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Hi my name is Ramona Leiter from Michigan, U.S. I have longed for a place like this to talk with others who understand my passion for P and P 2. My friend and I have devotedly watched the show since January 1996. We got both of our mothers and another friend to watch it and they all fell in love with it as well.
Before discovering this site existed (due to a link from Ostentatious Jane's page) I contemplated creating my own page dedicated to the mini-series as well as the other film adaptations of Jane Austen's novels.
I will be commenting more later on but just had to say hi and thank you so much for creating this site! I am at home!
In Reply to: "Hi Arnessa" posted by Amy on August 01, 1996 at 14:57:01:
:
: : Hello everyone. My name is Arnessa. (Say here "Hi Arnessa.) And I'm a P&P2 addict.
:
: You think we really qualify as a 12 step program? Link to AA's 12 steps below. Anybody want to try rewriting them for us?
: Here, I will give you a start:
: 1. Our excessive regard and admiration for P&P2 had become insupportable -- we have all apprehended that much.
2. We rightly understood that only the bounty and munificence of our most noble patroness could restore us to that valuable rectitude of mind.
: Amy
In Reply to: Getting the Netherfield supper squirms posted by Amy on July 28, 1996 at 05:04:29:
: Lisa said:>: A beautifully handled, complex scene. And I haven't even found space to
: : talk about the supper scene which follows it!
: Supper! Someone on one of the other lists -- Arnessa, was that you? -- said she can't even stand to watch the supper part of the scene, she is so mortified for Lizzie. I can see that, though I can watch it; I must be more perverse.
: The part -- well, one part -- I love is when Mary starts on a second song and we get Lizzie's reaction. If it were set in present day and Lizzie was inclined to vulgar language, what words do you suppose she was saying inside?
: Amy
No, Amy, it wasn't me who said it orginally. I think it was Laura, but I feel exactly the same. I usually fast-forward through the ball supper scene, too, and now, I also find myself fast-forwarding through the scene where Mrs. Bennet and the silly sisters visit Netherfield during Jane's illness. I shudder for Lizzy when Mrs. B. starts to go after Darcy. But then comes the bath scene. Ahhh, now I can relax. That's another beauty of the the production. The writer/producer/director knew how to alternate tense scenes with soothing or comic ones. After the Netherfield supper, we can laugh at Mr. Collins' proposal. After Lizzy and Darcy's awkward meeting at Pemberley, we have the nice, slow walk around the grounds. After Darcy's letter, we have the last visit to Rosings and Lady Catherine's idiocy. Wait a minute, come to think of it, most of that doesn't originate with the screenplay at all, it's JA who keeps us just on the edge of our seats allowing us to catch our breath only in intervals. Still, the bath scene in P&P2 is clever because it has the same effect.
Arnessa.
In Reply to: Down to Derbyshire; no awe down under? posted by Amy on August 05, 1996 at 20:28:29:
Amy asked: People from NZ and AU... contrasted with Americans -- do you think maybe you tend not to be as much in awe of our English cousins even within the context of Anglophilism?
Here downunder (now that's really a conspiracy of you northerners - wouldn't you know, because there are more of you north of the equator the world has spun on its axis so that we "downunder" are actually oop top) we're not that in awe at all.
In fact we couldn't care tuppence. Here we have absolutely brilliant weather darling. It's simply tops. I wouldn't swap me Pavlovas, Lamingtons, Vegemite and Macadamias for any old Cornish Pastie or Yorkshire Pud.
But of course we used to look forlornly back on Old Mother Hubbard. England with London as her capital was the centre of the world, as far as trade went anyway. This would have been especially the case in Jane Austen's day. England had lost her great continent America and so had to conquer this swampy bit of dirt as a poor second. In the early days of Australia's colonisation London was still the centre, but all road signs in this area point to Sydney.
I am so happy to have discovered the existence of this Web
page (thanks, Amy) and from it to learn of the rebroadcast of P&P.
I don't know if this is old news to fans, but a CD soundtrack
and "making of" book have been released by EMI and Penguin books,
respectively. I was able to purchase both here in Toronto, Ontario.
