Mr Collins, directors' cut.

How have director's chosen to portray Austen's satirical, foolish parson throughout the years?

Here's the 1979 mini-series. This is the one we watched in Year 11 when we did P+P :-).



Here's the first dinner with Collins from the better-known versions:



Joe Wright played him shorter and less slimey in 2005, which works quite well, possibly due to Tom Hollander's acting range.

Poor old David Bamber, in 1995, highlights the obsequious folly so well and makes it clearly apparent why the girls are so appalled at the thought of marriage to Collins.

I can't say much about the Olivier/Garson version from 1940. It so ludicrously alters the whole tone of Pride and Prejudice from a witty, gentle comedy to some sort of mid-century, Gone With the Wind-style romp, that I can't take it seriously. Even Larry doesn't make this work for me, despite being certainly the best-looking Darcy. Plus, Greer Garson's almost old enough to play Mrs Bennet!