Product Description

Emma Woodhouse imagines that she dominates those around her in the small town of Highbury, but her matchmaking creates problems for herself and others.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 26-OCT-1999
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #615 in DVD
• Brand: AUSTIN,JANE
• Released on: 1999-10-26
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.com
Similar to the equally excellent Valmont, this version of Jane Austen's classic novel had the misfortune of following a sumptuous big-star version with Gwyneth Paltrow, which was released the summer before. And, just as 1989's Valmont suffered comparisons with Dangerous Liaisons, inevitably these Emmas were held up next to one another.

This delicious Emma concerns a young woman of financial substance (Kate Beckinsale), who fancies herself a matchmaker, especially with shy Miss Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton, who also appears in A&E's Jane Eyre). In Emma's swirling world of social activity and social consciousness, one's position and stature is a constant preoccupation. But to her credit, Emma, albeit a busybody, has compassion for all classes, and for her kindly but hypochondriacal father (Bernard Hepton).

This miniseries is more subtle than the grand theatrical release, is truer to the novel, and gives a richer explanation of the relationship between Emma associates Jane Fairfax (beautiful Olivia Williams of Rushmore) and the duplicitous Frank Churchill (Raymond Coulthard). Of course, at the center, as in all Austen stories, is the romance between the unsuspecting leading lady and an unlikely, but wholly suitable gentleman. In this case, it's Emma and her brother-in-law, the righteous (as played here) Mr. Knightley (Mark Strong). Strong's Mr. Knightley is more reserved, less coy than Jeremy Northam's; he plays Knightley more like Mr. Darcy (the leading man in Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which A&E also offers in a wonderful miniseries). Beckinsale proves to be utterly delightful and in no way should this excellent adaptation be ignored. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews

Difinitive Emma
This is a really difinitive production of Emma. Aside from the slightly jujeune leading lady (which gets her correctly - even Jane Austen knew she was somewhat dislikable), played excellently by Kate Beckinsale, we have the best Jane Faifax in gorgeous and extemely talented Olivia Williams. William's Jane is highlighted by some of the prettiest music pieces chosen for Jane - which is part of the character's prowess, and "makes" her for us as an audience (whether or not she is actually playing it). And superlatively talented Samantha Morton perfectly cast as the sweet odd-duck. She is so believably sweet and dim, she is a joy.

This version is a bit more wintery and indoor than the version relesed just before it - that one is more summer and green. But despite some really good performances in the other, this one is so much better on all levels it is silly to compare them. The Direction here is really good, giving all three of the young heroines some breathing space in their own environment from time to time, which really helps us feel and care for each of them. And we finally DO care for Emma because she gets a resounding come-uppance.

For anyone who thinks Beckinsale's Emma is too dislikable, see the 1970s version - a long, detailed "play for tv" version in which Emma is extremely cold, disapproving and you just want to slap her... often. (Still it is an on-target performance and worth seeing.)

Love Anything Austen
I love Jane Austen! EMMA is a wonderful movie. Please read the book and see the movie....it's great to see the characters come to life.

I prefer the full screen to the wide screen versions though.

Emma (A&E, 1997)
I saw this on PBS after I had read the book. It is very faithful to the book, so I decided to buy a copy for my home video library.