The other reason I prefer the 2020 version is that Emma sounds immediately slightly defensive, implying that she knows that she misstepped but wants to pretend that she was justified. The other portrayals make it seem like she is somehow unaware that she was being cruel.
I disagree. In the 2009 she does as well. But she does it with her eyes and the way she's holding back. Emma has already realized she spoke badly by the time he approaches her, so having Knightly tell her off is humbling. In this version she typically gives as good as she gets when he tries to say something, but she puts up less of a fight this time because she knows he's right. I feel in this scene and the ones after that her embarrassment at her actions and words are palpable. To me, the 2020 version felt like caricatures instead of lived in performances. And Anya Taylor -Joy is an excellent actress, I just can't get into the 2020 version the same way.
@@bast713 2020 is significantly modernized. That probably suits today’s audience and it’s a good product in its own right. But I agree with you; it’s too different from the original for purists like us :)
hmm. different folks different interpretations I guess. For me the 2020 portrayal of this scene is the 2nd worst. Behind only the 1972 version. Taylor Joy did not sound defensive because of self reflection, she came across as petulance and childish at getting reprimanded, and out of them all, her crying came across not as remorse, but as an act to elicit sympathy from Knightly.
I think the 2009 version is the most nuanced performance of the scene. However this scene is set up by the picnic scene before it, so you can't really discuss this one without bringing that one in. Keep in mind that Emma has been looking forward to the trip to Box Hill very much. It is the first time she has ever been away from home, so it is a big adventure for her. Her hopes for the adventure are already kind of being disappointed because it is so hot that no one wants to do anything and everyone is just sitting around quietly. Then Frank Churchill, who also cannot tolerate the quiet inactivity, and is presumably upset with Jane Fairfax's reserve and his inability to be more intimate with her, starts trying to stir things up. He is deliberately saying things about Emma which are very forward and would normally clearly indicate romantic interest (in the context of that society). He is presumably doing this to irritate / hurt Jane, and also because it is kind of his nature to be an attention seeker. Emma is portrayed as both liking the attention a little bit, and maybe liking that something is happening, but also being a bit embarrassed by Frank Churchill's behavior. I always took this is a nuanced portrayal of the fact that she is a little immature, thus she likes the attention and the fun, but is still intelligent and of good character, so her deeper sensibilities know that Frank is being rude and she shouldn't be drawing attention to herself in this way. Mr. Knightly makes a few polite comments, but Emma kind of realizes that something isn't right and Mr. Knightly doesn't approve. Of course, for his part, Knightly thinks that Emma is in love with Frank Churchill, and that she is therefore falling under his spell and being influenced by his bad and dishonorable behavior. As Frank continues to push his game, Mrs. Elton starts throwing thinly veiled insults at Emma, which obviously irritates Emma. Emma, after being irritated by Mrs. Elton, kind of seems to dive in more fully to Frank's game an starts laughing more forcefully etc. This could be read one of two ways, I think. One is that Emma has been distracted by her discomfort and her sense that Frank's behavior isn't good, by her irritation with Mrs. Elton and she is deliberately trying to irritate Mrs. Elton. Another is you could read it to be that Emma is deliberately trying to push down her discomfort and embrace having fun. In either case, it is in this moment that Emma is cruel to Miss Bates and makes fun of her. Emma, initially thinks her comment was very funny, but she fairly quickly recognizes that others did not, and particularly the people she respects did not think it funny. From there the party falls apart further, and all attempts at fun and levity are abandoned. That leads us up to the scene in this video. This scene opens with Emma sitting on a log looking at the view from Box Hill. This is significant because before the trip she had been looking at drawings of Box Hill in a book, and talking about how the view was supposed to be remarkably beautiful etc. Her demeanor here is almost depressed. This is reflecting the fact that she had high hopes for this trip as her big adventure, and it has turned out to be a complete flop and disappointment. Another important thing to remember is that one of the major themes of the story of Emma is that although she is smart and of good character, her immaturity is that she doesn't really know her own heart and her own feelings. That is reflected in this scene where she feels kind of a general malaise. She is upset that the trip hasn't worked out, she is irritated by the Eltons, she was uncomfortable with Frank Churchill, and she probably has the vague sense of disappointment in herself as well. However, she doesn't really get all of that. Instead she is focused simply on the fact that she