I have to say there are very few period piece movies I actually like much less love and adore. And I’ve figured out why. It is very difficult to translate a historical romance novel to film (actually, a straight romance period). Movies tend to lend themselves to historical fiction where there is much more action than internal dialogue and there’s no happy ending. A couple making love is somehow taboo unless it’s wrapped in intrigue, comedy or blood and gore.
Thank goodness for Jane Austen. She created historical romance before the term was coined. Yes, her novels are very chaste but high on conflict, angst and tension. Her novels have managed that almost insurmountable feat of being translated so perfectly to the small and big screen.
I’ll admit, I only discovered Jane Austen and her works in late 2006, so I’m a relative newbie. At first, I tried to read Pride and Prejudice. I don’t know about you but books weren’t written the same as they are now, so I found the pages upon pages of telling too much for me. But like Cliff Notes, along came a slew of her movies airing on PBS in January – March of 2007. That’s when the love affair began. I fell hook line and sinker. The first movie I saw was PERSUASION. All I have to say is Rupert Penry-Jones. Sigh. Swoon. The first time they meet on screen is one of my favourite scenes in the movie.
Then I watched North Anger Abbey, which I absolutely adored, but certainly the perennial favourite and the piece de resistance is PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I never knew I took much notice of Colin Firth save that lovely accent until I saw him in this. I had to buy the DVD because I didn’t have the patience to wait three weeks to watch the movie piecemeal. Here is my favourite scene from Pride and Prejudice.
So Hollywood managed it with Jane Austen, but what other straight romances (be it historical or contemporary) do you think would do well on the big screen? (I can’t include paranormal or fantasy because it’s very obvious they do) And for you Jane Austen fans, which is your favourite book and movie translation?
The Pride and Prejudice series with Colin Firth is a favorite of mine too. I’ve always thought that Linda Howard’s Cry No More would make an excellent movie.
I’m a Janeite to the core! 🙂 When I was younger, P and P was my favorite book of hers; now that I’m older and wiser, it’s Persuasion. I adore the Colin Firth version of P and P, but I’ve grown to appreciate the newer one with Kiera Knightley. The new one does a GREAT job of sharing that “passion” with looks and almost touches, even though the ending is a bit too modern for me. I love Emma Thompson’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. And, though pure Jane fans (like I am) will cringe when I say this, I actually really, REALLY love Becoming Jane, though I know it’s a very fictionalized account of her life. (I read the bio Becoming Jane Austen before I saw the movie and the biographer makes an interesting assertion.) Anyway, I could write about this all day–but I won’t. 🙂
I’d love to see an older historical many readers won’t remember made into a film. It’s Lions and Lace by Meagan McKinney, set in New York at the turn of the century. LOVE it! 🙂
My favorite Jane Auten movie is P and P by A&E. That movie is pretty much word for word, which is how I like it. I hate when they take so much of the book out that they ruin it. Like they did with the Harry Potter movies.
My favorite is P&P, the Colin Firth version. In fact watching the clip makes me want to get my copy out for another viewing. I also enjoy North and South with Richard Armitage. From what I’ve read, that film is based on a book by Elizabeth Gaskell but I’ve never read the book so I don’t know how it translated from book to film.
sigh… I love this version of P&P, I can’t say how many times I’ve watched it!
My favorite version of Persuasion is the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root movie. I love the subtle gestures CH uses when playing Capt. Wentworth, you really feel his social awkwardness.
For a fun spoof on P&P, I’ve watched Lost in Austen. Has anyone seen it? I would recommend it for a giggle or two 🙂
I felt the same way Bev!!!! I tried to read Persuasion too after looking at some cliff notes for it (loved the story line and plot).. and I also lost patience a bit, but LOVED the story none the less (esspecially when he writes her that note at the end .. omg!!!!)… and i LOVED LOVED LOVED the PBS version. There’s another one which I watched online, I think the BBC made it or something. It was better acting wise, but the characters were not as attractive as some people would like (yes, I am a bit superficial.. arn’t we all). But I am a total Persuasion fan ! Movies and Books!
I also watched Manford Park (of something like that). That movie was just lovely!
and I think Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series would be nice to see on screen! And Johanna Lindsey’s Mallorys.. but i am partial since they were some of the firsts series I’ve read and are dear to my heart!
I would love to see J.D Robb’s In Death series in big screen!
I have loved “Pride and Prejudice” since my teens and have regularly reread it. The A&E version of it is my favorite. I watch it every winter as a gift to myself. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth are incredible together. Sigh….
I watched the other P&P movies, but, to me, they don’t compare.
When PBS began Masterpiece a few years ago, I enjoyed seeing all the Jane Austen Classics – some better than others. That was the most t.v. I watched in years. 🙂
I enjoy all versions of Jane Austen adaptations, but my favorite is the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice – I think the actors in that version were all much closer to the age of the characters in the book and it really irritates me that all of the actors in the Colin Firth version seem way too old to play the parts. And sorry all you Colin fans, he just doesn’t do it for me. And although I prefer tall, dark and handsome, I have to agree about Rupert – yum! So Persuasion is my next favorite.
One historical book that has been brilliantly translated to screen that you might like is Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, starring Richard Armitage. I dare you not to fall in love with him! And Jane Eyre with Toby Stephens as Mr. Rochester – again, I dare you.
Right now, though, I can’t think of any book that hasn’t been done but should.
