Emma (1996) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Diarmuid Lawrence

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel)
Andrew Davies (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 February 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Emma Woodhouse has a rigid sense of propriety as regards matrimonial alliances. Unfortunately she insists on matchmaking for her less forceful friend...

Plot Keywords:

Matchmaking | Comedy Of Manners | Britain | Bachelor | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Kate Beckinsale	...	Emma Woodhouse
Bernard Hepton	...	Mr. Woodhouse
Mark Strong	...	Mr. Knightley
Samantha Bond	...	Mrs. Weston
James Hazeldine	...	Mr. Weston
Dominic Rowan	...	Mr. Elton
Samantha Morton	...	Harriet Smith
Prunella Scales	...	Miss Bates
Sylvia Barter	...	Mrs. Bates
Guy Henry	...	John Knightley
Dido Miles	...	Isabella Knightley
Raymond Coulthard	...	Frank Churchill
Olivia Williams	...	Jane Fairfax
Lucy Robinson	...	Mrs. Elton
Peter Howell	...	Mr. Perry

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Finland:S | Sweden:7 (video rating) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

The pale green muslin gown with intricate ivory lace appliqués that Lucy Robinson as Mrs. Elton wears during the strawberry picking scene at Donwell is the same gown worn by Jennifer Granville (as Mrs. Hurst) at Pemberley in "Pride and Prejudice" (1980) and by an extra at the London party where Byron meets Annabella Milbanke in Byron (2003) (TV). Robinson herself plays Mrs. Hurst in "Pride and Prejudice" (1995). The costume is also worn by the dancing mistress in "The Regency House Party" (2004).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The year is approximately 1815, yet Jane Fairfax sings an Italian song composed in 1857.

Quotes:

Mr. Knightley: [Knightley speaks of Frank Churchill who will be going to London] To get his hair cut?

Movie Connections:

Version of Emma (1996)

Soundtrack:

Juice of Barley

Sweet and happy

Of the spate of Austen films from the 1990s, this is my favorite, more even than "Persuasion," which was the one that converted me to Austeniana. Before seeing this "Emma" I had seen two previous versions, but in one Emma seemed all wrong, more like Lady Teazle, and in the other she seemed half wrong, like a possible impostor, whereas here she seemed just right, young and silly and stubborn. In general I thought the attitude and the atmosphere of the production conveyed the charm of the novel exceedingly well; indeed it is one of the sweetest, merriest things I have ever seen, rather in the nature of a Christmas treat. The script is unusually well formed, and the adapter's additions, like the shaft of light that reveals Harriet to Emma in church, are all in keeping. Mark Strong as Knightley is not what I would have expected, but I enjoyed him very much: he strongly brings out the plain-spoken, practical side of the character, in contrast with Emma's affectations, and his choleric outbursts against Frank Churchill are quite funny. Bernard Hepton makes Mr. Woodhouse a figure of almost Carrollian absurdity; Samantha Morton as Emma's protégé is exactly as soft and exactly as firm as she ought to be. And as in the same producers' "Pride and Prejudice," care is taken that the eventual couplings of characters can be believed--uniquely in some cases. For me this production was and remains a delight.