ITV bosses hope for swoons and vapours
The Northern Echo reports that “Janeites may get a touch of the vapours” when they see Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot kiss in Persuasion:
“Everyone is desperate for Anne and the captain to kiss,” [Sally Hawkins] says. “You wouldn’t have seen them kissing in public in Jane Austen’s book, but it’s great that it happens because you need that release.
“It’s good that we’re telling a classic story in a modern way. This adaptation is pretty much loyal to the book, but I think we’re allowed a few liberties.
“Perhaps we need the kiss as a generation. I know if I was watching this at home, I’d be shouting at the telly for them to kiss.”
Two different versions of the scene were filmed: one with a kiss, and one without. (Can you say “deleted scenes” on the DVD?)
What do you think, Janeites? Are the ITV bosses a little over-solicitous of our delicate sensibilities? Does a kissing scene really give you the vapours? Or do you think a modern adaptation can be enjoyable and successful without one? (For the record, I’m on the sofa with Miss Hawkins, shouting at the telly.)
An interesting techie tidbit concerns Mansfield Park: much of it was shot with a handheld camera for a more modern look. From Billie Piper:
“The director wanted it to feel very fresh and young. Sometimes period drama can be stuffy and quite boring, I find,” she says. “He did a lot with a handheld camera so it feels like you’re spying on this family, that’s what I love about it.”
I liked several of the handheld sequences from the 2005 P&P, but sometimes this technique can go horribly wrong, leaving us with COPS … in Mansfield. For this Janeite, a wobbly camera is more likely than a kiss to bring on the vapours. Dorothy may need to add some meclizine to the Austen Season rooibos.
Comments are closed.
If they think they’re revolutionizing Jane Austen dramas with a little public lip action then I guess they missed Persuasion (1995) where Amanda Root and Ciaran Hines smooched in the street. I really don’t mind a public kissing scene in any period adaptation (Hello “North & South” train scene!) so long as it’s done tastefully. Now, if they were stumbling into the back of a carriage while trying not to break contact and removing each other’s clothes, then I might be a bit disconcerted
As for the wobbly camera in MP3, I just hope it’s not so shaky we all get motion sickness just from sitting on the sofa!
How does your first post feel Heather?
I agree with Kelley, it’s not terribly ground-breaking and if done with decorum there’s no need to uncork the smelling salts. I do love it how Janeites are seen as fussy, musty (no doubt wearing a cardigan!) ‘purists’ whose nostrils quiver all the time at everything.
There are much graver crimes than including kisses. Butchering the dialogue for one and ingnoring Jane Austen’s characterizations in order to “take a new modern approach”.
Not that kissing IS a crime. I am all for kisses.
*holds breath in anticipation*
Make room for me on the couch. I’m all for kisses.
Especially with men as delicious as Rupert P-J.
I really wonder now what’s going to be so special about this kiss in Persuasion, because it’s mentioned in every article about it! But I agree with all of you that a kiss is perfectly fine in an adaptation like this.
I think the handheld-thing can be great, by the way. They also used it in BBC’s ‘Bleak House’ and that was a wonderful drama, in my opinion. It was totally not disturbing or anything. I’m looking forward to MP!
I’m glad they didn’t show the kiss in the trailer: that would have completely ruined the anticipation.
If it’s anything like the kiss in North & South…I might just have to have my smelling salts close by when I watch Persuasion! 8D
I doubt it will be as good as the one in N&S. Meclizine? Hey, I’m taking that. Thank goodness I’ll be past the morning sickness long before I see handheld Mansfield.
By the way, what is a rooibo?
Ina, Rooibos tea is red bush tea from southern Africa and is very very yummy and comforting. No caffeine and now they are putting all sorts of yummy vanillas and various flavors in it. Precious Ramotswe drinks it in Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency which is an awesome series of books about a female detective from Botswana named Precious.
A kiss…no one kissed ever in those days, after all…gasp, shocking!!!!…causing such tremblings, such flutterings all over me, such spasms in my side, and pains in my head, and such beatings at heart, that I can get no rest by night nor by day. Smelling salts please!!!!
I watch for the wit as much as the romance. It amuses me. As long as they don’t ruin the dialogue I don’t care how they end it, though not with the tear your clothes off scene, heaven forbid. We Middle Aged Austen Whores are not prudes, but we do appreciate historical accuracy.
I have a cup of vanilla rooibos almost every night–I like Republic of Tea’s Good Hope Vanilla. It’s really good for you, tons of antioxidants, even more than green tea. Here endeth the Public Service Announcement. (If you are wondering, it’s pronounced roy-buss.)
I like smooching! Smooching is good. As has been said, give me smooching as long as it’s in character, tasteful, and the rest of the adaptation is handled well.
And I’ve gone crazy crocheting shawls lately (I’m on my fourth, same pattern, different yarn), so I look more the stereotypical Austen spinster purist than ever. *rolls eyes*
Mags, rocking in rocking chair, crotcheting shawl, cats purring, tea spiked with something and the vanilla rooibos to cover up scent, Dorothy shuffling around, hissing at bad MP adaptation. Jane’s books piled high on the counter. I can see it now. Shall we stoke the fire? Lord, I’m hungry!
