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 | Comedy Of Manners | Britain | Bachelor | Father Daughter Relationship

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)
• 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 ivory silk evening gown worn by Kate Beckinsale (Emma Woodhouse) to the Crown Ball is the same costume worn by a guest at the Duchess of Richmond's Ball in "Vanity Fair" (1998), and by Julie Cox (Annabella Milbanke) to the ball in Byron (2003) (TV).

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:

Jack's Maggot

the best Emma

This is a better adaptation of the book than the one with Paltrow (although I liked that one, too). It isn't so much that Beckinsale is better -- they are both very good -- but that the screenplay is better. Davies is a master at adapting Austen for filming, and the production values here are very good. It's not quite as glossy as the Hollywood treatment, but it's close, and I thought that the locations and the costumes actually worked better.