Happy Birthday, Mr. Collins - Guy Henry, Lost in Austen

Happy 50th birthday, Guy Henry.

The actor played the creepiest Mr.Collins of all. Not following the script, he courted Jane Bennet and married her in Lost in Austen, thankfully never consummating the marriage. Guy has had a long and illustrious career, cast as Minister for Magic Pius Thicknesse in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts I and II. Guy's other films include Bright Young Things, V for Vendetta, Starter for 10, and the UK mini-series Criminal Justice.

Mr. Collins Proposes to Lizzie

Mr. Collins' proposal to Lizzie shall always remain one of my favorite scenes in both book and film:

Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Dear voters: In this week's throwdown we ask you to contemplate the actor who best captured that most comic of all clergymen: Mr. Collins. Before making up your mind, please read these wonderful descriptions of him by Jane Austen. In this week's throwdown we ask:

Which actor played the part of Mr. Collins best?

Description: Mr. Collins was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal.

Elizabeth to Jane: "My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, as well as I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who marries him, cannot have a proper way of thinking."

David Bamber, 1995 & Tom Hollander, 2005

Mr. Collins proposes to Lizzy: "You can hardly doubt the purport of my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to dissemble; my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I entered the house I singled you out as the companion of my future life. But before I am run away with by my feelings on this subject, perhaps it will be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying -- and moreover for coming into Hertfordshire with the design of selecting a wife, as I certainly did.''

The idea of Mr. Collins, with all his solemn composure, being run away with by his feelings, made Elizabeth so near laughing that she could not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him farther..."

Guy Henry, Lost in Austen (above) & Malcolm Rennie, P&P 1980 (below)

Mr. Collins' letter of condolence to the Bennets after Lydia's elopement.
"No arguments shall be wanting on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent's mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose, as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence, though at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied, in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family."

Which actor plays Mr. Collins best?
	Malcolm Rennie, 1980
	David Bamber, 1995
	Tom Hollander, 2005
	Guy Henry, 2008
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Mr. Darcy – All Graphic Noveled and Such

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is being adapted into a graphic novel by writer Tony Lee and artist Cliff Richards and published by Del Rey Books and Random House in January 2010. You can read an extensive interview of writer Tony Lee and view sketches of all the main characters in the online article Excuse Me Miss, You Got ZOMBIES in my PRIDE and PREJUDICE at Newsarama.

Considering what unsympathetic art we received in the Marvel Comics version of Pride and Prejudice with the Bennet sisters looking like Gothic runway models, Cliff Richards renderings of the characters are quite elegant and stylish and show great potential. Even in these light and quick sketches you can tell immediately that he has read the book or at least watched a movie adaptation or two. This image of Fitzwilliam is quite striking, and his interpretation of Mr. Collins is exactly what I had in my minds eye. From this image of him on the right with his prigish expression, it is no wonder that Elizabeth Bennet refused his offer of marriage, and makes Charlotte’s acceptance all the more pitiable, even if she was a zombie.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Vote for your favorite Pride and Prejudice Bachelor

Which of the single man of good or fair fortune in Pride and Prejudice would you like to spend the rest of your days and nights with?

Is it the handsome rogue George Wickham, the dependable but toady Rev. Mr. Collins, the kind natured and overly obliging Mr. Charles Bingley, the charming red coated but poor Colonel Fitzwilliam, the rich noble mien of Mr. Darcy, or the whole _shire Militia that you take turns with?

Virgina Claire has given us a great roundup of their attributes and faults in her Bachelors of Pride and Prejudice. Have you say and vote for your favorite today.

Cheers, Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Jane Austen Character Throwdown

Mr. William Elliot, heir to the Elliot fortune, has won the dubious distinction of Most Conniving Character #2, winning the title over John Thorpe. We now come to this week's throwdown between two well-known ministers:

I'd Rather Move From His Parish Than Listen to His Sermons

Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice

An obsequious toad-eater, this man chose to read ponderous sermons and lectures to the Bennets during his first visit to Longbourn. One suspects that Lady Catherine de Bourgh played an active part in writing his sermons. After Lydia eloped with Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins demonstrated his lack of common sense, and sent the following letter of condolence to Mr. Bennet: "They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family. And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November, for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence."

