Ironing Films

When I was younger I used to love whenever my mum had a big ironing day. She’d stand in the kitchen at our old house and I’d perch next to her and we’d watch a film, often a musical, always a classic. I think this was the reason I got to about 11 years old and started begging my mum to let me do my own ironing, or to at least let me do the tea towels and Dad’s hankerchiefs. That level of enthusiasm didn’t last long of course and I’ve managed to successfully iron on average 10 items a year since I’ve been at university. I swear if you hang it up fast enough out of the dryer it doesn’t need it! And if necessary there’s always straighteners for a quick fix.

Anyway enough about ironing for now, my plan is to regularly share some classic ‘ironing day’ films that

1. Are just plain wonderful

2. Lift my spirits no end

3. Have some of the most iconic outfits/moments/songs in the history of cinema (in my opinion!)

First on the list...

Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version, of course) 

Pride and Prejudice, like Disney, is at least partly responsible for whats left of my girlish notions of happy ever after. What’s more, every time I finish watching it I start talking awfully proper for an hour or so, not overly dissimilar to me after Made In Chelsea (I.Am.In.Love.With. SPENCER – sorry, phew).

Put simply, whats not to love? It’s funny, sweet, beautiful. In my opinion the BBC 1995 TV series casting is flawless. Jennifer Ehle is Lizzie to a tee, and Colin Firth is the Mr Darcy. It took a lot of convincing from a friend of mine to watch the 2005 ‘Keira Knightly’ version, and giving him his due I enjoyed Matthew Macfadyen much more than I expected to having been raised on the BBC series. I just couldn’t get my head round Keira as Lizzie, I normally love her, but it seemed like a bit like casting for the sake of ticket sales rather than staying true to the character. For one thing, and I know I’m clutching at straws here, but she’s too skinny for it! On a positive note about the 2005 version though, how’s this for a final scene…

“My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.”

….melt.

Whether you prefer the 1995, 2005 version or neither; the story itself, the characters, the setting, the fashion, I’ve got an abundance of love for it all.