Sense and Swoon-ability

Over the past month or so, while visiting family and moving to a new home, I've had very little access to books (oh, I miss my library) so I've been turning to literary adaptations I can watch on the computer for my fix. 

A lot of Jane Austen, a couple Elizabeth Gaskells, and two Bröntes later, my mind is a-swirl with empire waist dresses, stately manor homes, brooding bachelors, compromised maidens, and glittering ballrooms. 

Purely for fun I've assembled my own little totally unscientific "best-of" ranking based on eleven movies and mini-series (complete list of titles at the end of the post). I won't pretend this isn't anything but a thinly veiled excuse to post lots of pictures of pretty people and kissing.

Blondest Counterparts:

 3. Carey Mulligan as Isabella Thorpe in Northanger Abbey

 2. Christina Cole as Caroline Bingley of Lost in Austen and Blanche Ingram of Jane Eyre

She plays almost identical characters in each: the immaculately ringlet-ed, haughty wench out to ruin the heroine's chances.

1. Rosamund Pike as Jane Bennet of Pride and Prejudice (2005)

 Just luminous. My favorite Jane Bennet yet.

Most Odious Mr. Collins:

 3. Tom Hollander (Pride and Prejudice 2005) 

An odd casting, especially since he plays the supposedly handsomer brother in Wives and Daughters.

2. David Bamber (1995 BBC version)

 1. Guy Henry (Lost in Austen)

No contest, really. Exquisitely creepy.

Least Swoon-Inducing Heroes:

 3. David Morrissey (on the left) as Colonel Brandon of Sense and Sensibility
I wanted to like you, really, but Alan Rickman set the bar really high,
and anything less just leaves me wanting.

 2. Anthony Howell as Roger Osborne of Wives and Daughters

Chemistry: they have it not.

 1. Johnny Lee Miller as Mr.Knightly of Emma

I didn't believe it was possible for a man not to look good in a cravat, 

but I suppose he is the exception that proves the rule.

Best Plain Jane:

(Ironically, Jane Eyre herself did not qualify, as Ruth Wilson is way too smoking hot.)

 3. Sally Hawkins as Anne Eliot of Persuasion

2. Tara Fitzgerald as Helen Graham of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

 1. Hattie Morahan as Elinor Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility

Most Smolderful (i.e. Best Furrowed Brow):

 3. Eliot Cowan as Mr. Darcy of Lost in Austen

2. Toby Stephens as Edward Rochester of Jane Eyre

 1. Richard Armitage as John Thornton of North and South

Best Hand-Kissing:

Something I feel is sadly lacking in modern-day romance. 

More kissing of the hands please, men (and women) of the 21st century!

3. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice (2005)

2. Mr. Darcy & Amanda Price of Lost in Austen

1. Margaret Hale & John Thornton of North and South

Best Kiss:

3. Catherine Morland & Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey
Cute as buttons, these two.


2. Margaret Hale & John Thornton of North and South
What? No, that's not my desktop wallpaper or anything. Why would you think that?

 1. Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester of Jane Eyre  
There is a scandalous amount of kissing in this adaptation (I approve), but this particular kiss is lovely I think for its very genuine, lopsided imperfection. What struck me most was how in character it is -- you know there's nothing tentative about Rochester (he is fierce like that), and Jane is always completely honest and unflinching with him. It looks real -- a heady mix of desperation and joy and desire and suppressed emotion finally released.

Titles Viewed:

Lost in Austen (2008)

Jane Eyre (2006)

North and South (2004)

Northanger Abbey (2007)

Persuasion (1995)

Persuasion (2007)

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Sense and Sensibility (2008)

The Tenant of Wildfell Fall (1996)

Wives and Daughters (1999)