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Colin Firth FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)
FAQ Contents 
Colin Firth
Biography
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 Comments

1.   What location did the BBC use to film the scenes at "Pemberly"  in the BBC/A&E producution of Pride and Prejudice?
Lyme Park in Cheshire is "Pemberly" in the P&P miniseries. A "Darcy walk" is available.
2.  Emilia Fox who plays "Georgiana Darcy" in Pride and Prejudice is related to which actress who also appears in the BBC  series?
Emilia Fox is the daughter of actor Edward Fox and Joanna  David who plays "Mrs. Gardiner" in the series.

Emilia Fox's uncle, Robert Fox, produced A Month in the Country and where he met his second wife, Natasha Richardson.

3.  How are the European and U.S. versions of The Advocate  different?
Hour of the Pig, the uncut European version is fifteen minutes longer. Cuts include five seconds from the Sophie Dix  scene in bed, a section in which a naked  "Advocate" and the gypsy girl walk along a river, a scene of the barmaid asking the Advocate to teach her to write, additional scenes with the inn falling in pieces, longer scenes of CF riding and additional scenes with Ian Holm.
4.  How are the television and videotape versions of Pride and Prejudice different?
The television version is approximately 4 hours/40 minutes long while the tape version is nearly 5 hours long. The video contains many short transitional scenes and a few longer sections with Mr. Darcy.

1.  The first assembly sequence begins with the Bingley carriage coming down the street and contains a number of short additional shots including Mr. Darcy smiling at Bingley and Jane as they dance together.
2.  Scenes after the assembly with the Bennets and Bingleys are longer. At Netherfield, Bingley's sisters
disagree with Mr. Darcy's opinion of Jane.
3.  The Lucas Lodge party has a longer scene of Mary being convinced to play dance music.
4.  The trip to Meryton with Mr. Collins begins sooner.
5.  The Philips party starts a little sooner.
6.  Mr. Collins' proposal starts sooner.
7.  After the first Darcy proposal, we see his angry walk back to Rosings and Elizabeth's tearful reaction at the Collins home.
8.  Elizabeth climbs a rocky area in Derbyshire to admire the scenery.
9.  Derbyshire scenery is shown before Elizabeth hears of Mr. Darcy's arrival in Lambton.
10.  After Elizabeth tells Darcy about the elopement, there is an additional section at Pemberly. As Georgiana plays the piano, Miss. Bingley teases Darcy about pining for Elizabeth. He answers sharply and leaves the room quickly.
11.  Preparations to leave Lambton are shown with an additional scene of the Gardiners and Elizabeth discussing the elopement.
12.  Slight extension of Darcy on the streets of London looking for Wickham and Lydia.

5.  The Falling Man was the original title of which Colin Firth film?
A Month in the Country
6.  What is a "Darcy score"?
An English newspaper article compared recent "period dramas" with the standards set by the BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice. The report ranked the heroes on a one-to-ten "Darcy score." Toby Stephens ranked 9/10, and Cliff Richard who plays "Heathcliff" in a musical Wuthering Heights ranked 2/10.
7.  What is the difference between the videos From Page toScreen and Perspectives on Pride and Prejudice ?
The interview material in From Page to Screen is basically all in the Perspectives tape. Perspectives has the same interviews only longer plus interviews with Crispin Bonham       Carter, Alison Steadman, Susannah Harker, David Bamber and Anna Chancelor.

Page to Screen includes scenes of filming , setting up scenes and rehearsals which are brief but very valuable. These are not available in the Perspectives tape.

The Perspectives tape is divided into five sections: 1. Social setting, 2. Relationships, 3. Characterisation, 4. Uses of Irony and 5. Resources. The last section includes the openings of the 1967, 1980 and 1996 versions of Pride and Prejudice.

