MANSFIELD PARK
UK, 1999, minutes, Colour.
Frances O ’Connor, Jonny Lee Miller, Alessandro Nivola, Embeth Davidtz, Harold Pinter, Lindsay Duncan, Sheila Gish, Hugh Bonneville.
Directed by Patricia Roszema.
Mansfield Park was released at a time of popularity for Jane Austen stories: the television series of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, Emma with Gwynneth Paltrow, the Oscar-winning Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson, Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds. At this time and in the following years there were television versions of each of Jane Austen’s novels as well as the film of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.
This film has the look of the Regency period, Mansfield Park itself, costumes and decor, the poorer area of Portsmouth. It has the atmosphere of aristocratic families, the older son going into business, the younger son destined to be a clergyman. It has the arranged marriages, the disasters of such marriages, as well is the independence and free-thinking of young women at the time who also were writers. Class distinction is very evident.
But, the film has a different feel from the other versions of Jane Austen, perhaps a more evidently robust and direct treatment of the story and characters. The cast is quite interesting, Frances O’ Connor being very vigorous and independent minded as Fanny Price. Jonny Lee Miller is rather subdued as the younger son, preparing to be a clergyman, loving Fanny Price but not realising it. A surprise in the cast is playwright, Harold Pinter, as the father, with Lindsay Duncan as Lady Bertram as well is playing her sister, Mrs Price. Sheila Gish is a snobbish Aunt Norris and Hugh Bonneville is the rather dim landowner. The ambitious brother and sister, Harry and Mary Crawford, played by Alessandro Nivola and Embeth Davidtz, complicate the scene with sinister aspects lurking. James Purefoy is the older son. Of interest is the subtext about slavery, the West Indies, exploiting the slaves and the need for abolition of slavery.
The film has all the themes of Jane Austen. It was written and directed by Canadian Patricia Roszema (I Heard the Mermaids Singing).
1. The popularity of Jane Austen novels on screen? The variety of versions? Setting up a tradition and expectations?
2. The re-creation of Jane Austen’s time, sense of place?
3. The Regency period, 1806? Costumes, the homes, the grounds, Portsmouth, the status of people in class divisions, the aristocratic family, the poor family?
4. The screen tradition, genteel, yet serious matters underlying under the surface? This version in the tradition? More active, direct, a stronger tone?
5. The use of locations, the strong cast, the musical score and the period?
6. The title, the focus on the house, Sir Richard, his wife, children? Tom and his going out into the world, in business like his father, the military, his friendship with Yates? Edmond and his destination as a clergyman? The daughters and arranged marriages – and their faces? The daughters at home quietly compared with the men?
7. The slavery themes, slavery at the time, Jane Austen’s attitude, Sir Richard and his going to the West Indies, possessing slaves and using them? Tom and the gross racist and sexist sketches of the slaves?
8. Portsmouth, the sea, the ships, Fanny and her place in the family, had been chosen to go to Mansfield Park, the wrench in leaving home, the parents letting her go because all the children and their needs? The welcome at Mansfield Park? Aunt Norris and her prejudice? Lady Bertram welcoming her but her continued drinking? Sir Richard and his patronage, his absences?
9. Penny as a strong-minded child, declaring herself on arrival at Mansfield Park? Outspoken? Edmond, playing with Fanny, the sisters, the transition to their growing up?
10. Family and her hopes, yet her limited expectations?
11. Edmund, nice, quiet, a reader? The Crawfords, his attraction to Maria, the setting her At him? Defending Fanny? Is vision of himself as a clergyman?
12. Fanny, her adult life, a place within the family, the family activities, yet her own quarters, like as servant, having no fire?
13. The Crawfords, there are intentions, shallow, conscious of position, Henry and his charm, accepted by the Bertrams, his interest in Julia, his shallowness, Fanny seeing him as a rake? Sir Thomas and he is urging of the marriage between Fanny and Henry? Henry’s attentions to Fanny? Fanny, her directness, not wanting the marriage, being blunt to Sir Thomas, who being dismissed, a return to Portsmouth? Henry, the gift of the fireworks, talking with Fanny, courting her, saying he would reform, is charming Fanny, her accepting, changing her mind? His anger? His relations with Julia, being caught in the sexual encounter, running away with Julia?
14. Mary Crawford, her presence in the family, charm, manners, with Edmond, wanting to marry him, her letters to Fanny, a consideration of Henry’s behaviour, the family meeting, her controlling the scene, setting out the scenario for everybody’s reputation to be saved, Edmond and his speech, not wanting anything to do with her? Her leaking?
15. Fanny at home, her mother and all the children, her father and welcoming, Susan and confiding in her, all the children, the bedroom on the bed, the kitchen, the meals? Henry and his presence?
16. Tom, the return home, with Yates, is becoming ill, Edmond coming to Portsmouth, urging Fanny to return? Tom’s illness, Yates abandoning him, Fanny seeing the drawings and being shocked at their racism and sexual content? Yet Fanny caring for him? The reaction of Aunt Norris?
17. Sir Thomas, his change, Julia’s return, are going to live with Aunt Norris and the irritating each other?
18. Fanny and Edmond talking, their admission of love for each other?
19. Fanny saying it all could have been different, but it wasn’t?
20. The happy ending, all’s well that ends well?
21. The audience and a Jane Austen experience?
