Old BBC Emma

I like this one the best out of all the BBC productions. The Emma is very good, the relationship between her and Mr. Knightly was very nice and believable...but this Mr. Knightly was much too old! He's only 37, but this guy was 45 if he were a day! But I did like him, he grew on me so til by the end, I thought him very attractive indeed! ;-)

Someday I should like to see this version, Auntie.

Cheryl -- I agree with you about the age of Mr Knightley, and also about how the actor's portrayal helped us forget that difference from the book. Since we could say the same thing about Emma Thompson as Elinor and Alan Rickman as Col Brandon in S&S, I guess the age of the actors is less important than the acting and screenplay. At least this version of Emma is long enough to get more of the story covered. But then, as we have discussed re P&P2, no adaptation can really cover everything we want to see!

This Harriet is darn near perfect in looks, don't you think?

Yes, Amy, this Harriet is so pretty and sweet looking -- very much as I imagined her from the novel. Looking at this Harriet, I can understand Emma's thinking that many men would find Harriet attractive (or cute, at least).

This is also my favorite of the early BBC adaptations. But I agree with the age assessment of Mr. Knightly. He does seem too old. But better that than too young. His age and the skill of the actor made the discovery of the love between Emma and Knightly (may I call him Knightly?)more faithful to the book where they are both surprised by love. One of my criticisms of the Miramax Emma(although I did love it) was that Emma and Knightly seemed like the perfect couple the first time they were on screen to ether and that detracted from the eventual discovery of their love. I hated the costumes in this version. The men's coats all looked like polyester to me. And that hat!!

I like Mrs. Elton and the Knightly conversation and the humor he saw in her.Poor Jane Fairfax her life wasn't her own.

Myretta, you are just right about the Miramax Emma when you say the couple seems too right from the beginning. I never pinpointed that part, but yes, it does take away from the drama and surprise.

I felt the same way about this Mr. Knightley. When I figured out in the opening scene that he was George, I thought, "No, NO, it can't be him!" By the end of the show, though, I was fair to be in love with him. I particularly liked the way he raised his eyebrows at certain comments, his manner with Emma, and the way he dealt with Mrs. Elton. You Northam ladies will hate me, but I liked this actor's portrayal much better. I loved Mr. Woodhouse in this production. He made me laugh harder than any other character. When Frank Churchill says he's known little children to slip in unawares and open windows in cold weather, Mr. W's "Have you? Have you really?" had me in stitches. I own this version and have watched it several times -- it never fails to delight.

Susan, your review of this version of Emma has made me want to run right out and buy it. I can't find it to rent, so I think I'll have to succumb to this urge! Perhaps I'll get it in time to join in the discussion here. It sounds better than either of the shorter versions, Miramax's and A&E's next Sunday.

Susan -- I do so agree with you regarding Mr Woodhouse. He's such a fuss budget in this version, just as much (or even more so) as in the novel. And the actor is so thin he really looks like he could break in a strong wind -- perfectly cast, IMO. Regarding casting: the actress playing Emma has eyebrows that seem always to be expressing surprise -- too plucked and too arched, perhaps. I do like her acting in general, however. I have decided that I like both of the versions of Emma that I have seen, and I hope to like the new one next Sunday. Each has its virtues, and I have come to appreciate them for that. (I have decided to become more like Jane Bennet and see only the good in these JA adaptations -- I may one day be able to rewatch the 1940 P&P!) :=)

PEOPLE Online Reviews A&E's EMMA click on Picks and Pans http://pathfinder.com/@@yKZDxAYAHUWO25v6/people/toc.

I thought that this adaptation had the relationship between Emma and Mr. Woodhouse just right! I've always been frustrated by Mr. Woodhouse and would have a hard time dealing with him on a daily basis myself...afraid I'm rather like John Knightly in this respect...but Emma always handles him so beautifully---"handle" being the operative word here! ;-) She deals with him with such patience and love, I really admire that about her, even when there are things about her that I don't like! ;-)

For those of you who want to buy this video set, I got it through the Signals catalog. They sell a lot of PBS stuff. It's about $30 for 2 videotapes. I don't have a current catalog, but could probably find an order phone number if needed.

