Hey all,
Just finished watching the final episode and LOVED it, and just interested in what all your favourite scenes or quotes are from any of the episodes so we can re-live the good times :)
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I gave in, and admitted that God was God.
C. S. Lewis
I watched the scene after the Alphabet letters incident again, where Knightley is trying ot give Emma some guidance on Jane and Frank. The interplay between them is so well choreographed - it reminds me of the dance they shared at the ball except now they are out-of-sync. Step together/ step apart, did she understand/no she didn't, what is bothering him/he has misjudged. I admire Knightley for keeping himself under control as well as he did; the strain Emma's conversation is putting him under makes it hard for him to hold his tongue. He barely manages to keep his face in order. She seems oblivious to what it's costing him (in true Emma fashion).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8lQ7scinis&feature=PlayList&p= D8FAC0829563584D&playnext_from=PL&index=23
After she asks if he is staying to supper, he tries to put a game face on things, but it's only enough to get him out of the room. Then the last looks- again like the dance, but out-of-step. She watches his back as he leaves, she turns back to the firplace as he turns to look at her. They aren't quite ready to be together. But I think he is beginning to see there is a difference. Something else must happen to strip away the last vestiges of brother-sister relationship.
Again, beautiful direction, and spot on performances.
- When Emma and Mr. Knightley argue about Harriet and Robert Martin and Emma says(about Harriet) "were you ever to marry, she would be just the sort of woman for you.".
- At the end of the scene, Mr. Knightley says "and one day you will bitterly regret your meddling" and of course she did, but neither of them could have imagined how much and why.
Thank you for this hint! Although I knew the plot, I wasn't aware of the humorous character of this scene. That's why the novels of Jane Austen (and the films) get even better when you read (and see) them the second time. There is a subtle, hidden humour in it that can only be understood when you already know how the plot will continue.
share
Just finished watching it (again), and here are some of my favourites..
- "A haircut? Imperative business indeed"
- there's a moment during *that* dance, where he briefly lowers his eyes away from her and seems to take a deep breath; from then on in he doesn't take his eyes off her. I reckon that's when he realised these feelings weren't those of a brother.
- Mrs Elton arriving at Domwell on the donkey - just a classic lol moment!
- "Badly done, Emma"
- the day after Boxhill with the sun light filling the room
- when he almost kisses her hand, and says goodbye. So sad, he's thinking "that's it I have to let go now, she loves Frank".
- the very start of the proposal - "I don't want - " and the desperation, hope & yearning in that line and shake of the head
- "Have I no hope of succeeding?" - ditto, but then also the look on Emma's face as he continues "my dearest Emma". An equivalent to "OMG, he doesn't love Harriet, I haven't blown it after all"!
- "tell me what you think" - which lots of people have included
- The bench scene - enough said, but especially the way they look at each other after he says "I knew after Boxhill", and the way he caresses her neck. OK, the whole lot! Just gorgeous. I still can't believe the BBC of all people thought that bit was OK to cut out for all you lot in the US... - what were they thinking?! It's definitely in my top 3 moments.
"Harriet? I do not care what we speak of, we can talk of Harriet if you must" - another lol moment in the middle of an otherwise beautiful emotional few minutes
- "my heart is here ....... " and then probably in my top 3,
"So, let us go and tell him"
"What? Now?"
"Hmmm, yes, now" in that gorgeous barritone voice.
*Swoon & major crush moment*
- Taking her hand as she tells her father
- John Knightly as the carriage pulls away for the honeymoon - don't know why, I just love the chracater coming through there. First the sarcastic "they're off on a 2 week honeymoon and I'm left to tend the chickens", but then his reaction when Isabella says "there is a wolf about, we need a man to protect the chickens". The way he looks and puts his arm around her in a sense of pride - it's even in time to the music at that point, almost choreographed. Does anyone else see that?
Finally, I think my favourite ever. The last shot of them, standing on the cliff, looking out to see. Absolutely gorgeous. Although, I do wish they could have filmed the pre-proposal shots and that last shot without the sun in their eyes. JLM especially ends up squinting against the sunlight.
- The bench scene - enough said, but especially the way they look at each other after he says "I knew after Boxhill", and the way he caresses her neck. OK, the whole lot! Just gorgeous. I still can't believe the BBC of all people thought that bit was OK to cut out for all you lot in the US... - what were they thinking?! It's definitely in my top 3 moments.
Cynical, I know, but maybe the BBC cut that scene purposely knowing it would spur sales for their DVD instead of the edited version by Masterpiece Classic.
I absolutely loved Emma's comments in that scene.
First, the care and concern for Harriet the way she says "about a private affair of her heart" - then her following line slays me. "I looked inside my own heart, and found you there - never, I fear, to be removed".
Not only does the line tough my heart, but in those two sentences, I could feel her increased maturity through the slow deliberate delivery of the lines, and the lower tone of voice Ms. Garai used in this scene.
Yes, the girl becomes a woman from the moment it dawns on her that, if anyone is going to marry Mr. Knightly, it should be her. The full realization that it may be too late because of her own meddling is an epiphany that sobers her in a way that nothing else could.
shareI have two favorite moments.(i actually have more than 2, i have many!! but these are my top 2 favorite!!)
