The Only Way to Film 'Mansfield Park'

A quick review on the 1983 BBC mini-series Mansfield Park:

Which you can now find on the Film page of the Thither Shop, Films - Mansfield Park 1983.

This less-known adaptation of Jane's most serious novel is a hidden treasure, in my opinion. Maybe the most literal of any of her novels' adaptations, almost word-for-word and scene-for-scene. Some might call it "slow" or even "boring" who are used to the more recent faster-paced films which have an extra dose of the dramatic, of which I myself am also an admirer. But for those of us who also enjoy and appreciate the style of MP, that quiet, serious and even moral tone it possesses throughout, to that style this adaptation stays perfectly true. I believe that is the only way to write a script for this story. That tone cannot be justly captured unless the conversations and events are shown in almost word-for-word detail.

The most important part of the story, Fanny Price, is adapted and cast extremely well! By the talented actress Sylvestra Le Touzel, who also plays Mrs. Allen in the newest adaptation of Northanger Abbey. She appears timid, gentle and physically fragile, with that strong sense of right and delicate mind, just as Jane portrayed her. All the other actors are well-cast, including Nicholas Farrell as Edmund, who may not be the most dashing actor in the film, but he is playing Edmund who is quite the opposite of dashing anyway, and Anna Massey as the busybody Mrs. Norris.

When I tell you it's at least six hours long, you can have no difficulty in imagining just how true to the story it is! So for those who want to be transported into Jane's world of Mansfield, this is the adaptation for you. The houses, costumes and characters are all accurate (and I'm very particular about all), except I give a word of warning to some of Mary Crawford's dresses, which are a bit too 1980s at times. Otherwise, an impeccable adaptation!