful character, even if I could never really see her as Fanny Price. There was nothing mousy about her and the original character is a bit too awkward and not so witty…
About ITV’s Persuasion, I’m like Ana T., I think Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones are good actors and despite the strange kiss, Anne’s Bath Marathon and some hiccups here and there, they were pleasant enough to make me watch it more than once. Now, if you didn’t saw the version with Ciaran Hinds, you should. Ana is right, it’s really good!
Ana O.,
I also tried to see some Doctor Who episodes and they left me quite indifferent…except for Christopher Eccleston. :P
Yes, Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones do a wonderful job in “Persuasion”, but the Marathon, as Alex put it, quite ruined it for me. It was the big moment and I think it was beautifully done in the Hinds/Root version. Yes, I saw it. It’s my favourite adaptation of a book by Austen and the fact that “Persuasion” is my favourite book by her helps too. :D
Christopher Eccleston was the reason I could endure Doctor Who episodes also. It’s a pity he only made the first season… :(
Hey Persuasion is my favourite Austen book too!! :-) I’m glad you like the Root/Hinds version then.
**wondering who Christopher Eccleston is**
I did not finish watching MP2007. I tried and failed. Although I don’t have a problem with Billie Piper (I loved her in the Sally Lockhart mysteries, both Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North), MP2007 was just all wrong. All wrong. Just. No. I read somewhere once that Piper simply does not have a historical looking face/countenance. Whatever that means. But, I cannot blame MP2007 on Piper, it was just too quick, too much of an attempt to add a zeitgeist-esque slant that did not work well.
I did enjoy MP1999 and I don’t think the director, Patricia Rozema took what I would call liberties with the script as much as I would say she expanded on what the contemporaries of Austen’s time probably understood without it being spelled out. I’ve read Mansfield Park several times and there is nothing that specifically says Mr. Bertram profit from slavery, however, what else (at the time) would warrant him to go to Antigua. The same with Lady Bertram’s opium use. Not sure if that was stated directly but I think the code word was that she was an indolent, hence, meaning she was partaking in something that kept her lethargic and indifferent. Therefore, I am willing to buy the opium use. In addition, I will accept Tom’s anguish over his father’s occupation. It is feasible enough seeing that he did have a conscious, which is revealed while (and after) he pulls out of his sickness. Now, the lesbian erotica was I admit a bit of a stretch. I am referring to Fanny getting wet in the rain and Mary Crawford helping her seductively undress. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I went over and over that section of the book and it is just not there. By the way, Mrs. Norris in MP1999 is a selfish and callous as she should be, but of course, MP1983 really shows Mrs. Norris in all of her glory. Oh, and Fanny’s father is a pig. It is disgusting how he leers at Fanny. That is sort of in the book, but not so obvious. And I appreciated how Fanny’s family’s poverty was in our face. But of course, in MP1999 her brother, William was completely written out.
Now for MP1983. It was very good and true to the book. I do have it, it came as a part of an Austen set. I do like it very much, much more than MP2007. Just a little trivia, Sylvestra Le Touzel (Fanny Price in MP1983) and Nicholas Farrell (Edmund Bertram in MP 1983) play husband (Henry Thornton) and wife (Marianne Thornton) in Amazing Grace (2006). Oh, and Anna Massey is always so great and I loved her Mrs. Norris.
Speaking of the book, I think Mansfield Park gets a bad deal when all of Austen’s works are looked at as a whole. Yes, I love Persuasion too. Yes, yes I do. I love the Root/Hinds combination. I mean, what about when he helps her into the carriage with the Admiral and Mrs. Croft. And, I truly believe he has anguished over his lost of Anne, as Anne has anguished over him. Then, when he finally asks her for a word, just a word. Oh, but I digress, I was talking about Mansfield Park. I think Mansfield Park is funny, but subtle, very very subtle, perhaps Austen’s most subtle work. For example, when Mr. Price comes home the first night Fanny and William comes home; he is drunk and kicks her luggage. What brutal, but sadly, funny honesty. It really shows how he just does not care about anyone or anything but his drinking.
**wondering who Christopher Eccleston is** He was a Dr. Who for awhile.
I’ve never seen Mansfield Park like that, being the most subtle work by Austen. But now I feel I sould re-read it.
Thanks for your comment!
Well, now I really want to watch the ’83-version!
I really like the ’99-version of MP, but I never really took it as an 1:1 adaption of the movie, clearly the character of Fanny is so different from the book. But I love it as a movie, I like the actors and the whole movie has a nice concept.
And the trailers and pictures from MP2007 alone kept me from watching it. While I don’t have a thing against Billie Piper, I can’t look at her in that dress…