Pride and Prejudice 1995
Emma, 1996
Sunday, March 28
Jane Austen Movie Dance Throwdown
We now move to the dance floor. Of the two "Mr Beveridge's Maggot" dances, which do you prefer? The scene from Pride and Prejudice 1995? Or Emma, 1996 with Gwynneth Paltrow? The music is the same, but the dances and tecniques (and setting) are VASTLY different. One includes much conversation; the other is light and sparkling.
Pride and Prejudice 1995
Emma, 1996
Pride and Prejudice 1995
Emma, 1996
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6 comments:
I've always preferred Emma's version. There is something about it that is subtley sexy...like there is a seduction for the audience as well as for the two dancing partners...and then that blackout at the end...there is just something about it. It zings. In the right way.
I watched them both ~ going at the same time ~ and I still prefer P&P version. Gwynneth doesn't do it for me in this dance.
As always, I lurve your throw downs. ha ha
I can't decide! I love that scene with Darcy & Elizabeth and was always fascinated by their ability to carry on their conversation in between their dance steps. And the scene in Emma is so pretty to watch especially with Jeremy Northam!
I have a question though Vic, do you know what "maggot" refers to in this case? Please tell me that it's not larva that I've now got stuck in my mind :)
This answer is not my own, but comes from answer bag.
The middle english word maggot meant a whim, fancy or silly idea. It is believed this came from the belief that the brain was full of maggots (probably from observations of cadavers) and the bite of one of these maggots would give rise to an unusual thought or idea. In fact Jonathan Swift in Mechanical Operation of the Spirit (1704) elaborates "If the bite is hexagonal it produces poetry; if circular, eloquence; if conical, politics, etc". There was an expression "When the maggot bites" meaning "When the fancy takes me".(Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 1884).
Consequently anything that was considered whimsical or fanciful was known as a maggot. A whimsical dance or piece of music was also known as a maggot e.g. "Betty's Maggot", "Huntington's Maggot", and "Captain's Maggot" in the same way that there are some dances and pieces of music from this period called "fancies". Both fancies and maggots tend to be tunes that are unique and unusual and don't fit into other categories.
Thanks for finding an answer Vic!
Oh dear, so it does have gruesome origins... I fear now that when I watch those dance scenes, I'll be mindful of which particular way I should be biting my maggot :)
1995 P & P wins out with me but Emma is lovely to enjoy also.
Since I have gobs of British roots, I am glad to know what maggot means in this case and also that my brains are not full of them !!! Interesting background on that word...thanks Vic !
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