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We take a look at Working Title Films brand new film version of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride & Prejudice.

Pride & Prejudice

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” – from Pride & Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

United International Pictures, Universal Pictures and Working Title Films release a new film version Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice across the UK and Ireland this month.

A fresh yet faithful adaptation of the original novel, Pride & Prejudice follows the adventures of Elizabeth Bennet, her four sisters and their attempts to find husbands. When a wealthy bachelor and his circle of sophisticated friends take up summer residence in a nearby mansion, the Bennets are abuzz with hope that potential suitors will be in full supply. But once Elizabeth meets up with Mr. Darcy – played by Matthew Macfadyen - what seemed at first like a match made in heaven quickly becomes one of the most classic battles of the sexes ever portrayed in literature.

England

The new feature film was shot entirely on location across the UK - including Derbyshire, Wiltshire and Kent and with a running time in excess of two hours aims to preserve as much of the content of the original weighty book as is possible.

The film stars Keira Knightley (King Arthur, Bend It Like Beckham, Love Actually and Pirates Of The Caribbean) - as Elizabeth Bennet - with Matthew Macfadyen as Fitzwilliam Darcy, Donald Sutherland (Don’t Look Know) and Brenda Blethyn play the Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and the supporting cast includes Judi Dench, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone and Tom Hollander. Directed by Joe Wright from an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel by Deborah Moggach, Pride & Prejudice is produced by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for Working Title Films, and Paul Webster; executive producers are Debra Hayward and Liza Chasin, and Jane Frazer is co-producer. Pride & Prejudice marks the feature film debut of director Joe Wright, whose recent television drama Charles II: the Pride and the Passion, was nominated for five BAFTA Awards, winning ‘Best Drama Series’, and ‘Best Costume’.

Deborah Moggach is the prize-winning author of numerous television screenplays including Stolen, Goggleyes, See- Saw, Close Relations, and Final Demand. Her many novels include the bestselling Tulip Fever and Porky.

Brushing up on your classic English novels? Boning up for the pub quiz? Or just want to sound knowledgeable to your date on the way in to see the new film? Well here’s 10 facts about Jane Austen that you thought you’d never need…

1. Jane Austen was very secretive about her writing. She wrote on tiny pieces of paper that she could hide quickly.

2. She never had her name billed on her books while she was alive. The first was attributed simply as 'by a lady'.

3. She met the love of her life, Tom Lefroy – rather fittingly, given her novels frequent preoccupation with these social gatherings - at a ball. He was a penniless Irish barrister.

4. She accepted a marriage proposal from Harris Bigg-Wither, a wealthy landowner, but she changed her mind the next morning and was greatly upset by the whole episode.

5. Jane Austen never married.

6. The author is buried in Winchester Cathedral. This mighty edifice has its origins way back in the in the 7th century AD, when a church was first built on its Hampshire site. The present Romanesque style structure was begun in 1079 and now boasts formidable architecture – and, aside from Jane Austen’s last resting place - an impressive statue of French martyr Joan of Arc, elaborately carved choir stalls with gabled canopies, a visitors centre and shop. Former home to a Benedictine monastic community remains to this day a working place of worship that is the centre of a living Christian Community.

7. Sense and Sensibility was actually the first of here novels to be published, she wrote it when she was just 19.

8. At the age of 14 she wrote her first novel – it was called Love and Friendship.

9. In 1797, the manuscript of Pride and Prejudice was offered to a publisher by her father, but the publisher refused to even look at it.

10. Pride and Prejudice was written during the month of October 1796 - but wasn't published until January 1813.

Founded in 1983, Working Title Films has produced over 70 motion pictures, which have amassed more than $3 billion worldwide.

For those interested in finding out the original plot that inspired the new feature film, follow this link to read the whole novel of Pride and Prejudice chapter by chapter. This link also gives access to further e-books of 'essential English literature', which are free to read online. Perfect lunch hour reading - enjoy!

Pride & Prejudice is out on DVD now, certificate 'U'. The original novel Pride & Prejudice is published by Penguin Classics.

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More information available in Books, DVD / Home Video