8.   Much of the music in the Pride and Prejudice series is not included on the soundtrack. What are the names of these other pieces of dance and pianoforte music?
Lisa Warrington kindly provided the following list for additional music.
Meryton Assembly dances in order:1.  The Touchstone
2.  A Trip to Highgate
3.  Mutual Love (Jane and Bingley' first dance)
4.  First of April
5.  The Happy Captive (playing while Darcy insults Lizzy)
At Lucas Lodge, Mary plays:
1.  Air Con Varizzioni by Handel
2.  The Pleasure of the Town (dance music)
At Netherfield, Caroline Bingley plays:
1.  Rondo All' Ongarese by Haydn
At the Phillips' party, Mary plays:
1.  Nel cor piu non mi sento by Beethoven
2.  The Barley Mow (dance music)
At the Netherfield Ball:
Dances:
1.  The Shrewsbury Lasses (Mr. Collins and Lizzy dance.)
2.  Wildboar's Maggot (Darcy asks Lizzy to dance.)
3.  Mr. Beveridge's Maggot (Darcy and Lizzy dance.) This music also appears in the film version of Emma.

Pianoforte music:
1.  Mary plays Ombra Mai Fu' Bra by Handel
2.  Mrs. Hurst plays Rondo Alla Turka by Mozart

At the Christmas party at the Phillips home, Mary plays:
1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2.  Grimstock (first dance)
3. The Corporation (Wickham's dance with Mary King)

At Rosings:
1.  Lizzy plays, falteringly, the opening of Mozart Sonata XVI


At Pemberley:

1.  Lizzy plays and sings Voi Che Sapete by Mozart
2.  Georgiana plays Andante Favore by Beethoven
Final episode/ Family returns to everyday routine after Lydia and Wickham leave:
1.  Mary plays Variations on Paisello's Nel Cor Piu Non Mi Sento by Beethoven
Back to Contents

9.  Have any actors, actresses or production staff worked with Mr.
     Firth two or more times?

Yes. The following is a partial list of those who have worked with Mr. Firth on more than one project.

Robert Addie: Another Country, "Delahay"; Dutch Girls (tv), "Cone"

Sue Birtwistle, producer: Dutch Girls(tv), Pride and Prejudice (tv)

Kenneth  Branagh: A Month in the Country, "Moon";  Conspiracy, "Reinhard Heydrich"

Jim Carter: A Month in the Country, Stationmaster; Lost Empires (tv), "Inspector Crabb"; The Advocate, "Mathieu",  Shakespeare in Love "Ralph Bashford "

Anna Chancellor:  Pride & Prejudice, "Caroline Bingley",  What a Girl Wants, " Glynnis"

Richard Curtis: writer of Blackadder Back & Forth, Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually.  Directed Love Actually

Andrew Davies, writer: Circle of Friends, Pride and Prejudice (tv), BJD draft

Judi Dench: Shakespeare in Love, "Queen Elizabeth I", The Importance of Being Earnest, "Lady Bracknell"

Stephen Dillane: Hostages, "Chris Pearson",  Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, "Blackmore".

Minnie Driver: Chatsky (p) "Liza"; Circle of Friends, "Benny";  Hope Springs, "Vera"

Carmen du Sautoy: Lost Empires (tv), "Julie Blane"; Desire Under the Elms (p)

Rupert Everett: Another Country,  "Guy Bennett"; Shakespeare In Love, "Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe",  The Importance of Being Earnest, "Algy"

Hugh Grant: Bridget Jones' Diary and The Edge of Reason, "Daniel Cleaver", Love Actually. "The Prime Minister"

Alan Grint (director): Lost Empires (tv), The Secret Garden (tv).

Ian Holm: The Advocate, "Father Albertus"; Deep Blue Sea, "Sir William Collyer"

Ciaran Hinds: Hostages, "Brian Keenan"; Circle of Friends, "Professor Flynn"

Lila Kaye: Lost Empires, "Rose Bentwood"; Camille, "Nonine"

Ken Kitson: A Month in the Country, a farmer; Lost Empires (tv), "Inspector Woods"

Barbara Leigh-Hunt: Tumbledown (tv), "Jean Lawrence"; Pride and Prejudice (tv), "Lady Catherine De Bourgh"

Adrian Lucas: Dutch Girls (tv), "Murray"; Pride and Prejudice  (tv), "Wickham"

Anna Massey:  Another Country, "Imogen Bennett",  The Importance of Being Earnest,  "Miss Prism"

Ian Michie: Tumbledown (tv), "Fraser"; Dutch Girls, "MacGregor"

Anthony Minghella, writer, director: Two Planks and a Passion (r),  The English Patient

Pat O'Conner, director: A Month in the Country, Circle of  Friends

Donald Pleasence: The Caretaker (p), "Davies"; The Advocate,  "Pincheon"

Natasha Richardson: A Month in the Country, "Mrs. Keach" ; Hostages (tv), "Jill Morrell"

Liz Smith: Apartment Zero, "Mary Louise McKinney", Donovan Quick (tv), "Granny"

Billie Whitelaw: Camille; A Secret Garden (tv),"Mrs. Medlock".

