Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

Next time I visit England, I am definitely visiting some of the Jane Austen movie locations. Of the locations you have seen, which will take you off the beaten path?

Which Jane Austen Movie Location/s Would You Like to See?

Lacock Village, Wiltshire

Lacock has been the setting for Meryton in Pride and Prejudice 1995, Emma with Kate Beckinsale in 1996, and the recent Cranford series.

Stourhead Landscape Garden, Wiltshire

Remember the rain scene at the Temple of Apollo in Pride and Prejudice 2005? While the setting is inaccurate in terms of Jane Austen's description, the backdrop was wildly romantic for Mr. Darcy's (Matthew Macfadyen's) first proposal to Lizzie (Keira Knightley).

Box Hill, Surrey

The setting for all Box Hill scenes in Emma is, well, Box Hill. Emma's ridicule of Miss Bates, Mr. Knightley's justifiable anger and disappointment with Emma, Frank Churchill's dubious nature, and Jane Fairfax's pain upon seeing Frank flirt with another woman. The views from this hill are said to be spectacular, and it remains today much as it was during Jane Austen's time.


Stanage Edge, Hathersage Moor, Hathersage, Derbyshire, England, UK

Who can forget Elizabeth Bennet standing at the edge of Stanage Edge in the Peak District as she and the Gardiners traveled north? One might quibble with the end result of this film, but some of the visuals are stunning. This scene alone gave me a desire to see this part of England.

City of Bath

Jane Austen lived in Bath, which is also featured in Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. The Georgian center of town is a jewel and transports one back to the Georgian Era. The Jane Austen Centre is located in Bath, as are the Pump Room, Assembly Rooms, Molland's, and a host of other sites we associate with Jane Austen.

Multiple answers are allowed this week!

Jane Austen Film Location I Would Like to Visit
	Lacock Village, Wiltshire
	Stourhead Landscape Garden, Wiltshire
	Box Hill, Surrey
	Stanage Edge, Hathersage Moor, Derbyshire
	City of Bath, Somerset
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Jane Austen Movie Throwdown

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.

Which changed scene is the most egregious deviation from Jane Austen's novels?
	Anne Elliot runs through Bath, Persuasion 2007
	Willoughby seduces Eliza in the opening scene of Sense and Sensibility 2008
	Lady Catherine de Bourgh encourages Mr. Darcy to propose to Elizabeth Bennet
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Persuasion 2007: Jane Austen's Cast of Characters Observed

Two days and counting until airing of Persuasion. The excitement is building for the PBS presentation of Jane Austen's classic love story of loss and redemption. One of Austen's famous qualities as a writer, was her unique ability to craft characters that exemplified a wide range of personality traits, good and bad. In preparation for the viewing, see if you can determine who you will admire or admonish.

Persuasion: Cast of characters

Miss Anne Elliot: heroine, spinster, age 27, second daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, resembles her deceased mother, Baronial household manager by default, enjoys long walks through the estate grounds to get away from family, plays pianoforte on demand, easily persuaded but lives to regret it, incredibly patient with prickly sisters and fussy father, looking for second chance at love, prefers re-hookup with dashing naval officer that she once scorned.

Captain Fredrick Wentworth: hero, bachelor, age 31, ambitious naval officer, recent financial windfall of 25,000 pounds from war booty on the frigate Laconia, cuts a dashing figure by wearing nothing but black (if blue naval uniform not required), enjoys shooting and a good gallop on horseback to vent off steam, rejected in love eight years prior, and seeks hookups with ladies with strong decisive character who know their own mind and are not easily persuaded.

Sir Walter Elliot: Baronet of Kellynch Hall, Somersetshire, widow, age 54, father to Elizabeth, Anne & Mary, spendthrift, relies heavily of the skills of his valet and tailor to puff up his vanity, enjoys the view in the mirror over a window, only reads pedigrees in the “book of books” - the Baronetage, skilled at shouting commands and avoiding his creditors.

Miss Elizabeth Elliot: discontented prima donna, spinster, age 29, first daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, mistress of Kellynch Hall by default through her mother's death, spendthrift, golden child, as vain as her father, enjoys the delights of London society and bossing her younger sisters about, feeling the tick tock of her biological clock, seeks hookups with titled & wealthy nobility only please.

Mary Musgrove nee Elliot: hypochondriac, age 23, third daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, married to Charles Musgrove, Esq. of Uppercross in Somersetshire, mother of 2 sons, chief occupation lying prostrate on a settee and moaning, enjoys nothing, has no known accomplishments except being very good at whining, favourite word is 'no'.

Lady Russell: meddler, widower of Sir Henry Russell, of steady character and age, god-mother, friend and advisor to neighbour Anne Elliot, unromantic and pragmatic, enjoys long walks in the garden persuading young ladies to dump young handsome naval officers because they are poor and untitled, well-to-do and no hookups wanted

William Walter Elliot: schemer, widow, age about 30, nephew of Sir Walter Elliot & heir presumptive of his estates, studied law but does not practice, gold-digger, enjoys marrying rich tradesmen’s daughters who die mysteriously once the money is gone, out of favour with Sir Walter Elliot for flirting with his daughter Elizabeth and not following through, smooth, affable and slippery, seeks hookups with titled and or wealthy ladies with the possibility of their quick demise.

