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Sense and Sensibility

by habituallychic

02 . 05 . 09
No matter how many times Hollywood tries to remake one of Jane Austen’s classics into a film, I can never quite enjoy them. All I see are perfect movie stars and make believe. That’s why I will always prefer the BBC versions. They always draw me and make me forget that I am watching a movie and the latest, Sense and Sensibility, is no different. The first part aired Sunday night on PBS and if you missed it, or like me couldn’t wait for part two, it’s also available on DVD. The actors, costumes and sets are all perfect, including the stately Wrotham Park (above) that stands in for Norland. I just don’t know if I find it comforting or distressing that the relations between men and women should be any less confusing today than they were when the novel was published in 1811.

Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. – Jane Austen
If things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next. – Jane Austen

It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before. – Jane Austen

There are certainly not so many men of large fortune in the world, as there are pretty women to deserve them. – Jane Austen

The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. – Jane Austen
Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor. Which is one very strong argument in favor of matrimony. – Jane Austen

14 Comments
Comments Closed

  1. Bart Boehlert February 5, 2009 | 5:02 am

    Thanks, will check this out, I love a good Jane Austen romp. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite movies ever:
    http://bartboehlert.blogspot.com/2008/12/beautiful-things-mind-meld.html

  2. Madame Meg February 5, 2009 | 5:15 am

    Hello-
    I’m new to your blog and thoroughly enjoying catching up on your last two years!
    As I have a bit of a Jane Austen distraction myself, I was pretty thrilled to happen upon the airing of Sense and Sensibility last weekend, but I came in about halfway through it, so I’m glad to hear it’s on DVD! Thanks!
    – Meg

  3. vicki archer February 5, 2009 | 7:46 am

    Great choice of quotes. I love the BBC adaptions, they are the best. xv

  4. Colour Me Happy February 5, 2009 | 1:57 pm

    I love the quotes, thanks for posting them!

  5. elly e February 5, 2009 | 2:23 pm

    We just this weekend recieved a copy of the BBC P&P in our apartment…. I can’t wait to get lost in it on one of these cold days. O Jane, she knew how to speak to a girls heart!

  6. ArchitectDesign February 5, 2009 | 2:44 pm

    I have it saved in tivo and was wondering if it was going to be any good. I’ll have to make sure to watch it now!

  7. Habitually Chic February 5, 2009 | 2:54 pm

    Bart – have you ever seen the original BBC version of Pride and Prejudice? It is soooo much better than the Kiera Knightly version. You should definitely check it out!

    Vicki – Jane Austen quotes still resonate today! It’s amazing!

    Colour Me Happy – so glad you enjoyed them!

    Elly – You’re going to love it! And when you’re done, I’ll let you borrow Sense & Sensibility!

    Stefan/Architect Design – I highly enjoyed it and I think you will too! It’s perfect for snowy winter days!

  8. Kelly | Purple Lemon Designs February 5, 2009 | 3:10 pm

    Love me some Jane Austen! Thanks so much for the heads up.

  9. Averill February 5, 2009 | 3:36 pm

    100% in agreement — the BBC versions are all much, much better. Colin Firth will ALWAYS be my Mr. Darcy. 🙂

  10. Laura February 5, 2009 | 4:24 pm

    I do love BBC…you have got to try to find a DVD of their version of the Buccaneers. I think, if Sense and Sensibility is your thing, you will absolutely love it. And as a twenty-nine year old, I particularly appreciate Ms. Austen’s comment regarding increasing beauty with time. Although I hope that this is not my year to peak.

  11. Daily Moda February 5, 2009 | 7:51 pm

    Thank you for posting this. This is one of my favorite posts.

  12. Alice Olive February 6, 2009 | 3:32 pm

    I prefer BBC too. Have you seen their production of Persuasion? It is wonderful. I think that’s my favourite Jane Austen so I am predisposed but no matter! Makes me cry every time. Anne had “lost her bloom” (even though she wasn’t yet thirty!) yet Captain Wentworth had not stopped loving her. How absolutely wonderful.

  13. coco+kelley February 6, 2009 | 7:19 pm

    oh, that last quote makes me giggle. it’s too true!! 😉 i always loved the costuming in this movie, and in emma. something about that period was so lovely…

  14. Ms. Wis./Each Little World February 8, 2009 | 4:19 pm

    This is a lovely version of S & S. All the characters feel (and look) just right. Even though the cottage is wrongly located by the sea, it seems right emotionally so we’ll forgive them.