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 Networks, Chestermead, Meridian Broadcasting

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The white wedding gown worn by Samantha Morton (Harriet Smith) during Emma's fantasy sequence of Harriet marrying Mr. Elton is the same costume worn by Emilia Fox (Clara Copperfield) in David Copperfield (1999), and by Julie Cox (Annabella Milbanke) in Byron (2003).

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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

Referenced in The Princess Diaries (2001)

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Soundtracks

Haste to the Wedding
(uncredited)
Traditional
[first dance at the Donwell Abbey Harvest Supper]

User Reviews

A very good adaptation

Kate Beckinsale is excellent as the manipulative and yet irresistibly charming Emma in this TV-adaptation of Jane Austen´s novel. When I read that novel I was sometimes quite doubtful whether the protagonist really deserved to be considered the heroine of the story: for honestly, she is so terribly self-righteous and scheming that one is tempted to dislike her seriously. Kate Beckinsale´s interpretation, however, saves Emma from herself so to speak: she is portrayed with all the innocence and generosity of her character in full view, and one can´t help but give in and like (not to say love) her in spite of her less amiable qualities. Kate Beckinsale is the main, but not the only, reason why this TV-series is so delightful; Raymond Coulthard is perfect as Mr. Frank Churchill, expressing this character´s personal magnetism to the full (which is all the more conspicuous because of this role being not very well handled by Ewan McGregor in the 1996-screen adaptation of Emma), and Mark Strong, Samantha Morton, Bernard Hepton, and Olivia Williams are all as they should be in their respective roles. This production is, in short, a great achievement and one to view many times with increasing pleasure.