Continue reading the next post for the Minor Cast of Characters!

Be sure to check your local PBS station for air times. Will the Elliot family retrench from financial ruin? Will her scorned suitor Captain Wentworth marry a younger woman? Will our heroine Anne Elliot escape her family and find true love? Join in all the anguish, drama and romance on Master Piece Classic, PBS, Sunday, January 13, at 9:00 pm.

Posted by Laurel Ann

Persuasion's Cast of Characters Continued

Louisa Musgrove: young sister in sprig muslin, aged about 19, engaged and off the marriage mart, Charles & Henrietta Musgrove’s younger sister, educated at school, high-spirited, accomplished, wild about dancing, headstrong, falls easily in love, has high naval fervour, loves to play “catch me”. First attracted to Captain Wentworth, but after a head bang on the stones of a Cobb, acquires literary taste and an appetite for Scott and Lord Byron. She falls in love with Mr. Benwick over poetry, and they become engaged.

Henrietta Musgrove: sister in sprig muslin, aged about 20, engaged and off the marriage mart, younger sister of Charles Musgrove and older sister to Louisa, educated at school, young, fun-loving, loves to dance, less decisive than Louisa. Though unofficially engaged to her clergyman cousin Charles Hayter, her girlish ego is momentarily dazzled by the attentions of dashing Captain Wentworth.

Charles Musgrove: genial brother, 30-something heir to the great house at Uppercross, doting father of two young sons, long-suffering and deaf-eared husband of Mary. Civil, high- spirited, agreeable, patient, wild about sport. Lacks the art of conversation, and trifles time away without benefit of books. Always in want of more money. Could manage his children very well if it weren’t for his wife’s interference. First set his sights on Anne Elliot, who refused him.

Captain Harville, naval officer, friend of Captain Wentworth, married, proud father of three children. Tall, dark, benevolent countenance with strong features. Severely wounded, discharged at half-pay, walks with slight limp. Lives in Lyme. Sensible, unaffected, warm, obliging and useful. When not employed within by his mind, he varnishes, carpenters, and glues, making toys for the children. Converses with Anne Elliot at opportune moments.

Captain James Benwick, first lieutenant of the Laconia, friend of Captain Wentworth, and once engaged to Fanny, Harville’s dead sister. Excellent but moping young man who learned his fiance passed away after he earned his prize money and promotion. Pleasing face, dejected and melancholy air, affectionate heart, romantic reader of poetry. Finds an intellectual connection with Anne, but it is Louisa who consoles his broken heart and who he will marry.

Mrs. Clay: opportunist, poor widow with two children, daughter of Sir Walter's lawyer, Mr. Shepherd, friend of Elizabeth Elliot and engaged to accompany her to Bath. A clever inveigler and flatterer who understands the fine art of sucking up. Her ultimate aim is to make herself so acceptable and indispensable to the vain and self-absorbed Sir Walter, that he will throw all caution to the wind and marry her, despite his aversion to her freckles, snaggle tooth, and clumsy wrist.

Rear Admiral Croft: naval officer, gentleman with handsome fortune, married to Sophia, no children. Native of Somersetshire, tenant of Kellynch Hall, well-traveled, saw action at Trafalgar. A hale, hearty, well-looking and plain-spoken man with excellent manners. He is a little weather-beaten and must stave off gout with exercise. After moving into Kellynch Hall, he ordered the removal of the large number of looking-glasses Sir Walter left behind in his bedroom.

Sophia Croft: wife of Admiral Croft, Captain Wentworth’s older sister. Married for love, not money. Well-spoken, genteel, and shrewd about taxes and business. In the habit of sharing everything with her husband, including walks and travel. No children, and therefore the very best preserver of furniture in the world.

Mrs. Smith nee Hamilton: impoverished widow, cripple, 30 yrs. old, school fellow of Anne Elliot, lives in Bath. Suffers severe rheumatic fever in her legs, beset with financial difficulties, thrives on uncannily accurate gossip obtained through Nurse Rooke. Gets her revenge on false friend William Elliott by spilling the beans about his true nature to Anne. In 2007 movie version of Persuasion, is granted miracle cure by script writers and is seen wandering around Bath.




Last, but not least, Mr. & Mrs. Musgrove: popular parents of Louisa, Henrietta, and Charles, residents of the great house at Uppercross, love to entertain and throw dinner-parties. They attract more visitors by invitation and chance than any other family in the neighbourhood.

Learn more about the characters in Persuasion at these sites:

• Genealogy of characters in Persuasion at the Republic of Pemberley

• A Calendar for Persuasion

• List of actors in the 2007 movie
  

Posted by Ms. Place. Click here for the Major Cast of Characters posted by Laurel Ann.