P&P Part II + "studio purgatory"

Make haste, make haste!
What: Pride and Prejudice
When: Sunday, February 17, 9pm (check local listings)
Where: The sofa in front of your TV (USA)
Be there or be square.

If you haven't had your fill of Pride and Prejudice chatter, turn your attention to blogger Annette's thoughtful discourse on the superiority of the BBC production. You know her opinions are to be trusted when she says:

[...] [Jennifer Ehle's] performance makes Lizzy real and down to earth. Her personality comes through so clearly that again, it’s hard to believe that she’s NOT Elizabeth Bennett. The performance has a lot of depth as well. Her anger at the proposal scene is a controlled simmer, not an explosive one, which would have been easier to perform, I’m sure. But this way it’s a more powerful moment. Her eyes are so expressive that you sometimes feel as if you could read her soul.

That’s good acting. [...]

Good acting indeed! As for the realm outside of Pemberley:

• If you are curious to know when Washington Square was actually recorded, the good folks at silksoundbooks explained to me, "The recording sessions took place in New York in September/October of last year. Editing was done in London shortly afterwards." If you have already listened to the audiobook, pray tell us your thoughts either at the forum or in the shoutbox (located towards the bottom of the side bar).


• The George Street Playhouse has updated their blog with photos of Rosemary Harris visiting the Bristol Myers Squibb Children's Hospital, which sponsored the (now closed) production of Oscar and the Pink Lady. What a lady!

• Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere, who recently discussed Pride and Glory's postponement (and formed some pre-judgments about the film), received a heartfelt and respectful reply from director Gavin O'Connor. Here is a snippet of O'Connor's response:

  [...] I've been trying to realize this movie for over seven years, and though an amazing experience making the film at New Line, it has now become heartbreaking, watching it get caught up in corporate maneuvering, where bookkeeping seems to take precedent over filmmaking. My film is living in some form of studio purgatory, so it hurts to read negative comments about it before it's ever been released. [...]

• Things aren't looking good for New Line Cinema. Variety reports on the studio's legal troubles, which are also being discussed at Ben's Daily Movie News.

Oh well, all good things are worth waiting for. In the meantime, enjoy spending time in Regency England tomorrow evening!