ITV Mansfield Park -- My Thoughts

[olde_fashioned]

I have just finished watching ITV's skeleton of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. I am most seriously displeased. I am now going to bring out my sarcastic weapons without any apologetic restraints and wield them with utter ferocity in the general direction of whoever is responsible of ruining this story. Do not read this tirade review if you are an ardent fan of this movie. (although I do not see how any could exist, haha) They seem to have kept the names and changed the rest. Why bother to adapt something if you're not going to tell the story properly???? Grrrrrrr…

I knew I would not like Billie Piper the moment the cast list was released and I saw her picture. Without seeming to “judge a book by its cover” she is not at all period-looking or suitably “meek” or sweet or downtrodden enough to play Fanny Price. At least Jane Austen’s Fanny, that is. I was left with the distinct impression that somewhere along the line, PBS was given the wrong tape and we were subjected to some non-Austen contraption designed to torture and confuse the viewer.

What was with the HAIR in this movie? Fanny has a bleach job (and a bad one at that!) while Tom and Henry looked like something a cat would drag in. Edmund’s hair was plastered to his head like he hadn’t taken a bath in weeks. And makeup? Lipstick?? *fans self*



Was Billie Piper’s idea of showing Fanny’s goodness and sweetness to run around all the time falling out of her dress, flailing her arms about like a crazy woman who thinks she was a chicken in another life? And that wheezing laugh of hers. Is that supposed to be endearing and sympathetic?? Where is Fanny’s heart? Her inner struggles, her moral convictions, her desire to be good, honest, and truthful? There was no emotion at all, and there was no drama -- unless you count confusion! I am so grateful that I had HAPPENED TO READ THE BOOK so that I knew what the heck was going on. I think the filmmakers were even more confused than their audience, sadly. Tom declares that “Fanny is the best girl alive” but what makes her so? There is nothing in the movie to indicate anything other than she likes running around with her mouth open, and watching people behind curtains. The latter worked for Colin Firth as Darcy, but I have yet to see anyone pull off the former with any success.

We were never given a clear reason of why Fanny dislikes Henry so much, other than his previous attentions to Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. (whoops, sorry -- I meant Maria and Julia). We don’t even know in a timely manner about Maria’s sin, or at all about Julia’s elopement, and how “Maria’s guilt induced Julia’s folly.” We are never allowed the crucial visit to Portsmouth where Henry goes and visits Fanny. We never even see Mr. Price and the rest of Fanny’s family.

The dancing scene for Fanny’s birthday was frustrating! The Waltz is not period correct! Gahh!!! I guess ITV didn’t want to go to all the added expense of fitting up a ballroom for a proper Regency ball since they spent all of their budget on getting period-correct hairstyles. I suppose they thought we, the ignorant audience, would enjoy a springtime frolic out on the grass where all the servants gather to gawk? The Bertrams have holdings in Antigua, and yet they cannot afford more than one measly fiddler to play music. The request of the song Portsmouth was an interesting choice, because of Fanny, but it is not the Portsmouth I am familiar with on my English Country Dancing CD. But perhaps there are two different versions. I really thought we might get a nice dance with candlelight and Tom getting away from his aunt’s card table and seeing Fanny’s “glossy spot” dress but alas, we are doomed to have a picnic.

The only thing I liked was the casting of Edmund, which surprised even myself. I thought he did a good job with what he was given, and in portraying Edmund in a less-than-clueless way. I think the character of Edmund would be easy to screw up. Did anyone else think the actor’s voice sounded like Paul Bettany’s? (oooh, there’s an idea. Stephen Maturin in a Jane Austen movie! Why not? We already got Mr. Pullings and Worley. hee hee. Anyone with the last name of “D‘Arcy“ simply HAS to be in a JA adaptation at least once…)

Speaking of which, what is wrong with a little RESEARCH???? William wasn’t allowed to wear his uniform when not on duty!!! It was all over the novel! (note to ITV filmmakers: there is this nice book called “Mansfield Park” -- you might not have heard of it, but you really should make an effort to read it sometime)