A classic Mr Woodhouse line: "It is a sad thing to live, as it were, from one cup of gruel to the next." I had to laugh at this silly old man, and appreciate the handling Emma does.

I own this version and like it very much indeed. Mr. Woodhouse is a hoot. Harriet is perfect...."Oh, Miss Woodhouse". Mr Knighly grew on me in this production, too. By the end I believed hin to be perfect for Emma. Miss Bates was rather old in this production, was she not?

We've talked about this before, but there are always so many new people... Doesn't the Emma in Emma1 look like the actress who plays Mrs. Gardiner in P&P2?

I loved Emma1! I also thought that Knightley was a bit to old for the part, but by the second tape I thought he was perfect for the role! I didn't get to see JN Emma (I know, I know...) It wasn't here at the theator. (Can we say, reason to sue!) So I can not compare the 2.But I will say the 2 on dose seem a little short in min. for an Austen novel. In the book thow it leads us to believe that Emma is the prettier of the 2 but in the movie, while both actress are lovely, Harriet seems more so. Then again Emmas eyebrows were always moveing and I was always wondering what they would do next! But Emma in the first one did seem more glamoures (I sopose you could say) then Harriet. Harriet reminded me of a little kitten, just the way I thought she should be I guess. The is a place online to order the book if anyone is interested e-mail me and I will e-mail it to you. The 2 tapes are $21.99(US), not includeing shipping. Kessa

OOOPPPS!! I don't mean to order the BOOK, I mean the movie!! What can I say its 3:26am here.

Response 8 : I too very much agree with you as did Amy. Since I only read the book after, only now am I fully aware of the lack of surprise, thought it waas rather subtle, as if (in my perception or the viewer's) it was meant to be

BTW anybody ever seen what we could call Emma 0 the 1932 version http://us.imdb.com/cache/title-exact/30388

From Johanne: BTW anybody ever seen what we could call Emma 0 the 1932 version From the imdb link: Anne Shirley.... Girl (as Dawn O'Day) From me: Dawn O'day?!

Never even heard of it, Johanne. Thanks. It guess it would be Emma0. What a find.

Why not the whole cast : Marie Dressler .... Emma Thatcher (AAN) Richard Cromwell .... Ronnie Smith Jean Hersholt .... Frederick Smith Myrna Loy .... Isabelle John Miljan .... District Attorney Purnell Pratt .... Haskins Leila Bennett .... Matilda Barbara Kent .... Gypsy Kathryn Crawford .... Sue George Meeker .... Bill Dale Fuller .... Maid Wilfred Noy .... Drake Andre Cheron .... Count Pierre Anne Shirley .... Girl (as Dawn O'Day) Dorothy Peterson .... Woman Mickey Rooney .... Bit Part Jay Ward .... Bit Emma Thatcher, the Smith Brothers, Bill, Mickey Ronnie as Bit Part ? Dawn Evelyn Paris aka Dawn O'Day, what an interesting career, daughter Julie Payne...

Wait a second. Those character names do not make sense. I wonder if this was an early Clueless kind of Emma...

Where to find this thing, got to see it...

I MUST defend my beloved Miramax adaptation, Amy! You say that the leads are to obviously and handsomely-matched from the beginning? And how is that wrong? I think that it is meant to be very plain, from the start of the novel, that they are PERFECT for eachother. And anyway, Emma is supposed to be pretty and Mr. Knightley is supposed to be pretty hot.

] I think that it is meant to be very plain, from the start of the novel, that they are PERFECT for eachother. Oh, Kali, please don't lets argue about Emma anymore. By all means, love your adaptation to death! It is your right, of course. All I am saying is that I, just, me, remember not tumbling about Emma and Knightley's suitability for each other the first time I read the novel, not 'til quite deep into the book, if I recall, not until after she realizes Frank is not for her and I realize no other men have come on the scene.

