Emma (1972– )

This BBC production, set in the small town of Highbury depicts the often hilarious attempts of Miss Emma Woodhouse to make proper marital matches for all of her friends. Though often ... See full summary »

Stars:

Doran Godwin, John Carson, Donald Eccles

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Doran Godwin	...	Emma Woodhouse (6 episodes, 1972)
John Carson	...	Mr. Knightley (6 episodes, 1972)
Donald Eccles	...	Mr. Woodhouse (6 episodes, 1972)
Constance Chapman	...	Miss Bates (6 episodes, 1972)
Ellen Dryden	...	Mrs. Weston (6 episodes, 1972)
Raymond Adamson	...	Mr. Weston (6 episodes, 1972)
Debbie Bowen	...	Harriet Smith (6 episodes, 1972)
Timothy Peters	...	Mr. Elton (5 episodes, 1972)
Vivienne Moore	...	Williams (5 episodes, 1972)
Robert East	...	Frank Churchill (4 episodes, 1972)
Ania Marson	...	Jane Fairfax (4 episodes, 1972)
Fiona Walker	...	Mrs. Elton (3 episodes, 1972)
John Alkin	...	Robert Martin (2 episodes, 1972)
Mollie Sugden	...	Mrs. Goddard (2 episodes, 1972)
Mary Holder	...	Mrs. Bates (2 episodes, 1972)
Amber Thomas	...	Patty (2 episodes, 1972)

Storyline

This BBC production, set in the small town of Highbury depicts the often hilarious attempts of Miss Emma Woodhouse to make proper marital matches for all of her friends. Though often mistaken in her judgement, she is counseled and criticised by her neighbor and brother-in-law, the wise Mr. Knightley whose attentions to her are motivated by more than brotherly love.

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Plot Keywords:

love | historical event | georgian romance | nineteenth century | singing | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 July 1972 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

240 min 240 min (6 parts)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The white floral-print muslin gown with cut-out sleeves Doran Godwin (Emma Woodhouse) wears at Hartfield, while discussing Jane Fairfax's "reserve" with Mr. Knightley, is the same gown Sabina Franklyn (Jane Bennet) wears at Longbourn in Pride and Prejudice following the Meryton Assembly ball.

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Goofs

The characters are seen playing cards with a modern deck of cards that show both the suit symbol (hearts, clubs, spades, clubs) and a number on each corner. During the time period the movie was set in, playing cards did not show the number of the card in the corners.

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Connections

Featured in Funny Women: Mollie Sugden (1999)

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Soundtracks

"The Twenty-ninth of May"
Traditional

User Reviews

The best version of "Emma" so far.

I really enjoyed this version of "Emma" and my pleasure was largely due to the very convincing performance by Doran Goodwin in the central role. She was so much better than Kate Beckinsdale in the ITV version who it seems to me lacked the necessary vivacity and personality to carry the role. This Emma was very expressive, arch and satirical, very much, I Imagine, as Jane Austen must have been herself. And unlike the ITV version, which was abominably miscast (excepting Mark Strong's Mr Knightley), this casting was near perfect.

My only complaint is that too much of the action took place indoors, which made it a little claustrophobic and too much like a stage play. We were not allowed to see the village or any exterior shots of Miss Bates dwelling, just room doors opening and closing. The only time we saw anyone in a carriage was during the trip to Box Hill and that was all too brief.

But the indoor scenes were magnificent and authentic looking, too good I'm sure to be just studio sets; they must all have been filmed on location, perhaps in the very large house pictured in the opening shots.