Pride and Prejudice (1940)

Pride and Prejudice (1940), directed by Robert Z. Leonard.

An adequate presentation of the story but not very exciting. Whenever they drift from Austen's text and plot the wit drains away. The period is advanced several decades to exploit richer (and even more ludicrous) costumes.

The five marriagable Bennet daughters are an assembly of 1940s beauty: Greer Garson, Maureen O'Sullivan, Ann Rutherford, Heather Angel and Marsha Hunt.

Laurence Olivier is mostly prissy. Also with Edmund Gwenn as long-suffering father Bennet, Melville Cooper as the unappealing cousin Mr. Collins, and Edna May Oliver as dragon-Lady Catherine, who unexpectedly (and untextually) turns out to be a sweetie in the end.

Available on DVD.

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