"Emma" (1972) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

20 July 1972 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

This BBC production, set in the small town of Highbury depicts the often hilarious attempts of Miss...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Clergyman | Father Daughter Relationship | Estate | Historical

Cast

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)

Runtime:

UK:240 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Finland:K-3 (DVD) (2007) | New Zealand:G

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The brown, flower-print day dress Constance Chapman (Miss Bates) wears is the same costume Priscilla Morgan (Mrs. Bennet) wears at Longbourn in "Pride and Prejudice" (1980).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Funny Women: Mollie Sugden (#3.1)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

The Twenty-ninth of May

Gently good

This old BBC serial from the 70s is a slow ramble through one of Jane Austen's great novels. Like all slow rambles there are lots of incidental delights on the way. Time is given for the development of character and the unravelling of the plot. The later film with Gwyneth Paltrow is faster but shallower. This is plainly filmed and there is none of the gorgeous lighting effects that decorate the Paltrow film. Some of it is shot outdoors, notably the Box Hill scene, but it is mainly unfussy interiors.

Doran Godwin's performance as Emma is fine. She brings out the contradictions and weaknesses in her character as well as her many strengths. Jane Austen wanted a heroine that no one would like but herself, then proceeded to create a fully rounded character who is very likeable. The length of the mini-series enables there to be many scenes between Emma and Harriet and Emma and Mr Knightly that illustrate all their characters well. Debbie Bowen and John Carson give excellent support.The rest of the cast of British actors are good. Constance Chapman as Miss Bates is touching and Fiona Walker rips into the part of Mrs Elton with great relish. Donald Eccles is perfectly tiring as Mr Woodhouse.

There seem to be two ways to film Jane Austen. The slower but more complete version like this film and 'Sense and Sensibility' (1971) or the modern upbeat shorter film like 'Emma' (1996) or 'Mansfield Park' (1999). Perhaps only the BBC's 1995 mini series of 'Pride and Prejudice' created the perfect fusion.

This 'Emma' is well worth seeing. If you adjust yourself to the gentle pace there is plenty to enjoy