June 24 - Emma

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on June 24. Watch this film tonight and enjoy.  

EMMA      

Emma Woodhouse’s mother dies while Frank Weston and Jane Fairfax have to leave Highbury. Frank’s mother has died and Jane’s Aunt has fallen on hard times. Frank goes to live with his aunt and takes her last name, Churchill. Jane goes to live with Colonel Campbell. The contents of Jane’s letters to her aunt are repeated ad nauseum to the whole town by her aunt, Miss Bates. As she grows up, Emma imagines that she is a great matchmaker. She thinks she has arranged the marriages of her sister Isabella to John Knightley and her governess Miss Taylor to Mr. Weston, who is Frank Churchill’s father. Emma and her father are good friends with George Knightley, her brother-in-law.  His estate Donwell Abbey is adjacent to Hartfield, Emma’s home. Emma’s father, who is overly concerned about his and everyone else’s health , disapproves of her matchmaking as it causes change, which he hates. Emma ‘adopts’ Harriet Smith, an illegitimate girl who attends Mrs. Goddard’s school as her new companion. At a dinner at Hartfield, Emma imagines an attraction between Mr. Elton, the parson and Harriet Smith. Harriet however is attracted to Robert Martin, a farmer and tenant of Mr. Knightley. Emma denigrates Mr. Martin and promotes Mr. Elton to Harriet. When Mr. Martin proposes to Harriet, Emma advises her to reject him. Harriet does, causing a spat between Emma and George, who thinks Harriet and Mr. Martin would be a good match. Emma tells Harriet she will never marry and continues to promote Mr. Elton to Harriet. Emma’s sister and her husband, George’s brother come to visit. Emma and George make up. Harriet gets sick and cannot attend a Christmas party at the Westons. On the way home from the party, she ends up alone in a carriage with Mr. Elton. He shocks Emma by proposing to her. She rejects him and learns he never had any interest in Harriet. Emma has to tell this to Harriet, who forgives her.  Jane Fairfax arrives to stay with her aunt, Miss Bates. After a visit, on the way home, Emma and Harriet meet a gentleman. They hear that Mr. Elton has gotten engaged to someone else. Frank Churchill arrives and is revealed as the gentleman Emma and Harriet met. Emma is upset when an invitation to a party, given by the (to Emma “socially inferior”) Coles is delayed. At the party Everyone learns that Jane Fairfax has received a piano as a gift from a mystery admirer. Mrs. Weston thinks George Knightley is interested in Jane Fairfax.   Frank Churchill proposes a ball, which Emma eagerly agrees to. Frank and Emma often discuss the negative qualities of Miss Fairfax. However, Frank gets a letter saying his aunt is extremely ill. Before leaving he meets with Emma. She leaves the meeting with the feeling that Frank is attracted to her and convinces herself that she likes him. Mr. Elton returns with his new wife, who acts superior to everyone. Frank Churchill returns and the postponed ball is finally held. At the ball Mr. Elton publicly slights Harriet Smith by refusing to dance with her, but George Knightley asks her to dance, even though he does not like to dance. Later while walking, Harriet is attacked by a band of gypsies , but is rescued by Frank Churchill. Emma now thinks Harriet is in love with Frank Churchill, when Harriet says she is attracted to the man who rescued her.  Mrs. Elton begins seeking a governess position for Jane Fairfax, whether she wants it or not. George Knightley proposes a picnic at Box Hill, but it has to be postponed and everyone is invited to Donwell Abbey to pick strawberries. At this outing Mrs. Elton tells Jane Fairfax she has found her a position as a governess. On the trip to Box Hill on June 24, 18 __ [Ep. 4 11:06 – 21:38] Emma gets exasperated and deliberately insults Miss Bates. Mr. Knightley takes her to task over this and she is very embarrassed and ashamed. The next day Emma goes to see Miss Bates and reconciles with her. Emma learns that Jane Fairfax has accepted the governess position that Mrs. Elton found for her.George Knightley leaves for London. Word is received that Mrs. Churchill is dead. It is revealed that Frank Churchill is secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax. When Emma goes to tell Harriet that Frank is engaged, she is shocked to learn that the man Harriet liked for rescuing her was Mr. Knightley for asking her to dance. Emma briefly regrets her friendship with Harriet and realizes she loves George Knightley, but fears this revalation has come too late.  Mr. Knightley returns from London and after an awkward encounter with Emma, confesses that he loves her also. Emma tells George they cannot wed, as she could not leave her father, but he offers to move to Hartfield. They become engaged. Mr. Martin renews his attentions towards Harriet and they are married. Emma renews her friendship with Harriet and Frank Churchill, Mrs. Weston has her baby and Emma and George get married. He takes her to the seaside for their honeymoon, as Emma has never seen the ocean.  

Producer - George Ormond

Director - Jim O'Hanlon

Screenwriter - Sandy Welch

Awards - The film won the Emmy for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or Movie. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Casting for a Movie, Miniseries or Special, the Outstanding Costumes for a Movie, Miniseries or Special, and the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (Gambon).

Runtime - 4 hours

Released - October 4, 2009

Starring -

Romola Garai as Emma Woodhouse

Johnny Lee Miller as Mr. George Knightley

Michael Gambon as Mr. Woodhouse

Louise Dylan as Harriet Smith

Jodhi May as Anne Taylor/Weston

Robert Bathurst as Mr. Weston

Rupert Evans as Frank Churchill

Laura Pyper as Jane Fairfax

Tamsin Greig as Miss Bates

Blake Ritson as Mr. Elton

Christina Cole as Augusta Elton

Dan Fredenburgh as John Knightley

Poppy Miller as Isabella Knightley

Jefferson Hall as Robert Martin

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.