Rent Sense and Sensibility (1981)

Subtle and Sensible Austen - Sense and Sensibility review by CV

How well done these classics were in this era compared with the modernistic concepts and watered down dialogue of today. Over seven half-hourly episodes the drama evolved naturally and spaciously including much if not all of the dialogue as I remembered it and faithful to its period language.

It was excellently cast and the minor characters were played so individually. It was refreshing to hear the acoustic of the boom microphone giving natural room sounds rather than the nowadays cheaper arrangement of clothes microphones which destroy all sonic perspective. The music, hardly more than a few improvised chords as a signature tune, with its few sour chords at the close, reflected the story to come so subtly and unobtrusively.

I have seen many adaptations of classics and this is one was a lovely surprise as I had not known of its existence. Faithful to the spirit of Jane Austen and a true yet subtle enaction of this great novel.