feels bad and her trip was ruined, probably mostly focusing on the Eltons. So when Mr. Elton approaches, she stands up and quickly starts talking. This is the classic "I've just been about to cry, but I don't want anyone to know, so I will start talking about anything that comes to mind" moment. Her manner here is clearly someone who is upset and is trying to hide it. Mr. Knightly, for his part, seems not to notice that she is upset and instead begins scolding her. Here again, I think you can interpret Emma's reaction a couple of different ways (speaking of how the scene is acted of course). She kind of looks at him with a very mild look of confusion, but not complete confusion or bewilderment. She is a little surprised that he is scolding her, but not entirely surprised. I read this as Emma has a general sense that her behavior was not good, but she has been focusing on her own hurt feelings and disappointments. I see her reaction here as the reaction of someone who deep down knows they did wrong, but have buried that realization under self-pity. The initial mild surprise is not that she did anything wrong, it is that Mr. Knightly is mad at her, not at the Eltons etc. Her bad behavior was not born of genuine cruelty of selfishness, but rather of simple immaturity. The desire to have fun and to be clever without really thinking about how it affects someone else. When she defends herself it is the same thing. She kind of knows she did wrong, but she basically says "it wasn't THAT bad" and points out that what she said was accurate. Mr. Knightly, however, makes her see that despite her jibe bing accurate, it was also cruel and hurtful. At that point, she breaks down. She had been trying to hold together and push down her feelings before, but now the realization that SHE was actually cruel and hurtful to someone else overwhelms her defenses and she cries.
Yes! Even when she cries, it is something she tries to hide quickly to show off a strong feature as if she has nothing to be ashamed of even when she knows she was mean. She cries because of his rejection and for being called out, not for what she's done.
It'd be great to contrast the reactions of Miss Bates to being humiliated. The one that almost destroys me is the 1996 version acted by Sophie Thompson. You can just feel her struggling to save face and make sense of Emma's cruelty. It makes clear why Knightly has such a strong reaction and is so mortified by Emma's behavior.
Absolutely! I love Miranda Hart, but no one, *no one*, comes close to Sophie Thompson. The sense of bewilderment and distress she displays at Emma's sudden cruetly is absolutely heartwrenching. Tears in the eyes every time. Some talent those Thompson sisters have.
There were two 1996 ones. The second was with Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong (which is for me the best adaptation of Emma). Miss Bates was played by the excellent Prunella Scales.
Not only is Knightley angry with Emma's treatment of Miss Bates he's angry with Frank Churchill for encouraging Emma's behaviour making his feelings towards Emma grow
My favorite was the 2009. Romola Garai portrays Emma as a spoiled and sheltered but deeply good person that cares about those around her. She's the most like the book for me. And Johnny Lee Miller's Knightly is perfect. Reserved, but his attention always seems to be pointing in her direction. In this scene you feel their age difference.
It's my favorite too!! Im so glad to know that other people agree with me. :) They all have heart and an interesting take, but the 2009 is just HANDS DOWN the best.
I love 2020 version. There is intense chemistry with the actors, and Knightly’s actor does such a good job with his lines. Like you can tell this is likely the first time he’s ever actually scolded her, for real and not out of teasing, and he was both worried it might ruin their relationship and angry that the woman he loves could be so cruel when he knows her not to be. You can tell in the scene that it terrifies him that maybe she isn’t who he thought she is.
And to add to this, when he was done scolding her, she looked on the verge of tears. You can see his expression change because he feels bad for doing it but he had to. He sees her about to cry and doesn't know how to react so he leaves. He loves her so much
I liked that about it too. Seeing the complexity of his thoughts and emotions was such a good spin on the character. I also detected jealousy behind it because in the few scenes before this they were having a moment and he was about to confess but this other gentleman arrived with her friend. Emma asked the man to stay and thought it was him. Lol. Then this picnic day came and Emma was giggling with the other man, until she put her foot in her mouth. 🤣 The frustration Emma showed resonated well with Mr. Knightley, and she too showed the same depth.
I totally agree! I love how he is almost whispering when he talks about how Ms. Bates has treated Emma, which kinda makes it even more poignant than him shouting those lines. In addition, I believe this is also the only version that includes the last part where Mr. Knightly talks about not enjoying this conversation and hoping to see Emma improve. I also feel like this is the only version where Emma walks away truly ashamed of her behavior and not just upset that Mr. Knightly got onto her.
