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Pride and Prejudice (1940): Film vs Book
Film · 1940 · Directed by Robert Z. Leonard · Starring Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier
About the film
A sparkling Hollywood comedy of manners about five sisters and the arrival of two rich bachelors.
How close is it to the book?
Loosely based on the bookThe story is simplified and made lighter, and the costumes belong to a later period than the novel. It is a studio romance more than a faithful portrait.
Read or watch first?
Enjoy it as a classic movie, then read the novel to hear the sharp irony in Austen's own voice.
What the book gives you
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Witty conversations, a romance worth waiting for and a heroine you cheer for from the first page. It is endlessly rereadable and gives you a happy glow.
Who will like it: Readers who love sparkling dialogue, slow-burn romance and clever heroines.