Yes, I love all the versions of Parfumerie! “She Loves Me” on Broadway, “You’ve Got Mail,” and “Shop Around the Corner” are my favorites. But there is no doubt that “You’ve Got Mail” does also pay homage to “Pride and Prejudice.”

“You’ve Got Mail” was the third movie adaptation of the 1937 Hungarian play “Parfumerie”. Its first Hollywood adaptation was the 1940 film “The Shop Around the Corner” starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. There was another film adaption of the play under a different name in 1949 starring Judy Garland. There were also a number of musicals made based on the play’s premise. Nora Ephron, whose parents were Hollywood screenwriters, didn’t have to look very far to get a winning movie script. She did the same with “Sleepless in Seattle” which is basically a remake of the 1957 movie “An Affair to Remember” starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. BTW, “The Shop Around the Corner” is a much better movie and with superior acting.

A bit late to comment on the article but I just came across it today. I think that one should not compare big screen adaptatations with small screen adaptations of classic literature. A two-hour movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is more a parody of the book than a faithful visual representation of this classic work. It’s an exercise in picking the best lines delivered by the characters in the book (and there are more than enough of them) and creating the visuals for the key scenes (Netherfield Ball, Pemberley visit, etc.), and relagating non-lead characters to the role of background accessories. On the other hand television series can develop the psychology of characters more fully and are therefore more justly real adaptations of the work. So, on the movie front my favourite is the 1940 film with Laurence Olivier, if only for Olivier. It’s a well done classic Hollywood studio system big movie production. The 2005 movie adaptation is the least faithfull to the book and my least favourite of any adaptation of the work. Like my wife, I think the reason why some like it is because of the hyped up romantic angle it decided to exploit. Knightly really doesn’t deliver on the Lizzy Bennet character but because of the strong focus on romance and passion I understand why she was cast in the role. The film could have more aptly borne the title “Pride, Prejudice, and Passion”.

The television adaptation of Death Comes to Pemberley features the most credible Wickham and Lydia Bennet. No one would argue the fact that all the girls would be enamoured with someone who looked like Matthew Goode. Jenna Coleman is the only actress ever cast in the role of Lydia whose age actually lines up pretty well to that of the character (given that DCP takes place 6 years after the end of PP).
Goode and Coleman fit perfectly together. Anna Maxwell Martin is the worst casting ever for the role of Elizabeth Bennet. What were they thinking? She is a wonderful actress and I’ve enjoyed her performance in many other roles but she couldn’t be further from the character in every imaginable way. I know that the vast majority of PP fans agree.

There are only two film media adaptations worth considering as being largely faithful to the book. The 1980 and 1995 miniseries. For me it’s really a toss-up between the two. The Lizzy Bennet I imagine when I read the book is somewhat closer to the one in the 1980 adaptation. In addition, in the 1995 version it seems like Lizzy wakes up one morning towards the end of the story and realizes that she likes Darcy. In the book, Lizzy has developed feelings for Darcy at a much earlier stage and it’s reflected in the 1980 adaptation. The major difference between the two adaptations is, I believe, financial in nature. The 1995 version is much more lavish. It has more exterior scenes, fancy sets, a more developed thematic musical score, and better camera work (or just better cameras). But like reading Pride and Prejudice in either paperback or hard cover it’s really the story that matters. And in that vein both series pretty much hit the mark. The 1995 series in my view has a better Mrs. Bennet (Alison Steadman) and Lady Catherine, and of course Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Both Mr. Bennets are equally good. Julia Sawalha does a good rendition of Lydia (1995 series) but she’s 27 years old and she looks it. The standout performance is David Bamber’s portrayal of Mr. Collins in the 1995 series. It may not be as faithful to the character in the book but the performance is an acting tour de force.

Jane Austen has made it so easy for anyone to adapt her work because in addition to writing a great novel she has delivered a movie script. I don’t know any other novel in classic literature that has as much character dialogue and absolutely great lines. The challenge for adaptors is deciding which lines to use or not use, conveying on screen what Austen says when her characters are not delivering lines, and casting accurately. I’m waiting for the next adaptation hoping that I will finally see the true Lizzy Bennet (at least the way I have imagined her in my mind’s eye these last 40+ years).

I believe You’ve Got Mail was a remake of In the Good Old Summertime starring Van Johnson and Judy Garland.

I mean the 1980 for second place!

Thank you! I did not consider it for the list as I don’t quite see it as a Pride and Prejudice adaptation. However, I did include it in my list of where to watch all Jane Austen movies! Certainly, it references P&P. It’s a great film and one of my faves. 🙂

You are welcome to your opinion, of course. I don’t hold Keira Knightley in such low regard as you. Nor do I think she is the only part of one adaptation. The music, the cinematography, etc. all elevated it as an adaptation. And while I LOVE Greer Garson, the 1940 adaptation isn’t very faithful to the novel. So, I took many aspects into consideration. That all said, we only welcome respectable debate here. So, to make your point you didn’t need to personally attack me. Kind Regards, Amber

Paul Harris