If anyone needs the order numbers please feel free to e-mail me.
The book is written by the producer (Sue Birtwistle) and,
along with many photographs, details a day in the life of the
production. The music is, of course, by Carl Davis, who, about ten years ago,
did the music for a wonderful series about the silent films called
"Hollywood".
Follow Ups:
In Reply to: Darcy intelligent? posted by AB on August 06, 1996 at 22:01:21:
Amy said:
: Lisa, I've a feeling as well that he is smart, but where is the evidence? He says he hopes his faults do not include lack of Understanding, but that's his claim. Do we just want him to be bright?
Well, in the novel, Jane Austen makes a big point of telling us how bright he is. He is also obviously easily bored by social chit chat, likes to read, has high expectations of what a cultured woman should be, and therefore has at least as high an expectation of himself, enjoys Bingley's company because Bingley is such a charmer, but is clearly much smarter than him, and a whole bunch of other evidence I could dredge out if you want to pursue this further. So yes, I think it is more than wishful thinking on our part.
Lisa
I would like to enter the contest as advertised on A&E.
I'm new to this e-mail webb site deal, so I'm not sure if I am
sending this message to the right place. Please let me know.
By the way I am so glad that movies such as those of Jane Austin
are in existence. Thanks
Follow Ups:
In Reply to: P&P Literary Contest posted by Karen-Anne Fox on August 10, 1996 at 16:19:43:
Here's what I know about the contest sponsored by A&E.
1 GRAND PRIZE: Trip for two to England, three nights stay in a "first-class" hotel in London (They must be unaware of how Austen felt about that town.) with visits to museums &c, train transportation to the Cotswalds and three nights' stay at a manor (Now, that's more like it.) Plus, (and for me this would be the cream) a
nineteenth-century leather bound edition of Austen's works. Total prize value: $14,000.
10 FIRST PRIZES: A collector's edition of Pride and Prejudice. Prize value: $150.00
50 SECOND PRIZES: A boxed set of the P&P video. (I know, that's the last thing some of us need. But I have to admit I wouldn't mind winning this prize. I'm afraid my videotapes will wear out soon! It would save a world of trouble and economy if I could win a set.)
You can enter by mail. Just send a postcard to: Pride & Prejudice London Literary Sweepstakes OR You can enter by email. Go to www.aetv.com. Look under the heading "Specials."
P.O. Box 10249 I will try to do something very new and very grand for me by setting up a link to
Burbank, California 91504 at the end of this message. But if (not surprisingly) that doesn't work you can still get there.
Now, for a few rules and regs which may disappoint many of you: The drawing will be held on or around Sept. 10. You have to be 18 years old or older to enter. AND (this is the hardest) you have to be a resident of the continental United States. Only one entry per day and the postcards have to be received before Sept 3.
Well, that's all. I hope one of us wins. It could be just the cure we need. But you better hurry. I've already entered several times!!! HA! HA! HA!
-Arnessa.
Below (hopefully) is the link to the A&E page.
In Reply to: P&P Literary Contest posted by Karen-Anne Fox on August 10, 1996 at 16:19:43:
Note: this is a resend because first message was flawed.
Here's what I know about the contest sponsored by A&E.
1 GRAND PRIZE: Trip for two to England, three nights stay in a "first-class" hotel in London (They must be unaware of how Austen felt about that town.) with visits to museums &c, train transportation to the Cotswalds and three nights' stay at a manor (Now, that's more like it.) Plus, (and for me this would be the cream) a
nineteenth-century leather bound edition of Austen's works. Total prize value: $14,000.
10 FIRST PRIZES: A collector's edition of Pride and Prejudice. Prize value: $150.00
50 SECOND PRIZES: A boxed set of the P&P video. (I know, that's the last thing some of us need. But I have to admit I wouldn't mind winning this prize. I'm afraid my videotapes will wear out soon! It would save a world of trouble and economy if I could win a set.)
