Pride and Prejudice: A Second Review 10 Years Later

I first reviewed MGM’s Pride and Prejudice (1940) on this blog back in 2016. After revisiting the film recently, I decided to try a small experiment: write a second review without rereading the original. Would I see the movie the same way ten years later, or would time and perspective shift my impressions? If you’re curious, you can read my 2016 review—what follows is my fresh 2026 take.

Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier.

Adapting Pride and Prejudice into a two‑hour film inevitably requires compressing Austen’s layered novel into a much tighter frame. Characters who add texture and humor on the page—Mary Bennet, Mr. Collins, the Gardiners—are trimmed down or vanish altogether. Subplots are streamlined, social encounters condensed, and only a fraction of Austen’s sparkling dialogue survives the transition to screen. It’s the perennial challenge of adapting Austen: what do you keep, and what must you sacrifice? 

Given those challenges, MGM's 1940 film adaptation works very well.  It follows the spirited Elizabeth Bennet (Greer Garson) as she navigates the pressures of marriage, class, and first impressions in 1830s England, especially in her evolving relationship with the proud, reserved Mr. Darcy (Laurence Olivier). The arrival of wealthy bachelors Darcy and Mr. Bingley sets off a flurry of matchmaking in the Bennet household, where misunderstandings, bruised pride, and sharp wit shape the sisters’ romantic entanglements. As Elizabeth and Darcy confront their own misjudgments, their initial friction softens into mutual respect and affection, culminating in the familiar reconciliations and marriages.

Garson as Elizabeth.

Much of this adaptation’s enduring charm comes from the performances. Greer Garson brings a blend of intelligence, warmth, and effortless poise to Elizabeth Bennet, making the character’s wit and self-possession feel completely natural even though Garson was notably older than Austen’s teenage heroine. Laurence Olivier matches her with a Darcy who carries the right measure of brooding reserve, allowing flashes of admiration and vulnerability to break through his polished exterior. Together, they create a dynamic that feels both playful and emotionally grounded.

The screenplay, co-written by Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) is based on Helen Jerome’s 1936 stage play rather than directly on Austen's book. One of the most substantial changes involves Darcy's aunt, the intimidating Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She is played by Edna May Oliver in a lighter, almost comedic fashion compared to her intimidating book counterpart. Instead of attempting to thwart the Elizabeth-Darcy match, she intervenes at the climax by playfully engineering the romance. This altered, matchmaking role provides a humorous resolution that deviates entirely from the hostile confrontation in Jane Austen's original novel.

So, how does this adaptation compare to other film and TV versions? I would rank it just below the 2005 Pride and Prejudice that starred an age-appropriate Keira Knightly and is generally more faithful to Austen's novel. However, the gold standard is easily the 1995 TV miniseries with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. The miniseries format allows it to explore Austen's themes in more depth and the supporting characters are given more screen time. Additionally, Firth's portrayal of Darcy has become the definitive one against which all others are measured.