Of course Mr. Darcy is a black cat with white paws!This print can be yours if you visit TaraFlyPhotos Etsy Shop. His fine amber eyes might just rival Lizzy Bennet’s.
Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Tuesday, February 16
Mr. Darcy Cat
Of course Mr. Darcy is a black cat with white paws!This print can be yours if you visit TaraFlyPhotos Etsy Shop. His fine amber eyes might just rival Lizzy Bennet’s.
Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Sunday, February 14
Jane Austen Movie Throwdown
PBS is showing an encore presentation of 2007's Northanger Abbey this Sunday. Check your local listing for the time, and join me on Twitter as I watch the show EST. Of the women starring in the story, who do you like most?
Naive Catherine Morland? (Felicity Jones)
Bad girl Isabella Thorpe? (Carey Mulligan - also Kitty Bennet in 2005 Pride and Prejudice)
Good girl Eleanor Tilney? (Catherine Walker)
Clothes shopper and chaperone Mrs Allen? (Sylvestra Le Touzel, also Fanny Price in Mansfield Park)
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!!
Naive Catherine Morland? (Felicity Jones)
Bad girl Isabella Thorpe? (Carey Mulligan - also Kitty Bennet in 2005 Pride and Prejudice)
Good girl Eleanor Tilney? (Catherine Walker)
Clothes shopper and chaperone Mrs Allen? (Sylvestra Le Touzel, also Fanny Price in Mansfield Park)
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!!
Friday, February 12
Follow Friday: Charleybrown of Enchanted Serenity of Period Films
Meet Charleybrown of Enchanted Serenity of Period Films blog, an incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated period film aficionado.She keeps me up to date on the latest announcements of movies, casting and reviews on all the best period dramas on screen and television. Her extensive list of the 150 Top Period Dramas is indispensible resource whenever I am searching for a movie to rent through NetFlix or to purchase for my home library. Her coverage of the new BBC/PBS Emma (2009) adaptation which concluded here in the US last Sunday is well worth a gander. Here is her favorite fan video of Emma (2009) by bulletproofcouch. I concur that it sums up the four hour miniseries in 4 minutes brilliantly.
Visit Charleybrown at her blog Enchanted Serenity of Period Films
Follow Charleybrown on Twitter
Enjoy, Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Thursday, February 11
Emma Thompson: Her Life in Pictures
The Daily Mail offers Emma Thompson: My Life in Pictures. (Above an image in 1966. Emma is the little girl on the right.) What is wonderful about them (and her comments) is that Emma, her sister Sophy, and her mother Phyllida Law, all performed in Jane Austen film adaptations. Can you tell us who played which roles in which films? (Below, the three women in 1982).
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Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World
Wednesday, February 10
Meet the next Mr. Darcy – Caleb Grusing
Yes Janites. Just when we thought that Aisha, the new Bollywood take on Jane Austen’s Emma was the last new adaptation in the pipeline, indie production company PaperCut Productions LLC has announced a new contemporary movie of Pride and Prejudice. According to the Pride and Prejudice 2005 blog, who seem to be the only source of information at the moment, filming will begin in Colorado in June 2010. Check out the cast and photos on the official P&P 2010 web page on the PaperCut’s website. Of particular note is actor Caleb Grusing who will be portraying the iconic Mr. Darcy. Big boots to fill for sure, but he is certainly easy on the eyes.Follow PaperCut Productions on Twitter
Follow actor Caleb Grusing on Twitter
Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Tuesday, February 9
Interview with Matthew MacFadyen
In this interview in the Telegraph.co.UK, Matthew Macfadyen discussed his role as Mr. Darcy:
He got slightly miserable having to prance about so gravely in Pride and Prejudice, he reveals. “All the Bennets were having a great time; it was all very cosy. Then I’d come along and be a bit sullen for a couple of days and then f--- off again! It didn’t help that my wife was pregnant at the time, but I wished I’d enjoyed it more.”
Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World
Sunday, February 7
Jane Austen Movie Throwdown
The third episode of Emma 2009 will be shown tonight on PBS (in competition with the Super Bowl!) You have had the opportunity to visit a number of fabulous houses used for the location shots. This week we ask you,
Whose drawing room best suits your taste?
Mr. & Mrs. John Knightley, Brunswick Square, London
The Woodhouse's drawing room, Hartfield in Highbury
Mr. Knightley's drawing room, Donwell Abbey
Saturday, February 6
Last Episode of Emma, Last Twitter Party
Yes, it's super bowl Sunday. But why not slip away from the big beefy body bashing on the field of artificial warfare, and join us for a splendid and civilized hour of Twitter chatter! Click here for the details and remember to use the hashtag: #emma_pbs.
Click on image to view a super large wallpaper size.
Friday, February 5
Follow Friday: Jane Odiwe of Austen Effusions
Author and artist Jane Odiwe of the Austen Effusions website and Jane Austen Sequels Blog is one of my favorite Austenesque authors writing today. Her two recently published sequels: Lydia Bennet’s Story and Willoughby’s Return are both classic Regency-era novels inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice & Sense and Sensibility respectively. Jane’s understanding and knowledge of the culture and history of the time and Jane Austen’s characters are superb. Her artistic eye and keen sense of humor always delights. I know that I’m in for a great read when I crack open one of her books.We also have the advantage of visiting England vicariously through Jane, who not only resides there, but travels to Jane Austen sites including Lyme Regis, Bath and many of the movie film locations sharing her travelogue and photos with us.
You can also follow Jane on Twitter as she tweets about Jane Austen, her research and writing career.
Visit Jane at Jane Austen Sequels Blog by Jane Odiwe
Visit Jane at her official website Austen Effusions
Read an interview of Jane by Vic at Jane Austen's World
Enjoy! Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Thursday, February 4
Editing PBS Masterpiece Presentations
Have you ever wondered why so many original BBC adaptations of the classics we love, including Jane Austen's, are cut down for PBS Masterpiece Classic? Erin Delaney, an editor at PBS, explained in a Barnes and Noble discussion thread last year, why so many scenes seem to be cut out, such as the donkey scene with Mr and Mrs Elton at the Strawberry picking party at Donwell Abbey in the current production of Emma or the bath tub scene in which Catherine fantasizes about Henry Tilney in Northanger Abbey 2007:
Masterpiece gets involved in these productions at various points in the process, depending on the show. Sometimes, yes, we generate suggestions for which books are ripe for adaptation. Sometimes we get involved at the scripting/casting stage. And sometimes we do buy the shows after they're finished. Basically we're looking for, well, Masterpieces!
The air dates on PBS differ from those in England primarily because whichever channel in England is airing the program has its own schedule to manage, as does PBS. Masterpiece airs on Sunday night and we might want to make sure, for example, that we have five Sundays in a row, uninterrupted by holidays, to air something like Little Dorrit. There have been occasions when Masterpiece has aired a title in the U.S. before it aired in England.
Regarding the question about editing to time... Sometimes we might feel that the show would benefit by being slightly tighter. But more commonly, editing is due to odd lengths. The BBC has long had a very free-wheeling schedule. If you've travelled in England, you may have noted that programs might start at 5 minutes past the hour, 10 minutes past, etc. This flexibility allows the BBC to air shows of odd lengths. American television, by contrast, is really ruled by the clock! We need Masterpiece to begin promptly at 9:00. And whatever show is airing next needs Masterpiece to end promptly as well.
Because these films are works of art in their own right (yes, I do believe this), decisions have been made all along, about what to leave in and what to take out. The book's author made such decisions, the screenwriter made more, each performer makes decisions about how to say each line, the director makes still more choices, and so forth. Each iteration of the film is its own piece of art.
Reading some of the books has helped me on occasion to understand parts of the puzzle that may have gotten altered throughout this artistic process...
