I am working backwards in time with these various S&S screen adaptations. First up is this 2008 tv miniseries adaptation by the BBC. It is 3 episodes long and is 2hrs and 50’ish minutes long. Round it to 3hrs.
The first thing I’d like to address is that lascivious cover. Marianne does not go around with her bosom showing off like that at all. That was a concern of mine that was thankfully never realized. That being said, the director starts off the show with the seduction of Colonel Brandon’s young ward. It is not graphic but is very frank about what is going on. Sensual is the word. That does continue for this miniseries. The music, the period clothing, it all is very sensual.
The characters, I was pretty pleased with their portrayal over all. Elinor was calm, cool headed and very practical. Yet she also was able to show her distress with her face and her eyes in the scenes requiring it. Marianne, while not being at all silly, was VERY emotionally driven. The actress did an excellent job of showing a smart young woman who wasn’t stupid but had her faults, mostly of age. Colonel Brandon was serious, mature and yet not shy or withdrawn. He came across as fully self-assured and confident. Edward Ferrars. Now, I always pronounced his last name Fair-Ars. In the movie, they pronounced Fair-iss. In the book his actions and manner were always halting and awkward. There was none of that here. While he was no voluble gentleman of ease, there was nothing that made you think he was in any way uncomfortable. Thankfully, he plays such a small part on screen that it wasn’t a big problem. All of the minor characters didn’t stand out, which is how it should be. On a purely personal note, I was thankful that this BBC production didn’t use the regular crew of ugly people like a lot of BBC productions do. Call me shallow, but I want to see good looking people on the screen. And I got that here.
Storywise, this stuck to the plot rather closely. I’m always a fan of that. Shows the director doesn’t get above himself (looking at YOU, Wheel of Time director, who I hate with the dull red hatred of a fired spoon). There were scenes expanded upon, but they were mentioned in the book and so I didn’t have a real problem with their expansion. If Austen couldn’t/wouldn’t expand, then whatever the director decided was a-ok by me. The scene between Marianne and Willoughby in London was excellently done. The heartbreak was palpable and I liked the addition of Colonel Brandon stepping in to catch her as she fell, it was tone perfect. I’m a sucker for Damsels in Distress and Protectors.
I enjoyed this but it felt a tad too long. I know it had to be that way because of the story but I was ready for it to end. This was a great start to this month of Sense and Sensibility. I just hope the movies, with their abbreviated length, won’t be too abbreviated.
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