January 19, 2007

Pride and Prejudice Marathon


UPDATE:
I finally found my copy of the movie and checked. Dan was right, it is Mr Bennet who says this to Mr Collins. I was also wrong about the circumstances so I erased some of my comments. Mr Collins is talking about Lady Catherine de Bourg and her daughter, and mentioning how he likes to compliment the daughter (when in fact there's very little to compliment her about)and that's when Mr Bennet says the quote.
The dialogue goes like this:

Mrs Bennet: "And has she been presented in court?"

Mr Collins: "She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which unhappily prevents her from being in town and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine myself one day, she has deprived the British Court of its brightest ornament" (to Mr Bennet): "You may imagine sir how happy I am on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments, which are always acceptable to ladies."

Mr Bennet: That is fortunate for you, Mr. Collins, that you possess such an extraordinary talent for flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment or are the result of previous study."

Mr Collins: " They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time sir. I do sometimes amuse myself by writing down and arranging such little compliments as can be adapted to ordinary occasions, but I try to give them an unstudied an air as possible."



Thea and I are going to watch the first 2 episodes of "Pride and Prejudice" 1995 on Friday, January 26 at 8:00pm at my house.

Anyone who wants to join us is welcome. I've been planning on doing this for a while. I know I've talked to some of you guys and I finally picked a date and time.

I'll serve popcorn and drinks and maybe cookies.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the movie:

" . . . it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?"

Does anyone recognize this? Give it a try.

7 comments:

Michelle McIntyre said...

I love Pride and Prejudice! I'm not sure about that quote, but my guess is Eliza to Jane?

Irina S. said...

You're half right about the quote!
We would love to have you watch it with us if you would like.

I'll post the right answer tomorrow.Maybe somenone else would like to try and answer.

Briana nanimom@outlook.com said...

I think Elizabeth said it to Mr. Collins. Shane bought me the DVD set. I have not watched them yet. I've seen the movie lots of times just not recently. In the past I've watched them when he was on business trips.

Irina S. said...
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Anonymous said...

OK, that changes my perceived meaning now. To Jane, it would have been said lovingly. To Mr. Collins, sarchastically. Now, I'm trying to get the context. Was this when he was flattering her or was it when he was tripping over himself to flatter Lady Catherine?

Thanks for the invitation, Irina. I'll have to get back to you on that.

Irina S. said...

Looks like I was wrong. Someone brought it to my attention that it was actually Mr Bennett who said it to Mr Collins, it wasn't Elizabeth.
I couldn't find my P&P copy yesterday to check.

Irina S. said...
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