Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Rich Mr. Dashwood dies, leaving his second wife and her three daughters poor by the rules of inheritance. The two eldest daughters are the titular opposites.

Director:

Ang Lee

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel), Emma Thompson (screenplay)

Stars:

James Fleet, Tom Wilkinson, Kate Winslet

Won 1 Oscar. Another 31 wins & 29 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Fleet	...	John Dashwood
Tom Wilkinson	...	Mr. Dashwood
Harriet Walter	...	Fanny Ferrars Dashwood
Kate Winslet	...	Marianne Dashwood
Emma Thompson	...	Elinor Dashwood
Gemma Jones	...	Mrs. Dashwood
Hugh Grant	...	Edward Ferrars
Emilie François	...	Margaret Dashwood
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Mrs. Jennings
Robert Hardy	...	Sir John Middleton
Ian Brimble	...	Thomas
Isabelle Amyes	...	Betsy
Alan Rickman	...	Col. Christopher Brandon
Greg Wise	...	John Willoughby
Alexander John	...	Curate

Storyline

When Mr. Dashwood dies, he must leave the bulk of his estate to the son by his first marriage, which leaves his second wife and their three daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) in straitened circumstances. They are taken in by a kindly cousin, but their lack of fortune affects the marriageability of both practical Elinor and romantic Marianne. When Elinor forms an attachment for the wealthy Edward Ferrars, his family disapproves and separates them. And though Mrs. Jennings tries to match the worthy (and rich) Colonel Brandon to her, Marianne finds the dashing and fiery John Willoughby more to her taste. Both relationships are sorely tried.

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Plot Keywords:

love | inheritance | suitor | wedding | rich snob | 

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Taglines:

Lose your heart and come to your senses.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

13 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sensatez y sentimientos

Filming Locations:

Berry Pomeroy Church, Berry Pomeroy, Devon, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$16,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£5,043,343 (UK) (15 March 1996)

Gross:

£12,343,443 (UK) (17 May 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Mirage

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS (8 channels) Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The white muslin dress with yellow overdress Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood) wears during the picnic scene is the same costume a farmhouse servant wears in Eroica, and Michelle Ryan wears during the scene in which Sir Thomas asks Maria if she wants to marry Mr. Rushworth in Mansfield Park.

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Goofs

Among the several happy working and hunting dogs running around the Barton Park Estate, one is very obviously a Golden Retriever. However, the 'Flat Coat Golden Retriever', as we would recognize it today, was not bred until the 1880's. The breed was first accepted by the The Kennel Club of England in 1903, and was not officially named 'Golden Retriever' until 1920, more than 100 years after the setting of the movie.

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Quotes

Elinor Dashwood: You have no confidence in me.
Marianne: This reproach from you. You who confide in no-one.
Elinor Dashwood: I have nothing to tell.
Marianne: Nor I. Neither of us have anything to tell. I because I conceal nothing and you because you communicate nothing.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Vicar of Dibley: The Handsome Stranger (2006)

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Soundtracks

"The Dreame"
Music by Patrick Doyle
text by Ben Jonson
End title performance by Jane Eaglen
Courtesy of SONY CLASSICAL

User Reviews

A classic for all time.

Whoever says they just don't make the quality of pictures today that they used to hasn't seen or is ignoring this film.

That Emma Thompson is one of the greatest actresses working is no secret. But who would have expected such a miracle from her in the screenwriting department? Some of the most dramatic moments in 'Sense and Sensibility' come from her pen, not Jane Austen's, difficult as that may be to believe. For instance, the scene in which Col. Brandon (Alan Rickman) carries in the ill Marianne Dashwood (Kate Winslet), echoing the earlier scene where Willoughby (Greg Wise) brought the injured young woman home was Thompson's doing. Marianne's illness also is responsible for much more drama in the movie than in the book. And I'm an Austen fan! I can't recall another writer bringing so much good of his or her own to a classic like this.

I suppose the director, cinematographer, production designer, etc. deserve to share the credit when a movie is this outstanding, but with such a super group of actors on the screen (from top to bottom) it's easy to heap all the praise on them. I had unconsciously (and unfairly) pigeonholed Alan Rickman based on the other role I'd seen him in, the villain in 'Die Hard,' so he was quite a surprise to me. The real bombshell, however, was my first exposure to Kate Winslet. After seeing this movie and Kenneth Branagh's 'Hamlet' I can say I can't remember another young actress who has impressed me so much. And she played these difficult roles by the time she was 20! Many of the other cast members are a part of an excellent group that Thompson and Branagh have often worked with in the past.

I realized that 'S&S' had become one of my all-time favorite movies when I found myself watching it every chance I got when it came on TV. I think it's bumped 'Raging Bull' off my personal top 10 list.