The casting selections were also excellent as Hattie Morahan (Elinor) and Charity Wakefield (Marianne) capture perfectly not only the essence of each of the individual characters but the relationship between the sisters. It also helps that both are fairly close to the age of each of the sisters in the book which is something that was missing from prior adaptations.

The other characters are also well cast. Although the names of the actors and actresses would be unfamiliar to anyone who is not an aficionado of British drama, each brings a high quality performance to the production.

But the real magic to this production is the fact it's the BBC producing this film. The BBC has an affinity for period drama like no other production company. If anyone can adapt Austen and do it justice, they can. No expense was spared in making this production as authentic as possible down to the costumes and filming locations.

An added bonus to this DVD set is a second disc containing the biopic Miss Austen Regrets. Drawing largely on the few surviving letters of Austen's, the film portrays the last years of Austen's life after she has become a successful author.

Because Austen published anonymously during her lifetime (female novelists were not very common in her day), very little biographical information was collected about her while she was alive. Most of what biographers have relied upon were her letters. However, Austen's sister Cassandra burned many of them after Jane's death. It has been speculated she did this to protect Jane's memory as she feared that the letters would have given the reader an unflattering picture of her.

The film itself is another fine production with Olivia Williams portraying Jane Austen. She did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Austen's personality (at least based on what little we know about her). However, as one Austen fan recently told me, "it's hard to see anyone portray Jane". Given the level of devotion among Austen fans, it probably is difficult to imagine anyone portraying her. Still, Ms. Williams does a fine job and the film itself sheds light on who she was (or at least who we think she was). This is a far more accurate film than 2007's Becoming Jane which seemed to want to give the viewer a more Hollywood-type story than existed in reality.

Sense and Sensibility (along with Pride and Prejudice) is one of the novels most often cited as a favorite of Austen's novels among her fans. The film adaptations of each novel have helped to enhance its standing among its fans. This version of Sense and Sensibility will not only enhance the novel's standing among its fans but hopefully encourage others to read the book who might not have done so before. They won't be disappointed.