Jane Austen‘s “Pride and Prejudice” has been filmed repeatedly over the years, both for TV and the big screen, and each captures something of the period in which it was shot, even though it’s set in the late 1700s. Not surprisingly then, the 1940 version with Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy is sort of screwball comedy lite. The film’s tagline declares: Five Gorgeous Beauties on a Mad-Cap Manhunt!”

Austen probably didn’t intend “mad-cap” with her story about the marriage quests of five women, but the comedic approach works. Olivier is suitably stand-offish in his first scene, during the ball, when he meets Elizabeth Bennet, but becomes appealing as the film proceeds and has good chemistry with co-star Greer Garson.

Those familiar with the BBC mini-series version starring Colin Firth as Darcy will find this “Prejudice” practically hurtling toward the happy conclusion. Those magnificent interiors designed by Paul Groesse earned the film an Oscar for art direction. It’s breezy fun, although if you’re looking for a real screwball comedy from this period, you’d be better off with “The Philadelphia Story” or “Bringing Up Baby.”

“Pride and Prejudice” (1940) Directed by Robert Leonard. Starring Greer Garson, Laurence Oliver, Mary Boland, Edna May Oliver and Maureen O’Sullivan. Unrated. 117 minutes.

— David Bates
The News-Register