Jane Austen Movie Fashion Throwdown

Gentle readers: The Sunday Throwdown series is undergoing yet another metamorphosis. You will now be asked to judge the fashions in Jane Austen adaptations! For the first Fashion Throwdown, whose fashions best define Mrs. Bennet? The 1995 film or the 2005 version? The 1995 film depicts Regency dress styles when the book was published in 1813, and the 2005 film show the styles that were popular when Jane Austen first wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1797.

Whose wardrobe did you like best? Mrs. Bennet 1995 or Mrs. Bennet 2005?

Alison Steadman dressed as Mrs. Bennet, 1995

Brenda Blethyn dressed as Mrs. Bennet, 2005

Whose wardrobe do you like most?
	Alison Steadman, Pride and Prejudice 1995
	Brenda Blethyn, Pride and Prejudice 2005
pollcode.com free polls

Pride and Prejudice - House MD Style

After seeing this video, you will never quite watch House in the same way again

Follow Friday: Austenprose

Starting on Monday, Laurel Ann at Austenprose will begin her in-depth study of Jane Austen's last work, Sanditon. Jane was working on this book about a seaside community and the health-challenged people who went to the sea side for bracing dips in the waters, when she fell too ill to continue to write this marvelous new novel.

Austenprose arrived on the scene in the fall of 2007, and quickly found its niche among Jane Austen blogs with its excellent reviews of books, offerings of beautiful images, and insights into Jane Austens novels that leave the reader feeling that they have discovered something new about their favorite author. Join Laurel Ann as she investigates the novel fragment, Sanditon, and seaside behavior during the Regency period.

Laurel Ann tweets at this Twitter account

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter to be Made into a Movie

Will it ever end? Author Seth Graham-Smith seems to have the King Midas Movie Golden Touch. His new book, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter will be made into a movie.

Ciarán Hinds Talks Up His Irish Side

An interview with Ciarán Hinds in the Orlando Sentinel reveals his Irish side. Best known to Janeites as the delectable Captain Wentworth in what many fans feel is the definitive movie adaptation of Persuasion, I have followed his career with much interest. He can play heroes and villains with ease, but mostly he portrays interesting characters. About his new film, Eclipse, he said:

“My soul is still Irish,” he says. The Eclipse not only would bring him home, to Cove in County Cork, but he’d be an Irish leading man — a grieving, troubled, would-be writer who sees ghosts and longs to start something with the fetching horror author visiting his town. Hinds won the best actor prize at the Tribeca Film Festival and glowing notices as “the wonderful and always underrated Ciarán Hinds” (Boxoffice Magazine) for the film, now opening in some U.S. cities.”

Claire Harmans Interview with Martin Levin

Click here to read More Sensibility Than Sense, Martin Levin's interview with Claire Harman, author of Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World.

Excerpts from the interview:

What's the best Jane Austen adaptation?

The BBC adaptation of Persuasion that had Amanda Root in it. It had interiors that looked like actual houses rather than National Trust homes, and small, crowded, noisy rooms; it just seemed much more naturalistic.

What would Jane have made of all this ado?

As we know, she did not overflow with the milk of human kindness, and I think she would been ferociously against all of this.

Jane Austen in Nederland - A Dutch Jane Austen Society

On April 10, Jane Austen in Nederland will hold a ball in Amsterdam. I wish I could join them! The ball will likely be a rousing success for the Society has only 5 slots left! From these images taken at last year's ball, all the elements are in place for an authentic evening: costumes, setting, and the dances "cotillions, quadrilles, longways en contre-dances zoals Mr Beveridge's Maggot (below) (longway),La Boulangere, Shrewsbury Lasses(longway) en The Hole in the Wall(longway."



Inquiring readers: In honor of Raquel Sallaberry's contribution from Brazil, Jane Austen Today will be featuring blog posts and events around the world this week and next.

