Sense and Sensibility

Drama |English | 136 minutes

Info

On his deathbed, Mr. Dashwood implores his son, John, from his first marriage, to take care of his mother and her three daughters, Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. Under British law at that time, women in the family were not entitled to receive an inheritance. John promises to do so but his cruel and greedy wife, Fanny, makes sure they receive nothing. John and Fanny evict John’s sisters and his mother and take over the house. Mrs. Dashwood’s cousin, Sir John Middleton, offers them a cottage on his estate. This helps but, with no inheritance, Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are impoverished. The hope is that the two older daughters will marry wealthy men. Elinor’s hopes are high after she meets Edward Ferrars; Marianne is torn between handsome John Willoughby and the older Colonel Brandon. Being a Jane Austin story, the romances become convoluted before they are resolved.

Cast

Emma Thompson (Elinor Dashwood) / Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood) / Alan Rickman (Colonel Brandon) / Hugh Grant (Edward Ferrars) / Greg Wise (John Willoughby) / Robert Hardy (Sir John Middleton)

Why Stream This Film?

Film critics have considered Sense and Sensibility the best film adaptation of a Jane Austen novel.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 97%
Metacritic Score: 84

Accolades

Academy Awards: Winner, Best Screenplay (Emma Thompson); Best Actress in a Leading Role (Emma Thompson); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kate Winslet)
BAFTA Awards: Winner, Best Film
Golden Globe Awards: Winner, Best Motion Picture; Best Screenplay, Motion Picture (Emma Thompson); Best Director, Motion Picture (Ang Lee)
National Board of Review: Winner, Best Film; Best Director (Ang Lee), Best Actress (Emma Thompson); Listed, Top Ten Films of the Year

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