I’ve wracked my brains trying to come up with kind things to say about this 2007 production of Mansfield Park. ‘Nice mansion.’ ‘Pretty garden.’ ‘Glad they shot this film in England.’ ‘Where can I get a red Jezebel parasol like Mary Crawford’s?’ ‘Cute pug.’ ‘Great cleavage.’
On a superficial level this is an enjoyable film, but nothing substantive happens. Every element that makes this powerful Jane Austen novel thought provoking and crackle with tension has been squeezed out of this 90-minute adaptation. The viewer is merely left with – pulp.
I watched this movie several times, hoping to get some sense of why director Iain McDonald and writer Maggie Wadey felt they needed to dumb down the plot. Mrs. Norris is now a merely irritating figure; the Bertram sisters are almost non-existent after Maria’s marriage to Mr. Rushworth; there is no return visit to Portsmouth, in fact there is no Portsmouth at all; the Crawford siblings don’t seem to live any where; and Fanny has morphed into a sweet but stubborn, though slovenly chit who likes to play badminton and ride horses with her first cousin. Oh, and she’s wildly in love with him. One wonders why the tug of war between a young heroine who stands up for her values and moral convictions against those who are in control of her life has been reduced to a few verbal skirmishes and some minor mental anguishes.
I admit this is my least favorite Jane Austen novel, though that is by a small degree. Edmund Bertram comes across as a prig; and Fanny is much too staid and timid for my tastes. She is so morally upright that I would feel quite uncomfortable in her presence and not know precisely what to say. Whereas I suspect I could have a delightful and scintillating conversation with Lizzie Bennet, my favorite Austen heroine, or Mary Crawford, who always excited my interest more than Fanny. Not that Lizzie isn’t moral, but she does seem more approachable to me.
But I digress. Billie Piper is as far from my image of Fanny as any actress could get. Looking too modern, with features that are this side of tough, Billie is woefully miscast. I understand she chose to play Fanny, and I can imagine why. Going against type must be an attractive proposition for an actress. If she pulls off such a challenge, awards are in her future. But Billie didn’t pull this role off, and aside from her sweet, insipid version of Fanny (which is so incongruent with her looks), I found her disheveled hairdo and in-your-face cleavage distracting and not at all reminiscent of a proper Regency Miss.
The other actors and actresses were fine, especially Blake Ritson as Edmund Bertram and Haley Atwell as Mary Crawford, and they did what pitifully little they could with the material they were given.
The film’s biggest mistake was to give Mrs. Norris (Maggie O’Neil) so little airtime and to turn her into a vaguely annoying character. Mrs. Norris is verbally abusive and she plays a significant role in Fanny’s psychological development. The fact that Fanny was able to withstand the hateful words and actions of this dark and oppressive character and to stick to the moral high ground despite all the pressures placed on her is a crucial element of Fanny’s make up. Yet this subtext was almost completely swept under the rug. A knowledgeable Jane fan had to search for it in this production, and someone who has never read Mansfield Park would not even be aware of it after viewing the film.
Towards the end of the film, Edmund’s and Fanny’s fun and light proposal scene is sure to win the hearts of many viewers. (Click on video below.) I must admit the scene is cute, but I felt manipulated. I snorted with derision upon seeing Lady Bertram (Jemma Redgrave) sitting at the breakfast table (would she have bothered to get out of bed so early?), aware enough to observe the subtle looks exchanged between Fanny and Edmund, and actively engaged as a matchmaker.
If I were to give my Regency fan rating to this adaptation of Mansfield Park, I’d give it ¼ fan. After all, the pug, who remains uncredited, was adorable and eminently worth watching. For other reviews on Mansfield Park, click on PBS’s Remotely Connected My review of Northanger Abbey sits here; and click here for my review on Persuasion.
For other (older) reviews of the movie, click on the links below:
Read my other post about Mansfield Park here: Mansfield Park, Mary Crawford’s Downfall in Edmund’s Eyes.
Also click here for a short piece on the two actors who played Fanny and Edmund in the 1983 version of Mansfield Park.
Billie Piper
Blake Ritson
Technorati Tags: Jane Austen, Masterpiece Classic, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen Regency
Jane Austen's World 
Hi Ms. Place, thanks for the great review. I agree that the loss of much of aunt Norris’ part changed the tone of the film entirely by removing all the snideness that she projected on poor Fanny. They tried to transfer some of it to other characters, but it did not come across with the same affect. Cheers, Laurel Ann
I agree, Laurel Ann. Some of Mrs. Norris’ nastiness was transferred to Sir Thomas, who could not be accused of being a good step daddy under the best of circumstances. Your review on Austenprose hit the nail on the head as well. I suspect though, that these deficiencies will not dim PBS’s numbers. In fact, I believe most viewers will enjoy this version of Mansfield Park precisely because the dark elements were minimized.
