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starring: Kate Beckinsale, Bernard Hepton, Mark Strong, Samantha Bond, James Hazeldinedirected by: Diarmuid Lawrence
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786304346105
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
ISBN: 6304346107
Label: A&E Home Video
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: A&E Home Video
Release Date: December 26, 1996
Running Time: 107 minutes
Sales Rank: 7371
Studio: A&E Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: February 16, 1997
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Editorial Review:
Description:
From the award-winning creative team behind A&E’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE comes another Jane Austen classic, the beloved EMMA. Kate Beckinsale (Last Days of Disco) stars in this wickedly delightful tale of love and matchmaking.
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
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Not The Everyman's Emma
I think, to a certain degree, comparison with Douglas McGrath's 1996 movie featuring Gwyneth Paltrow is inevitable. However, I must alert my reader to the fact that - when I praise this alternate version from Diarmuid Lawrence - I do so with the original novel in mind. This mini-series has not a movie's glamour, nor does Kate Beckinsale match Paltrow in beauty. However, with regards to Jane Austen's beloved work, this is undoubtedly the more faithful adaptation. Beckinsale's portrayal is less flighty ... Read More
Rating: - Truly the Best Emma
This Emma is the best production. The others don't compare with this one. Kate Beckinsdale is very good as the lead character and the production is much more realistic than the others out there. Emma is a difficult book to produce it is a bit thin and shallow. This is the first show I've seen that has made Emma as realistic as possible. It really works! I found myself engaged in the story and feeling for the characters. It works.
Rating:  - Pleasant. Relaxed-pace, ok once.
Visually appealing. Pretty dresses, houses, and scenery. Better than television. Only 3-stars, because the script could be better. 3-stars compared to "Pride and Prejudice". This is the best version so far. Pleasant to watch once.
Emma meddles in her friend's romances to their harm.
We see Emma insulting nice people. We see Emma being condescending to her friends; meaning Emma's attitude shows Emma is thinking how she is better than her friends, rather than being thankful ... Read More
Rating: - 3 maybe 3 1/2
Not quite what I was expecting, but it's a cute movie. Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility get 5 stars in my book. But this is a good movie too.
Rating: - 4.5
I did watch this AFTER watching the 1996 Gwyneth Paltrow version and do prefer this one.
I'm not a Kate Beckinsale fan, she does Emma well. She's more proper and more restrained than Paltrow. The scene that sticks in my mind most is her face after Knightley chews her out for being mean to Miss Bates.
I definitely preferred this George Knightley. Davies does a better job of showing Knightley as a person rather than a plot mover; it was far clearer that he was a responsible landowner, ... Read More
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