Emma (1996)

In rural 1800s England things go bad for a young matchmaker after she finds a man for another woman.

Director:

Douglas McGrath

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel), Douglas McGrath (screenplay)

Stars:

Gwyneth Paltrow, James Cosmo, Greta Scacchi

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Emma Woodhouse
James Cosmo	...	Mr. Weston
Greta Scacchi	...	Mrs. Weston
Alan Cumming	...	Mr. Elton
Denys Hawthorne	...	Mr. Woodhouse
Sophie Thompson	...	Miss Bates
Jeremy Northam	...	Mr. Knightley
Toni Collette	...	Harriet Smith
Kathleen Byron	...	Mrs. Goddard
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Bates
Edward Woodall	...	Mr. Robert Martin
Brett Miley	...	Little Boy
Brian Capron	...	John Knightley
Karen Westwood	...	Isabella Knightley
Paul Williamson	...	Footman

Storyline

Emma Woodhouse is a congenial young lady who delights in meddling in other people's affairs. She is perpetually trying to unite men and women who are utterly wrong for each other. Despite her interest in romance, Emma is clueless about her own feelings, and her relationship with gentle Mr. Knightly.

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Plot Keywords:

love | england | matchmaker | jane austen | matchmaking | 

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Taglines:

Cupid is armed and dangerous!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Emma (de Jane Austen)

Filming Locations:

Breakspear House, Harefield, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£402,499 (UK) (13 September 1996)

Gross:

ITL 109,430,000 (Italy) (28 March 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Matchmaker Films, Haft Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 94 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ruth Jones's screen debut.

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Goofs

Harriet runs her fingers along a harp and the sound that is heard is a perfect chord going up a scale, fitting in perfectly with the music that is being played. In reality, it would be virtually impossible to pluck a perfect chord when you run your fingers casually along the strings, and secondly any sound made would be going *down* scale, since she was dragging her fingers that way down the strings.

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Quotes

Emma Woodhouse: I must throw a party for her. Otherwise everyone will feel at once how much I dislike her.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to ... the people of Evershot.

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Connections

Referenced in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Rashomama (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Jacob Hall's Jig"
From John Playford's 'The English Dancing Master' Vol. 3 (1728)
Traditional
Arranged by John Gale

User Reviews

A very pleasant adaptation. And Northam is a real find!

By no means my favourite Austen novel, and Paltrow is by no means my favourite actress, but I found the film almost totally delightful. Paltrow does a good job, and Cummings, Stevenson and the one who plays 'Miss Bates' are all absolutely terrific. The period detail is not alienating; the feel of the movie is just right, in fact. But the real 'find' is Jeremy Northam as Mr Knightley. There could not be more perfect casting, IMO. I hated Mr K in the novel, but found him wonderfully human and humane in the film. Northam's good looks and smiling eyes are no hindrance to enjoyment, either! Highly recommended. AnaR