I’m sorry, for me there is no comparison. Jeremy Northam gave such a compelling and dynamic performance I can’t see any other adaptation as its equal. He was angry and still so gentle. You could hear that he was more hurt and disappointed than chastising. You could sense that this was somehow personal for him in a way he couldn’t fully communicate in that moment. You got the sense that he felt he was losing her as she was losing herself.
Slightly off topic, but Jeremy Northam's face during the Christmas scene is so animated and funny, it makes me laugh every time. He's my favourite Mr Knightley.
This. You can really see it's painful for him to point it out to her. There is nothing worse than someone being disappointed in you, and I actually like Paltrow's depiction of this too.
Jeremy Northam is fantastic in that scene, but Gwyneth's blank face ruins it for me. Did she just have to freeze and do nothing but grimace for 3 minutes straight?
Northam's has peaks and valleys. It's almost shocking when he touches her to make her face him. And the whisper of "badly done," is so tender. And I think the long tracking shot was the right choice with them moving closer to us. It allowed us to see both actor's expressions and the decision to have them walking was great (I do think Paltrow could've done more, especially since Northam is so electric). His speech was also longer which helped lend itself to the dynamic shifts pretty well. He is the best for me! I like the 2020 version but I wish there were less cuts away from Knightly. There's a hopelessness from him, which I enjoy. But I think Emma's crying was too over the top despite it fitting with the overall humor of this film. 2009 was angry and stern, despite Miller's expressions being pretty much set and concentrated through it, his voice was fantastic. I felt his anger. Mark Strong and Kate Beckinsale. . . Not my cup of tea. I didn't like the blocking, and it just felt a little hollow comparatively. 1972 Emma pissed me off. The expression on her face. . . ugh.
The Mark Strong one is interesting because he's scolding her at the same time he's being caring and considerate as he puts her in the carriage, showing his love despite everything.
I’ve seen a lot of criticism for Paltrow, but it strikes me as the most realistic Emma reaction, imo. She realized in the previous scene she did wrong, now she’s trying to dismiss it, and can’t really argue with Knightley (probably a little tongue-tied from embarrassment and trying not to react). The silent face-crumple, the slight-pulling together after as he’s softening; maybe it’s just because I’ve gone through that progression of facial-expressions in a similarly deserved dress-down, but it’s the version that cuts me to the heart every time. 💔
I prefer the 2020 version of this scene because Knightley's delivery is the least paternalistic. He doesn't come off like a stern father scolding a naughty child the way the others do, but rather as someone shocked and distressed by the behavior of a friend. For me, it's much more affecting.
Well, the problem with 2020's version is to show a love relanshionship in wich gender does not matter, but we where in XIX century, and it's matter a lot. And, in Emma, we have an age gap, this is important in the story as well. I like 2020's version it's pretty, but is a disservice as well.
I’m sorry, but what? How is 2020s version meant to show a relationship where gender doesn’t matter? I’m a little confused by your whole comment. If you mean gender roles, I think it does a good job. Both Emma and Knightly tease each other and can call each other out on their nonsense.
Jeremy Northam is my favorite Knightley. And his version is the only one that includes the last part of Knightley’s speech from the text. Although Johnny Flynn’s is almost verbatim from the source, it stops at “badly done indeed!” As most of them do. But the staging of Jeremy Northam and Gwyneth Paltrow is very true to Austen’s description of the setting in the book, the way they are walking towards the carriage but have not gotten into them yet. 😍
Analyzing these scenes I've realized what i really want to feel is just how dissapointed Mr Knightly is with Emma. And I think 2009 did that the best. I love when Jonny Lee Miller delivers the line, "...she is poor Emma" and we see Emma's face, realizing how shamefully she's behaved. His dissapoinent is so palpable to me. The dialogue was so well written and the actors expressed it perfectly. I also loved the 1996 Gywneth Paltro and Jeremy Northam version. The dialogue was wonderful as well, not sure about the postioning of the two charcters it looks a little too romatic for the situation. Though it was effective in Emma looking properly chastised what with her head hung in shame. Great perfomance from Jeremy Northam. 1996 with Mark and Kate was alright, i didnt like how the dialogue, the shots and how the whole scene was written. I do love Mark Strong's scolding tone, its similar to Jonny Lee Millers and i liked that very much. Though I really love this version, this particular scene wasn't as well directed unfortunately. Idk how many times I've edited this lol.