Okay, okay...I getcha.

Amy -- Since you have admitted as much, I will confess that although I love the Miramax adaptation (7 viewings in the theater, and a videotape to be ordered at first opportunity), I was not certain of the heroine's and hero's perfect suitability on first, second and probably third reading of the novel. I first read "Emma" when I was about 19, and like Marianne Dashwood, I was convinced that a man age 37 was well past the age of romance. As I grew in age and experience, Mr Knightly seemed more and more perfect -- for Emma or me!

I finally finished viewing the old BBC Emma and liked it very much. I really enjoyed having all the characters filled out more than in the Miramax version, particularly Mr. Woodhouse! Susan I really feel the same way you did about this version; Knightley grows on you as you get into it, Emma is good as is Harriet. I thought Miss Bates was great, and Mrs. Elton - ugh -- perfectly horrible just as she's meant to be. I'm now all anticipation for this Sunday's version and wonder how it will hold up.

I have seen this version, and I do think it had its good parts, but I think it did go on a bit too long. I know they included everything, but I just wanted it to get moving or something. Mr. Knightly was too old, and while he grew on me, too, I found it hard to believe that Emma, young as she was, would find him attractive. Mr. Woodhouse was great, much better than the Miramax Mr. W. In the Miramax one, you dont get the idea of how troublesome he could be. Where are we discussing last nights' A&E ver ion? Not sure I was crazy about it.....

Emma 1 is very good and has the best overall casting in my opinion. Mr Knightley a bit oldish and admittedly not as dashing as Jeremy N. But very believable in his feelings for Emma - great voice! Mr Woodhouse and Mrs Elton are the best in this version, Miss Bates so good, Emma is clever, amiable and selfassured. Can't remember Jane F. but this Frank is rather good in my opinion and not as cruel as in Emma 3.And as mentioned above the sweetness of Harriet 1 makes Emmas planning more understandable; she st ll seems robust enough for a farmers wife. I fear Harriet 3 was a bit delicate and Harriet 2 not elegant enough for Frank or Mr Elton.Miss the beautiful singing and dancing from 2 and 3 and of course the gardens and landscape are not getting attention enough here. Do you not love the scene where Emma has let it slip out that she wondered if Mr K. might marry Jane F. and he is so amused and serious:'I could never love a reserved person' And Emma is so confused and he finds the pair of scissors for her...

Do you not love the scene where Emma has let it slip out that she wondered if Mr K. might marry Jane F. and he is so amused and serious:'I could never love a reserved person' And Emma is so confused and he finds the pair of scissors for her... Yes, Anne, I do love that scene and the entire production. I also like, just before this scene, when Emma is fuming over Mrs. Elton having called Mr. Knightley Knightley and he smiles somewhat mysteriously as he listens to her rave.

Well, thanks to Myretta loaning me a copy, I just recently viewed Emma1. And I must agree with most of the posters here that it is the best so far. It is far from perfect, doesn't nearly reach the level of our beloved P&P2, but I think this has much to do with the static sets, stark lighting and other production concerns. I agree wholeheartedly with Ann that this one is by far the best cast of all the productions. I know how much people admire Sophie Thompson's Miss Bates, but I think this Miss Bates is better in several ways. She looks the right age, but more importantly she is more of a character and less a caricature than Thompson's creation. We all know that JA walks a fine line between sketching and skewering her silly characters, but they are usually as alive and real as her heroines. To me, it seemed at times that Thompson was overdoing it. The Emma1 Miss Bates reminded me of several gossips in the small tow where my grandmother lives who are always plying you with cake and relating tales of some relative you have little knowledge of. She was endearing and annoying at once. Sophie Thompson was endearing only at Box Hill. And as to Mr. Knightley looking too old, I'll have NONE of it. He was perfect. I could see a girl of one-and-twenty falling for such a solid, stable, gentlemanly man. I LOVED Frank Churchill in this film, but my heart raced each time Mr. Knightley came into the room and I broke into a wide grin. I guess I like older men too.