Mary Crawford was tolerable, I suppose, but only because everyone else was so bad! Was she trying to hitch-hike and get a ride from Edmund by showing her leg like that??? (my initial reaction was that she was a prostitute, and if I did not know the story in advance, I would have believed that throughout the duration of the film) Maybe that was how she was asking him to take her riding, because the first clue we get of that is seeing her perched atop a horse, YET AGAIN clad in red. I think the costumers believe that stupid, age-old cliché that only bad women wear red, and lots of it. Hmph. I was amusing myself by trying to decide who was showing more cleavage, Fanny or Mary. *snort*

Mrs. Norris? Hellooooo she was the evil stepmother aunt! Where was all of her abuse of Fanny? Where was her evil, cruel, devastating remarks to Fanny about her being undeserving? Where was her preferential treatment of Maria? Where was her matchmaking with the aforementioned spoiled brat and The Idiotic Dolt aka Mr. Rushworth? (I also thought she was too young, but that is just a personal preference.)

The music was a strange combination of I-don’t-know-what with an almost comedic element to it. I felt like I was supposed to seeing something funny or witty before me, when all I saw was a random selection of Cliff’s Notes: The Mansfield Park Edition. Poor Jane is probably rolling over in her grave. Either that or laughing her head off at ITV.

Oh yes! I almost forgot. The most flawless element in the entire film? The brilliantly inspired and truly moving performance of Pug.

Comments

[moxielegal.livejournal.com]

whilst I wouldn't go quite as far as you on the dislike front, I agree it was a real misadventure, and only the casting of Edmund hit home. (did you see the other version of Mansfield Park a few years ago, with Alessandro Nivola and James Purefoy? now THAT was BIZARRE and I don't want to see that again!)

I still love the BBC's Mansfield Park with Sylvestra le Touzel as Fanny; it must be some 20 years old now, but it's still the best and most true portrayal from Jane Austen's books I've ever seen.

[ladyneferankh.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think Jane is probably just laughing in bitter amusement at the whole affair, and she's too "big" to allow this to drag her down.

Seriously though, I now dread watching this, and am thinking of skipping it altogether. From the moment I saw the first publicity photos I thought Piper was miscast.

I'm grateful for your reviews though, and I missed hearing from you!

[utterblissikins.livejournal.com]

You know, I just think ITV are incapable of producing decent period drama. I haven't seen their MP, but Persuasion wasn't imressive at all. I admit I liked NA, but I wasn't awed by it, and it was still too short.

Did you see their production of Hardy's Under the Greenwood Tree? Total shit. I had to force myself to watch to the end.

They're not prepared to seriously invest in these productions, so these are the half-assed results. Pathetic.

I wish they'd just stop trying and leave it to the BBC.

[fair-terentia.livejournal.com]

Here from bbccostumedrama. Agree with everything you say. I haven't seen this adaptation since I endured it back when it came out in England where, I must say, the advert breaks were more interesting than the adaptation.

Apart from Pug's performance. Which was indeed inspired!

The possible disagreement (if that) which I have with you is that Billie Piper's hair is normally that weird colour with dark eyebrows, they didn't just do it for the production. I feel quite sorry for her. She's really a decent actress in Doctor Who but she cannot do period drama- she is simply too modern. Really misguided casting. I imagine the producers thought they needed someone modern to make Fanny "interesting". Bah. When will they learn that the book is not about Fanny's romantic journeys but about the failed romances of the people round her? Or at least so I see it. Grr.

Anachronistic waltzing. The claustrophobic feeling of the production because they were too cheap to get more than one location.

MP is such a subtle book- to be ruined in this way, even just by cramming it into one hour, is shocking.

-5/10.

[/rant] :P

[marissa-214.livejournal.com]

I totally agree! I was so bored watching it because I felt like there was no motivation for anything...it was like a bunch of snapshots.

Billie Piper unfortunately does not have much of a "period face". I agree with the other commenter that she is too modern.

[musesong.livejournal.com]

I agree with you re Piper though I wasn't a real fan of her in Doctor Who, really not liking her character and then all the angst in S3 over her loss.

She can't do period drama. She was just not up to the task in Manfield Park and wasn't at all good in 'The Shadow in the North' though rewatching the previous Sally Lockhart BBC adaptation she at least didn't mumble her lines. The hair is silly.

Haven't seen the 'Call Girl' series but I think she is cast in things because she is very popular and so is seen as a draw.