I love the Northam/Paltrow version. All throughout the movie, Knightley and Emma have been playful and lighthearted in their interactions with each other, which is why it was quite shocking when he raised his voice to reprimand her. And Paltrow was able to effectively communicate with her facial expressions the shame and regret of her actions against Miss Bates. She was not crying because Knightley scolded her; she did so because she realized her wrongs and the guilt was making her lose her composure. If there is one thing that historical novels have taught me, it's that servants absolutely gossip and your private matters will end up being the town entertainment. Which is why it did not sit well with me when 2020 Knightley was loudly arguing with Emma in the presence of the coachman.
Absolutely. Modern historical dramas often seem to be saying "look how in the olden days the lower classes were considered barely human!" and to prove it they have the main characters behaving as if the servants were invisible, or blind and deaf. How stupid can you get.
I like the Kate Beckinsale/Mark Strong 1996 one best. Knightley is angry but controlled and chooses his words well. And I love the fact that he remains the absolute gentleman - he hands Emma into the carriage with care and consideration while saying his piece to her. I also like Emma's reactions too - flippant and defensive at first, then silent with shame, and not showing her tears of remorse until it is too late for him to see them.
My first and favorite Emma! I also thought they nailed the dynamic they have, the age gap, and Knightley being the man with the brass to tell it like it is and not just spoil and indulge Emma
@@stuffedpotato9826 Honestly, the closest scene I think that applies to this is when Cher assumed Lucille, her maid was Mexican and she got mad then Josh correct her, the other scene I also think that would applied to this was when Tai got offended by Cher when she said "Are you sure you're good with Josh? I mean he's kind of a school nerd." and then then Tai humbled her by saying "You're a virgin who can't drive."
They might’ve took it out or changed it to keep the tone silly and lighthearted. Like the other commenter said above, the closest we got is the part about Josh and the maid.
I like how this scene is captured in 2020’s and a 1997’s version with Paltrow. We can definitely recognize feelings at Mr.Knightly’s end. But the 2020 version is more emotional though, that I personally like. We see Knightly suffering and wondering how could the woman he loves make such a thing. And we see Emma trying to save her face till the last moment, but knowing she behaved terribly and realizing she disappointed the man whose opinion means a lot to her. Definitely love this adaptation ❤
Gwyneth paltrows performance is so good. You can see she already feels bad before the conversation, even as she's defending herself, but then you can see her understanding of it shift and she realizes how much worse it was than she originally thought
Are you mad? It was under-performing all the way! She totally concentrated on the standing of her class and the asumed reserved way in which they spoke. Emma's emotions, her being confronted with her naievete and limited 'wisdom' and her wounded pride... nothing of that comes through! Badly done, Gwyneth!
I have always liked the Romola Garai/Jonny Lee Miller adaptation. Garai does such an excellent job of capturing a thoroughly believable combination of childlike innocence and thoughtlessness, as well as enthusiasm. She is my favorite Emma, and I am still in love with this version. But I had totally forgotten Jeremy Northam's depiction of Mr. Knightley! (I saw this version when it first came out, but Paltrow's Emma comes third for me.) I agree 100% with what @Book_Dragon2562 says! Thank you for posting this video. It was so much fun to watch!
Thank you for posting this compilation and comparison. I loved the Jonny Lee Miller/Romola Garai version of Emma; I'm not sure why but perhaps it was the chemistry of the two actors and the fact that the dialogue was somewhat condensed and there was no carriage or other people about. I do like watching Garai better than Paltrow, which is not a comment about their relative acting abilities. Garai had me liking Emma more, seeing her as acting out of childishness. Now I want to watch all these versions in full length!
I agree - I feel like the decision in the 2009 to have this conversation in private was a good one. I love the 2009. Romali Garai's Emma feels like yes she's spoiled and sheltered, but she genuinely has a good heart and wants the best for those she cares about. The performances feel lived in and I think they portray the friendship between Emma and Knightly well. They have excellent chemistry and their comfort around each other really comes across well.
The 1996/ITV was my favorite. I love the timing of his shutting her into the cab and her looking back at him but only after a moment. I also think the little bit of physical contact works here. The timing of their movements also helps the tension. I like how you can feel his anger as well as his disappointment, and how she shows defiance as well reflection. Thanks for showing these back to back!