You can enter by mail. Just send a postcard to: Pride & Prejudice London Literary Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 10249, Burbank, California 91504 OR You can enter by email. Go to www.aetv.com. Look under the heading "Specials." I will try to do something very new and very grand for me by setting up a link to the A&E contest site at the end of this message. But I give you the address so that if (not surprisingly) that doesn't work, you can still enter the contest.
Now, for a few rules and regs which may disappoint many of you: The drawing will be held on or around Sept. 10. You have to be 18 years old or older to enter. AND (this is the hardest) you have to be a resident of the continental United States. Only one entry per day and the postcards have to be received before Sept 3.
Well, that's all. I hope one of us wins. It could be just the cure we need. But you better hurry. I've already entered several times!!! HA! HA! HA!
-Arnessa.
Below (hopefully) is the link to the A&E page.
Whow!! a whole home page dedicated to P&P2.
My sister and I are dedicated and ardent fans of the series and have probably finished our 20th viewing of the same.
We are glad to konw that there are others out there, who are as obssessed as we are.
We are tired of discussing the series and the book with each other as we have sort of exhausted the discussion and topics.
We thought that we were the only fools to have gone ga-ga over this series and over Colin Firth.
It is comforting... extremely comforting!!
No one in Singapore seems to understand this affliction of ours, not even ardent fans of Austen.
We have tried, like most of you to get others to watch the series, but alas we have not been successful in our "conversions".
Hence we are overjoyed to find others who are equally obsessed with this particular series as we are.
Regards, Suman and Rina Kalpanath
Singapore.
Follow Ups:
In Reply to: P & P2, BBC Version 1995 posted by Suman Kalpanath Palmer on August 11, 1996 at 08:59:00:
: Whow!! a whole home page dedicated to P&P2.
: My sister and I are dedicated and ardent fans of the series and have probably finished our 20th viewing of the same.
: We are glad to konw that there are others out there, who are as obssessed as we are.
: We are tired of discussing the series and the book with each other as we have sort of exhausted the discussion and topics.
: We thought that we were the only fools to have gone ga-ga over this series and over Colin Firth.
: It is comforting... extremely comforting!!
: No one in Singapore seems to understand this affliction of ours, not even ardent fans of Austen.
: We have tried, like most of you to get others to watch the series, but alas we have not been successful in our "conversions".
: Hence we are overjoyed to find others who are equally obsessed with this particular series as we are.
: Regards, Suman and Rina Kalpanath
: Singapore.
I couldn't agree with you more, Suman and Rina. Things have been the same for my friend and I. Although we did get our mothers interested, and I just shared the series with another friend of mine. He seemed to particularly enjoy all the humor.
It is such a special series that is so exciting to share with others. When you share it it is like you are seeing for the first time again. I hope that joy will be yours soon and that you will be able to interest others in the show.
In Reply to: Lizzy's ability to play the instrument well posted by Holly on August 07, 1996 at 23:08:12:
Well, Holly, I only know what I read on the AUSTEN-L list, and it just so happens that the subject of music in P&P2 has been addressed by some very fine scholars there. Here's what I remember. First, Lizzy's playing at Rosings sounded so awful partly because Lady Catherine's pianoforte is out of tune. You can hear this if you listen closely. The lower notes make sort of a twang when Lizzy hits them. So when Lady Catherine shrilly calls out, "You'll never play really well, Miss Bennet, unless you practice more." Lizzy could have retorted, "No, you old crow, I'll never play really well on an instrument so out of tune." But Lizzy, of course, is very forebearing. Also, the music scholars on the list pointed out that the pianoforte was the forerunner to our modern piano and was being invented around Bach's time. There are some differences between the pianoforte and the modern piano, I think, but I'm not qualified to discuss them.
Arnessa.
