This week's throwdown offers the least pleasing images we have ever chosen for this blog, but for a good reason. The three scenes represent a huge departure from Jane Austen's novels and they are quite egregious. Oh, there are more than three instances in which script writers changed Jane's plot dramatically, but these three stick particularly in my craw. For this week's throwdown you are asked to consider:
Which script deviation from Jane Austen's novels is the most egregious?
After reading his letter, Anne Elliot runs through Bath to go after Captain Wentworth in Persuasion 2007.
In the opening scene of Sense and Sensibility 2008, Willoughby seduces Eliza and presumably gets her pregnant.
In Pride and Prejudice 1940, Lady Catherine de Bourgh gives Mr. Darcy her approval to reconcile with Elizabeth Bennet.
The cast of The Chaser's War on Everything, a satirical Australian t.v. show will mock, anything, even our Mr. Darcy. This time they ask that eternal question: Do women want a man like Mr. Darcy? In polls women say they do but in real life the result of are just a bit different (and hysterically funny.) Is there nothing sacred left in this life?
Mr. Darcy's popularity is such that our little throwdown poll this week went viral. Several avid supporters voted repeatedly for their favorite Darcy, spiraling the numbers upward every time we took a peek. Before the voting went out of control, the three Mr. Darcys were amazingly close, enjoying an almost even three-way split (32-34-34) . The voting went back and forth, with Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen maintaining only a slight edge over Elliot Cowan. Then, the next time I looked, our little poll had received over 500 additional votes, and the votes began to heavily outpace the number of visitors to our blog, which meant multiple votes for one candidate from only a few I.P. addresses.
Even though the results are skewed, I can only conclude that Mr. Colin Firth is no longer sitting at the top of the Darcy heap, and that he has two viable contenders. Matthew Macfadyen has been challenging him for the top position for four years. That Elliot Cowan has made such a strong showing after his recent performance in a JA spoof speaks to his hunk factor and comedic talents.
As for me, I love all the Mr. Darcys, including Laurence Olivier's turn and David Rintoul's rather stiff performance. All I can say is: Thank you for voting. The final results sit in the original post. - Vic
The Jane Austen Character Throwdown will take on a more peripheral role as we explore Jane Austen movie and television adaptations. Lately, our character questions have been heading in that direction. Last week's character throwdown showed Mr. Knightley winning over Mr. Wickham by a margin of 2:1. It is interesting to note that the voting trend settles early on in the week and doesn't change. We'll see if this pattern remains the same for the movie throwdowns.
Three years ago we asked this question about Mr. Darcy and the votes went viral, putting our blog on the Austen map. It doesn't hurt to start our movie throwdown with the same question again, since our readership has evolved and changed. Drum Roll please: which Mr. Darcy do you prefer? We now have so many actors to choose from that, for the sake of brevity, we shall limit the choice to the last three Darcys.
Favorite Mr. Darcy
Elliot Cowan, Lost in Austen, 2008
Our latest Mr. Darcy, Elliot played the role of straight man in Lost in Austen. His surprisingly effective turn as Mr. Darcy helped to make this t.v. adaptation a huge success the world over, and I doubt he belongs to the League of Obscure British Actors any longer. He has signed on to play Captain Hatch in Heaven and Earth along with Pierce Brosnan and Natascha McEllhone. We can't wait.
Matthew Macfadyen, Pride and Prejudice, 2005
Who can forget his rain scene proposal to Lizzy? Though it was placed in the wrong setting and the day was cold and rainy, he managed to smolder and sizzle. Matthew's career is hot as well. He recently appeared in Little Dorrit, and will appear in the BBC production of Enid Blyton and as the Sherrif of Nottingham in Robin Hood. Oh, how delicious.
Colin Firth,Pride and Prejudice, 1995
With Colin you can take your pick. He's played Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and the Bridget Jones's Diary franchise, oozing British wit and charm. His career has not slowed down since playing Darcy and we will have six opportunities to see him in future productions: A Single Man, Main Street, A Christmas Carol, Dorian Gray, The Meat Trade, and David Copperfield. Be still my beating heart.
DEAR VISITORS: What an exciting three days it has been. We've changed the poll to allow only one vote per visit.
Netherfield Ball! Who can forget Mr. Darcy's silence? Lizzy's teasing? Mr. Collins' clumsiness? Mary's excrutiating turn at the piano? And Mrs. Bennet's bragging about Jane and Mr. Bingley? Watch what happens as a result of the ball in Part 2 of Pride and Prejudice on PBS's Masterpiece Classic, Sunday, 9 p.m. EST.