[musesong.livejournal.com]

Was it only 1 hour long? In UK was 2 hours as is the DVD.

[last-archangel.livejournal.com]

Oh, Pug! He's the Mr. Muggles of costume drama!

The sad thing is that this new version is still my favorite, despite its flaws. I hate the version from 1999 (or so) for its horrible treatment of the writing. And the version from the 1980s frightens me, mostly because of the way all of the actors move their heads.

[main-hoon-emily.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you said, completely. I was prepared to not dislike Mansfield Park as violently as the preview last week made me think I would, but it was truly awful. Have they even read the book? I'm inclined to think not.

[zaftig46.livejournal.com]

A big WORD to everything you've said, and a little extra rant about the costumes:
http://zaftig46.livejournal.com/29983.html

[fadeintodawn.livejournal.com]

Here from bbccostumedrama, and I agree with so much of what you said. This whole adaptation was so very rushed and misguided.

If I hadn't read the book, I never would have been able to figure out a single thing about any character. And since I've read it, I was only able to gape at how badly each person was interpreted. There was nothing to show how Fanny was good, nothing to indicate why she didn't trust Henry Crawford, and I just wanted her to stop running! Why are hand-held cameras suddenly so popular in costume dramas?

The hair was appalling. Fanny wearing her hair loose?? I love Billie Piper on Doctor Who, but she cannot do period drama.

[lupinskitten.livejournal.com]

It seems to me that ITV missed the mark on all its Austen adaptations this time around. Something is missing from each one and I haven't the faintest idea just what it is -- but it lacks the same charm and passion that stuff by the BBC or Hollywood puts out. Agreed, Mansfield Park is the worst. I suffered through it when I saw it months ago. I never much liked Billie Piper in "Doctor Who" (I didn't mind Rose, just never cared for her bland acting) but she really is rubbish in costume dramas. =P

[wholelotofme.livejournal.com]

I agree completely with you review, it was the worst costume drama I have seen and I have seen them all! 'Mansfield Park' is I feel the most complex of Austen novels and the directors always have a problem with portraying Fanny as she is in the novel, instead they have her running around with her cleavage hanging out and having bleach blond hair! This really annoyed me too especially as it did not contrast well with BP dark eyebrows, why couldn't she have got a wig? Similarly, I thought the acting mostly was awful. I can remember when I watched it with my mum, as I did miraculously watch it to the end, hoping that it would eventually get better, she said she thought the dog who played pug was the best actor in it! Lol. Sorry if I have ranted on.

[loud99.livejournal.com]

Yea, it really was an awful movie. I could barely get through it, but was determined. Everything seemed so chaotic and meshed together. Edmund was the only character I could recognize. All I could stare at was Billie Piper's dark, brown eyebrows with that terrible dirty, blondish dye job.

I've been watching the ITV adaptations on PBS and so far I'm not impressed. I think I hated NA most of all. Persuasion was the only one I could believe, a little bit. That's stretching it.

[enamors.livejournal.com]

Your review is spot on. The only sense I can make out of the movie is that they were trying to make it a modernization, but some bigwig at BBC made them keep it a period drama. Someone threw a fit, refused to change the screenplay, and what we are left with is a modernized version but with horses and dresses with empire waists.

So yes, in conclusion, it was pretty awful. I think what sets Mansfield Park apart from other novels is the character of Fanny and how she is so different from most literary characters. Her selflessness and struggle should have been front and center in the film, but instead the producers completely left out all character development.

I was disappointed, but for some reason it seems Mansfield Park is one story that is very difficult to translate on screen.

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, it was as I expected, after seeing Billie Piper's hair. I was tired last night, and after seeing the intro, three times mind you in 5 minutes, I decided it wasn't worth forcing myself to stay awake, so I hit the recorder.
So I haven't yet seen it. Maybe tonite, if I have nothing to do. I'm a little perturbed with Masterpiece Theater since they have such a high level of quality. And I'm surprised with Andrew Davies. I've been watching some of his older productions of other authors for BBC, and they were faultless, although 6 hours long.
I think Masterpiece Theater is going to be a little embarressed after showing these. *sad*

[valancy-s.livejournal.com]

she likes running around with her mouth open

One ITV producer asked another: "The Beeb's been doing this a long time, how are we going to make our Austen productions stand out?" And the other guy, after a moment's intense thought, said: "Lots of open-mouthed running."

