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 blue striped cotton day dress Kate Beckinsale (Emma Woodhouse) wears while telling Mr. Knightley about Harriet's reply to Mr. Martin is the same costume Victoria Hamilton (Miss Granham) wears in "To the Ends of the Earth" (2005), Julie Cox (Annabella Milbanke) wears while writing to Byron in Byron (2003) (TV), and Amanda Lawrence (Poyner) wears working for the Meagleses in "Little Dorrit" (2008).

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 (2010)

Soundtrack:

All People that on Earth do Dwell

Kate Beckinsale, a perfect Emma

Jane Austen's Emma is an extremely enjoyable story at the worst of times and this production of the story is the best I have ever seen. Kake Beckinsale's Emma is irreproachable. Gwyneth Paltrow, (with the help of a good screenplay and excellent cinematography) is able to bring out the comedy effectively, she fails to make Emma likeable. Paltrow is not aided by the fact that her hairstyles are simply 'wrong' for the part (and I believe the era) and she looks positively ill in the empire line dresses. Kate Beckinsale, on the other hand, manages the comedy effortlessly and is still able to show what Mr Knightly (the most romantic of Jane Austen's heroes) actually sees in her. Mark Strong is a splendid Mr Knightly with the right mix of handsome looks, an appropriate age, chivalry, compassion and gentlemanly behaviour. Emma and Mr Knightly are supported by a cast of good actors and the production as a whole is quite delightful.