When I wrote the previous column it was out of respect for Mr. Macfadyen's reputation. He was being so resoundingly walloped, that I though I was doing him a kind favor. At that precise moment, Mr. Firth had acquired 31 votes and Mr. Macfadyen none.
Then Lady Jane rallied her readers to vote for Mr. Macfadyen and they answered her clarion call. Now Mr. Firth's votes have stagnated. Have all the Colin Firth fans voted already? The contest currently stands at Mr. Madfadyen 59% and Colin Firth at 41%. Oh, the injustice of it all.
What is the prize? The winning Mr. Darcy will have his photo put up on my sidebar. Can there be no greater accolade?
So, Mr. Darcy fans. VOTE for your favorite Mr. Darcy! You may vote once per day for a week. Click here to vote (scroll to the bottom).
Graciously thankful for your interest in this modest blog, Ms. Place
Update: Battle won? Not at all. The Macfadyen fans have rallied, and their hero has caught up with Colin Firth and passed him.
We could continue this glaringly lopsided battle between our favorite Mr. Darcys, gentle readers, but that would be unseemly and unkind. So, out of compassion for Mr. Macfadyen, I am declaring Colin Firth the victor of this short but fierce contest. After 36 tense nail-biting hours, poor Matthew received nary a vote. The polls will remain open for a few more days, just in case Mr. Macfadyen supporters want to come to his rescue, but I say enough is enough.
Here is another breathtaking picture of our gorgeous Colin in modern garb.
Can't get enough of Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy? This YouTube video is generous with its screen shots of him. Mmm. I hadn't liked him as Mr. Darcy much before, but now I can utterly see his appeal. Click here.
For the Colin Firth/Darcy fans,here's the infamous "Wet Shirt" scene from P&P 1995, and Elizabeth's unexpected encounter with Mr. Darcy during her visit to Pemberley. This is the moment I fell in love with Colin, but I have been hopelessly in love with Mr. Darcy since I was fourteen.
Of the two men, who do you prefer as Mr. Darcy? Inquiring minds want to know. Please note, as of midnight 6-27-07 EST US, all voting has paused.
Mr. Darcy's popularity is such that our little throwdown poll this week went viral. Several avid supporters voted repeatedly for their favorite Darcy, spiraling the numbers upward every time we took a peek. Before the voting went out of control, the three Mr. Darcys were amazingly close, enjoying an almost even three-way split (32-34-34) . The voting went back and forth, with Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen maintaining only a slight edge over Elliot Cowan. Then, the next time I looked, our little poll had received over 500 additional votes, and the votes began to heavily outpace the number of visitors to our blog, which meant multiple votes for one candidate from only a few I.P. addresses.
Even though the results are skewed, I can only conclude that Mr. Colin Firth is no longer sitting at the top of the Darcy heap, and that he has two viable contenders. Matthew Macfadyen has been challenging him for the top position for four years. That Elliot Cowan has made such a strong showing after his recent performance in a JA spoof speaks to his hunk factor and comedic talents.
Inquiring Reader,
Elliot Cowan, Lost in Austen, 2008
Matthew Macfadyen, Pride and Prejudice, 2005
Colin Firth, Pride and Prejudice, 1995
Netherfield Ball! Who can forget Mr. Darcy's silence? Lizzy's teasing? Mr. Collins' clumsiness? Mary's excrutiating turn at the piano? And Mrs. Bennet's bragging about Jane and Mr. Bingley? Watch what happens as a result of the ball in Part 2 of Pride and Prejudice on PBS's Masterpiece Classic, Sunday, 9 p.m. EST.
Meanwhile, click here to learn more about my post on the etiquette of dances in Jane Austen's novels,
When I wrote the previous column it was out of respect for Mr. Macfadyen's reputation. He was being so resoundingly walloped, that I though I was doing him a kind favor. At that precise moment, Mr. Firth had acquired 31 votes and Mr. Macfadyen none.
We could continue this glaringly lopsided battle between our favorite Mr. Darcys, gentle readers, but that would be unseemly and unkind. So, out of compassion for Mr. Macfadyen, I am declaring Colin Firth the victor of this short but fierce contest. After 36 tense nail-biting hours, poor Matthew received nary a vote. The polls will remain open for a few more days, just in case Mr. Macfadyen supporters want to come to his rescue, but I say enough is enough.
If you haven't seen this analysis yet, here's a fun Battle of the Mr. Darcys. 
For the Colin Firth/Darcy fans,here's the infamous "Wet Shirt" scene from P&P 1995, and Elizabeth's unexpected encounter with Mr. Darcy during her visit to Pemberley. This is the moment I fell in love with Colin, but I have been hopelessly in love with Mr. Darcy since I was fourteen.