Thanks to John Halbrooks of “Personal Canon Formation” for inviting me to do this guest piece on Autumn de Wilde’s “Emma.” With lots of great video clips!
I thought Emma. was an excellent movie that made some unusual choices that, for the most part, worked very well.
Some thoughts on Emma adaptations over the years:
Both Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax are described in the 1815 book as 'plump' and 'between being fat and thin' and are praised for their attractiveness. Yet with the exception of Toni Collette's Harriet in the 1996 movie, the characters are always cast as thin. I wonder if the 2020 Emma. would have cast plumper actresses in these roles if it was coming out in 2026, after Bridgerton Series 3 featured a curvy heroine, rather than in 2020?
All movie length adaptations of Emma struggle to do justice to the Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax plotline because of time constraints. The best adaptation in terms of doing justice to that plotline, and to other important details in the book, is the 2009 4-hour BBC TV adaptation. However, sadly, I cannot love that adaptation. Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller don't work as Emma and Mr Knightley. Garai is constantly looking awkward and unconfident. Miller is regularly frowning and isn't sexy at all. It's odd because, as Edmund Bertram in the 1999 Mansfield Park, Miller makes Edmund sexier than he has any right to be! But just 10 years later, he destroys the sex appeal of Mr Knightley.
The 1996 movie has the best versions of Mr Elton, Mrs Elton and Frank Churchill. All brilliantly characterised.
The 2020 Emma. is bold and innovative. I was struck at the end of the movie with how human and embodied they had managed to make Emma and Mr Knightley, despite much of the adaptation being deliberately over the top. I thought this was a real 'win' for the movie.
Interesting note about body type! Makes me wonder just how transforming the plump Bridgerton Penelope will prove to be in other representations. My guess is: not very. They went to such great lengths to “mark” her as beautiful and sexy, accompanied by huge amounts of publicity, interviews, etc. Shows just how formidable what they were fighting against is!
I agree with you about the BBC series. It was extremely good—except for the all-important characters of Emma and Knightley. Johnny Lee Miller: no sex appeal at all. Romola: Too smiley and overly-expressive all the time.
I’ll have to refresh my memory (by looking at pictures) of the 1996 character that you mention. I re-watched all the past versions at one before writing this and things tended to run into each other after awhile!
Just wonderful, Susan. Your insights about so many things are on target, even when disagreeing with director and screenwriter. And I must say that like John, you're professor and fan (as it should be), the best of both worlds.
Thanks for this article.
I'm an Austen book and adaptation fan myself.
I thought Emma. was an excellent movie that made some unusual choices that, for the most part, worked very well.
Some thoughts on Emma adaptations over the years:
Both Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax are described in the 1815 book as 'plump' and 'between being fat and thin' and are praised for their attractiveness. Yet with the exception of Toni Collette's Harriet in the 1996 movie, the characters are always cast as thin. I wonder if the 2020 Emma. would have cast plumper actresses in these roles if it was coming out in 2026, after Bridgerton Series 3 featured a curvy heroine, rather than in 2020?
All movie length adaptations of Emma struggle to do justice to the Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax plotline because of time constraints. The best adaptation in terms of doing justice to that plotline, and to other important details in the book, is the 2009 4-hour BBC TV adaptation. However, sadly, I cannot love that adaptation. Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller don't work as Emma and Mr Knightley. Garai is constantly looking awkward and unconfident. Miller is regularly frowning and isn't sexy at all. It's odd because, as Edmund Bertram in the 1999 Mansfield Park, Miller makes Edmund sexier than he has any right to be! But just 10 years later, he destroys the sex appeal of Mr Knightley.
The 1996 movie has the best versions of Mr Elton, Mrs Elton and Frank Churchill. All brilliantly characterised.
The 2020 Emma. is bold and innovative. I was struck at the end of the movie with how human and embodied they had managed to make Emma and Mr Knightley, despite much of the adaptation being deliberately over the top. I thought this was a real 'win' for the movie.
Interesting note about body type! Makes me wonder just how transforming the plump Bridgerton Penelope will prove to be in other representations. My guess is: not very. They went to such great lengths to “mark” her as beautiful and sexy, accompanied by huge amounts of publicity, interviews, etc. Shows just how formidable what they were fighting against is!
I agree with you about the BBC series. It was extremely good—except for the all-important characters of Emma and Knightley. Johnny Lee Miller: no sex appeal at all. Romola: Too smiley and overly-expressive all the time.
I’ll have to refresh my memory (by looking at pictures) of the 1996 character that you mention. I re-watched all the past versions at one before writing this and things tended to run into each other after awhile!
Thanks so much for the comment!
I always feel bad for the Victorian lit professor. They will never touch the obsession and passion of the fans, who can skate circles around them.
Am I in the category of prof or fan?
Susan,
You have given me the gift of watching this movie. I stopped watching the clips after the first one as I was already hooked.
Thank you for this essay.
Emma must be my next read. Before the movie I think.
Just wonderful, Susan. Your insights about so many things are on target, even when disagreeing with director and screenwriter. And I must say that like John, you're professor and fan (as it should be), the best of both worlds.
Thanks so much, a lovely compliment!