<P> The critical response to Pride and Prejudice was overwhelmingly positive . Gerard Gilbert of The Independent recommended the opening episode of the serial one day before the British premiere , saying the television adaptation is `` probably as good as it ( can get for a literary classic ) . The casting in particular deserves a tilt at a BAFTA , Firth not being in the slightest bit soft and fluffy -- and Jennifer Ehle showing the right brand of spirited intelligence as Elizabeth . '' He considered Benjamin Whitrow a `` real scene - stealer with his Mr. Bennet '' , but was undecided about Alison Steadman 's portrayal of Mrs. Bennet . Reviewing the first episode for the same newspaper on the day after transmission , Jim White praised Andrew Davies for `` injecting into the proceedings a pace and energy which at last provides a visual setting to do justice to the wit of the book . With everyone slinging themselves about at high speed ( the dances , in a first for the genre , actually involve a bit of sweat ) , it looks like people are doing something you would never have suspected they did in Austen 's time : having fun . '' </P>
<P> The critical response to Pride and Prejudice was overwhelmingly positive . Gerard Gilbert of The Independent recommended the opening episode of the serial one day before the British premiere , saying the television adaptation is `` probably as good as it ( can get for a literary classic ) . The casting in particular deserves a tilt at a BAFTA , Firth not being in the slightest bit soft and fluffy -- and Jennifer Ehle showing the right brand of spirited intelligence as Elizabeth . '' He considered Benjamin Whitrow a `` real scene - stealer with his Mr. Bennet '' , but was undecided about Alison Steadman 's portrayal of Mrs. Bennet . Reviewing the first episode for the same newspaper on the day after transmission , Jim White praised Andrew Davies for `` injecting into the proceedings a pace and energy which at last provides a visual setting to do justice to the wit of the book . With everyone slinging themselves about at high speed ( the dances , in a first for the genre , actually involve a bit of sweat ) , it looks like people are doing something you would never have suspected they did in Austen 's time : having fun . '' </P>
who played mr bennet in pride and prejudice 1995
who played mr bennet in pride and prejudice 1995
Benjamin Whitrow
Benjamin Whitrow