I don’t know how two different movie adaptations of the exact same classic novel managed to come out at almost exactly the same time, but they did. IMDB actually lists both this and the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma as 1996, but other sources say 1997 for this one, so that’s how I’m distinguishing them.

I almost skipped this one — I already have so much work to do with three other Emmas on the list, as well as Clueless eventually — but then I found out the 1997 version I’d never heard of was apparently written by Andrew Davies and… we can’t skip out on the adaptation master’s version, can we?

Read my review of Emma (the book).

Running commentary

The movie starts with… someone stealing chickens? On a dark night? With cheery music playing? I don’t know. That was weird.

The first lines are from Emma’s father Mr. Woodhouse, and immediately I like this version better than the 1996 movie. While I don’t think I touched on the father character in that review, he struck me as too whiny with his complaints. A matter of delivery rather than text in adaptation. Bernard Hepton is so much more the beloved but overly concerned figure I wanted.

MERLIN! Mark Strong, aka Merlin from the Kingsmen movie series, plays (as a much younger man) Mr. Knightley. He knows the servants personally and has a smile at the ready, so amiable and gentlemanly. I already love him.

The suggestion, via beam of sunlight in a church service, that God himself chose dainty Samantha Morton’s Harriet Smith for Emma’s friendship-slash-matchmaking-services was a funny addition. Morton plays Harriet well, with an attitude of humility mixed with insecurity and a soft voice.

Mr. Elton, played by Dominic Rowan, has a serious air about him, as befits a clergyman. He resembles an ex of mine, oddly enough.

The pacing of this adaptation moves rapidly. I think any adaptation of Emma that adheres to regular movie length might have an issue with pacing; the book is so long, and there is so much to fit in. This movie definitely runs through the first several plot points at a rapid clip. We’re barely introduced to Robert Martin before we’re hearing Knightley and Emma argue about Harriet’s refusal of his proposal. The mix-up of Elton’s riddle is cut entirely, which is a pity.

Emma’s attempted guidance of Harriet in Kate Beckinsale’s performance carries the right mix of self-absorbed scheming and genuine (though misguided) good intentions for her friend.

John Knightley, Mr. Knightley’s brother, has a bit more pep than I think was due to the book character. Isabella, meanwhile, is more easily worried than I pictured.

Davies’ penchant for portraying scenes from characters’ imaginations continues as Emma pictures Harriet and Elton happily married, and her first meeting with Frank Churchill, and Knightley’s potential weddings. I think this tends to add to screen adaptations a visual interest that this medium needs to best engage audiences.

Prunella Scales’ chatty Miss Bates and Olivia Williams’ reserved Jane Fairfax were faithful portrayals of the book characters.

Knightley and Emma’s banter is very loyal to the book — plenty of chemistry, but more friendship and good intentions for each other in their exchange than any flirtation. The romance really does feel like it sneaks up on everyone.

Frank and Emma’s banter felt a little flat in this adaptation. He seemed less playful and more mean in his remarks toward Jane, even if audiences already know his secret. Characters’ anger at him once their engagement is revealed makes more sense with this version of the character, but as a viewer I tend to prefer a more amusing portrayal, with less cruelty toward his supposed secret beloved.

Mrs. Elton was played by Lucy Robinson, who portrayed Bingley’s married sister in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries. Her accent was so different in this one, which took me a minute to get used to. She played the part well. I appreciated her and Mr. Elton’s genuine relationship — while obviously Mr. Elton did snub Harriet and Emma unnecessarily following his return to town, no one can doubt that he and his wife are happy to have each other.

I liked the inclusion of the picnic scene with the wordplay game. I enjoyed that scene in the book and was happy to see it in this movie. What writer or reader wouldn’t appreciate a scene of teasing and flirtatious word games?

THAT’S WHY THEY HAD THE CHICKEN THIEVES. Oh dear lord. The couple convinces Mr. Woodhouse they should get married and Knightley should move into the house… to protect them from the random chicken thieves. I’d be upset at such a weird unnecessary addition except it’s so funny.

Overall thoughts

Kate Beckinsale makes a perfect Emma Woodhouse in my mind. She looks, sounds, and carries the part exactly as I pictured. Her relationship with Mark Strong’s Knightley, and his character on its own grounds, are equally faithful.

By the time I’ve gone through all the Emma adaptations I’m afraid I’ll be quite sick of the story, but from what I’ve seen so far this might be my favorite non-modernized adaptation. (Things like Emma Approved and Clueless deserve a separate category and criteria from period dramas.) It’s a pity I can only find it in low-quality and SD video online.

P.S. One complaint: after the proposal, just before the kiss, Mr. Knightley says “I held you in my arms when you were just three weeks old.” Emma asks if he likes her now as much as he did then. Why would a modern adaptation intentionally point out such an age gap between the characters?? A grown man seeing a girl grow from infancy to adulthood and then deciding “I love her and will marry her” was normal then, but not now. It ruined the kiss for me. I was too preoccupied with how out of place and creepy that exchange and its resulting mental picture felt.