Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Last night was Jane Austen night at Vic's house. We played Faro (a fast but not very interesting card game, in which the bank wins readily), looked up the rules of whist and speculation for future card games, and watched Mansfield Park with Sylvestra La Touzel (do you not LOVE her name?) as Fanny. In the 6-hour BBC adaptation, the Mary Crawford character, played by Jackie Smith-Wood, comes front stage and center any time she is on the screen. Which actress playing Mary Crawford was the most successful in portraying this complicated woman in the shorter film versions?

This actress portrayed the better Mary Crawford

Embeth Davidtz, Mary Crawford, 1999

People are extremely divided about this movie adaptation by Patricia Rozema, either hating the addition of its anti-colonialist overtones and Fanny becoming a budding young writer like Jane Austen, or liking its pluck. One person who stood out in this film is Embeth, whose Mary is quite as sophisticated as Jane Austen described her. She is a lady, but there is a hint of the unsavory in her. She is all sensuality, so that one can fully understand why Edmund is so distracted by her. Many will recognize Embeth for another role. She played the chilly and elegant Natasha in Bridget Jones's Diary, whose lawyer character was the perfect fit for Colin Firth until Bridget came along. Hailing from South Africa, the bi-lingual Embeth's career has been steadily successful if not spectacular.



Hayley Atwell, Mary Crawford, 2007

The 2007 version of Mansfield Park was generally trashed because of its short length and Billie Piper's tomboyish performance of Fanny Price. One actress who didn't get hammered was Hayley Atwell, whose Mary Crawford was pretty, audacious, and a little bit saucy. Her line to Fanny after keeping the horse too long sums her character up: "Selfishness must always be forgiven, for there is no hope for a cure." A stunning woman, Haley rates high in AskMen.com. She is also recognized for her acting chops, playing major roles in Brideshead Revisited and The Duchess. Haley is currrently filming Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follet's epic medieval tale about the building of a Cathedral. My apologies to Haley for spelling her last name wrong in the poll. I caught the mistake too late to make the change, for too many people had already voted.

pollcode.com free polls

This actress played the better Mary Crawford

Embeth Davidtz Haley Atwood

Jane Austen Character Throwdown

Last week you preferred Meryton over Highbury. I wonder how much the militia's presence influenced your choice? Here's the situation for the next throwdown: You've finished a tasty 3-course meal with fine company and are looking forward to after-dinner entertainment. Who would you prefer to listen to: Jane Fairfax at the piano or Mary Crawford at the harp? Both women are talented and well educated, and you really can't go wrong choosing either one. So, please vote for your

Favorite performer

Jane Fairfax, Emma
Jane was not only educated in the ways of a lady (and eminently suited to become a governess), but she had a fine voice and extraordinary talent for playing the pianoforté. One day, a large-sized square pianoforté arrived from Broadwood's to the great astonishment of both Miss Bates and Miss Fairfax. Its arrival was entirely unexpected, and there was speculation as to who was responsible for its appearance. Later Mrs. Weston observes to Emma about Mr. Knightley that he was "Such an admirer of her performance on the pianoforté, and of her voice! I have heard him say that he could listen to her for ever." I think we could too.

Mary Crawford, Mansfield Park
Miss Crawford is described as a young woman, pretty, lively, with a harp as elegant as herself. Well educated, with a sharp wit and lively mind, she made an elegant figure near the window playing a harp: "Miss Crawford's attractions did not lessen. The harp arrived, and rather added to her beauty, wit, and good-humour; for she played with the greatest obligingness, with an expression and taste which were peculiarly becoming, and there was something clever to be said at the close of every air. Edmund was at the Parsonage every day, to be indulged with his favourite instrument: one morning secured an invitation for the next; for the lady could not be unwilling to have a listener." The sight and sound of Mary playing was "enough to catch any man's heart."

pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Favorite Performer

Jane Fairfax Mary Crawford

Jane Austen Character Throwdown

Our closest Jane Austen Throwdown Match EVER was between Mr. Collins and Mr. Elton last week, but in the end there was no contest. Consistently over the week Mr. Collins won the dubious distinction of driving 57% of his congregation from his parish. Ouch!

Let us leave these clueless men of God, and consider more mundane, but ever more fascinating matters - fashion. Who is the best dressed woman in your eyes?

Most Fashionable Woman

Miss Eleanor Tilney, Northanger Abbey

In days of yore a lady of fashion needed laundresses and maids to take on the hard chore of keeping one's white dresses in immaculate condition. Water was laboriously hauled from a well or nearby stream then boiled so that clothes could be properly cleaned. Miss Tilney always dressed in white or or a light color, thus her attire denoted not only purity but wealth. Aside from being a nice lady, Ms. Tilney oozed social cache and was quite the catch, though we suspect her modesty was the key to her goodness.






Miss Mary Crawford, Mansfield Park

The always exciting and interesting Mary Crawford was a a woman of wealth and privilege; she also, possessed a refined sense of fashion. Lively and sophisticated, Mary attracted Edmund Bertram, a genuinely religious, caring and wholesome man. Miss Crawford was the epitome of a woman of her times - she could walk, ride, dance, and play games. Let us say Mary looked good even though she had a hard time charming Fanny Price with her wit and taste.

pollcode.com free polls

Jane Austen Character Throwdown: Most Fashionable Lady

Miss Eleanor Tilney Miss Mary Crawford

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World