"Sense and Sensibility" (1971) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

9 January 1971 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Britain | Sister Sister Relationship | Colonel | Georgian | Romanticism

Cast

Michael Aldridge	...	Sir John Middleton (4 episodes, 1971)
Sheila Ballantine	...	Lady Middleton (4 episodes, 1971)
Esme Church	...	Mary (4 episodes, 1971)
Joanna David	...	Elinor Dashwood (4 episodes, 1971)
Isabel Dean	...	Mrs. Dashwood (4 episodes, 1971)
Robin Ellis	...	Edward Ferrars (4 episodes, 1971)
Clive Francis	...	John Willoughby (4 episodes, 1971)
Ciaran Madden	...	Marianne Dashwood (4 episodes, 1971)
Richard Owens	...	Colonel Brandon (4 episodes, 1971)
Patricia Routledge	...	Mrs. Jennings (4 episodes, 1971)
Jo Kendall	...	Charlotte Palmer (3 episodes, 1971)
Peter Laird	...	Rodgers (3 episodes, 1971)
David Strong	...	Palmer (3 episodes, 1971)
David Belcher	...	Robert Ferrars (2 episodes, 1971)
Frances Cuka	...	Lucy Steele (2 episodes, 1971)
Mischa De La Motte	...	Master of Ceremonies / ... (2 episodes, 1971)
Kay Gallie	...	Fanny Dashwood (2 episodes, 1971)
Milton Johns	...	John Dashwood (2 episodes, 1971)
Maggie Jones	...	Nancy Steele (2 episodes, 1971)
Clifford Parrish	...	Doctor Harris (2 episodes, 1971)

Runtime:

UK:45 min (4 episodes) | UK:178 min

Country:

UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The floral gown with flounced neckline Ciaran Madden (Marianne Dashwood) wears at Barton Cottage is the same gown Ania Marson (Jane Fairfax) wears in "Emma" (1972).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Black Adder the Third: Sense and Senility (#1.4)" (1987)

slow but not at all bad version of the classic

This early colour production of Jane Austen's novel has some strong casting (Joanna David as Elinor, Robin Ellis as Edward Ferrars, Clive Francis as Willoughby, Patricia Routledge as Mrs Jennings) and stays reasonably close to the novel, although the third Dashwood daughter, Margaret, does not appear.

All the main events of the novel are here, and portrayed very well; despite the low budget this production also boasts some effective costumes and uses colour well. In comparison to other versions, this stands up well but perhaps the most recent television version is stronger, and the Emma Thompson film more sumptuous.

If you like Austen adaptations this is certainly worth a look, and is available in the USA and in the Netherlands on DVD.