Trailers
Description
In early 19th century England, Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters vie for the affections of rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, who have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to eldest daughter Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with second-eldest Elizabeth.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
The 1940 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is a highly divisive film that functions better as a standalone period piece than as an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. While many critics praise the film's visual production and the charisma of its lead actors, others condemn it for distorting the source material, introducing anachronistic costumes, and oversimplifying the characters.
| Production | The production design, including set construction and ballroom scenes, is widely lauded for its visual grandeur and authentic period atmosphere. | |
| Screenplay | The script significantly deviates from the source material, with critics lamenting the removal of key plot points, the inclusion of absurd invented scenes, and the dilution of the novel's core themes. | |
| Acting | The lead performances are polarizing; some viewers find Olivier and Garson charismatic and entertaining, while others criticize them for failing to capture the intellectual wit and haughty nuance of their respective characters. | |
| Production | The costumes are frequently criticized as flamboyant and anachronistic, bearing more resemblance to the aesthetics of Hollywood epics like 'Gone with the Wind' than 19th-century English fashion. | |
| Originality | The film functions well as a lighthearted, charming, and visually sumptuous Hollywood entertainment if detached from the expectations of literary fidelity. |