This Sense and Sensibility was the first Jane Austen I ever saw
(January 1971) and it was closely followed by Persuasion (in April
1971). It was scripted by Denis Constanduros, and it was this script,
with minor alterations, that was also used for the 1981 Version. So
really here I have not only to compare this version with the other
productions, but specifically with the 1981 version.
It is odd now, to look at the 1971 version today and think
'Beehive hairstyle in Jane Austen's England... Never!' when as a child
however, looking at the production, I just took them for granted, it
was the story that mattered. Well, looking at it again, now that it is
available at last (after 12 years of attempting to obtain it... BBC
Research wanted to charge me £33 per episode to borrow it from the
Archive, and there are 4 episodes!) I can honestly say that, despite
beehives, this is still the best production. Elinor was
played by the thoroughly beautiful and exceeningly competent actress
Joanna David and Marianne was played by the totally delicious Ciaran
Madden. Accompanying cast included Patricia Routledge as Mrs
Jennings and Michael Aldridge as Sir John.
It is a shame that the youngest sister Margaret is removed
from the Constanduros script and hence is in neither this production
nor the 1981 version, but in other respects, this is a
faithful version of Jane's novel. The characters are
emotionally portrayed by the actors, without the least hint of
overacting or incincerity.
In comparison to the 1981 version of the same script, the
minor alterations to the dramatisation are quite insignificant, and the
difference between them must lie therefore with the filming and with
the acting. With respect to the filming, the new video camera
technology allowed a greater ability for location filming, which in
1971 was not possible. This consequently renders the 1981 version
superior. With the acting however, it is certainly the 1971
that wins. Ciaran Madden manages to depict the strong emotional
sincerity or Marianne witout gushing, this, both Tracy
Childs and Kate Winslet (in the 1995 version) completely
failed to do. Patricia Routledge was sublime as Mrs Jennings (Though
the best Mrs Jennings has to be Elizabeth Spriggs in the 1995 version).
Because of this therefore I still consider this to be the best
production.