And I see the playing a slightly paternal Knightley as justified.. He's 16 years older. He admits to groom... err... guiding her through the years later in the book
Wow, this is great! I love them all but I've always had a soft spot for Jonny Lee Miller. His delivery ranges on such a wide scale, he goes from irate anger to resigned, sad disappointment in a matter of minutes. Being on the receiving end of anger makes you defensive, but when someone you look up to feels disappointment in you... and sadness. Well. Jonny Lee Miller tugs at the heartstrings on a deeper level than a mere tantrum. Romola's Emma felt that pain alright. 💔😭
Mark Strong and Kate Beckinsale. He manages to get the age difference without it being creepy. She is thoughtless but capable of remorse. The timing is perfect: just as he turns away she turns back ready to admit her mistake, but it's too late.
Interesting how Strong is still the complete gentleman, he's holding her arm, puts the step down, and hands her in even as he's taking her to task. Much as I love Northam's portrayal, my favorite, his putting a harsh hand on her to turn her round doesn't feel appropriate either to his feeling for her or her dignity in the view of the drivers.
I like the Paltrow version best. Because he actually tells her that he's calling her out because he knows she's better than this. It takes a real friend to confront you on your stuff, rather than just ghosting the relationship.
Exactly! Northam really expresses the pain the whole encounter puts him in! I’ve always felt that that emotion is one of the most relatable moments of the entire story-the discomfort of telling a friend when they’ve done wrong because you genuinely want them to do better and know they can
I like both the 2020 and the Paltrow versions. 2020 because there is such a genuine sense of anger and conflict between the two. And the a Paltrow version because it seems to better express the intimacy in their relationship. However, in her private writings Austen wrote that the she had set out in Emma to write an unlikeable female lead and I think that is best expressed in 2020 where it seems like she cries more from frustration than regret. Whereas Paltrow’s Emma seems to understand gradually whilst she is being reprimanded by Knightley who she respects so much that she really has behaved badly. To me the transition is a little too quick. In the book Emma’s personal growth seems to be more a matter of reflection on what has been said than a response to what is said.
2009 version is my favorite. When Jonny Lee Miller’s Knightly is interacting with Romola Garai’s Emma. His disappointment was palpable to me in a way others weren’t. Tasmin Greig was so wonderful as Miss Bates. It was the first time my heart ached for her. It was so well acted. I really loved 2009. It’s my favorite.
I agree, the 2009 one was absolutely the best in my opinion. I actually like all of them except the 1972 version, the others are still well acted and their characters well done. But I do feel the actors in 2009 played the characters so naturally, you can see and feel and understand each of their emotions, even all the side characters, every actor in it was perfectly cast and well directed!
Thank you SO much, OP, for taking the time to compile and post these clips! This scene is my favorite part of any Emma adaptation and, despite having watched all but the 1972 version, I hadnt realized how many little variations there are in the dialogue and staging. So cool to watch and analyze!
Mark Strong played it so well. His scolding cuts like a knife and his compassion for Miss Bates feels so real. Emma takes her licks and starts to grow from there.
The 2020 version looks great but it’s an argument between equals. According to the original text- Knightley tends to be paternalistic because of their age difference (16 years) and Emma’s own father being too self absorbed to correct her. This is an important part of the plot. That’s why I like 1996 version the best. Paltrow takes his scolding like a child does.
but age gap doesn´t mean that all their interactions must be fatherly (specially when they're meant to be lovers, too much of fatherly figure seems icky) they´re still close friends and age can mean wiser, not authoritarian.
Johnny Flynn is in reality much elder as Anya Taylor-Joy, but I like it, that he is more passionate and feeling and less a bore stiff preachy type. They had both a great chemistry.
See, that's why I like the 2009. Her embarrassment at having acted the way she has is palpable and we can see that she cares deeply about Knightly 's opinion. And she knows deep down he's right.
@@johat1219 They aren’t lovers at this point. The paternalistic relationship is a significant barrier to their romance. Age and gender conferred more authority at that time than it does today.
The Jeremy Northam scene shows that Mr Knightly is clearly distressed at having to issue such a stern correction. Indeed, he is my favourite Mr Knightly.
