The 2009 BBC production of Emma

[kellyrfineman]

I am, at the moment, listening to the soundtrack, which I just purchased this morning from iTunes. It is a thing of beauty, even if I was confused for about half an hour that so much of the music sounded like the same exact theme - turns out I'd inadvertently turned looping on and was listening to the opening theme for over 30 minutes straight (it'

Comments

[kimberleylittle]

It is SO fun to read your Austen commentary, Kelly. I love it. I missed the opening night of the new Emma (I'm always late to the party) and didn't want to spoil by watching the episodes out of order so I haven't seen it at all. Thank you for the link! Going to try to download. But I do hesitate since I love the original with Kate Beckinsale. The guy who plays Knightly is so PERFECT in the original. Handsome, the right age, meaningful eyes when he looks at Emma. I watched the You tubes here and this guy is so short. Will watching this spoil the first one for me?

[kellyrfineman]

Nope. The other ones can't be spoiled. They remain beautiful as always.

[angie_frazier]

OK, Kimberley, you've convinced me to order the Kate Beckinsale version now :-))

[kellyrfineman]

The Kate Beckinsale version features Mark Strong (Septimus from Stardust and Lord Blackwood from Sherlock Holmes) as Knightley, and he's marvelous. The guy who plays Elton in that, while not widely known, is still my favorite player of that particular silly clergyman's role.

[angie_frazier]

I really enjoyed Emma too! I couldn't stand Jonny Lee Miller in the Eli Stone tv show, but I did like him here as Knightley a lot. Now I think I'm going to have to go check out the soundtrack...

[kellyrfineman]

It's good - even better if you don't loop the first track 35 times!

[saralholmes]

I had a ball watching Emma, although I admit it's probably because I'm an Austen dunderhead and don't know (or care) what they're messing up, if anything. I'm just along for the fabulous costumes, the great love story, the witty dialogue, the aching hearts, and the dancing. Oh, and the Kelly commentary afterwards! :)

Also, your soundtrack story cheers me up immensely. (Being one to whom that has happened.)

[kellyrfineman]

Repeat-track players unite!

I often have my iPod set on repeat (either a song or, more likely, a playlist) because I'm often playing because I'm in a particular mood. D'oh!

I've got to go back up and edit to mention Harriet Smith - who was less silly than the other representations, and therefore more "real".

[jessica_shea]

Ooh, that last clip is fabulous! I might have to download & watch the whole thing. I've only ever seen the Gwyneth Paltrow version.

[kellyrfineman]

I adore Jeremy Northam in that version. And Prunella Scales is a marvelous Miss Bates - she did an audiobook recording of Emma that is glorious.

Tanita Says :

[anonymous]

Oh, I'm not watching the clips - I'm setting this baby aside to watch the whole darned thing. I adore PBS for putting it online; I MISS PBS. Even the pledge drives. Okay, maybe not.

Emma is one of my favorite (oh, why do I always say that? I just adore ALL of Austen's books, and really, I have no favorites) girls in the Austen pantheon. This will be a treat.

Re: Tanita Says :

[kellyrfineman]

You can watch the full thing in YouTube (loaded by Brits, so I presume viewable by Brits as well).