A story of two sisters attempting to find happiness in the tightly structured society of 18th century England. Elinor, disciplined, restrained and very conscious of the manners of the day, represents sense. Outspoken, impetuous, emotional Marianne represents sensibility.
WriterJane Austen
Part 1
Feb 1, 1981
Although the half-brother of Elinor, Marianne, and the younger Margaret promised to care for his half-sisters, his wife convinces him he bears no financial obligation. Mr. And Mrs. John Dashwood take over the residence in Norland, leaving Mrs. Henry Dashwood and her daughters to feel like guests in their own home.
Part 2
Feb 8, 1981
Marianne cannot understand Elinor's philosophical acceptance of their new lives at Barton Cottage as her own heart is breaking for their beloved house at Norwood.
Part 3
Feb 15, 1981
Just as it seems that Willoughby and Marianne must be about to announce their engagement, he departs for London, leaving her bewildered and desolate.
Part 4
Feb 22, 1981
Elinor has promised to keep the secret of Edward Ferrar's engagement to Lucy Steel. She manages to conceal her unhappiness even from Marianne, who is overjoyed to visit London.
Part 5
Mar 1, 1981
Marianne's heart is doubly broken by a yet more callous rejection by Willoughby. Elinor is to meet Edward's mother.
Part 6
Mar 8, 1981
The sisters are to end their unhappy stay in London. Elinor is now as desolate as Marianne, as the secret of Edward's engagement is out at last and he intends to stand by it.
Part 7
Mar 15, 1981
Marianne is at last out of danger. Elinor has received a visit from the desperately penitent Willoughby.
Peter McGinn
@narrator56
I have watched this BBC version of Sense and Sensibility two or three times, so you know I like it. Like some other BBC adaptations from the 70s and 80s, the production value occasionally pales next to more recent versions, but it is rarely noticed when you are caught up in the story. It has been many years since I read the book, so I cannot comment on whether I like changes they might have made to the story, but I am never bothered by small edits they make from the book if it is well done. Video and books have different ways of telling the story sometimes. One little oddity that didn’t quite ring true for me was when Marianne, while playing the piano during her recuperation period (physically and emotionally), breaks down suddenly and cries for about 20 seconds, and then calmly announces to her sister that the outburst was bound to happen and it was behind her completely now. That seemed a rather pat way of her feeling the pain and setting it aside in an instant. But it was minor really, which illustrates that this series got almost everything else just right. The ensemble cast was very good and the story never lapsed into the melodramatic as at least one other version did. Will I watch it yet again sometime? Well, probably, but perhaps I should re-read the book first!
