Hugh played the role of Mr. Palmer, the disillusioned husband
of a silly wife, in the 1995 Emma Thompson-scripted film version of Sense
and Sensibility. Emma wrote in her published diary of the
filming: "There is no one on the planet who could capture Mr. Palmer's
disenchantment and redemption so perfectly, and could make it so
funny." (The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries,
Newmarket Press, 1995) The critics seem to have agreed. In spite of few
lines and
limited time onscreen, Hugh made a big impression. His reviews for this
film were some of the best of his career, with even the U.S. critics
taking notice. Herewith a sampling:
Film Review Magazine (Britain): "...a celebration of exemplary acting...although special mention must go to Hugh Laurie, Elizabeth Spriggs and Harriet Walter."
Premiere Magazine (Britain): "The supporting cast is filled with sterling British thespians being supremely droll (Elizabeth Spriggs, Robert Hardy, Hugh Laurie, Imelda Staunton)."
Time Out: "[Thompson and Winslet] are well supported by a cast that includes Gemma Jones, Harriet Walter, James Fleet, Elizabeth Spriggs, Robert Hardy, Hugh Laurie (really very funny), etal."
Independent on Sunday: "...with such an array of acting talent (including the laconically hilarious Hugh Laurie)"
Sunday Express: "Harriet Walter's mean sister and Hugh Laurie's cameo as Mr. Palmer threaten to steal the film."
GQ (Britain): "...but it's their cohorts (Harriet Walter, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy, Elizabeth Spriggs) who capture Austen's true irony."
Adrian Sington, Tatler: "There is a classically understated piece of acting in Sense and Sensibility from Hugh Laurie as the besieged Mr. Palmer: his looks and bearing are made for the period."
London Sunday Times: "The casting is wonderfully fluid....For some reason I can't quite explain, it was immensely pleasing to see Hugh Laurie in the same film as Alan Rickman."
Empire: "...there are some hilarious performances , particularly from Hugh Laurie as the rude monosyllabic Mr. Palmer...."
Variety: "...Hugh Laurie gets astonishing comic mileage out of a very small role as a chatterbox's husband."
Times Literary Supplement: "In minor roles, there are some splendidly ripe performances from Robert Hardy...Elizabeth Spriggs...and Hugh Laurie (Mr. Palmer.)"
New Republic: "The men are mostly fine, too...Hugh Laurie a splendidly wry Mr. Palmer."
New York Times: "Hugh Laurie plays another of Austen's more memorable minor figures, the acerbic husband who buries himself in his newspaper except when making lacerating wisecracks."
New York Review of Books: "And every one of the minor roles is given a virtuoso turn by an excellent character actor:...Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton as the ill-matched Palmers"
Movieline: "When we see a movie packed with superb character actors, we realize what we've been missing....There are vivid turns by Elizabeth Spriggs...Harriet Walter...and Hugh Laurie as an embittered husband - to name just a few of the dazzling pros in an enormous cast."
Films in Review: "...an unusually fine supporting cast...especially Hugh Laurie as Staunton's acerbic husband, whose limited screen time - with minimal dialogue - is worth his weight in box office receipts. The man can do more with a raised eyebrow than most actors can with a long soliloquy."
Not bad for a part which Hugh
himself described in a brief Empire Magazine
interview as "about six lines." (March 1996 issue) The film brought
him recognition on both sides of the Atlantic; the Empire
interview begins:
"Of all the superlatives being foisted upon Sense and Sensibility
by an American media agog with Austen adoration, the talk of the
emergence
of a great new comic talent rings a touch ironic. For that new talent
is,
in fact, Hugh Laurie....Yet his splendidly droll turn as the scornful
Mr.
Palmer who hides a heart of gold has landed him top of
British-best-kept-secret
lists."