Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Theatrical release poster for Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Directed by the acclaimed Ang Lee in his Hollywood breakthrough, Sense and Sensibility is one of the most beloved Austen film adaptations. It's popularity has not wanned since it's release US release on December 13, 1995. It's one of the adaptations that serve as a gateway to the world of Jane Austen, particularly for those who find the language of her novels and the norms of the period challenging. It's an adaptation that reveres Austen and respects the text but also makes itself palpable to a modern audience. Although Sense and Sensibility is one of Austen's darkest works, the film adaptation doesn't take itself too seriously- finding humor in a world of seductive rakes, social climbers, selfish relatives, and, of course, "preying, penniless women". However the somber moments such as Marianne's near-fatal illness are handled with dignity both in the script and the acting, respectfully refraining from that Hollywood melodrama that is so antithetical to Austen's writing.

The cast of Sense and Sensibility is the crème de la crème of British actors. Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet star as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, respectively. Elinor's love interest Edward Ferrars is portrayed by romantic leading man Hugh Grant. Alan Rickman and Greg Wise star as Marianne's suitors, Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby. The rest of the cast include Harriet Walter (Fanny Dashwood), Gemma Jones (Mrs. Dashwood), Hugh Laurie (Mr. Palmer), Imelda Staunton (Mrs. Palmer), Elizabeth Spriggs (Mrs. Jennings), Robert Hardy (Sir John Middleton), Imogen Stubbs (Lucy Steele), and James Fleet (John Dashwood).

As in most Austen film adaptations, characters are mentioned but not shown or left out completely. The formidable Mrs. Ferrars is an example of the former. The audience is aware of her existence and her machinations but don't get to see her grace the screen. With Mrs. Jennings being Sir John Middleton's mother-in-law, it's implied that Lady Middleton existed at some point but she's neither explicitly mentioned or shown. Lucy's older sister, Anne Steele, is completely left out which leads to an interesting plot change- instead of Anne revealing Lucy and Edward's secret engagement to the Ferrars family, it's Lucy herself. This change gives us the "viper in my bosom" scene, one of the funniest in British period drama history. I think Austen herself would've been amused.

With some characters absent, others take a larger role. The youngest Dashwood sister Margaret is a more prominent character in the film. Her penchant for geography and sword-fighting, remarking on inappropriate subjects rather than the weather, and finding recluse in her tree house all provides some of the film's most light-hearted scenes.

Some characters are enhanced through looks and utterances that Austen did not conceive- and all the better for us.

How does the audience reconcile the exuberant Marianne Dashwood marrying the flannel waistcoated Colonel Brandon? Cast Alan Rickman, of course! But more than that the film fleshes out Colonel Brandon's own sensibility and shows his interest in Marianne from his point of view. This gives us memorable scenes such as Colonel Brandon's face when he sees Marianne for the first time and his distress during Marianne's near-fatal illness. While some may see Colonel Brandon's portrayal in the film as merely a romantic, Hollywood reimagining, I must disagree. Colonel Brandon's backstory rivals that of the great sentimental novels of the time and his dull, grave nature is not due to a personal defect but past heartbreak.

But if you're not convinced that Marianne Dashwood and Colonel Brandon has an enviable love story, we can all agree that they'll fare better than Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, so brilliantly portrayed by Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton. Impatient with his silly wife, Mr. Palmer has no qualms about insulting her with his sarcasm, dry wit, and hilarious one-liners.

Ah, that modern-day British humor we love! It pairs so well with Austen's sly wit and sharp social commentary. Emma Thompson certainly understood this. Besides playing Elinor Dashwood, Thompson also wrote the script for Sense and Sensibility for which she received numerous accolades. In tribute to one of the most beloved Austen adaptations and Austen's 250th birthday, I leave you with Thompson's acceptance speech for the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay in which she reads her speech from Jane Austen's point of view.