Emma (1996)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Douglas McGrath

Writers (WGA):

Jane Austen (novel)
Douglas McGrath (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Cupid is armed and dangerous!

Plot:

In rural 1800s England things go bad for a young matchmaker after she finds a man for another woman.

Plot Keywords:

Love | England | Jane | Matchmaker | Austen

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Emma Woodhouse
James Cosmo	...	Mr. Weston
Greta Scacchi	...	Mrs. Weston
Alan Cumming	...	Mr. Elton
Denys Hawthorne	...	Mr. Woodhouse
Sophie Thompson	...	Miss Bates
Jeremy Northam	...	Mr. Knightley
Toni Collette	...	Harriet Smith
Kathleen Byron	...	Mrs. Goddard
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Bates
Edward Woodall	...	Mr. Robert Martin
Brett Miley	...	Little Boy
Brian Capron	...	John Knightley
Karen Westwood	...	Isabella Knightley
Paul Williamson	...	Footman

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief mild language.

Runtime:

121 min | Canada:94 min (Ontario)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Belgium:KT | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Came House, Dorchester, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The blue striped dress with long sleeves Gwyneth Paltrow (Emma Woodhouse) wears at Hartfield is the same gown worn by a guest at the Towers in the opening scene of "Wives and Daughters" (1999), and by Mali Harries (Ann Rood) for her wedding in Byron (2003) (TV). The same costume is also worn by one of the maids at Chawton Cottage in Miss Austen Regrets (2008) (TV), and by Laura Pyper (Jane Fairfax) while reading a letter in "Emma" (2009).

Goofs:

Continuity: During Mr. Knightley's proposal scene, Emma's hair changes. At first, the curls are quite close to her forehead, by the end of the scene, they are all the way back on her crown.

Quotes:

Mr. Woodhouse: Must the church be so drafty, Mr. Elton? It is difficult to surrender one's soul when one is worried about one's throat.
Mrs. Weston: Perhaps some tea and cake would revive you, Mr. Woodhouse.
Mr. Woodhouse: Cake! Surely you're not serving cake at your wedding, Miss Taylor! Far too rich, you put us all at peril! Where is Mr. Perry, the apothecary? I'm sure he will support me!
Mrs. Weston: Ah, he is over there, Mr. Woodhouse, having some cake.
Mr. Woodhouse: What?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Gwyneth Paltrow/Barenaked Ladies (#24.12)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Virgins Are Like the Fair Flower

A very pleasant adaptation. And Northam is a real find!

By no means my favourite Austen novel, and Paltrow is by no means my favourite actress, but I found the film almost totally delightful. Paltrow does a good job, and Cummings, Stevenson and the one who plays 'Miss Bates' are all absolutely terrific. The period detail is not alienating; the feel of the movie is just right, in fact. But the real 'find' is Jeremy Northam as Mr Knightley. There could not be more perfect casting, IMO. I hated Mr K in the novel, but found him wonderfully human and humane in the film. Northam's good looks and smiling eyes are no hindrance to enjoyment, either! Highly recommended. AnaR