"Sense & Sensibility" (2008) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

30 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Sister Sister Relationship | Romanticism | Country Life | Class Differences | Loss Of Father

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Hattie Morahan	...	Elinor Dashwood (3 episodes, 2008)
Charity Wakefield	...	Marianne Dashwood (3 episodes, 2008)
Janet McTeer	...	Mrs. Dashwood (3 episodes, 2008)
David Morrissey	...	Colonel Brandon (3 episodes, 2008)
Dan Stevens	...	Edward Ferrars (3 episodes, 2008)
Dominic Cooper	...	Willoughby (3 episodes, 2008)
Lucy Boynton	...	Margaret Dashwood (3 episodes, 2008)
Linda Bassett	...	Mrs. Jennings (3 episodes, 2008)
Mark Williams	...	Sir John Middleton (3 episodes, 2008)
Claire Skinner	...	Fanny Dashwood (3 episodes, 2008)
Rosanna Lavelle	...	Lady Middleton (3 episodes, 2008)
Mark Gatiss	...	John Dashwood (2 episodes, 2008)
Caroline Hayes	...	Eliza (2 episodes, 2008)
David S. Glover	...	Foot (2 episodes, 2008)
Daisy Haggard	...	Miss Steele (2 episodes, 2008)
Anna Madeley	...	Lucy Steele (2 episodes, 2008)
Leo Bill	...	Robert Ferrars (2 episodes, 2008)
Morgan Overton	...	Little Henry (2 episodes, 2008)
Tim McMullan	...	Mr. Palmer (2 episodes, 2008)
Tabitha Wady	...	Charlotte Palmer (2 episodes, 2008)
Roy Holder	...	Thomas (2 episodes, 2008)
David Glover	...	Foot (2 episodes, 2008)

Runtime:

Russia:180 min (2 parts) | 180 min (3 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The yellow and brown striped waistcoat Mark Williams (Sir John Middleton) wears when the Dashwoods arrive at Barton Cottage is the same costume Nicholas Jones (the Merdles' butler) wears in "Little Dorrit" (2008).

Goofs:

Continuity: The scene: Elinor finds Edward chopping wood in the rain. We see Elinor approaching with her arms holding the shawl over her head and shoulders. When the shot shifts and we see Elinor from her back, the shawl is covering only her head, with arms over the shawl.

Movie Connections:

Version of Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Soundtrack:

Fireside Polka

quite disappointed

I have to say that I'm incredibly surprised that this version has received so many positive reviews here. I find this adaptation far inferior to the Ang Lee directed/Emma Thompson penned version from the 1990s. I am utterly shocked that I find the screenplay almost intolerable - especially as it comes from the master pen of Andrew Davies who I have deeply admired for years. The writing is quite dumbed down, the majority of the characters have not been fully fleshed out and in general the production seems quite rushed. Given that there is a longer running time than the Ang Lee version, I expected MORE development, not less. While the casting of Elinor in this adaptation is more believable than the older Emma Thompson in the Lee version, I believe that is the only improvement to mention. And to be honest, I believe Emma Thompson (while perhaps not quite looking the appropriate age for the part) did a superior acting job. The actor cast as Willoughby is completely wrong in nearly every way. The director has apparently decided to go the "romantic route" as the moronic director of the most recent Pride & Prejudice did in his depiction of Regency England. I regret that I wasted three hours on this as I had been waiting for it to arrive for more than a year.