[…] already read on Ms. Place’s Jane Austen’s World Blog that Mrs. Norris’s character has basically been almost erased from existence in this […]
I agree with every word you posted and especially enjoyed your comments on Pug’s contribution. Thanks!
I completely agree with your review. I was so disappointed with this adaptation. I knew I wasn’t going to like it as soon as Gillian Anderson butchered the introduction.
Great review and very close to how I felt about the movie. It is funny you mentioned that Fanny looked slovenly; I kept thinking “Comb your hair!” I thought one actor stood out amongst them was Douglas Hodge who played the the sometimes hard, yet beneath it all kind Sir Thomas. I felt he got it.
I was very disappointed in Jemma Redgrave’s Lady Bertram and actually was surprised because she is usually so good. Lady Bertram is wonderfully funny and is supposed to provide some light comic relief with that pug dog of hers, who was adorable.
Thanks for the review! This is another novel I hadn’t read but don’t think that unfamiliarity made this production any better. Other than Billie Piper being completely miscast, I also couldn’t figure out any of the characters’ motivations. I always enjoy seeing Jemma Redgrave, though.
I loved the Mary Crawford character and the actor who played her but the role really went nowhere. When she and her brother showed up at the beginning of the film it really looked promising. I thought they were pulling some kind of scam but then it turned out they just wanted to get married, like everyone else. What was the brother’s dark plan? to propose to Fanny and then dump her? I don’t get it.
Also, what do you make of Jillian Anderson’s statements about the Mary Crawford character being based on Jane Austen, herself?
I think Henry was toying with Fanny at first, but then he truly fell for her. Had he won her over, he might have become a better man — for a short time. Jane Austen is too pragmatic, and one doesn’t get the sense that there would have been a happily ever after for Henry and Fanny. In time he would have strayed.
I was totally flummoxed by Jillian Anderson’s statements. While Mary Crawford is an interesting and complex character, she doesn’t remind me of Jane. So far I haven’t come across any statements that would corroborate what Jillian said. But just because I haven’t run across those thoughts, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Great review and I agree with all of your points,especially regarding Aunt Norris. She is such a pivotal character in terms of molding the self loathing of Fanny and the bloated egotism of Mariah,Julia and Tom(Edmund seems to have escaped the effects of her meddlesome ways!).
As for Henry,I always thought that he was more in love with the idea of being in love with Fanny;most of his decisions to woo her(in the book)came after some thwarted contact with Mariah. He really wanted Fanny to be his Jiminy Cricket but she refused to play along(it helped that her heart was already Edmund’s to begin with!).
I am in complete agreement with you Ms. Place and thanks so much for your blog comments. I loved your title by the way….the Dummification of Mansfield Park…that’s about right!
Thanks! It’s good to know that in the novel Henry’s motives toward Fanny are somewhat genuine. I just didn’t get that from the film at all. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he had some ulterior motive I couldn’t figure out.
Like I said, I didn’t understand most of the characters’ actions; I understood why they did them in order to further the plot but I didn’t understand them in the context of what would feel natural for the character. Some observations:
Mary Crawford is interested in finding a rich husband. So, obviously, she tries to marry Edmund, assuming that his older brother will die without an heir. Not a very good plan for such a practical woman.
Edmund hear’s Fanny say the word “purple” while she is doing needlework and suddenly realizes he is madly in love with her. Huh?
Lady Bertram says how happy she is that Fanny will never be married and always be with her. Then, suddenly, she realizes that Fanny and Edmund were always meant to be together and fixes them up. How did she go from selfish and clueless to sensitive and helpful?
Fanny defies Sir Thomas’s wishes and then Henry runs off with Maria. Judging from Sir Thomas’s behavior toward Fanny up to that point, you would expect him to blame Fanny for the whole situation (as Mary does) but, instead, he suddenly realizes that Fanny is a wonderful person.
And I’m sorry we didn’t get more about Mrs. Norris. I had no idea who she was. At first I thought she was the governess but then I realized she must be Lady Bertram’s sister or something.
Obviously the film didn’t have time for major character development but they needed to do something to make the actions of the characters seem less sudden and random.
And can I just comment on how creepy that hair-washing scene with Fanny and Edmund was? Like the final kissing scene in the recent Persuasion, it was so long and awkward. And I noticed your comment on another site about it being common for cousins to marry; but these cousins were raised as brother and sister so I think this is a little different situation and unusually nauseating.
Oh, and I was looking up the previous adaptations on IMDB and the plot summary for the 1999 version stated something about Mansfield Park being thought to be Jane Austen’s most autobiographical novel. I don’t know where that or Jillian Anderson’s comments about Mary Crawford come from. Fanny is certainly not Jane and I agree with you that, other than being witty, Mary is nothing like Jane, either. The heroine of Persuasion is thought to be most like Jane, right?
Well, Eric, you pointed out a host of reasons why the dumbing down of this novel makes no sense. I wish I could answer you in full, but I am on the cusp of leaving for vacation. London, to be exact. Mayfair, to pinpoint the location. I will be breathing in the London air this time tomorrow.
Please watch Miss Austen Regrets, which I think is a truer, though more dour version of Jane’s life than Becoming Jane. In this most recent film adaptation you will see that Jane’s wit, intelligence, independence and insight are wonderfully portrayed. In this film version, Jane seem to be a cross between Anne Elliot and Mary Crawford (whose faux pas are legion.)
For the best insight into Jane’s character, you must read her letters. Go to Republic of Pemberley, Jane’s letters, Brabourne edition.
Anyone else care to answer Eric? For I have plumb run out of time!
Dear Visitors,
I wish to say I really enjoyed to watch this film with Bille and with Blake.It is one of the best adoptations which were taken about novels of Jane Austen.I am also interesting in the actors ,actresess life.I am thinking about their age etc etc.I would like to ask all of you if you know where can I some sort of iformation about Blake Ritson,please,send it!I think about post address or something similar.It would be so important and I would be so delighted.Thank you.
Best wishes,
Lady Anne
Lady Anne,
Visit this link and you will find more about Blake Ritson. You will find more about him and Billie Piper here.
I just saw the Masterpiece adaptation… You’re right, they butcher things to fit the time, but frankly it could have been a lot worse. Check out the Patricia Rozema mutilation of the work from 1999 if you really want to see the novel hashed… Utterly laughable. Scarcely unrecognizeable. By the middle of it you’re rooting for Fanny and Henry to wind up together.
http://www.culturekiosque.com/nouveau/cinema/rhemansfld.html
By comparison, this was at least true enough to the spirit of the Austen work, in that Fanny was at least the moral touchstone throughout… though you’re right to call attention to Portsmouth just vanishing from the story. And the Pug is indeed irresistible. (Or maybe I just like little dogs with little legs.)
Mmmm, yes and no.
I agree that the film has become a somewhat “flying visit” to the depth of Austen, but so it is in many films, and in most book adaptations (ot just Austen either!). Thats why we still read the books – time and time again. I liked the film. Yes, Billie Piper was an “interesting” choice, but no less likeable. I loved the fact that she & Edmund had a whirlwind at the end of the film – feel good factor x 10. There is a hint of changing feelings, even with Tom complementing Fanny so much (for him anyway!). Henry was disappointing ~ he needed to be more sly, with regard to Fanny. He said all along, he just wanted to make a hole in her heart – he goes away disappointed! I thought Sir Thomas was great & though I shared some incredulity it was sweet how Lady Bertram became the saviour in the end! Without doubt though, pug was the best….!
[…] 23, 2008 by Vic (Ms. Place) Gentle readers, One of my most popular posts is The Dummification of Mansfield Park, which I wrote in response to the 2007 ITV adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. In addition, […]
[…] it. It fails as a true adaptation to Jane Austen’s masterpiece for many reasons which I and others have previously pointed out, but I think that I could have overlooked all of its blunders if the […]
ITA w/ you Ms. Place! The ITV version of “Northanger Abbey” was the best of the (new) set of films. “Sense & Sensibility” was very good, too, though nothing can replace the wonderful Ang Lee version. Great blog!!!
EMMA
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The only thing I really liked about this version of MANSFIELD PARK, was Billie Piper’s performance as Fanny Price. She didn’t portray Fanny as she was written in the novel like Sylvestra Le Touzel did. I hate to say it, but Touzel didn’t have the talent back in 1983 to carry it off. Nor did she portray Fanny as some faux Jane Austen like Frances O’Connor did in 1999. It struck me as a nicely balanced portrayal.
Other than that, this was definitely a poor man’s adaptation of Austen’s novel. I prefer both the 1983 and 1999 versions. And quite frankly, I don’t have a high opinion of those two movies.