At the dance when Knightley sees Harriet sitting alone and how that jerk Elton wouldn't dance with her, and then the music starts playing and i knew he was going to ask her to dance but the anticipation of him going over there and it seems to take him forever just because i know it is going to happen, but then he finally goes over there and puts his hand out and she smiles and they head over to dance and then she gets really excited. i love the way he stops her from joining in at the wrong time and sort of holds her back.
i also love the scene after Box Hill when Emma is at home. she hasn't slept the whole night before and the sun is rising and then she stands up and her hair is unkept and she looks terrible because of her hair, but i think she looks beautiful because she looks so real and how someone today would look if the same thing happened to them!
All I care about is: are you happy with your haircut?
This may have already been mentioned. Forgive me if it has.
Right after the game of alphabet letters, Emma is stoking the fire and Mr. Knightley enters the room. Emma tells Mr. Knightley she is so glad that he will not need Mrs. Elton's help with the invitations because Mrs. Elton is so insufferable. Then she stands up, smiles and says "As for Mrs. Knightley. We all wonder who she may be." Mr. Knightley, a little bemused, hestitates turns and says, "Emma..." There is more dialogue after that, but that beat of silence after she throws her statement out and his addressing her to pose his question is perfectly done. I didn't catch it the first time, but after dozens of viewings I love how he actually answers her question but neither realize it. LOL Love it!
"Perhaps after all it is possible to read too many novels."
Bump.
If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
Good!
OK, for me, it's the gestures, the expressions, even the sighs that JLM makes. I just found the non-verbal characteristics of Knightly so captivating and perfectly in character.
One scene? The drawing room when the invitation from the Coles arrives.
I think I should bump this thread again. After all, it's been almost a year; I don't know if there's still anyone reading this, but since I haven't posted anything despite being a huge fan, I think I should give it a try.
In the same scene when Mr. Knightley says "My heart is here...", my absolutely favorite moment of the whole series is when she asks "You would do that, for me?", he holds her hands and says deliberately "I would do far more, without a second thought," and her face just lights up into a beautiful smile. The best thing is had that line been spoken by anyone else, I would have thought it's an exaggeration, or just a figure of speech, but from Mr. Knightley, I do believe he means every word.
My favorite line occurs when Knightly discovers Emma in the garden, and decides to make a final declaration, to see if their relationship can be retrieved and sealed, or if she is forever lost to him.
He stumbles with his inability to articulate his feelings, and in his frustration, blurts out . . . . . .
"If I loved you less, I could talk about it more!"
Those are the words of a man who is deeply in love, but does not know how to find the words to make her understand the depth of his feelings!
I'd like to mention the moments at the end of Episode 2 and Episode 3, where Emma is disturbed (I would go so far as to say) by the idea that Mr. Knightley might be in love with or at least attracted to Jane Fairfax. She may not logically give it much credence later, but it discomfits her enough that the look on her face is solemnising.
I think it's a moment where her childish and immature sense of jealousy that she is perhaps not the first and foremost woman in his mind and in his life, manifests itself as a different feeling which she realises is more to do with the sense that she might lost someone who is first and foremost in *her* mind.
It's a very early hint at the presence of Emma's love for Knightley, and a very necessary one, since there is also so much given to us from his side regarding her. It anticipates the self-awareness she gains when Harriet reveals her feelings in Episode 4 and indicates how much she needed time to mature; in those moments she was simply not ready to contemplate her feelings for Mr. Knightley.
It also demonstrates how incredibly well she knows him, that she can so confidently dismiss the idea (eventually) of Jane as Mrs Knightley.
You guys make me want to watch this again, lol. This is such a great adaptation. The more I watch the more things I find endearing. Most of my favorite moments have been already been mentioned. But this is one I didn't see. One of the absolute best moments is watching Frank Churchill dismount his horse, lol. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it.
"What happens to a dream deferred?"
I loved all of John Knightley's scenes, he was hilarious! I didn't think anyone could be funnier than JLM here but this actor nailed his scenes.
Also, when Emma burst into Knightley's house sobbing about how she loved him but couldn't marry him, the look on Knightley's face was like, whaaaat..just happened??
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True North strong and free!
I don't know if anyone is still reading this thread. I for one thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I don't think this has been mentioned yet: When Emma is telling Mr. Knightly about the dance, when he says "I hardly think I'm already marked down on your dance card, am I? Though we may guess who is." he has this hurt/pining look on his face that makes me just want to hug him.
Rewatching yet again. I had completely forgotten about this little gem:
"My mother loves the hind of pig best of all. Her name is Miss Augusta Hawkins..."
I am extremely fond of this version of "Emma," for the marvelous acting and a few deeply enlightening illuminations of some of the novel's less obvious themes.
I am struck, though, that very few "favorite moments / quotes" cited here are incidents or words actually written by Jane Austen.
An illustration, I think, of the fact that this is not at all Jane Austen's "Emma," although its excellences are many.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
An illustration, I think, of the fact that this is not at all Jane Austen's "Emma," although its excellences are many.