Mr. Elton, Emma

If one lived in Highbury, one would not only have to listen to Mr. Elton, but to Mrs. Elton as well. One suspects she would insinuate herself into everyones' lives. A man of the cloth must show humility and demonstrate himself to be above petty thoughts or actions. Mr. Elton is far from being such a man. He was decidedly unable to show grace or forgiveness towards Harriet when Mrs. Weston solicited him to dance with the young girl at a ball: "Mrs. Gilbert does not mean to dance, but there is a young lady disengaged whom I should be very glad to see dancing—Miss Smith." "Miss Smith!—oh!—I had not observed.—You are extremely obliging—and if I were not an old married man.—But my dancing days are over, Mrs. Weston. You will excuse me. Any thing else I should be most happy to do, at your command—but my dancing days are over." Mrs. Weston said no more; and Emma could imagine with what surprise and mortification she must be returning to her seat. This was Mr. Elton! the amiable, obliging, gentle Mr. Elton."

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I'd Move From His Parish Rather Than Listen to His Sermons

Mr. Collins Mr. Elton

Mr. Collins

One of my favorite comic characters of all time is Mr. Collins of Pride and Prejudice. Who can forget his proposal to Lizzy? Or his obsequious ways with Lady Catherine de Bourgh? This week you can listen to a song sung by Mr. Collins and written by Rita Abrams and Josie Brown.

Click here to listen to Mr. Collins Marry Anthem, and hear such fun words as:

"There comes a time
when a man of piety
must pluck a winning plum
and let the rest fall free..."



Every week Rita and Josie feature a full song on their site, Pride and Prejudice the Musical. For those of you who haven't visited their website in a while, it has been completely revamped! Click here to read my interview with Josie and Rita, who in real life are much nicer and more talented than Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley. (I just couldn't resist adding this wonderful icon!)


Icons: Mr. Collins (top) from Sharon T, Mr. Collins (middle) from Ms. Place, Scary sisters from Pearls and Jewels.
Posted by Ms. Place

Seen on the Blogosphere: Lizzie Bennet's Nightmare

I found this photo of Lizzie marrying Mr. Collins at this link on Live Journal. Hah!

Posted by Ms. Place

The Men of Austen: Mr. Darcy Rules & John Thorpe Drools

I'm having a good giggle from reading the results of the 'The Men of Austen' poll on the PBS Masterpiece Classic web site. Darcy still rules, and John Thorpe drools! Ha! I am just amazed that the drippy Mr. Collins is seventh in the poll out of a possible 16 candidates! Really, Janeites, have you all gone all Charlotte Lucas on me?

It's reasuring to know that tastes in men haven't changed much in 200 years! What amiable qualities Jane Austen saw in Regency era men and endowed upon Mr. Darcy are still desirable today in 2008. Or are we influenced like Lizzy Bennet by his ample estate of Pemberley, and his 10,000 pounds a year income? Oh, and that's 6,000,000 a year in today's currency ladies!

One wonders if it is really Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr. D. in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice that inspires us to vote him our most suitable mate. Darcy is a bit of a stuffed shirt in the novel. His transformation into a caring, compassionate suitor for Elizabeth Bennet's affection is so much more compelling on the screen when you can watch Colin watching Lizzy. She is renown for her 'fine eyes', but his are more impressive.


Novel, movie. Movie, novel. They have both become so ingrained in our perception of Pride and Prejudice that they have melded together in my mind. It will be a pleasure to re-view the 1995 P&P staring Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet, and Colin Firth as Fitzwilliam Darcy, airing this Sunday, February 10th, and the next two consecutive Sundays in February on Masterpiece Classic at 9:00 pm on PBS. Be sure to watch Darcy watching Lizzy. He will tell the real story.

Posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose