In the adaptations of these movies that we've been discussing, we have a wonderful array of actors. In the book, Charlotte is described as Elizabeth’s intimate friend and is said to be sensible and intelligent. Being twenty-seven, she is in danger of becoming an old maid -- some would say she already qualified for the monicker. At that time, this was a heavy burden for a woman from a relatively poor family. We might remember what Emma Woodhouse says on the subject to her new young friend, "Never mind, Harriet, I shall not be a poor old maid; and it is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable old maid! -- the proper sport of boys and girls -- but a single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else.”
Charlotte is, by all accounts, plain. The book says this after her being engaged to Mr. Collins: "Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it."She is a most likable character, and everyone that has taken up the role has had the advantage of playing someone most people already have a fondness for. I suppose anyone Lizzy likes is in a fair way of being liked by the audience. Because I like all these Charlottes, I will not attempt to pick a favorite, but rather offer some comments about each one.
1940 |
1980 |
1995 |
2004 - Sonali Kulkarni as Chandra Lamba (B&P equivalent to Charlotte Lucas) Sonali is without doubt the prettiest girl to do this part. That being the case, one might be tempted to find fault with it, but her conversations with Lalita show just how close the two friends were. The song they sing when going into town with a mutual friend who is getting married is one of the highlights of this version. Also, the conversation she has with Lalita after she marries Mr. Kohli is lovely. She tells her, “I know he wasn’t right for you, but I love it here (meaning California), and he adores me.” Spoken with that fabulous accent, it is a terrific scene. And then to have Lalita say, “Perhaps I was too quick to judge him.” ...what a perfect way to end that scene between these two longtime friends. It’s ridiculous, though, that you can’t find a good picture of her from this movie anywhere.
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