Hi! Hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer! ‘Mr Darcy Goes Overboard’ is all about the Bennet girls enjoying sun, sea and sand – as well as romances of course! Having finished the book I decided it would make the perfect summer movie – so we did!
Armed with two cameras and my children and their friends as the cast we set off down to Salcombe (where the book is set) and spent nine days filming.
So instead of talking about the book I thought I would share with you a few movie stills which will at least show you what a wonderful place Salcombe is. You can also see a preview clip at www.beetleheart.co.uk.
Hopefully the film will be completed by early next year which gives you plenty of time to read the book first of course!
Bye for now and happy holidays
Belinda xx
The Bennet sisters at the opening of the film …
… which soon moves into modern day.
A taste of Salcombe …
Lizzy swims the estuary to visit Jane at Netherpollock
“Upon entering Lizzy could entirely comprehend her sister’s inability for exertion. Jane’s beautiful face was barely visible, wrapped in a swathe of bandages that covered her from head to toe. Her right arm was held aloft in plaster and what Jane had not alerted Lizzy to in her text, not wanting to alarm her, was the broken leg, that now pointed to the heavens, held up in traction.
‘Oh my dear Jane!’ exclaimed Lizzy. ‘You are not well.’
Jane’s one visible eye spoke volumes so the two sisters sat in silence for some time until Jane dropped into a merciful sleep.”
The Greasy Pole
“With great caution Mr Collins sat down on the pole, legs dangling each side and edged his flabby, white body along and out over the sea.”
The Harbour Swim … which replaces the Netherfield Ball …
“There was a ripple of excitement across the beach. The Harbour Master had transferred all contenders; from his wooden boat, twenty yards out to sea he was holding an oar aloft; the sea was choppy but not wild; the tide was high; the early morning sun sparkled: the moment had come.
‘When I drop my oar it is the signal to start,’ he bellowed. Despite the megaphone nobody could hear his words, yet despite not hearing his words everyone got the gist. Almost. The oar had not quite dropped but everyone knew he was on the verge – the sound of his voice had been enough, excitement overspilled and the several hundred people who had waited so patiently and with such good humour on the beach now ran at full speed into the water.
The splashing was unprecedented, the battle roar tremendous as bodies large and small, fat and thin, old and young hurled themselves voluntarily into the waves. Lydia and Kitty found themselves at the forefront with Denny and a group of six fit young men. Mary, not wishing to be last had allowed herself to be swept along with the crowd and was swimming side-stroke in a regular, balanced motion, trying to recite the periodic table to take her mind off the cold. Bingley had made a dash for it with Jane and they were destined to enjoy a most romantic swim across with the young man feeling he had fallen in love with a mermaid, so beautifully – in his eyes – did the eldest Miss Bennet glide through the water. Lizzy meanwhile was right at the back. Mr Collins had not released his grip of her when the rush began. Being right by the shore as everyone charged in the pair found themselves near the front, but they were soon overtaken.
The militia are replaced by lifeguards …
“The following day great excitement was felt as it was rumoured a pack of lifeguards were descending on the seaside town where they would be staying to attend training exercises. The girls – and especially Kitty and Lydia – could think of nothing but rippling torsos encased in yellow T-shirts and muscular thighs locked in red shorts. Tales of bravery and rescue were the most enchanting of conversations.”
Charlotte and Lizzy have an intimate chat
Charlotte Lucas’s generous ear to Mr Collins had, in Lizzy’s mind, a most startling outcome. The two girls had taken the topper out and were enjoying a blustery sail about the estuary when Charlotte felt the moment had come to confide in her best friend.
‘Dear Lizzy …’
‘Ready about!’ called Lizzy.
‘I have some news for you,’ continued Lottie as she prepared to go about.
‘Lee ho!’ shouted Lizzy pushing the tiller hard away from her and swinging the boat into wind and onto a port tack.
‘… some news which may surprise you,’ continued Lottie as she ducked under the boom.’I am engaged to Mr Collins.’
On this pronouncement of such monstrous news, the topper gybed alarmingly as Lizzy uncharacteristically lost control and both girls were tossed into the sea. The little topper had turned turtle and as the girls busied themselves righting the craft the extraordinary conversation continued.
‘Engaged to Mr Collins?’ cried Lizzy astounded. … ‘Lottie – impossible!’ ”
Lydia prepares to elope …
Mary gives her sisters some good advice
“‘This is a most unfortunate affair; and will probably be much talked of. But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation.’
Lizzy thanked her sister and promised to exchange balm as and when necessary then dashed upstairs to see her mother who was lying in bed moaning ‘Newquay! Newquay!
Bingley proposes to Jane
Clapping erupted from the crabbers, young and old, and there was not a dry eye on the quayside, half tears of emotion, half salty water from the giant splash Jane made as Bingley inadvertently pulled her in. But who cared when such happiness abounded? Who cared when two young people were caught in such a splendid, delightful, seaweedy entanglement of love?
Ooo, this sounds enticing! I can’t wait to read it! It is waiting for me to be devoured!
This sounds like a cute, fun read. And the location looks like a wonderful family vacation spot. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Maybe this is just me, but the pictures won’t load, either in Chrome or in Internet Explorer…anyone else having this problem? The book sounds great–I’d love to see the pictures too!
Araminta, I had that problem, too, with the photos not loading. I was reading on my phone, though, so I don’t know if that is why. I went to view the video on the beetleheart site and I wasn’t able to load that either, although I did see the photos there, just without captions. I’ll have to try again whenever I fire up my dinosaur desktop lol
no pix showing but did watch it as a slideshow at the beetleheart.co.uk site provided – unique austenesque presentation! thank you for some saturday FuN! huge cast to work with “) liking your choice of scenes portrayed at the site…
Pics weren’t showing for me, either. I will try again later!
OH Lady C so observant! Sounds great!
This makes me laugh, I like it. I’ll have to read your book and see the movie when it’s out. I am all excitement!
Pics arent showing here, but I’m fixing to head over to the site/link and see — but I am *LOVING* these scenes, hahaha… Brava!
Pics not showing for me either 🙁 I did read what was posted though, and it does sound like a nice story 🙂
The pictures aren’t showing up for me either! I really enjoyed your book. It was a great beach read!!
I just read this. Very entertaining take on a modern Bennet family vacation.
So sorry everyone! Didn’t have internet all day yesterday and wasn’t able to fix these images! Now, you should all be able to see these hilarious images Belinda provided me with!
Ohhhh I really enjoyed reading this post!!
I still don’t see the images. Still, what a fun idea. I thought the book was hilarious!
Sounds like an enticing read. Can’t wait to dwell into this light-hearted comedy. Would like to watch the film when it is completed too.
Like all the other commentors, I can’t view the images.
Loved the book! Even enjoyed the brief movie clip you provided!
Jennifer W. (google)
Picts didn’t load for me either. Maybe I will have to view the slideshow at the beetleheart.co.uk site provided like Faith Hope Cherrytea did and see if that works.
I couldn’t see the pics but I loved the teasers!