2020. Emma shows regret before Knightly even speaks, which shows good on her, and then, like a spoiled narcissist, she tries to make him stop by telling him she’s hot and tired. Realistic and well done. It gives her a deeper hole to crawl out of. Then Knightly realizes how what he’s said has affected her, and you see the struggle between wanting to comfort her, and being justifiably furious with her.
The Paltrow/Northam version is the most elegantly written, imo. The most subtly and skillfully acted and directed, with the most complexity of human feeling and behavior. Just beautiful.
1996 version was the best. The script was excellently written, the director was extremely good and the actors delivered an exceptional performance. We feel Mr Knightley's upset but also his care and compassion, and we see at the end Emma's upset, she looks like any young woman who comes to understand life. the 1996 version is excellent realised, better then any other version.. 1996 version totally own our hearts . In all the other versions Mr Knightley lacks empathy and Emma looks hysterical, which is not in line with the original book. In 1996 all the other characters where presented in a very positive way, Miss Taylor, Mrs and Mr Elton, etc etc.
comparing the whole movies I like the 2009 version best it's the one where I can sense Austens approach of an likeable heroine throughout the story while still routing for her.
Because I'd seen all the other versions before, usually more than once, the revelation for me was the 1972 adaptation. Not because of how good it was -- because of how weak it was. As with many British adaptations of that era, it was reliably miscast with actors who looked significantly too old for their roles. And they somehow managed to omit the phrase "Badly done" from the scene!
Have to say that the Paltrow Northam version is the best and to me the most faithful to the book and the period. In this version the characters are friends who discover that they are in love and this development is very well illuminated in this scene. Paltrows Emma looks genuinely distraught at having failed herself and her friend Mr. Knightly and Northam’s Mr Knightly strikes the perfect balance between calling out Emma’s bad behaviour and the tenderness and love he feels for her. To me all the other versions are adequate but none of them are as perfectly pitched emotionally between the two characters, the words they speak and the attitudes they strike in the rhythm of their voices and body language. The other versions lack any real emotional punch and while there are many accolades for the 2020 version it to me is the worst because that Emma did not appear in the least sincere in her response to Knightly’s remarks to her. That said you have to go a long way to ruin Austin. When you need to fall in love with love - read - or watch Austin.
I loved the Kate Beckinsale one! It was perfect from dialogue delivery to acting! All other scenes feel so ethics not right in them but that 1996 one is perfect! Feels natural
How strange to be reminded how immensely talented Gwinnett Paltrow is. I’d quite forgotten the depth she was capable of, it’s a tricky role, and she really was amazing in it.
My least favorite is the 1972 version for numerous reasons, one of which is that Emma looks to old to even pass as 25, and she ought to be 21. Emma feels guilt about her words towards Ms Bates so she wouldn't speak so haughtily at Mr Knightley about what she did. I think my favorite is still the 2020 version then Gwyneth Paltrow's 1996 version. I thought it was a bit odd at first, especially when Mr Knightley basically manhandled her to face him but when he walked away then stopped to tell her that he felt the need to tell her the truth always because he is her friend and sees the good in her, I think that was incredibly lovely. Those words would've made Emma cry all the more and made her think on her actions because she would see that he cared for her and he wasn't just saying those things to scold her for the sake of it.
I did not like Emma until I saw the 2020 movie. I just couldn’t understand the character of the story, then the 2020 one made me understand the basic story and from there I could enjoy all the other Emmas-now Emma is one of my favorite stories and I love them all.
That the 2020 version, with Anna Taylor Joy, was directed by a women has always been very obvious to me and this scene certainly highlights this. Also, that edit on the horse whip and the “go” straight to camera 👍👍👍
Gwyneth’s and Jeremy’s portrayal will forever hold the highest position of the most well executed scene. I don’t know which version is most accurate to the book but theirs is the epitome of the interpretations shown here. The range of tone and emotion with the closure of the desire to prove himself a true friend is epic. The best of marriages would have two people comfortable enough to not only praise but censure their beloved to encourage their growth. The way his voice softens on the second “badly done” breaks his heart as much as ours and hers.
The 2009 version on this scene is my favorite, it could be just that it's just a preference for the version I saw first, but imo I think it's the version with the best acting. Also, I do wish that this included the Emma Approved version of the scene.
2009 has a lot of passion. The 1972 version seems strange, they seem so uptight but that is probably suitable for Jane Austin. I enjoyed the 2020 version a lot.
