Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility has a very special place in my heart because it was the first Jane Austen novel I read. While I was reading it, I happened to come across the 1995 movie version (see photo above) starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. I was immediately drawn to Kate's Marianne, but as I've gotten older I have come to appreciate Emma's Elinor more. The movie, like the book, always fits the mood I am in because I can identify with one sister or the other depending on what is happening in my life. The characters are very well cast and the minor characters add so much to the film. I have many favorite scenes from the movie, but I'll just mention one: Marianne standing in the rain whispering Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 while staring at Willoughby's estate.

In 2008, Masterpiece Classic brought to life Sense and Sensibility as part of their Jane Austen extravaganza. This mini-series is much closer to the book than the 1995 version. Costumes and cinematography are excellent but felt very similar to the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. This film, also, features very fine performances, but I missed the humor the 1995 movie injected into the portrayals of characters such as Mrs. Jennings and Charlotte Palmer.

For more Jane Austen, visit the Everything Austen Challenge.