Sense and Sensibility will have its second airing on PBS Masterpiece Classic tonight at 9 PM EST. For those who prefer not to watch the Super Bowl, this film provides a fine alternative viewing. Click here for my review, Sense and Sensibility Makes Sense for the Most Part. Click below to view the trailer for Part One:
I have since added more images from this adaptation to my collection.
The opening scene was a bit confusing. Who was making love and why? Does not this actress resemble Hattie Morahan?
The Dashwoods lived in a grand house when Mr. Dashwood unexpectedly died.
Poor Mrs. Dashwood, Elinor and Marianne were still in deep mourning when ...
. . . John and Fanny Dashwood (who was suitably creepy and mean), showed up with very little notice.
Fanny deserved to eat this unappetizing fish ...
... and to wear this terrible hairdo.
Edward was handsomer than expected ...
and so was Colonel Brandon.
In fact, both were more attractive than Willoughby, which is not what Jane Austen intended.
Sir John Middleton ...
... had quite a handsome family. We see them in so few movie adaptations.
Mrs. Jennings was as vulgar and effusive as ever.
Barton Cottage was quite a comedown from Norland Park.
But the Dashwood ladies managed to make the best of the situation.
Stay tuned for more images next week … at this link.
Jane Austen's World 
When I first saw S&S I thought Willoughby was quite the looker, but then I just realized the haircut was really complimenting to his unique facial features. Cooper just doesn’t make it as a ‘heartthrob’ for me without his Willoughby hair.
Isn’t the opening montage supposed to be Willoughby and Col. Brandon’s ward, Eliza?
Yes, Evangeline. But stupid little ol’ me didn’t realize that the opening scene involved Willoughby and Eliza until well into the film. Plus, I’m still flipping through the pages of S&S trying to find the scene as Jane A. wrote it. LOL. :)
Actually, Heather, I thought Dominic’s abs looked fabulous in Mama Mia, and his acting in God on Trial was riveting. I am becoming a fan of his – but to my way of thinking, he is simply NOT Willoughby.
I was disappointed in the choice of actor for Willoughby, though I have no problems with the actor himself. The opening scene confused me too. I thought I was seeing previews to another movie!
I am looking forward to part 2.
LOL! Imagine that scene in a Jane Austen novel.
LOL I loved your ‘story’ images! I love this adaptation of S&S, though I agree with you about Mr. Willoughby! It doesn’t help that I don’t care much for Dominic Cooper. He drove me nuts in History Boys and The Duchess.
Can’t wait to see the rest of your images for S&S!! I couldn’t help but laugh at your description of Fanny! I thought her hair was crazy too when I first saw this version of S&S!
Ah! I am missing out on the ab action, I think I have no option but to expand my Cooper knowledge!
The opening scene is at first confusing (especially if you haven’t read the novel) but it’s so clearly meant to be Eliza Wiliams (have they mentioned her yet?) and is completely gratuitous and unnecessary. Jane Austen herself certainly thought so, as she saw fit never to bring it into the action of her plot and only tells it in retrospect through Col. Brandon.
I was pretty happy with this production in general, with the glaring exception of the casting and portrayal of Willoughby. Cooper is too effeminate and apparently the filmmakers decided to take all sorts of liberties with the story by foreshadowing too much about Willoughby’s character too soon and focusing on him as a rake, when the truly dangerous thing about Willoughby is his sincerity, at least where the Dashwood women are concerned.
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[…] We continue our revisit with Sense and Sensibility and visual review of Part 2 of the movie (click here for Part 1) wherein Mrs. Ferrars is suitably creepy and mean, and Marianne’s tear ducts gush more water […]
I am sorry but I think Willoughby is hideous! In the novel Austen describes Willoughby as the most handsome of the three men, but in the movie it’s the exact oppisite. I agree with you Heather, I don’t like Cooper as an actor either. And by the way- what was up with Fanny’s hair? Oh well, I didn’t like her anyways! Ciao!
[…] by reading the synopsis of episode one at the Masterpiece offical site and read reviews at Jane Austen’s World and here at Austenprose. Tune in to PBS this Sunday for the […]
I loved this adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility”. Brandon really looks like a man of 35 not of 45 like in the adaptation with Kate Winslet, and Elinor does not look like a spinster of 30, but is rather similar to a young woman of 19.