Emma (1996)

While matchmaking for friends and neighbors, a young 19th-century Englishwoman nearly misses her own chance at love.

Director:

Diarmuid Lawrence

Writers:

Jane Austen (novel), Andrew Davies (screenplay)

Stars:

Kate Beckinsale, Bernard Hepton, Mark Strong

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Emma Woodhouse has a rigid sense of propriety as regards matrimonial alliances. Unfortunately she insists on matchmaking for her less forceful friend, Harriet, and so causes her to come to grief. Through the sharp words of Mr. Knightley, and the example of the opinionated Mrs. Elton, someone not unlike herself, Emma's attitudes begin to soften...

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Plot Keywords:

matchmaking | rural setting | urban setting | horseback riding | english country dance | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Official Sites:

A&E Emma Site PBS [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Emma

Filming Locations:

Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&E Television Networks, Chestermead, Meridian Broadcasting

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The pink v-neck gown trimmed in mauve worn by Samantha Bond (Mrs. Weston) to dinner at Hartfield is the same costume that was previously worn in Pride and Prejudice (1995) by Susannah Harker (Jane Bennet) during the outdoor scene at Longbourn when Jane and Elizabeth learn the contents of Uncle Gardiner's letter to Mr. Bennet. This costume is also worn by worn by Larushka Ivan-Zadeh Griaznov in The Regency House Party (2004).

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Version of Matinee Theatre: Emma (1957)

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Soundtracks

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Traditional English carol
[in the score as Mr. Elton leaves Highbury for Bath]

User Reviews

The best Emma yet

While I adore Jeremy Northam in the Winslow boy, Mark Strong is outstanding as Mr. Knightley in this much more human version of Emma. She is, as Jane Austen rightly stated, not our favourite character, and in the Gwyneth Paltrow version she is even more vain and manipulative. In this version, Kate B makes her very young and yet willing to learn. I liked it very much and hope the two main characters get picked up very quickly for more movies so that we in Canada can see them more often.