Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22921 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-11-07
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 256 minutes

Synopsis
BBC drama based on the Jane Austen novel 'Emma', which tells the story of a rich and clever woman, Emma Woodhouse, who enjoys arranging the lives of her friends. An admirer, Mr Knightly, watches with amusement.

Customer Reviews

Funny and Charming
Emma [1972]
This is probably the best available version of Emma on DVD. It comes on 2 discs with six 40 minutes episodes. There are no extras just a menu. Its a BBC production from 1972, mainly shot in a TV studio with a few short exterior 16mm film scenes. The colour and general picture quality is fine except for the film scenes which are less sharp and the dialogue in the Box Hill sequence seems forced due to the dubbing after the scene was filmed.

The adaption by Denis Constanduros is reasonably faithful to the book and he has enough time to develop the story without rushing it.

The handling by the director is very precise and each actor is well-cast and give excellent performances. John Carson is a little too old. Mr Knightley is 37 while John Carson was 45 (not 50 as claimed by another reviewer). Doran Godwin (later played Erica Bayliss in "Shoestring") was 22 which is nearly right. Godwin and Carson's scenes together have great wit and charm which is what counts. The other actors are uniformly excellent. You need to allow for slightly posh old fashioned diction. The playing of Donald Eccles as Mr Wodehouse and the actress who plays Harriet Smith is brilliant.

For a shorter version with more modern casting and production the Kate Beckinsale version is probably the best.

How Strange
Funny isn't it. The very reason why most people didn't like this version of Emma, is the reason why I loved it. OK, so John Carson was 50ish when he played Mr Knightly, but still the dutiful but caring man came through. The part of Emma was a bit clipped, but still well acted, and the "minor characters" were excellent. This version of Mr Woodhouse is the best I have seen. Don't be put off by other comments. Give it a go.

Quite delightful
Not a fan of this type of thing normally but for some reason I was drawn to Emma and found it quite delightful. Highly recommended from someone who normally watches sci-fi and action films. I have never read any of Jane Austen's books so I have no point of reference for the characters so was able to enjoy the story fresh.