“Apparently there’s an internet campaign to get the North American ending in the British version. Do you have a preference?
I think I prefer the version without the kiss. Only because I find it quite difficult to watch myself anyway. But I don’t know, I find it saccharin”.
(Matthew Macfadyen)
The two endings
Mr. Bennet: If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, for heaven’s sake, send them in. I’m quite at my leisure.
Mr. Darcy: And how are you this evening Mrs. Darcy? Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy…
“In America, it ended in a rather sickly scene at night. It just didn’t work. The end in England stopped more abruptly, not so sugary. The end was so messed about. We didn’t want to end with a big wedding, because we didn’t want Elizabeth to come off as the girl who became a queen at this lavish wedding, or for it to be corny. Donald was great and I think Donald liked that ending best because it landed on his face.”
(Deborah Moggach, Screenwriter)
“And how are you this evening…Mrs. Darcy?”
There are two endings to the film: the British version ends with a witticism by Mr. Bennet, borrowed from the novel; the American version ends with the two leads canoodling in a very un-Austenian manner.
“I think it seems like a perfect marriage. It’s the classic attraction of opposites, you know, pulling and pushing at each other. And fascinated by each other.”
(Matthew Macfadyen)