Masterpiece gets involved in these productions at various points in the process, depending on the show. Sometimes, yes, we generate suggestions for which books are ripe for adaptation. Sometimes we get involved at the scripting/casting stage. And sometimes we do buy the shows after they're finished. Basically we're looking for, well, Masterpieces!The air dates on PBS differ from those in England primarily because whichever channel in England is airing the program has its own schedule to manage, as does PBS. Masterpiece airs on Sunday night and we might want to make sure, for example, that we have five Sundays in a row, uninterrupted by holidays, to air something like Little Dorrit. There have been occasions when Masterpiece has aired a title in the U.S. before it aired in England.
Regarding the question about editing to time... Sometimes we might feel that the show would benefit by being slightly tighter. But more commonly, editing is due to odd lengths. The BBC has long had a very free-wheeling schedule. If you've travelled in England, you may have noted that programs might start at 5 minutes past the hour, 10 minutes past, etc. This flexibility allows the BBC to air shows of odd lengths. American television, by contrast, is really ruled by the clock! We need Masterpiece to begin promptly at 9:00. And whatever show is airing next needs Masterpiece to end promptly as well.Because these films are works of art in their own right (yes, I do believe this), decisions have been made all along, about what to leave in and what to take out. The book's author made such decisions, the screenwriter made more, each performer makes decisions about how to say each line, the director makes still more choices, and so forth. Each iteration of the film is its own piece of art.
Reading some of the books has helped me on occasion to understand parts of the puzzle that may have gotten altered throughout this artistic process...
For the DVD's that you can purchase and whether you receive the full versions or not, please read Cinthia's answer in the comments.
Wednesday, February 3
A Grand Giveaway of Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, by Marsha Altman
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape, a new Austen inspired sequel is in bookstores this week. It is the third book in the Pride and Prejudice Continues series which also includes The Darycs & the Bingleys (2008) and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers (2009).
This "campy, madcap adventure" series continues the story of many of the beloved characters from Jane Austen’s classic novel in imaginative and comical ways. Here is the publisher’s description:
Straight into danger, daring Elizabeth Darcy rushing to the rescue.
Hilarious and action-packed, this installment brings the Darcy and Bingley families to the year 1812 and the intrigues of the Napoleonic war. When a coded letter alerts Elizabeth that her husband and his traveling companion Dr. Maddox, have run into trouble in eastern Europe, Elizabeth sets off on a daring and dangerous mission. While Darcy and Maddox are both worse for wear, Charles Bingley has his hands full holding down the fort at Pemberley, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh sets out to kick up a truly shocking scandal. Can Elizabeth get her husband out of harm’s way and both of them back to Pemberley in time for the impending blessed event? Will Darcy be able to recover from the dark revelations of his imprisonment? And what are the Darcy’s going to do about the demented Asian assassin circumventing the globe to get to Pemberley before they return? With danger, intrigue and psychological depth, this action-packed Pride and Prejudice sequel bring the Darcy and Bingley families closer together as new bonds are forged, lovers are reunited, and unforgettable adventures change their lives forever.
Straight into danger, daring Elizabeth Darcy rushing to the rescue.Hilarious and action-packed, this installment brings the Darcy and Bingley families to the year 1812 and the intrigues of the Napoleonic war. When a coded letter alerts Elizabeth that her husband and his traveling companion Dr. Maddox, have run into trouble in eastern Europe, Elizabeth sets off on a daring and dangerous mission. While Darcy and Maddox are both worse for wear, Charles Bingley has his hands full holding down the fort at Pemberley, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh sets out to kick up a truly shocking scandal. Can Elizabeth get her husband out of harm’s way and both of them back to Pemberley in time for the impending blessed event? Will Darcy be able to recover from the dark revelations of his imprisonment? And what are the Darcy’s going to do about the demented Asian assassin circumventing the globe to get to Pemberley before they return? With danger, intrigue and psychological depth, this action-packed Pride and Prejudice sequel bring the Darcy and Bingley families closer together as new bonds are forged, lovers are reunited, and unforgettable adventures change their lives forever.
GIVEAWAY CONTEST
Enter a chance to win one of three sets of the Pride and Prejudice Continues series by Marsha Altman which includes one copy each of The Darcys & the Bingleys, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers and Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape. Leave a comment stating who your favorite character is in Pride and Prejudice and why by midnight PST February 16th, 2010. Winners to be announced on February 17th, 2010. Shipment to US and Canadian addresses only.
