Jane Austen's Books & Adaptations discussion

In February/March we're going to watch:

Sense and Sensibility (2024 Hallmark Movie)

A period adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. After a change in circumstances, Marianne is torn between two men, while Elinor longs for a man beyond reach. Stars Deborah Ayorinde, Bethany Antonia and Dan Jeannotte.


[Edward and Elinor]

Directed by Tia A. Smith (She's listed as "creative director, whatever that means)
Screenplay by Tim Huddleston (and Jane Austen)
Cast: Deborah Ayorinde, Bethany Antonia and Dan Jeannotte

Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/BxE0mwvq4Lw?si=sdnYD...



🎬Sense and Sensibility (2024 TV Movie) - Challenge Category: Adaptations

So this is brand new. Seems like Sense and Sensibility got a Bridgerton treatment. I'm game. What gives me pause is that the movie is Hallmark-produced and that's a mark of low quality (esp of screenplay).
Frankly, could this movie be a worse adaptation than the Netflix's Persuasion? I doubt it.

Den of Geeks has published an interesting interview with the historical advisor and creative director of the movie. You can read it here: https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/hallmark...

If you are interested you can watch the movie on YouTube (for the time being). If you don't have Hallmark (as we here in Europe don't) hurry up and watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V82bZ...

I'm sure it won't be up for long.

Well, I've finished the movie moments ago.

At least they left the story and characters more or less intact. So it's not a character/story assassination the like of Persuasion. They had to cut some plotlines and characters but it was mostly fine. Except for the ending where they had to sprint to the finish line. They wanted to wrap up the Marianne/Brandon storyline very quickly and they made Marianne seem very flighty and her feelings for Willoughby very shallow and nothing but a fancy of a teenage girl. Her transfer of affection to Colonel Brandon is too fast and abrupt to be believable.

What I also didn't like is that the writers eliminated all of the subtlety from the story. There's no nuance, everything is displayed and/or explained, and nothing is left to the imagination. E.g. Elinor is very openly suffering. It's so plain to see, that it, in turn, makes Marianne and Mrs Dashwood seem as if they are ignoring her which is not the case in the book.

Costumes and hair are "inspired" by Regency fashion. Like in Bridgerton. They're not accurate (e.g. the men are wearing trousers and ill-fitting riding boots, not breeches), but they're similar enough and apparently the production wasn't cheap.

The women are heavily made up, especially Elinor. It's not era-appropriate, but they do look good.

Everything is adjusted to the Bridgerton esthetics. It's more pompous, lavish and "expensive-looking" than in the book. Sometimes it's unintentionally funny. The luxury of the interior of Barton Cottage, totally inappropriate, contrasts with Mrs Dashwood bursting into tears while lamenting how ugly it is and how low they sunk. Or Delaford, Mr Darcy would have loved to live in a lavish house like that.

The actors did what they could, but the couples lacked chemistry. It was all strangely sanitized I didn't feel any passion.

Another unintentionally funny scene was Brandon seeing Marianne for the first time being enchanted by her playing the piano. Her piano playing was so mediocre, uninspiring, and dull that I burst into laugh at Brandon's rapture.

Final thoughts: It's not good but it's not a total disaster. 1.5 stars (if you like Bridgerton you may add another star).

More stills from the movie.

Elinor. Look at her makeup.


Mrs Dashwood and her daughters standing in front of Norland Park.


Marianne and Willoughby


Colonel Brandon