While I fully understand the need to adapt material from one medium to another, I don't see wholesale rewriting to the extent that Sandy Welch does as truly faithful, and I cannot think Jane Austen would have felt any kinship or recognition of the physical comportment of many of the characters, particularly Emma. That whooping, romping reel at the ball would have appalled Austen even more than it does me.
I will say again, I think this version has profound insights to offer, and it is my second-favorite filmed version of the novel.
I will further say that Romola Garai triumphs over the limitations and excesses of the production and even her own performance to give us an extraordinary and wonderful Emma, and I think Jonny Lee Miller is, overall, the best Mr. Knightley I have seen.
Still, the fact that this thread of "favorite moments/quotes" is mostly comprised of moments that are not what Austen wrote, I think, makes it fair to say that for many people, the salient, seminal takeaways are not Austen's "Emma."
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
I don't see wholesale rewriting to the extent that Sandy Welch does as truly faithful
Hi, supergran! Thank you for posting.
Andrew Davies' quotes are charming, and, I think, on point - particularly since, in both his "Pride & Prejudice" and his "Emma," he, as film and Eng. Lit. scholar has noted, in "Emma and the Art of Adaptation," "puts great faith in Austen's diction and sentence structure."
As I noted above, I fully understand the need to adapt from one medium to another. And, yes, that will sometimes involve including scenes not fleshed out in a novel, or omitting scenes which are.
I think Andrew Davies gathers Emma, Jane, and Frank into an effective triad without hitting us over the head with it. Of course, the "mothers die" theme is so heavily stressed here - and is not without value as an illustration of the life lived in those days.
As for Mr. Walter, I disagree - I think if you don't want to be reasonably faithful to the source material, find another story to tell. Of course one has a debt to one's audience, that isn't disputable. But if one is adapting another's work, I feel very strongly that one does indeed owe the original creator a debt of respect.
As for "Jane Eyre," a few years back I watched, in chronological order, every adaptation I could get my hands on (what are there, 10 available? it's a huge number). I'll do it again with a write-up someday. (I am at present wrapping up a comparison of the two 1996 Emmas and the 2009 mini-series).
While I don't usually like the BBC 1970s and 1980s mini-series adaptations much, I admit to being much enamored of the 1973 version. I adored Sorcha Cusak's clever, feisty, contrary Jane. Having only seen it the once, and not recently, I can't go into fine details with confidence, but I found that version the most interesting. That said, has there ever been a really poor characterization of Jane, or even Rochester? Flawed, certainly, but the roles seem to bring out their actors' best. That is pleasant.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
I was put off initially by the dramatic insertions at the beginning but Welch did a beautiful job of showing where people's lives were full and empty, highlighting the cost of missing parents to Frank, Emma, Harriet and Jane from the very beginning. By taking a wider licence to adapt, Welch produced a significantly more faithful adaptation.
This is an comparison video I did at the time. The more often you watch, the clearer it becomes that Welch is spot on Austen's wavelength. The other two are quite often miles off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-tayUcE6K0
This is an comparison video I did at the time. The more often you watch, the clearer it becomes that Welch is spot on Austen's wavelength. The other two are quite often miles off.
Yes, that scene is handled best in this version, although I very much wish Welch trusted Austen's sentence structure and diction more.
While a 4 hour min-series must have a great advantage over any 2 hour film, I think overall the Beckinsale version hews most closely to Austen in word, in tenor, and in take.
That said, this is a close second - I wish Andrew Davies had penned it, and Sue Birtwhistle produced. I would have loved to see this extraordinary cast take on a really faithful screenplay, with the appropriate demeanor for the time.
But I love Emma's loneliness - suggested in the Beckinsale version, but much more manifest here.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
Excellent reply, Tomatish. Novels are not plays.
I remember how disappointed we all were not to hear the line (at the ball): "We are not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper". It takes nerves of steel (some may say foolhardiness!) for a screenwriter to change novel dialogue and structure.
I'm a huge fan of Sandy Welch. Her directive is undoubtedly to make a piece of entertainment that a modern audience can immediately engage with. Long gone are the days of the Sunday teatime classic serials of my youth, which avid and knowledgeable readers would greedily consume! Lol. It's a different world. But I don't think that Sandy has "sold out" or "dumbed down" in her attempts at adapting classic books for 21st century TV screens. I think many of her "changes" are inspired, and she has a knack of getting to the nub and essence of a story. I love her adaptation of my favourite book, Jane Eyre.
EDIT: I've just seen your new post, locusnola!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
These are all so great! Reading them is making me want to go home and re-watch Emma right now!!!
shareANY scene with Mr. Knightley. That man does make my heart beat just a little faster. :)
I was just a tiny bit disappointed, though, in the scene where he asks her to dance--my favorite part of the book, as well as other movie adaptations, is his rather awkward "Brother and sister? No, indeed, we are not." And they skipped right over that.
But the rest of the movie surged so far forward in my favorite EVERYthing, I have to forgive the writers for the tiny miss. ;)