Author Bio:
Marsha Altman is a historian specializing in Rabbinic literature in late antiquity, and an author. She is also an expert on Jane Austen sequels, having read nearly every single one that's been written, whether published or unpublished. She has worked in the publishing industry with a literary agency and is writing a series continuing the story of the Darcys and the Bingleys. She lives in New York.
Reviews:
Austenprose
Good luck, Vic, Jane Austen's World & Laurel Ann, Austenprose
The giveaway contest has now concluded and the winners have been announced. Thanks to all who participated and congrats to the lucky winners!
Tuesday, February 2
Colin Firth & Carey Mulligan Garner Academy Award Noms Today!
It came to pass just as predicted. British actors Colin Firth and Carrey Mulligan, who were both strong contenders in the Actor & Actress in a Leading Role categories were nominated this morning for Academy Awards. Another month of hard campaigning and we just might see one of them take that little golden man back to England with them.
You can discover who their competition is and all of the other nominees at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website. I am also rooting for An Education in the best picture and screenplay categories. All the winners will be announced on March 7th, 2010.
If you still need more Colin Firth excitement for the day – then check out this great BBC Radio 4 program Front Row that features an interview of His Firthness. Big thanks to Julie at Austenonly for the heads up.
Enjoy! Laurel Ann, Austenprose
You can discover who their competition is and all of the other nominees at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website. I am also rooting for An Education in the best picture and screenplay categories. All the winners will be announced on March 7th, 2010.
If you still need more Colin Firth excitement for the day – then check out this great BBC Radio 4 program Front Row that features an interview of His Firthness. Big thanks to Julie at Austenonly for the heads up.
Enjoy! Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Monday, February 1
Colin Firth: Interviewed on CBS
Here's an interview with Colin Firth on CBS's site: The Leading Man Actor Who Became Perfect Jane Austen Hero Now Generating Oscar Buzz With His Performance in "A Single Man." In part the interview says:But he isn't the kind of guy to look too deeply into the mouth of awards (of which he's had a few) or to try to analyze his own success.
"No, I don't know what it is, certainly even less in myself, I do not know why I've been invited in," he said. "I do not know why it's worked when it's worked, and it hasn't when it hasn't. I've got some theories."
One of his theories is what he calls his "neutral" looks, a face onto which characters can be painted. "Goldilocks looks" - not too hot not too cold, a guy who's been called the thinking woman's heartthrob. Colin met his wife Livia in a London eco-fashion shop. Livia is still heavily into eco-fashion, and is completely against disposable fashion. In her blog she discusses celebrating the classics instead of following trends. At the Golden Globe Awards she wore a vintage wedding dress (below). At the SAG awards, Livia wore a dress by ethical designer Mr Larkin (above).
Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World
Q & A With Carey Mulligan
Ms. Mulligan is making a huge splash these days, as this interview with Times Live Magazine attests. Let's hope she's not a flash in the pan like Gretchen Moll, but that she shows true staying power!
Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World
Giveaway: Enter a Chance to Win a copy of Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart
Another author interview and giveaway at Austenprose. Discover author Beth Pattillo’s inspiration for writing Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, her new novel that was officially released today and enter a chance to win one of three copies and one set with her previous novel Jane Austen Ruined My Life by leaving a comment at Austenprose. Contest ends Sunday, February 7th, 2010 so don’t delay.Read two Austen bloggers opposing reviews of this new novel: Vic’ at Jane Austen’s World and mine at Austenprose.
Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Deconstructing Miss Emma Woodhouse: Vote today!
Who is that spoiled “troublesome creature” that we love to hate in Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma? The handsome, clever and rich Miss Woodhouse of course. Who is your favorite Emma Woodhouse, Jane Austen’s original or one of the several screen interpretations? Join in the deconstruction of Miss Emma Woodhouse and vote for your favorite Emma today at Austenprose.What others are saying about Miss Woodhouse too!
Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose
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