Emma Thompson

Sense and Sensibility the Screenplay and Diaries collects Emma Thompson‘s screenplay for the 1995 film, adapted from Jane Austen’s novel, as well as Thompson’s diaries for the production of the film.

I really love the film, so when I heard that the script was published, and that there was even additional material in the form of Thompson’s diaries for the production, I knew I had to track it down. And I’m absolutely glad I did. The script itself is an extremely nice read, but the show more real treat are the diaries – a warm look behind the scenes with a wonderful sense of humor.

Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2019/07/21/sense-and-sensibility-the-screenplay-and-diarie... show less

You'd never guess from her production diaries that Emma Thompson was, at the time of filming, an Oscar-winning actress. She has such a witty, self-deprecating tone. When she complains about being forced to go to Cannes to promote another film, you're jarred right out of the whole thing. Oh yeah, Emma Thompson is quite a big deal.

In many ways, Thompson's production diaries are a tell-all. Thompson doesn't hide the frustrations of not getting the day's required shots, the cultural dissonance show more between the Taiwanese film industry that director Ang Lee is used to and the British film industry, or their money troubles (horses are apparently appallingly expensive). But Thompson is also careful in a very subtle way. Though she never ceases to complain about the weather or hotels, she never has a bad word for the actors or their performances. And you'd never know from the diaries that Thompson had just separated from her husband and was deeply depressed (the diaries are definitely laced with depression and gloom, but you'd be forgiven for thinking the shoot was just unusually miserable for everyone and not a reflection of Thompson's own personal unhappiness). You'd also never guess that Thompson would end up married to the actor who plays Willoughby, Greg Wise. Although her glowing descriptions of him (at one point she calls him an "adonis") do hint at her affections.

At any rate, the diaries are a marvel. Thompson may have been dangerously depressed during the filming of Sense and Sensibility, but her writing is full of wit and dark humor. Also, she won an Oscar for writing this movie, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel for her. show less

A welcome change of pace from deep heavy themes and thrilling intrigues and conspiracies, this is a story of family and children and also a narrative of movie making.I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted family friendly tale! A mysterious nanny with magical powers appears just when the Green family needs her most. Father has gone off to war (World War II), the rich, bratty cousins have come to escape the bombing in London, and Mrs. Green will lose the farm if she can't get the barley show more harvest in. Her job at a general store is in chaos due to the elderly and confused owner who puts everything in the wrong places and there is also chaos at home, as her children and their cousins simply cannot get along. Here comes Nanny McPhee to the rescue, a fatter and uglier version of Mary Poppins, but no less effective in getting unruly children to actually want to behave themselves! Amid many mishaps, including an unscrupulous uncle and a septet of unusually talented baby piglets, order is finally restored and everyone is happy again.In amongst the "chapters" of the storyline are interspersed entries of Emma Thompson's diary of the filming of the movie. I found this somewhat distracting, and would rather have read the diary separately from the story. It was entertaining in itself, though.

I typed in the ISBN for a hard copy, but this indicates that it is a Kindle edition. It is in fact a hard copy. show less

The film is one of my favorites, so this book is a lot of fun for me. I enjoyed the extra material that wasn't filmed or included in the final cut, particularly a longer first scene at the bedside of Mr. Dashwood and more evidence of Marianne's "romantic sensibilities." A favorite line from the screenplay not included in the film:
Marianne: (discussing her ideal beau) "I require only what any young woman of taste should - a man who sings well, dances admirably, rides bravely, reads with show more passion and whose tastes agree in every point with my own."

Adorable!

I hope Emma Thompson writes a memoir, her diary entries written while filming are absolutely hilarious. It really reminded me of Bossypants by Tina Fey, Thompson is that funny. She of course has her own voice, one that is her own, highly readable, humorous and insightful. The details she used were delightful and unique, from the specifics of a filming schedule, notes from Ang Lee or the many locations used in Sense and Sensibility, a beautiful film and a favorite. show less