The Lake Scene vs The Rain Scene
The famous ‘Rain Scene’ from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie is where Matthew Macfadyen’s dripping-wet Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth for the first time. The ‘Lake Scene’ from the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice 1995 is the moment after Colin Firth’s Darcy has taken a swim in his lake at Pemberley, and is surprised to bump into Elizabeth. Neither scene has much in common with the book, but both have – for obvious reasons – been generously forgiven for their inauthenticity!
As Lost in Austen’s Amanda Price would put it, which scene ‘floats your boat’? Here are video clips of each scene for you to ponder. We’ve shown them both before at My Pride and Prejudice but never on the same page, for fear of causing over-excitement. Please take a look and cast your vote by leaving a comment!
Pride and Prejudice 2005 – The Rain Scene
The Lake Scene in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice 1995
I am very much enjoying your posts – they are cheeky yet clearly thoughtful!
This was an interesting post on the rain. I liked the 2005 rain scene – the gray sky added to the gloominess of the proposal scene and Darcy’s rejection. Visually great!
Yet – I read this in a review, I believe, or something somewhere else – the lake scene actually gives a reason to the Austen passage. When Austen describes the Darcy-Elizabeth meeting, she says that, “At length, every idea seemed to fail [Darcy]; and, after standing a few moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and took leave.” Then, sometime later, “…they were
again surprised … by the sight of Mr. Darcy approaching them….”
The 1980, of course, follows the book closely and gives no reason for Darcy leaving, and I remember finding that odd and a little jarring – as though he left them simply because he ran out of things to say, which seems rather rude. The 1995 (even if it did not intend to do so) gives a solid reason for Darcy leaving; he’s “less formally attired,” like getting caught in pjs by a crush while going to get the mail/paper.
The 1995 gives a consistent view of Darcy: he is not going to waste this chance with Elizabeth. He still talks to her, despite being so poorly dressed, and then he rushes to look presentable so he can catch her again. The interesting thing is that the characterization is subtle; I hadn’t thought about it until seeing the odd scene in the 1980 and then reading a review that put into words what I was feeling.
Hi Sammie
Thanks for your great comments! Cheeky yet thoughtful is exactly what were hoping to achieve with our blog. Your point about giving Darcy a reason to leave is really interesting and I hadn’t noticed it before. I think I will include a blog post soon comparing the different approaches to this scene – crediting you of course!
It’s not even a contest! Of course the true Mr. Darcy had the better scene, it’s much more realistic and truer to the characters.
Colin Firth 100%!!!
gosh I just stumbled upon your blog at work no less now I am doing no work at all!!!! lol
to me there is no comparaison between the 2 Darcys even the 2 movies. As much as I like Keira Knightley, I thought she was wrong for the role and the whole production leaves me with the feeling that there is something amiss. I thought the movie in general was too dark, too serious which is the antithesis of what Austen is all about. which is why I read somewhere that Churchill thought that it was unfathomable that a book written during the Regency period did not feature anything about the Napoleonic wars but I think to myself..but of course you fool, she purposely ommitted this stuff because that is not what she’s about!!!!
so in a roundabout way, I answer your question: COLIN FIRTH without a doubt!!!!!!
Hi Lyne, thanks for your lovely comments. I hope we didn’t get you into trouble at work!
I’m at work too & just found your blog as well. I can’t get enough of Pride & Prejudice and have seen both the Colin Firth & Matthew Macfadyen versions multiple times.
While Colin Firth is most everyone’s favorite as Darcy (mine as well)… I can’t help but admit that I love the crackling attraction evident in the 2005 Rain Scene. Matthew’s portrayal of Darcy is fabulous here as he can hardly overcome or even work out his feelings for Elizabeth even after he has been rejected so harshly by her. I love it… I watch it over and over again!
