MOVIE DIALOG OF THE DAY ― MANSFIELD PARK (1999)

Connection with the previous post (BEDAZZLED (2000)): Francis O'Conner co-starred in both films.

RATINGS: IMDB ― 7.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes ― 49%, ME ― 65%  

Edmund Bertram: Oh, don't be an imbecile.

Fanny Price: Oh, but imbecility in women is a great enhancement to their personal charms.

Edmund Bertram: Fanny, you're being irrational.

Fanny Price: Yet another adornment. I must be ravishing.

Jonny Lee Miller as Edmund Bertram and Francis O'Conner as Fanny Price

Trivia (From IMDB):

The various stories Fanny Price writes are actually Jane Austen's Juvenilia, written when she was a teenager.

Jonny Lee Miller, who plays Edmund Bertram in this version of Mansfield Park, played Fanny's young brother Charles Price in an earlier BBC mini series, Mansfield Park (1983).

The production company apparently left behind the flock of doves released at the end of Henry Crawford's fireworks display (filmed in Charlestown, Cornwall). For more than eight years after filming was completed, the birds survived thanks to the efforts of a local woman who feared they would perish, due to having to compete with gulls for food.

The instrument played by Julia and Maria Bertram is an armonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761.

Hannah Taylor Gordon (young Fanny) and Talya Gordon (young Susan) are sisters in real life.

In keeping with writer/director Patricia Rozema's updated vision of Mansfield Park, the actresses' costumes and accessories were updated interpretations as well, including modern hosiery and shoes by Emma Hope.

This adaptation of Mansfield Park is "Based on the novel by Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, early journals and letters" (according to the opening credits). Many of the characters are representing people from Jane Austen's life as well as the character in the book, which explains the many deviations this movie makes from the original "Mansfield Park" plot. Here is a list of the character counterparts:

• Fanny Price = Jane Austen
• Edmond Bertram = Henry Austen (Jane's brother)
• Mary Crawford = Eliza de Feuillide (Jane's older widowed cousin, who Henry Austen falls in love with)
• Henry Crawford = Tom Lefroy (Jane's speculated sweetheart) AND Harris Bigg-Wither (the man Jane was engaged to for one day before breaking it off)
• Susan Price = Cassandra Austen (Jane's sister and correspondent)

Hugh Bonneville who plays Mr. Rushworth and Charles Green who plays Yates, both star on Downton Abbey. Hugh Bonneville plays Lord Grantham and Charles Green played Michael Gregson on Downton Abbey.

Mansfield Park was Jane Austen's most successful novel in her lifetime, earning her in excess of £300.

In one of the trailers, some of the background music comes from the first track of the "Shakespeare in Love" soundtrack.

Justine Waddell who plays Julia Lucas played Molly Gibson in Wives and Daughters.

Spoilers ―  

The note that Julia receives at the end of movie from Mr. Yates is a reference to her part in the scandal in the book. In the novel, Julia elopes with Mr. Yates around the same time that Maria runs off with Mr. Crawford.

From IMDB and Google.