Sense and Sensibility

There are at least two versions of BBC drama 'Sense and Sensibility' in the public library, one made in 2008 with many new faces, the other in 1981 which looked even less familiar. I had been rather disappointed by the new version, because in comparison to the film adaptation of 1996, a lot of the added or 'modernised' details seemed trivial and insignificant to me. I regarded the film the most loyal to the novel, despite the age gap of Elinor between the two.

When my boss was consulted on it, she urged her husband to pick up the 1981 version without delay. It must be soon after the DVD was returned that I saw it on the 'newly returned' shelf. Her remark prompted me to pick it up and watched it soon afterwards.

Strange how one's opinions could change. Despite being shot in 1981, the images still look rather fresh and appealing, and the actress who played Marianne is the most pretty of the three versions. But the weakness in both the production and the script were rather 'obvious' to me. In comparison, both the film adaptation and the 2008 version take great care when dealing with the implicit psychological impact on the family of the sudden decline in fortune and social status following the death of the patriarch. In both versions, Elinor was the only one who was able to face up its challenges with relative calm and ease. But in the 1981 version, there is no sign of such consideration being taken into account. In addition, it had wiped out Margaret altogether. What a pity considering what the other two versions had done with this minor character in book who was though too young to have any romantic involvements, but a useful one nevertheless to advance the drama or to add humour into the story.

But the 'biggest' failure is in characterisation, especially of Marianne. In the 1981 adaptation, she appeared self-centred until the last episode. Indeed, despite her good looks, she was the least likable of all three variations of Marianne. In the other two versions, she was made to wake up from her errors and selfishness from her sick bed, which seemed more logical, and her change of attitude towards the colonel more natural and human.

In both the film adaptation and the 2008 drama, scriptwriters have taken great pain to make Edward more attractive, or more 'worthy' of the devoted love and affection of Elinor and her family. But I am not sure if the old version had that in mind - which was not a fault in itself because the novel didn't give much space on it either, but shows nevertheless how the time has changed in less than 30 years. The recent producers have wanted audience to identify with Elinor in her love and affection of Edward, while in the 1981 version, it didn't seem to be a concern to the producer. In comparison, this is the only one in which Edward's sister was played by an actress who didn't have a face to match her selfishness.