I got such a kick out of the portrayal of Lydia in P&P2. I hated her in the novel, but in the series I found myself looking forward to her scenes. Even though Julia Sawalha doesn't fit the physical description of Lydia in the novel (Lydia's supposed to be taller than Lizzy), I think Sawalha captures her untamed spirit to a T. I think the casting director must have looked for someone who had a good laugh, because Sawalha's is delightful, which is a good thing because you have to listen to it through most of the film. (Don't you just love how she breaks out into giggles when Mr. Collins catches her half-dressed in the hallway.) Sawalha made me realize how Lydia would have been the most modern of the Bennet sisters. Lydia would love today's world. Lydia is also the most sexually aware and sexually curious of all the sisters. I love it when she says to Kitty (at the breakfast table, no less!), "Let's call on Denny early, before he is dressed. What a shock he will get!" Then what is that sound they both make? They sound more like Valley Girls than demure Regency young women. But it works! And I also like when Kitty and Lydia are musing that Mr. Collins will be reading to Charlotte from Fordyce's Sermons every night before they go to bed. That's classic! I don't think Austen really let us see the fun in Lydia because Lydia is, after all, so very shallow. But Sawalha made me laugh with Lydia even though I could not like her. That's good acting.
Now I'm going to set up a link (because I can) to a web page that gives all sorts of information on Julia Sawalha. Interestingly enough, there are about six sites devoted to this actress. I know she was in AbFab, but I still thought she was relatively obscure.
-Arnessa.
Follow Ups:
In Reply to: Lydia posted by Arnessa on August 12, 1996 at 01:33:08:
Oops! I thought I had put the link in the other post, but I don't see it. So I'll try again.
-Arnessa.
In Reply to: Lizzy's ability to play the instrument well posted by Holly on August 07, 1996 at 23:08:12:
Holly said:
> While she was at Rosing's Park she stumbled her way through the piece very very clumsily. But in Mr. Darcy's humble abode she played & singed beautifully. It seemed to me that her ability to play was remarkably improved. Perhaps I am being too picky, but it seems to be a slight inconsistancy.
For one thing, I think she knew she was under the critical eye of Lady C. Anybody would be nervous. Lady C probably wanted her to be. So who could perform to strangers?
Amy
In Reply to: Lydia posted by Arnessa on August 12, 1996 at 01:33:08:
Arnessa said she gets a kick out of Lydia. Me too. She is wild. I've a feeling Austen would have liked to be able to be more explicit as Davies was with the character. I wonder what kind of novels Austen would write were she around today.
Amy
Idea: let's cast Gone with the Wind with the P&P2 company. Of course Ehle and Firth have to be Scarlet and Rhett. You take it from there.
Amy
Follow Ups:
In Reply to: How addicted are we? posted by Amy on July 23, 1996 at 21:12:52:
:Number of viewings is a good indicator. But, as we have discussed Holly, there are others:
: - Tendency to speak without contractions
: - Being more "ladylike," in your ^^air, expression, manner of walking, tone, manner of sprawling on the couch, checking your brake fluid level or number of bytes free.^^
The same thing happened with me--made me more interested in improving my mind through extensive reading and vocabulary study.
On my first viewing I couldn't stop. I had taped the whole series at one time on A&E's first showing but I didn't watch any of it until later that week. The only thing I can describe watching it for five hours straight is like building up to tremendous climax. You lose momentum if you watch a little here and there. After being tremedously satisfied with the marathon viewing, I recommended this to my friend as the only way to see it. I did the marathon viewings a couple of more times but time prevents me from doing that so often. For awhile, nothing else on t.v. or anywhere else satisfied me like P&P2 did. I had to watch a little every evening to feel cleansed from the day and life in general. It is such a tremendously entertaining piece of work, yet it is virtuous without being dull at all. It is so wonderful to see complex, electrifying characters who don't have act immoral to seem interesting (such as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara). Darcy and Lizzie can hold their own in today's society. Nobody and nothing else compares to them.
In Reply to: Be a casting director posted by The vacationing Amy on August 12, 1996 at 14:23:10:
: Idea: let's cast Gone with the Wind with the P&P2 company. Of course Ehle and Firth have to be Scarlet and Rhett. You take it from there.
: Amy
great idea! jovial Bingley would be Ashley Wilkes and of course Jane is sweet, angelic Melanie Wilkes. Mrs. Bennett could powder her curls to play silly, high-strung Aunt Pitty-pat and Lady C deBourgh could be the leader of Atlanta's elite society that stonewalls Rhett and Scarlett... this is fun!
Follow Ups:
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