Review: Sense and Sensibility (1995)

I first read Sense and Sensibility years ago, but I didn't get around to watching the film until a year or so ago. Which is a shame, because it means I went for years without seeing this brilliant film.

Sense and Sensibility is based on Jane Austen's first novel, published in 1811. It revolves around two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. This version is the first (and so far only) film adaptation of the novel.

Recognisable actors include:
Emma Thompson (P. L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks) as Elinor
Alan Rickman (Severus Snape in Harry Potter) as Colonel Brandon
Greg Wise (Sir Charles in Cranford) as Willoughby
Hugh Grant (Waverly in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2015) as Edward
Tom Wilkinson (Pecksniff in Martin Chuzzlewit) as Mr. Dashwood
Elizabeth Spriggs (Mrs. Gamp in Martin Chuzzlewit and Mrs. Goodenough in Wives and Daughters) as Mrs. Jennings
Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter) as Sir John
Harriett Walter (Mrs. Gowan in Little Dorrit 2008) as Fanny Dashwood

Mr. Dashwood has just died, leaving his estate to his son from his first marriage. He was married a second time, however, and will leave his widow and three daughters with no money. So before his death he asks John, his son, to support his stepmother and half-sisters.

John's wife, Fanny, objects to the idea of giving them any money. So Mrs. Dashwood, the widow, and her daughters Elinor, Marianne and Margaret, must go to live in a cottage provided by their cousin, Sir John Middleton.

Elinor

Marianne
(I can't stand this twit. Imagine a slightly less-obnoxious Lydia, and you'll have a good idea of what Marianne's like. She only becomes marginally better later.)

Elinor is in love with Edward Ferrars, Fanny Dashwood's brother, but she doesn't think he returns her feelings. Marianne, of course, has to go and fall in love with a man who's the worst possible choice: Willoughby. (AKA Wickham version 1.) At the same time, Colonel Brandon falls in love with Marianne.

Edward

Colonel Brandon. (Am I the only one who kept expecting him to shout "ten points from Gryffindor!"?)

Willoughby, the latest in a long line of characters I dearly want to punch.

Trouble starts when Colonel Brandon receives an urgent message, followed by Willoughby leaving under mysterious circumstances. Then Elinor meets Lucy Steele... who reveals she's been engaged to Edward for years.

Lucy and Elinor

Colonel Brandon reveals Willoughby's wickedness, and Marianne discovers that Willoughby has married a richer woman. For once she has a perfect right to be upset and mope around, but her moping leads to her going for a walk in the rain and catching a fever. She recovers, but not before causing a lot of worry for poor Elinor.

After Marianne recovers, Elinor receives news that "Mr. Ferrars" has married Lucy Steele. Then Edward visits, and reveals that it's his brother who's married her. He explains the whole sorry mess (he became engaged to Lucy when very young, and in the Regency era it was virtually impossible to break off engagements without ruining the woman's reputation), apologises for deceiving Elinor, and proposes to her.

Elinor and Edward get married, and so do Colonel Brandon and Marianne. Aww 😍

My overall opinion is best described as "good, but it's no Pride and Prejudice". Sense and Sensibility is a great book, with both funny and sad moments, but it's Jane Austen's first novel. An author's first novel is rarely as good as their later works. The film isn't quite as good as the novel (because it's an adaptation and things are inevitably lost in adaptations), but it stays true to the spirit of the book.

The main thing that irritates me is the film's portrayal of Lucy Steele. In the book she's clearly an arrogant, spiteful brat. In the film, this aspect of her character is toned down and she really doesn't seem that bad. Also, the film never explains why Edward felt he couldn't break off the engagement with her, which doesn't put him in a good light until the very end.

Is it available online?: Not as far as I know.

Rating: 7/10.