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 | Bachelor | Courtship | Unrequited Love | Austen

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
Judith Coke	...	Mrs. Goddard
Alistair Petrie	...	Robert Martin
Phoebe Welles-Cooper	...	Elizabeth Martin
Tabby Harris	...	Miss Otway
Neville Phillips	...	Thomas
Sunny Jim Dickinson	...	Henry Knightley (as Sunny Jim Dickson)

Directed by
Diarmuid Lawrence

Writing credits
Jane Austen		(novel)
Andrew Davies		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sue Birtwistle	....	producer
Delia Fine	....	executive producer: A&E Network
Simon Lewis	....	executive producer: United Film & Television Productions
Joy Spink	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Dominic Muldowney

Cinematography by
Remi Adefarasin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Don Fairservice

Casting by
Janey Fothergill

Production Design by
Don Taylor

Art Direction by
Jo Graysmark

Set Decoration by
John Bush

Costume Design by
Jenny Beavan

Makeup Department
Mary Hillman	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Philip Leach	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Brett	....	first assistant director
Dominic Fysh	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Danny Euston	....	property master

Sound Department
Jim Greenhorn	....	sound recordist
Stewart Henderson	....	sound editor
Andy Kennedy	....	sound editor
Aad Wirtz	....	dubbing mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Sean Savage	....	camera operator
Ben Wilson	....	first assistant camera
Jimmy Wilson	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Tina Hetherington	....	editing coordinator

Other crew
Pat Bryan	....	production coordinator
Sue Clegg	....	script supervisor
Susie Conklin	....	script editor
Jane Gibson	....	choreographer
Susan Nicholson	....	production accountant
Sue Quinn	....	location manager
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master (uncredited)

Production Companies

• A&E Television Networks
• Chestermead
• Meridian Broadcasting
• United Film and Television Productions

Distributors

• Finn Innovation Products (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV) (1996) (UK) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1998) (2008) (Finland) (TV) (TV1)

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 white gown with black polka dots worn by Olivia Williams (Jane Fairfax) is the same costume worn by Susannah Harker (Jane Bennet) in "Pride and Prejudice" (1995), Rosamund Stephen (Henrietta Musgrove) in Persuasion (2007) (TV), and Tanya Samuel 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 Clueless (1995)

Soundtrack:

Father, Father, Build Me a Boat

too short, yet wonderful

This has long been one of my favourite adaptations of an Austen novel. Although it is definitely not in the same category as the spectacular "Pride and Prejudice," "Emma" is a lush and relatively faithful TV version of Austen's novel -- especially considering its short length. The biggest change between the novel and the movie is a good one, as the unnecessary snobbishness that Austen exhibits at the end of the story is removed here and replaced with someone much more akin to Emma's character in the rest of the book. I thought the characters chosen to portray the roles were well-picked. Kate Beckinsale walks the fine line between girlishness and the social snob with a grace completely lost in Gwyneth Paltrow's '96 version. Samantha Morton's wispy blonde locks suit her attitude and character as the simper that accompanies her role in previous characterisations is replaced with the Harriet we know from the book. Mister Knightly's role is carried out extremely well in my opinion; both the seriousness and the gentle compassion that the hero is painted with in the novel are present here in this much-neglected, sumptuous film.