Tom Wilkerson: Shakespeare In Love, "Hugh Fennyman",  The Importance of Being Earnest, "Dr. Chasuble", The Girl with a Pearl Earring, "Van Ruijven" 

10.  With what two sets of siblings has Mr. Firth worked?
Mr. Firth has worked with Kristin and Serena Scott Thomas and with Lisa and Billy Zane.
11.  What married couple has Mr. Firth worked with on separate projects?
Producer Sue Birtwistle (Pride and Prejudice) is the wife of Director Richard Eyre (Tumbledown).

Actress Mary Elizabeth Mastroantonio (co-star My Life So Far) is the wife of Director  Pat O'Conner (A Month in the Country, Circle of Friends)

Natasha Richardson (co-star in Hostages and A Month in the Country) is married to Liam Neeson (Love Actually)

12.  What is Darcymania?
Darcymania is one of several words used to describe the enormous popularity of the Pride and Prejudice miniseries in Britain.  The last episode drew over 10 million viewers, the highest ever for a costume classic.

The  Pride and Prejudice video sold 12,000 copies in two days; 50,000 within a week. The Making of Pride and Prejudice sold 20,000 copies by the end of October and was the top of the non-fiction list by December (1997). The wet shirt worn by Colin Firth in the production was auctioned for charity and sold for 500 pounds.

13.  Where can I find informtion about the dance music in the
     Pride and Prejudice miniseries?
Contradances of Hawaii has a web page which lists eleven P&P dance pieces. Links give each dance a midi sample of the music, historical information and a dance description.  Use http://www.lll.hawaii.edu/contra/dances/austen.html
14.  Mr. Firth starred in the film Femme Fatale, but in which  film was his character called an "homme fatal?"
In The Deep Blue Sea, Firth's character "Freddie" is called an homme fatal for inspiring suicidal love.
15.  Is sheet music for any of the P&P music available?
The Theme from Pride and Prejudice by Carl Davis for Piano has been published by Faber Music Ltd. and can be ordered from most music stores. The ISBN# is 0-571-51625-4.
16.  Has Mr. Firth ever worked as anything other than an actor?
Colin worked briefly as a dustman (garbage man). He says of the experience, "The work was OK apart from the stench. You just have to make sure you have a long bath every night."
17.  What does Mr. Firth think about Method acting?
In a Time Out article, he stated, "It's difficult to asses an actor's ability. It can be a conjuring trick. It doesn't depend on internals."
18.  What does Mr. Firth think of fame?
"I think you have to be deranged to want to be famous," Mr. Firth said in an interview. "I just want to be thought of as really very good. I want people to think, 'Oh, Colin Firth, he's a good actor.'"
19.  How does Mr. Firth compare working in the theater and in film?
"I don't believe that acting in theater is a better form of training to cinema work. There are subtleties in telling a story or tracing a character imposssible to render in the theater but possible to do on film. And with cinema it is possible to reach not only the public who are in a single hall, but millions of people who see you and follow you as if you were in front of them. It is moving and stimulating to take part in something that has the possibility of going all over the world." L'Uomo (Italy), May/June 1997, "Firth Fever".
 20. How does the Criterion version of The English Patient differ from the regular laser release?
The Criterion laser contains audio commentary, trailers, behind the scenes documentary, deleted scenes and readings from the novel. The deleted scenes do not include Mr. Firth.
21. How can I get a map of British locations used in films?
The British Tourist Authority has a booklet called "Movie Map: Film and TV Locations in Britain". The map shows 186 locations including those used for Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Peak Practice, and The House of Eliot. The National Trust also has leaflets on Belton House and the Pemberly Trail.

There is also an online version of the Movie Map at the BTA site

22.  Does Nick Hornby, author of the book Fever Pitch, appear in the film?
Yes, he plays the coach of the opposite team on the school playing field.
23.  When was Pride and Prejudice first shown in the U.S.?
January 14, 1996 at 9:00 p.m. EST

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