Purists MAAWs unite.
*is allergic to cats*
Perhaps a Newfoundland puppy?
Am agreeing with everything above (kiss, tea, camera, whatever). I’m one of those who swoons at the kiss in N&S, so if this one is as good as that, I’m all for it!
I may have heard, but I don’t remember who Dorothy is. Can someone explain?
LMAO!! Cops & mansfield park? love it!
And a love story film without a kiss? *gasp*
Is this to be endured – it shall not be!
I agree about everything and I like ending my day with a nice rooibus as well. Yesterday I had one with orange and carrot… Yum!
I’m all for kisses and I liked the kiss between Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds in P2. I think that Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins will be great – I don’t know her and I’ve seen him only in Casanova and Cold Comfort, but he is a great actor and very handsome.
I know I’m in the absolute minority and I will hide under the desk after saying this, but I really disliked the kiss in North&South. Not the kiss itself, which was fine, but the fact of it being in a train station -at least in P2 they were in a very busy street and everyone was looking at the circus parade- …and Henry Lennox looking at them! Why did they have to show that? I wouldn’t like it in a modern movie either: why show someone who had been rejected by the main character looking at that kiss?! I think that was in very poor taste. The music was wonderful, though.
It’s amusing to see the press, filmmakers, or whoever assume that JA fans are going to have a fit over a simple kiss, when most (at least around here) don’t think it’s a big deal … in fact, like it.
But fussing over a kiss is easier than addressing how the film will differ from the book. I appreciated the comment that the new Persuasion, at least, has tried to be loyal.
And wasn’t it great to read a quotation from Billie Piper that wasn’t about her ladyparts? Better yet, she shared a nice little production detail. Gave me an excuse to watch the teaser again *cough* to spot that handheld look in the Mansfield Park scenes. Each set of films does have its distinct mark; it will be interesting to see what sets these apart. The DVD covers and Becoming Jane seem to match the style of 2005 P&P, so I wonder if the films will, too.
Rooibos — there’s a Teavana not too far away, so that’s where I get mine. I add a tiny splash of milk to make the vanilla flavor really pop.
Sylvia M: Here’s Dorothy.
I think I need to update the FAQ!
Dorothy is the rather prickly old housekeeper at AustenBlog World Headquarters. We borrowed her from Mr. Tilney’s Gothic parody. You can see a picture of her on the Staff page (which has been updated for our new Cub Reporter!).
I just realized we don’t have a FAQ. That explains a lot.
I haven’t had as many laughs on this site in a while. The last ten minutes had me almost choking on coffee in mid-swallow (taking out the monitor screen wipes now), ordering Rooibos tea online, brushing my cat, and looking for non-existent FAQs.
I was not really paying much attention to the kissing parts, but, on that topic I would predict that any snogging in these adaptations will be less offensive than the hand-kissing scene in P&P 2005. Just my two-cents’, of course.
Yes, it certainly looks like the new cub reporter’s maiden post (hmm… wonder why images of Jeanne d’Arc pop-pop-pop in my head at the mention of those two words?) is a hit. Capital!
I’m all for a bit of lip action in these adaptations! And if Rupert Penry-Jones is involved, all the better. There does seem to be a bit of ‘hype’ over this kiss – the actor described it as the hottest kiss he’d ever had on-camera.
I know this will be hugely unpopular (please don’t bar me!) as MP2 is largely reviled it seems, but I just loved the kiss between Fanny and Edmund in MP2 – well, the ‘nearly’ kiss, when they’re both all shook up by Maria’s infidelity with Henry. It was very touching.
Catherine, MP2 had some individual nice elements. You know that saying about a broken clock… I think what bothers most of us is that other than character and place names the film bore very little resemblance to the novel.
I generally don’t like tea but I’m going to look for some vanilla rooibos. It sounds soothing. Soothing is good.
Actually ElisabethN, I agree with you. I liked the kiss but thought the whole rest of the scene was ridiculous. I prefer the ending in the book. Of course I have a sister who passionately dislikes the book’s ending for not being romantic enough, or something like that.
No kissing back then…LOL…they must have found all those kids in the Cabbage Patch.
Ina, your local grocery store might stock rooibos. Celestial Seasonings also makes some with or without vanilla (look for a lion on the box).
First trimester is no fun. I couldn’t do much besides sleep for three months. That, and developed a craving for organic vegan chocolate donuts. I’m not a vegan, and not a big fan of donuts, either. But if I didn’t get my morning fix (and no other flavor would do), it was ugly.
I wish I could sleep for a few months. But the already-born-children won’t allow it. And my husband wouldn’t be too happy either. There are no decent donuts in my town since Wal-Mart put in their supercenter and the local grocery store went out of business. It’s a shame cause I’ve always loved those chocolate frosted ones, and I can’t get them. No cravings yet so far. I’m still looking for what will work for me. I have a sister-in-law who’s an OB and she had some suggestions. I’ve changed meds now, but not feeling that great today anyway. Why does this part always feel like it will never end?