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List Price: $24.95 | | Label: WGBH Boston
Salesrank: 2709
Released: January 29, 2008 |
| Our Price: $13.59 |
| Used Price: $14.99 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In one of Austen's most complex plots, Billie Piper (Doctor Who, The Ruby in the Smoke) stars as Fanny Price, who goes to live with prosperous relatives at Mansfield Park. Fanny navigates a labyrinth of intrigues and affairs among the occupants of the house, while her cousin Edmund Bertram (Blake Ritson, Inspector Lynley Mysteries) remains her stalwart confidant. Also starring Jemma Redgrave (Bramwell) as Fannyís observant aunt.
Masterpiece Theatre: Mansfield Park Reviews:
Unqualified Disaster 
2009-12-25 - Having recently watched Masterpiece Classic's adaptation of "Northanger Abbey" (which I loved and watched it every night for 7 nights in a row), I made the incredible mistake of assuming that the adaptation of "Mansfield Park" would be just as good.
File under, "mistakes, Big".
This is a disgrace to the entire film profession. Horribly cast, bad screenwriting, and shoddy camera work make for an especially cringe-worthy movie. There are two particular scenes I want to comment on. The first is when William comes to see Fanny and the second is the kiss between Fanny and Edmund. The first scene was nauseating (especially with the camera running after Fanny) and the second was revolting! There is no chemistry between Fanny and Edmund at all and it shows. Actually, I take that back - not only is there no chemistry, there is what I would call an "anti-chemistry" between them. Completely ruined it for me. I could comment on plenty more but I don't want to spend any more time reviewing this movie than I have to.
There is only one place I would consign this wretched film: to the fire. (It would pollute whatever landfill it was sent to.)
A grave disappointment
2009-12-06 - I love M.P. I think it's my second favorite of Austen's works, though Emma is close. If you assigned M.P. to a freshman English class and asked them to write a 3-5 page paper on the plot, this is the movie you would get based on their summaries. It's choppy. Scene shifts are sudden. There is no subtlety, whether in acting, stagecraft, or filming. They give you one blunt, bludgeoned sentence to give you the fullest character of each person and fail miserably to develop anyone any further. With such a view of it, you can imagine the snarky comments I might add when I discovered that Jane Austen was not even credited in the film for having written the novel - Maggie Wadey gets that honor.
Most of the main scenes are there, but in such a choppy fashion that it's a wonder anyone who hadn't read it could follow it. Fanny gives you a brief introductory narration, and from then until halfway through the movie she does not speak - she just looks a little severely at everyone. She spends most of her time pouting. Edmund, when he realizes who he loves, is feverish and frightening and does a terrible job emoting love and affection. He spends most of his time looking like he needs to run off to the lavatory, but has to look dignified until the director yells Cut. They almost completely removed Aunt Norris and one of the sisters from the movie (and how do you understand what Fanny has gone through without Aunt Norris??).
They also almost completely cut Mr. Crawford's romancing of Fanny. He says he intends to pursue and she says he lacks constancy. He then meets her in the garden and says he has proved his constancy! Did I blink and miss it?? The next scene is when they learn a plot spoiler. She doesn't even go home to her own family! Mary Crawford was done halfway decently but, lacking Ms. Austen's subtlety, her lifting of her skirt to show her ankle, her blatant come-hither glares, and her demanding air make her much more of a tyrannical temptress than a decided clergyman-to-be would consider. The one humorous note is that the oldest brother, Tom, is played by a Mr. (James) D'Arcy.
I could go on, but won't. We'll just settle back and be thankful for Keira Knightly's ability to do justice to a long story in a short amount of time (screenplay by Deborah Moggach), sip the rapturous tea of Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and delight at Gwennyth Paltrow's follies. As long as we have these, "Mr. Bennet, nothing you say shall ever vex me again. "
Mr. Bennet: I'm sorry to hear it.
What a contrast? 
2009-11-13 - I have a book of the script for Mansfield Park (1999).
I found this version at a real contrast in which Billie Piper who is at home
in Dr. Who is really out of place and never seems to comb her hair.
In fact the hair styles in this version are completely out of character for 1820
in a manor house?
The plot shapes up differently for Sir Thomas with no mention of any affair
in the Indies with his black slave mistress.
Fanny never goes back to her family in this version either.
I ,now, think that neither movie does this famous novel justice.
In spite of the many flaws in this version I liked
the movie better than some modern versions of period novels
that I have seen.
One of my favorite movies! 
2009-11-08 - This is my favorite version of this Jane Austin book. It's a very fun watch!
Great Movie
2009-11-05 - If you enjoy Jane Austen, This is a great movie. So much insight into life in England so many years ago.
