Fans of the BBC series The Other Bennet Sister, which is set to receive a three-part Christmas special, are being urged to watch a 2007 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, hailed as a classic and masterful rendition of the author's work.
The Other Bennet Sister, inspired by Austen's Pride and Prejudice, attracted 7.3 million UK viewers in its first four weeks. Since its successful run, period drama enthusiasts have been seeking similar shows and films to fill the void as the Christmas special prepares for production.
The Recommended Film: Northanger Abbey
The 2007 film Northanger Abbey stars Felicity Jones as Catherine Morland and JJ Feild as Henry Tilney. It follows Catherine, a teenage girl who accompanies family friends to Bath and finds herself the object of affections from both Henry Tilney and John Thorpe (William Beck). When invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, Catherine's naïve imagination leads her to confuse real life with the Gothic romance of her favorite novels.
Fans have taken to IMDb to share their thoughts. One called it a "classic," while another described it as a "must-watch," adding: "The 2007 adaptation of Northanger Abbey is a delightful and faithful rendition of Jane Austen's novel. From the charming performances to the captivating storyline, the film brings Austen's wit and satire to life." A third fan hailed it "masterful," noting that the script was written by "master adapter Andrew Davies."
Availability and Recommendations
The film is available to buy on Prime Video for £1.89. A Reddit user recommended it as a show similar to The Other Bennet Sister, saying: "Surprised Jane Austen adaptations have barely been recommended, unless those are too obvious." The user added that The Other Bennet Sister takes inspiration from other Austen novels, which is "very Austen of the author, because her stories frequently recycled/reworked the same characters/plot-lines."
Another Reddit fan expressed a desire for more adaptations of lesser-known Austen works, saying: "@BBC thank you for adapting this rather than another round of endless adaptations of Austen's books that already have so many amazing adaptations! @Netflix take notes! Fans don't want you to ruin Austen's work with crummy adaptations... I would be fine with another Northanger Abbey adaptation or maybe a Mansfield Park adaptation if it's absolutely needed."