Jane Austen Street in Brazil

Inquiring readers: Raquel Sallaberry oversees the blog, Jane Austen em Português. She lives in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and has frequently commented on this blog's posts. Recently I asked her to become a guest blogger and she graciously said yes. Jane Austen inspires people of all cultures, and Raquel embodies Jane's appeal and popularity the world over. This is Raquel's first contribution to this blog:

Rua Jane Austen or Jane Austen Street is a little alley, (as you can see on Google Maps), in the neighborhood Santo Amaro in São Paulo town, Brazil. It's a friendly place and almost strictly residential. I say almost, because there is a school for childhood education and elementary education named Santa Edwiges' (St. Edwiges).

Last December, I visited the place and talked with Mrs. Sueli, who maintains the school and received me very kindly. She told me that the first name of the street was Santo Antonio (St. Antony) and that she didn't know why the name was changed. I am very curious to know who had the idea of renaming the street in honor of Jane Austen, but I did not find this information until now.


As a tribute to dear Jane I have made a short movie – very short indeed! and took some pictures of the street.

Posted by Raquel Sallaberry, Jane Austen em Português

View My Saved Places in a larger map

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown - At the Oscars

I hate to, well, brag, but during last night's live Twitter chat during the Oscar Award Show, yours truly picked the 6 top winners. Which meant, of course, that I though Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan would not win. This week, I extend the JA Movie Throwdown by asking you to vote on their Red Carpet Appearance. Carey has the advantage in that she was photographed many times, and I could find only one BBC video of poor Colin, whose deliciousness seems not to be appreciated by the American press. It is nice to see him smile and a dimple appear in his cheek. (Update - I found a dashing image) I could not find Emily Blunt, nor do I recall her making an appearance, but Ive included Kate Winslet, who has become a fixture at these events.

Colin and wife Livia on the Red Carpet

Just found this lovely shot of Colin on the red carpet

Colin Firth Looks
	Like the quintessential Mr Darcy
	I think he would look better with his shirt off
	He looks tired and his hair is a little wild
pollcode.com free polls

Carey Mulligan (Kitty Bennet)

Carey Mulligan
	She looks princess perfect
	From the waist up she looks fine, but those clunky shoes have to go
	I agree with the Huffington Post column that placed her in the worst dressed category
pollcode.com free polls

Kate Winslet played Marianne Dashwood

Kate Winslet
	Looks fabulous as always
	Her hair and makeup are perfect, but her look is a bit boring
	Only a Valkerie would be proud to wear this stiff corseted column
pollcode.com free polls

To vote for your favorite Oscar gown, go to Enchanted Serenity of Period Films and vote!

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

This week we will ask a two-part question. One today and one tomorrow.

Which of the two BAFTA winners stands the best chance of winning an Oscar tonight? Colin Firth or Carey Mulligan?

Colin Firth (as Mr. Darcy above) was nominated for Actor in a Leading Role, A Single Man

Carey Mulligan (as Kitty Bennet above) was nominated for Actress in a Leading Role, An Education

Most likely to win an Oscar
	Colin Firth
	Carey Mulligan
	Neither
pollcode.com free

Ten Things About Colin Firth

Mirror.com.UK featured an article: Colin Firth: 10 Things You Need to Know About the Oscar Nominated Actor.

Among the tidbits: In a 2006 interview Firth reveled that the three women in his life were “my mother, my wife and Jane Austen.”

He also was mentioned as the Sexiest Man Alive in People Magazine in 2007.

Read an interview with Colin in the Times, 2007: Colin Firth's Darcy Dilemma

Follow Friday: Jane Austen Addict

Follow Friday is a tradition begun by Laurel Ann that I shall continue. My first selection is Laurie Viera Rigler's website, Jane Austen Addict. This site has more bells and whistles than my budgerigar's cage. Laurie, the author of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict features videos, a blog, a chatroom, information about her books and tours, and all sorts of what nots. I love the purple and blue cover of the new paperback version of Rude Awakenings, and her many tidbits of information.

Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival, March 6 & 7, 2010

This weekend, the Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival will be held for the third time
in Old Mandeville, sponsored by The Jane Austen Foundation of Louisiana, Inc., a nonprofit corporation. The mission of the festival in Mandeville is to foster the fine art of letter writing.

We have concentrated over the first two festivals in creating an atmosphere that combines fun cultural activities keyed to the Regency Era in England in which Jane Austen lived and created what are universally recognized as some of the greatest literary works in the English language. But our goal always has been to create a genuine literary festival for the north shore," said Kerri Blache, a founder of the event and president of the board of directors. "Now, in our third year, we are putting more emphasis this year on the literary aspect of our project," Blache said.

For more information about the Festival, click on these links:

• Facebook page of the Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival

• Album of events in 2009

• Details about Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival

Jane Austen Overrated? Puhlease

Wanna see how a man can dig himself into a deep hole from which escape is impossible? Read John Blumenthal's (aka professional comedy writer's) paltry words in Jane Austen Overrated. Regarding her novels, he writes:

They all take place in 19th Century England, and usually revolve around the landed gentry or landed-gentry wannabes. The pompous blowhards that populate most of Ms. Austen’s books all spend their time knitting, taking walks, pretending to read books, having picnics, writing too many letters, gossiping, matchmaking (ineptly), and attending lavish parties, at which they engage in wooden dances, and wonder cluelessly why the person they “truly love” is boogying with someone else. - Yawn.

Talk about clueless! This Neanderthal continues his *ahem* satiric post, attempting to cut Jane Austen's writing into pieces:

Let’s face it – there’s virtually no difference between Austen’s heroines. They all spend their time pathetically pining away for the haughty gentlemen they profess to love, men who are usually spoiled, affluent, and too dense to know that these whining, pouting women have schoolgirl crushes on them.

At this point, Mr. Blumenthal has dug himself all the way to China (with England nowhere in sight):

So why are these books so popular? Simple. They’re all glorified romance novels that have somehow earned the cachet of being “literature,” although for my money, the writing is dull, stilted and plodding and the characters are ordinary simpletons in fancy costumes, but then I’m not the romantic type. If you don’t believe me, ask my wife.

The redeeming factor about this drivel, which Blumenthal published on February 10th, is in reading the comments at the bottom of his post. Now, I'll concede that this comedy writer might have been attempting a satire of his own with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

What do you think, fair reader? Would you give a thumbs up for Mr. Blumenthal's acerbic wit? Or a thumbs down for his mealy-mouthed, lead-footed humor?

At the Morgan Library: Beth Patillo Reads Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart

Guideposts, the publisher of Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, Beth Patillo's second novel, held a gala to celebrate the publication of the book at the Morgan Library on Madison Avenue, New York. In attendance was special guest, Jane Seymour, who read a selection from Pride and Prejudice. Beth Patillo read also, and chose a selection from her book. A video review of the event sits below:

• Read Vic's review
• Read Laurel Ann's review

At the Morgan Library through March 14 is the must-see exhibit for every Janeite, A Woman's Wit: Jane Austen's life and legacy

Thank You, Laurel Ann

Laurel Ann of Austenprose has been my blog partner on Jane Austen Today since late 2007. She contacted me regarding PBS and asked: “Would you be willing to write a post about the upcoming Jane Austen Season for the PBS blog, Remotely Connected? Would I? I said yes in two seconds. I then invited her to become my blog partner on Jane Austen Today. Our talents meshed so well, that Jane Austen Today’s visitors rose by 300%. I cannot thank her enough. Sadly, Laurel Ann has had to move on, leaving me with the daunting task of filling her very capable shoes while continuing my own posts. Thank you for all your hard and lovely work, Laurel Ann. – Vic


Join Laurel Ann as she reads and writes about Sanditon on Austenprose, March 15-21.