BBC1 originally broadcast the 55-minute episodes from 24 September to 29 October 1995.
Produced by Sue Birtwistle and directed by Simon Langton, the serial was a BBC production with additional funding from the American A&E Network. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth starred as Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, respectively. Pride and Prejudice is a six-episode 1995 British television drama, adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's 1813 novel of the same name. Played with verve and enthusiasm by all, this was a colourful, enjoyable production.1995 UK VHS cover showing Jennifer Ehle ( Elizabeth Bennet) and Colin Firth ( Mr Darcy)
Patrick Linton was a believable Mr Darcy, who managed to avoid the lake throughout. He did convince in his character though and there were good cameos from Pam Hillier-Brooke as the pompous, condescending Lady Catherine and Chris Billingham as Mr Bingley. Not as irritating as Neil Dewdney as Mr Collins though, whose high frequency, fancy speech was accurate enough, except that it was all on one level and had no variation of pitch whatsoever. Pippa Higgins played the proud, indomitable Elizabeth with skill and sensitivity although the ‘laugh in the voice’ did become irritating after a time. Of the main characters, Mr Bennett was played by David Tute with attention to his sometimes irresolute nature and Karen Ashby did well as the fussy, social-climbing, but rather ordinary Mrs Bennett. The acting and overall movement was very good from a large cast and even stage hands shifting furniture were dressed in Regency clothing. It did help also to make it clear when people were dozing off in chairs when they were supposed to be wide awake and taking serious notice of the latest marriage plans. The costumes were colourful and authentic and the sound set-up allowed us to hear every word clearly, even if that included breathing noises. Full marks for the choreography, with some fine dance sequences, and indeed for the overall direction of movement and continuity by director Lisa Harrington.
Well, not quite, because there was no stage as such but the movement across the front of the Tudor house terrace was achieved smoothly and very well timed, with actors appearing on stage, occasionally as if by magic, and picking up cues with hardly a pause. That said, its popularity endures through the ages and this most recent, ambitious outdoor production at Shaw House was very well staged. Reduced to basics, it is about young women seeking husbands with large fortunes and men seeking women who will make ‘suitable’ wives. Described as a novel of manners, Jane Austen’s original work has been going strong since 1813 and has had many film, theatre and television adaptations.
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