EMMA

UK, 1996, 121 minutes, Colour.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Ewan Mc Gregor, Toni Collette, Greta Scacchi, Alan Cumming, Sophie Thompson, Phyllida Law, Juliet Stephenson, James Cosmo, Kathleen Byron.
Directed by Douglas Mc Grath.

Emma was released at the same time as the BBC produced a television series, starring Kate Beckinsale, in the mid-1990s. There has almost been an industry in films based on the books by Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice, her best-known novel, was filmed in 194l, received lavish television treatment with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in 1995 and was made again in 2005 with Keira Knightly in the lead. Films were also made of Sense and Sensibility, written by Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee in 1995 and Mansfield Park directed by Patricia Roszema with Frances O’ Connor in 2000. There was a television film of Persuasion in 1996. (There were also some variations on the themes of Jane Austen’s novels including an updating of the Emma plot in Clueless with Alicia Silverstone as well as the entertaining Bride and Prejudice, Pride and Prejudice Bollywood fashion?

Gwyneth Paltrow is excellent as Emma. She showed that she could do British accents to great effect in such films as Shakespeare in Love, Sliding Doors and Possession. She is supported by an excellent cast: Ewan Mc Gregor at the beginning of his career, Jeremy Northam establishing himself as a solid actor in period films, Toni Collette soon after her triumph in Muriel’s Wedding as well as excellent cameos from Greta Scacchi as the governess, Alan Cumming as the Reverend Elton and Juliet Stephenson as his snobbish wife. There is an amusing portrait of Miss Bates by Sophie Thompson (Emma Thompson’s sister), especially in the scene where Emma humiliates her. Phyllida Law (Sophie Thompson’s mother) appears as Mrs Bates.

The locations are beautiful, the photography most attractive, a pleasing musical score which echoes the 19th century. The film was adapted for the screen by writer-director Douglas McGrath? who wrote and directed the 2002 version of Nicholas Nickleby as well as a film about Truman Capote, Infamous. He collaborated with Woody Allen for Celebrity, Small-Time? Crooks and Hollywood Ending.

1. Jane Austen’s appeal, reputation? Literature? Universal themes? Her perspective on life, small focus but deep themes? The television and cinema tradition of adaptations of her work?

2. The adaptation, the range of characters, the settings, Jane Austen themes of marriage, relationships? Literate 19th century style, language and manners?

3. The re-creation of England in the 19th century, the village, ordinary people, the wealthy homes, the upper class? Distinction between classes? The church? Countryside and beauty? Songs and the classical style score?

4. The voice-over, Knightly, the story of Emma? The comments about Emma, her attitude, behaviour? Her learning? The film as the education of Emma? Her age, experience, nice, but a controller? Her interfering? Oblivious of her own needs for loving? Her snobbery and her hurting people, especially Miss Bates? Her learning to mature?

5. Gwyneth Paltrow’s presence as Emma, in herself, age, education, culture? Her home and her care for her father? Observing what he asked? Yet controlling him? Mrs Weston as her governess, her happiness that Mrs Weston was married, Mr Weston, the talk of Frank Churchill? As neighbours, the visits, the gatherings, the style of society, manners, music, dance? Everything proper? The patterns of Emma’s life? The importance of marriage? John Knightly and her sister? The presence of Mr Knightly for advice?

6. The portrait of Harriet Smith, in herself, an orphan? Her friendship with the Martins? Her love for Robert Martin, admiration for his work? Her becoming Emma’s project? Her doting on Emma, following her everywhere? In the town, the visits to the poor? Her discussions with Emma? The discussion of Robert Martin, Emma’s criticism of him? Mr Knightly and his not responding well to her? The others against her? Strolling with Emma, recounting the story of her family, the attention of Mr Elton? Emma’s plans? Mr Elton snubbing her? Her being hurt? The arrival of Frank Churchill, the seeming infatuation? The misinterpretation? Her attraction towards Mr Knightly, upset when Emma’s choices were evident? Her absence, meeting Emma again, the renewal of trust with Miss Martin and Robert Martin, the marriage?

7. Mrs Weston, her place in Emma’s household, her marrying the widower? Happy, always being present, at the social events, giving good advice, listening to Emma, guiding her?

8. Mr Elton, his role at the church? His being puffed up in himself? The weddings? His attentions towards Emma, not seeing Harriet? The dance, rudeness? His upset by Emma’s rejection? His absence, the letters, his marrying? His return? The immediate impact of Mrs Elton, her sense of superiority, her praising of her own qualities? Her meeting with the ladies, picnics, giving snobbish advice?

9. Mrs Elton, her manner, vanity, talking about herself, rude with others? Her final comment to the camera?

10. Mr Knightly, staying in the background, his age, fifteen years older than Emma, his advice, his place within the family, his brother’s marriage? The discussions with Emma, his loving her, she not seeing it? His absence? His criticisms of Harriet Smith? His criticisms of the superficiality of Frank Churchill? Miss Bates and her mother? The picnic, Emma’s rudeness about the three things that Miss Bates could say? The tension between himself and Emma, his reprimanding her? The discussions, his going away to check his feelings, his brother’s attitude? His return, Harriet’s attraction? The resolution of the problems, the happy marriage?

11. Frank Churchill, the talk about him, Mr Weston’s son, Mrs Weston as his stepmother? The family doting on him? The letters? His helping Emma when she was trapped in the water? His love for Jane Fairfax, this not being mentioned? In the village, at the dance, his talk about himself? The final revelation of the truth about his love for Jane?

12. Jane, her depending on goodwill from people, her attitudes to life, to Frank Churchill, her singing and playing, Emma’s jealousy and comparisons? The revelation of the truth?

13. Miss Bates, her dithery manner, her continual chatter, her taking her silent mother with her, talking about her mother’s opinions? The visits, the socials? The game, the three things – and her being hurt by Emma’s comments? Her not receiving Emma into the house?

14. Emma, her experience, interfering, rudeness – and her having to learn? Despite her resolutions not to interfere with people’s lives?

15. The happy ending, the weddings? Fulfilment in a Jane Austen world?