Sense and Sensibility (1971) 1/4
Jun. 6th, 2025 08:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessThe Beeb are repeating a 1970s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, and based on Part 1: Farewell to Norlan, it’s not really threatening the supremacy of the early 90s Ang Lee & Emma Thompson film. But, you know, there’s enough of Austen there to enjoy.
Ways to tell it’s from the 1970s: the aspect ratio and the vast difference between shots on location and in the studio. Also the men’s bouffant hair, although kudos to the wardrobe department for having the Dashwoods, especially the three we care for, in mourning while they’re still at Norlan. Best bit of costume: Sir John’s coat. Worst? Having Elinor and Marianne in the same costume on the day of the aborted picnic.
Oh, but they cut out Margaret (we also never see the Middletons’ son, although he’s much mentioned.) I can see why after the immediate shock, as she doesn’t do much for the plot. On the casting front, why did the maid Mary sound so posh, especially when Sir John was so West Country? I liked how he was played, but LOVED Patrica 'Hyacinth Bucket, Hetty Wainthrop' Routledge as Mrs Jennings. Admittedly, they’re both the biggest characters in the novel, but Routledge is the most naturalistic actor on screen while still being funny.
On the shallow front, I thought that their Willoughby was the most attractive, their Brandon (aged down, I think, even though this was made in the 1970s!) is not capable of anything like the smouldering looks that Rickman (or Firth in P&P) delivered. I spluttered when I realised that Edward was played by Robin (70s Poldark) Ellis. 1970s British TV heartthrobs left my cardiac organ unmoved, although I noted that Ellis tried to convey Edward’s diffidence and clumsiness.
Elinor was in danger of coming off as a prig (which she isn’t in the book!) But on the other hand, Marianne was SO MUCH, and you could tell she got it from her mother. I will note that if the actress ever forgot her lines, she could just have put in a loud, ‘Oh, ELINOR,’ because I think Marianne said it in all of the sisters’ scenes together. (I did laugh at the non-Austen ‘Goodbye, curtains!’) She was such a teenager that it made me want to see a modern day adaptation of S&S. (Although I think I might find Marianne/Brandon a harder sell in such.)
Ways to tell it’s from the 1970s: the aspect ratio and the vast difference between shots on location and in the studio. Also the men’s bouffant hair, although kudos to the wardrobe department for having the Dashwoods, especially the three we care for, in mourning while they’re still at Norlan. Best bit of costume: Sir John’s coat. Worst? Having Elinor and Marianne in the same costume on the day of the aborted picnic.
Oh, but they cut out Margaret (we also never see the Middletons’ son, although he’s much mentioned.) I can see why after the immediate shock, as she doesn’t do much for the plot. On the casting front, why did the maid Mary sound so posh, especially when Sir John was so West Country? I liked how he was played, but LOVED Patrica 'Hyacinth Bucket, Hetty Wainthrop' Routledge as Mrs Jennings. Admittedly, they’re both the biggest characters in the novel, but Routledge is the most naturalistic actor on screen while still being funny.
On the shallow front, I thought that their Willoughby was the most attractive, their Brandon (aged down, I think, even though this was made in the 1970s!) is not capable of anything like the smouldering looks that Rickman (or Firth in P&P) delivered. I spluttered when I realised that Edward was played by Robin (70s Poldark) Ellis. 1970s British TV heartthrobs left my cardiac organ unmoved, although I noted that Ellis tried to convey Edward’s diffidence and clumsiness.
Elinor was in danger of coming off as a prig (which she isn’t in the book!) But on the other hand, Marianne was SO MUCH, and you could tell she got it from her mother. I will note that if the actress ever forgot her lines, she could just have put in a loud, ‘Oh, ELINOR,’ because I think Marianne said it in all of the sisters’ scenes together. (I did laugh at the non-Austen ‘Goodbye, curtains!’) She was such a teenager that it made me want to see a modern day adaptation of S&S. (Although I think I might find Marianne/Brandon a harder sell in such.)
