For me, Elizabeth Garvie was a much more appealing Elizabeth Bennett than Jennifer Ehle. More animated and intelligent... I also felt less like she'd suddenly become a gold-digger when she saw Pemberly, than in the A&E production.
Haven't seen Kiera Knightley, so can't judge, but she'd have to be awfully good to top Garvie.
I thought she was "The Elizabeth Bennet" more so than Jennifer Ehle or Kiera Knightley. She was witty, lively with good humor and sense.
The one advantage KK has is she is age appropriate. I always felt JE looked and acted too old.
"When I make my curtsey, bid me farewell."
I liked Keira very much, mostly because she's the right age for the role. But I do think that Garvie did a great job. Much better than Ehle.
shareElizabeth Garvie was the best Eliza Bennett on film, in my opinion. She brings the right notes of humor and intelligence to the role. Keira Knightley is good but she seems more like a character from a Bronte novel at times, as does McFadden's Mr. Darcy.
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Thanks for your great comments so hot right now. Great to read comments from someone who is exactly on my wavelength!
shareI would have to order them as:
1. Elizabeth Garvie
2. Jennifer Ehle
3. Keira Knightley
Elizabeth Garive will always be Elizabeth Bennet to me. Although I loved Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, the thing I couldn't stand about Jennifer Ehle was that you really couldn't tell any diffence from when she was mad or when she was happy or when she was sad. I mean Jennifer Ehle just didn't seem to be very believable; let alone the kind of girl Mr.Darcy would set up and take notice of.
shareI liked Knightley's portrayl just fine.
And I really have to agree with the comment that Ehle seemed like a gold-digger at Pemberly. In fact, Garvie's Pemberly scene was probably her greatest in the film. My biggest complaint against Garvie was that she never seemed to get angry. Her reaction to Darcy's first proposal was a disappointment.
Elizabeth Garvie's Elizabeth was angry at Netherfield after enduring Miss Bingley's jibes. She storms up to Jane's bedroom and says Jane symply has to get well quickly so she can get away from her and Darcy, who hasn't spoken to her much lately. This shows that she is already in love with him in my opinion, or else why would she mind!
shareHave just recently seen the 2005 movie, and must say, while I still prefer Garvie, there's no doubt KK convincingly projects both the intelligence and the firecely protective spirit I admire so much in the character.
As orden points out, she is also the right age, which is used to good effect several times. For instance, the embarrassed giggle when she first sees Pemberley, seems right on, and very appealing. Youth works too, for both her and MacFayden, in their run-ins at Rosings and the Collins' house. You realize that, for all their intelligence, these are two young people, inexperienced in love... both having to make it up as they go along.
I really liked the confrontation/proposal in the rain, different from the book or not. That sort of passion may be more Bronte than Austen, but IMO, it worked. The moment where he leans in... and almost kisses her... and she looks as if she just might NOT slap his face (at least until the smooch was over)... was pretty hot, and fun.
Don't think she can deliver all of Austen's lines with Garvie, but it's a far less verbal script, and there are moments when she's a delight to watch. The pure emotional rapture that seems to come over her, staring at the veiled statue, and the rest the collection... and finally, Darcy's marble bust. The rendering of his image into beautiful abstraction, really seems to crystalize feelings for him she wasn't aware she had. Jennifer Ehle's Elizabeth, at Pemberley in a similar situation, starts counting the silver. Keira's is overwhelmed to discover she'd already fallen in love.