Margay
I love Pride and Prejudice and I am old fashioned-I like the Greer Garson and Sir Laurence Olivier version.
There is a book I read that really stayed with me and would make a wonderful movie- It is Daphne du Maurier’s The Scapegoat.
Also, I would like to see Sandra Brown’s SMOKE SCREEN or PLAY DIRTY made into movies.
My favorite is Pride and Prejudice no matter how many times I watch that movie I never tire of it.
I really enjoyed Persuasion. Penry-Jones is so beautiful in it.
Rachel Gibson’s hockey series & Erin McCarthy’s Fast Track series would both translate well, I think.
Hmm… I have to admit any romance novel could be adapted as long as it’s written right. I for one would love to see the Brigerton series adapted in a mini series of some sort. If True Blood can have sex scenes then so could this one. ^^
As a proud Janenite I have to admit the 2009 “Emma” and the 2005 “Pride and Prejudice” are my favorite adaptions. Both capture the spirit of their respective books the best and add some more. ^^ In favorite Jane Austen books… Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion are my favorites. ^^
I’ve read all of Jane Austen’s novels, and Persuasion is by far my favorite. The BBC version of Pride and Prejudice is awesome (I own it, too). The film Mansfield Park is much better than the novel.
Generally, I think film adaptations become something totally different to the novel. Whether they’re really different (like Clueless is to Emma), or try to be faithful to every detail, they become a different beast because they no longer leave things to your imagination. That’s why I’d hate for my favorite books to be made into films – I don’t want an actor I don’t like to play a character I love.
Persuasion, is my favorite Jane Austen book. I would love to seen Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon on the big screen. 🙂
I think any of Julie James’ contemporaries would make great movies. They are smart and funny with fabulous characters and witty dialog.
Ooooh, just thought of another I’d like to see on the screen–Judith McNaught’s Whitney, My Love. 🙂
I really LOVE “Sense and Sensibility” with Emma Thompson, and I also like 1995’s “Persuasion” with Ciaran Hinds. I never saw “Pride and Prejudice” with Colin Firth, I will have to watch it one of these days since I hear such good things about it, and I also like Colin Firth. I also like “Emma” with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam.
I think “Dreaming of You” by Lisa Kleypas would make a great movie!
My favorite is the Pride and Prejudice movie that my daughter gave me the set of with English actors…right at the moment I can’t think of their names. Actually, any actor would love to play Mr. Darcy I’m sure.
Some great choices to be made into a movie. I’m not sure I’d like my favourite romance made into a film. I’m much better with watching action than reading about it and that’s the same with romance books except the opposite. I would miss all the inner dialogue and thoughts from both hero and heroine, which is very difficult–if impossible–to do in film.
Persuasion, Persuasion, Persuasion! I actually wasn’t a fan of the most recent re-make for two reasons: first the awkward scenes of Anne staring at the screen and second the botching of the letter scene. “You pierce my soul – I am half-agony, half-hope” so over the top and awesome, only Jane Austen could have pulled it off. Instead they had Anne doing all that silly running and ruin the emotion of the scene. I think the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root adaptation was much better. AND that version finishes with Anne sailing on a ship with the Captain, much more realistic than her excitement in returning to a home where she has only known misery.
I love the book AND the movie Pride & Prejudice, (version with Colin Firth and Matthew McFayden)but also adore….simply adore the book and movie of Sense & Sensibility, the screen play by Emma Thompson! The music is beautiful, too! Sometimes the musice truly adds to the film.
If I wanted to see one of my favorite books put into film, it would have to be “Outlander,” by Diana Gabaldon.
I would like to see one of Sabrina Jeffries books turned into a movie.
I think Jane Austen’s work translates to the screen so well because her descriptions are translated to visuals and action. Her stories being chaste actually make them better for a good movie. The tension and angst is always there, just under the surface (or boiling out) and just builds. Knowing they are hurting for each other, is so much more appealing than watching someone getting all hot and sweaty.
Pride and Prejudice is my favorite and the BBC version with Colin Firth is outstanding. I have not yet seen Persuasion, but it looks like another very good one.
Julia Spencer-Fleming has a contemporary romantic suspense series that would work well on the screen. The tension is there, but the relationship remains chaste until later in the series. It is a good tease.
On the historical side, Deanna Raybourn has a series that is very similar as far as the tension being between the characters, but nothing happening right away.
I like all the Austen movies, but my favorites are Northanger Abbey and Pride & Prejudice. The closest to the books in my opinion are Northanger Abbey, Pride & Prejudice and the 1995 version of Persuausion. I like the new one, but the older one is more like the book, you should read it, I love that movie too. Actually, I love all the movies, lol. Even the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice, lol. Oh and can’t forget the Pride and Prejudice version with Keira Knightly(sp?). I love that version too.
Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightly – I have watched it so many times that I think I’m memorizing lines. It is just a great story, the romantic tension in the scene at the gazebo in the rain is so heart pounding.
My favorite Austen is Persuasion with Hinds/Root.
I am with Marjana that I would love to see the J.D. Robb Eve/Roarke series on the big screen — but only if they are faithful to the stories.
Many years ago, a TV movie was made of the Julie Garwood book “For the Roses” — one of my all time favorite books — and I could not even finish watching the movie — they butchered the story.
Although not romances per se, I would love to see the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois Bujold on the big screen — but again, only if they are faithful to the story arc.