I've started rewatching the 1995 film adaptation of S&S (purely to supplement my reading of the novel, of course! ;-)), and I noticed that Emma Thompson more than once took artistic liberties with the novel to make things more dramatic.
Having seen the film well before I read the book, I was under the impression that Marianne and Margaret were quite a distance from home when Marianne had her fall, which would have made a rescuer more vital, but in the novel it says that they were practically at their garden gate when it happened. Also, in the book, Willoughby is *walking* up the hill, while in the movie he comes *galloping* on a beautiful horse, which actually rears up dramatically on its hind legs as it comes close to Margaret!
Also, earlier in the book, I think we are expected to agree with Marianne's pleasure when she exclaims "Is there a felicity in the world greater than this?". In the movie it's played for laughs at her excessive sensibility, since Marianne says it in the pouring rain as Margaret stands unhappily by, getting soaked.
(Just some observations!)