I thought the actress playing Mary did a good job with the part she was given and had beautiful clothes. That's the best praise I can give this movie. Obviously ITV spent their whole budget for this one on signing Billie Piper, and couldn't even afford a second location! How implausible was it that they would all go away and leave Fanny home? And let Henry visit her alone in the house? I mean, yeesh!

I can see them cutting Yates and Julia's story for time, though. They had to cut something and that's a peripheral plot-line. But did they have to cut Fanny's personality from the book, too?

And the hair was torture.

[carmz-supremacy.livejournal.com]

I still haven't seen an adaption of Mansfield Park that I like. The 1999 would have been perfect, I think, if Fanny hadn't been throwing herself at Edmund throughout the whole film. Not to mention that she didn't seem that innocent. In ITV's adaption I hated how they took out the part in which Fanny visits her family, but I still think it was pretty good. I thought Fanny was projected as meek and innocent, but yes, Mary Crawford was a bit too..., showy for me. :] And those are my thoughts.

[tararei.livejournal.com]

I must say it seemed very jerky, like someone flipped to a random page in the book and read off a line and said "let's use this one!" and when the other's asked "where?" the horrid creature would answer "I dunno... why not after we use some crazy jazz music and really scary close-ups?"

[fair-terentia.livejournal.com]

Really? I thought all of them were 90 mins on ITV which would cut down to a lot less once the ads were taken out. I don't remember how long it was actually except that it seemed to last forever! I wonder what's on the DVD if it lasts for 2 hours!

[ibmiller.livejournal.com]

Awwww, you didn't like robot chick, er, I mean Maria? (the actress Michelle Ryan, who went from this to Bionic Woman) But she had such fabulous strands of hair that trailed upon her bosom, and flawless makeup...oh, wait. Didn't they not use makeup in the regency? And haven't almost all the previous films (I think, though I can't remember if Northanger Abbey and Persuasion had makeup or not) eschewed it?

Took the words from my mouth

[zorylee.livejournal.com]

I agree so much with your review of MP. Its almost as if a toddler got a hold of their copy of the book, tore out huge chunks of it, and they were none the wiser. I do believe its possible to make a decent adaptation in 90 minutes. They just picked the wrong bones to create their skeleton.

I don't think I'm satisfied with any adaptation of MP. The first one had the creepy actress with her strange way of turning her head. The second, probably the best of the bunch, had the disturbing images of Sir Thomas' pursuits in Antigua. And we all seem to agree about this most recent version.

I just have to put in a good word for Billie. I do like her in Dr. Who and Ruby in the Smoke. I think she would have made a better Fanny, despite her looks, had the screenwriters, producers, MAKE-UP ARTISTS,...done their job with a modicum of care.

[ex-arcady.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, YES! I knew you'd do it justice. :D

The story was butchered too much, it was too short and gave hardly any explanations at all. As you say, it isn't that difficult to find the book and adapt it!!!

Edmund WAS the best bit!!

[frankly-scarlet.livejournal.com]

I agree whole-heartedly. I want Andrew Davies to stop ruining my classics! Some of his adaptations I don't mind, but lately they've just been too off-the-mark. Like last years' "A Room With A View." I guess I missed the part in the book when George goes off to war and DIES! WTF? Sometimes Davies takes too many liberties.

I didn't like Billie Piper, either. Whenever she came on screen popping out of her dress, my roommate and I started singing "June is bustin' out all over" (sorry, inside joke, but the song just makes me think of lots of cleavage).

[twilight-luvers.livejournal.com]

Oh my. Well I agree pretty much, though not quite as strongly. I kind of looked at this film indifferently. It was ok. Kind of true to the book as far as plot line goes, minus the whole part where Fanny doesn't go home ever...

Now that you point it out, it really was quite confusing if you hadn't read the book. Also, did Fanny have any actual lines in this version? If she did I can't recall much else other than "I was never happier" which seemed to be repeated quite a lot. And Edmund's hair was repulsive, though he did a pretty good portrayal. The randomness of the dance scenes made me cringe. And what was with the clunky opening scene? I am afraid I could not tell the difference between young Fanny's cries of despair at the tart, or her cries of joy at badminton. Very puzzling.