"Emma" (2009) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

October 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Emma Woodhouse seems to be perfectly content, a loving father whom she cares for, friends, and a home...

Plot Keywords:

England | Estate | Jane Austen | Father Daughter Relationship | 19th Century

Cast

Robert Bathurst	...	Mr. Weston (4 episodes, 2009)
Louise Dylan	...	Harriet Smith (4 episodes, 2009)
Rupert Evans	...	Frank Churchill (4 episodes, 2009)
Dan Fredenburgh	...	John Knightley (4 episodes, 2009)
Michael Gambon	...	Mr. Woodhouse (4 episodes, 2009)
Romola Garai	...	Emma / ... (4 episodes, 2009)
Tamsin Greig	...	Miss Bates (4 episodes, 2009)
Jodhi May	...	Anne Taylor / ... (4 episodes, 2009)
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Mr. Knightley (4 episodes, 2009)
Poppy Miller	...	Isabella Knightley (4 episodes, 2009)
Laura Pyper	...	Jane Fairfax (4 episodes, 2009)
Blake Ritson	...	Mr. Elton (4 episodes, 2009)
Christina Cole	...	Mrs. Elton (3 episodes, 2009)
Jamie Glover	...	Henry Knightley (3 episodes, 2009)
Jefferson Hall	...	Robert Martin (3 episodes, 2009)
Joshua Jones	...	James Knightley (3 episodes, 2009)
Valerie Lilley	...	Mrs. Bates (3 episodes, 2009)
Veronica Roberts	...	Mrs. Goddard (3 episodes, 2009)
Pauline Stone	...	Mrs. Martin / ... (3 episodes, 2009)
Eileen O'Higgins	...	Miss Martin #1 / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Sarah Ovens	...	Miss Martin #2 / ... (2 episodes, 2009)
Liza Sadovy	...	Mrs. Cole (2 episodes, 2009)

Runtime:

UK:240 min (4 parts) | UK:240 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

6 Fitzroy Square, Bloomsbury, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Drama Productions

Trivia:

The pale green gown with pink trim Christina Cole (Mrs. Elton) wears at dinner is the same gown Frances Grey (Amelia Sedley) wears in "Vanity Fair" (1998), and Paula Jennings (Zenobia) wears for Sunday services in "To the Ends of the Earth" (2005).

Movie Connections:

Version of Emma (2010)

Well acted and beautifully photographed mini-series

Emma was really beautiful to watch. Though I will say, and I am not trying to be a killjoy here, but the book is better. In general, this mini series was very well done, not only in terms of acting but visually and musically as well. The mini series was exquisitely photographed, with camera work that never felt rushed in any way. It perfectly captured the breathtaking scenery and the gorgeous colourful costumes. I will confess whenever I watch a period drama I always look at how the drama is filmed, and as far as I am concerned Emma scored full marks on that. The music was just as perfect, very beautiful and pleasant. And the acting was fully professional. Romola Garai looked stunning as Emma and managed to stay true to her character. Johnny Lee Miller may look a bit too young, but I do think he was very handsome and charismatic enough as Knightley, and in general Miller is a very competent actor. The two leads's chemistry was convincing too. Michael Gambon is an exceptional actor, and he was superb as Mr Woodhouse. For me, any scene he was in brought some depth, darkness and poignancy that was very much needed. In fact, I don't think there was a single bad performance, maybe not the definitive interpretations, but solid enough. I do have two flaws with this mini series. It does distort the book, and I did notice some modernisations in the script, that sounded uneven and didn't quite work. My other flaw is that there were scenes that didn't quite ring true. As one reviewer said, the scene with the Knightley children screaming Uncle George was poorly done, and that is a real shame because the scene before I thought was very impressive indeed. Despite the flaws, it is a very solid adaptation of a wonderful book. 9/10 Bethany Cox