So while Colin Firth is my favorite and the Lake Scene is fantastic. If the voting comparison is just between these 2 scenes. I have to say that Matthew wins that one in my opinion. No one could tell me that they wouldn’t want Darcy leaning in on them like that with all that blazing tension. If it were me I’d grab him and kiss them right there!
Hmmm. Now it will be impossible to get back to productive work ! LOL
Hi Wendy, if only we are all ladies of leisure we wouldn’t have to worry about daydreaming at work! Thanks for adding your comments.
While I am a fan of both Matthew Mcfadyen and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and my favorite has never been decided between them, I much prefer the rain scene in the 2005 version.
I actually do not understand all the hype that surrounds the lake scene. Colin Firth is, yes, very handsome and oh so sexy as Mr. Darcy, but I can’t see anything about the lake scene that is especially sexy that would generate all that buzz. I agree with the producers that they really did not expect that kind of reaction from that scene. I read somewhere that they put in that scene to give a plausible reason for Darcy’s abrupt leaving of Elizabeth (embarrassment at his state of undress).
The rain scene on the other hand is so charged with chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy that I could hardly breathe. Especially at the end of Elizabeth’s tirade where Matthew Mcfadyen leans closer to Elizabeth. Even though I know that its not going to happen after watching the scene on so many occasions, I still hold my breath in anticipation for the kiss that I know is never going to come.
As a follow-up to my not understanding the hype about the lake scene.. Yes, I know his shirt is wet. But you could hardly see anything even with his shirt wet. I actually find it more appealing that he isn’t as stuffy as we thought he was. But from the posts of women everywhere on the internet, they salivate over that scene because of his wet shirt. Haven’t women of this generation been desensitized from seeing so many naked chests (of men) everywhere. Nowadays, its common to see six pack abs in billboards and magazines. Colin Firth’s lake scene does not even hint of those six pack abs that are so sought after now. So why is this the scene that many women go for? There are a lot more sexier movie scenes out there. Why this? This is actually positively chaste!
i prefer matthew macfadyen to colin firth and i prefer the ‘rain scene’ to ‘lake scene’. I don’t much like the 1950 TV series.
I’ve held a partiality towards 2005; I watched it before I even read the book and fell in love. I used to joke about how I preferred matthew and that “colin firth can go jump in a lake.” But the more I watch 1995, the more I love it.
That being said, I still like the “rain scene” better. The proposal seems much more offensive than in the parsonage, Darcy completely loses his patience, and the almost kiss at the end….
But the lake scene has its perks. Darcy’s awkwardness show how human he is, and hey! he’s in a wet shirt.
But yeah. 2005.
I read Pride and Prejudice 5 days ago, saw the 2005 movie 4 days ago, and watched the 1995 production 3 days ago. And though I have a crush on Colin Firth (after seeing Bridget Jones Diary), I also don’t really understand the buzz about his wet shirt scene. I guess it’s obvious that I really prefer the rain scene, especially the part when Mr. Darcy leans in before saying “Forgive me Madam for taking up so much of your time.”
Rain scene – cause it is charged like a thunderstorm – and gosh – he is wet!!! people!!.
However, i prefer Firth’s Mr Darcy, in general – as well as the 1995’s Elizabeth – she had real fire!
Regarding comments about the wet shirt – today’s soceity is so “in your face” that a wet shirt which just “barely” shows a physique – no 6 pack – is sensual – not so much sexy. There is a difference between the 2. Mc Fadyen had on soooooooo much more clothes but it is charged – know why! it is the tension, what is there but not “seen” that makes it WOW! This is the sentiment expressed in the sensual nature of the lake scene too -
Matthew Macfadyen!!!!!!!!!! Rain scene and everyother scene!!! Oh my gosh I am totally in love with the 2005 version and have watched it over and over for days!! It is going to ruin my life because real life is not like this and after watching this movie it breaks my heart.
I have always loved the 1995 Masterpiece Theater version with Colin Firth. The 1995 version give me more, more, more and more of the movie, because there is never enough…but the 2005 version gave me a more satisfying ending.