I have always held Jeremy Northam’s Knightley in my heart as the best. He does speak to her a little more fatherly but he does emphasize in the film that he considers himself much older than she. The new Emma with Johnny Flynn just gave me a whole new perspective. He is fascinating to watch and his interpretation is completely different.
Jeremy Northam as Knightley - a brilliant, definitive performance. Emma realises that she hurt not only a woman she should have been kind to but Knightley, too because he’s not just angry. He’s sad, because he loves her and it upsets him that he must tell her the truth and probably distress her. The love doesn’t come across in the other actor’s performances. In the 2020 version particularly, the scene is reduced to a tiff between ‘ boyfriend and girlfriend’. It’s less than Jane Austen wrote, in terms of content and meaning. It’s simplified, as if modern audiences need simplified literature and drama. The age gap ( in terms of appearance) has been reduced too, no doubt for the same reason. These days, Mr Knightley can’t be older, or wiser, or a character that audiences greatly sympathise with. That would give him too much importance. In 2020, he’s just the supposedly attractive boyfriend - just a foil, for Emma. The Austen era was one in which there was no alternative other than hoping to marry a kind and decent man if independence wasn’t possible. That was extremely important to women. That might not go down well in current times but if it’s not shown on screen - it’s not Austen. I find it amazing that anyone involved in filming the story might think that they can improve on Jane Austen’s work by ‘ updating ‘it probably to make it more lucrative. What next - a cartoon version with songs ?
For me, there is no doubt. I have always had an affinity for Jeremy Northam's performance in the 1996 Theatrical version. I found his delivery more impassioned than the others. Probably because of the arrangement of the words in the script. Additionally, there's the point when they were walking and he spins her around to force her face him and pay attention to his words. How he subtly displayed such disappointment in her actions.
i have seen every adaption and my favorite by far and large will forever be the 2009 BBC production. UGH the actors play out the scenes exactly how you would imagine them, its like reading the book! Romola Garai is the best Emma hands down; she IS Emma in that production. I don't know how to describe it, other than she was perfect. Emma is my favorite Jane Austen book and Mr. Knightley is my favorite leading man of hers. personally, I think the handsomest is Johnny Flynn hehe, but there is something to be said on how Jonny Lee Miller portrays Mr. Knightley. All of the adaptions have their own charm but 2009 you have my heart!!! :)
Romola is amazing. Overall I would give the Beckinsale/&c. version no.1, but for portraying Emma, Romola is the one. See her part in Daniel Deronda; this period has been her genius-zone for me, yet I have not heard of her work of late... Best wishes~~~💙
I could watch them all, it's just that they were not all given the exact same material from their writer/s with which to work. That made a huge difference.
The Paltrow is not well regarded, and for good reason, but I do like the direction/acting choices in this scene. Having her cry during the lecture in a way visible to us, but uncertain to Knightley is a really nice way for Emma to be able to react to his words without him seeming cruel.
I have seen all the versions, except 1972, and I have to say I love them all (even Clueless). I love that each version takes a slightly different tone, and yet they all stick faithfully to Austen's story and very close to her exact wording. It's interesting that Austen herself thought that Emma was a character no one else could love, except her. And yet, each version seems to capture Emma perfectly-- both her bad and good qualities.
I think part of the problem is calling it ‘Emma’. When it was called Clueless, the difference in age and experience fits perfectly with that modern telling, while keeping the spirit of Emma and her need to grow into a more self aware person who possesses wisdom and restraint to balance out her other impulses, and in order to have a relationship with someone worthy, who cares for her deeply but also sees that she needs to grow. In Clueless he is a sort of step (very distantly) older, college educated brother figure which I think is such a genius translation of the societal gradation in differences between them, and allows for a more relatable portrayal of how people court/date now, as is appropriate for the point of that movie. In 2020 Emma, to make a movie that is set in the regency period and looks like it is meant to be a basically faithful if fresh version of book Emma, but then change the characters, their relationships and ignore the historical reference points on some levels but not on others (we lose a lot of the satire of Jane here) puts it, for me, a bit more in the zone of a regency romantic comedy, just with much cleverer dialogue from the source. I like the 2020 version, my brain just has to do some negotiating around also having read and enjoyed Emma and loving Jane Austen in general, who would have been most particular for a very good, satirical reason in any writing choice she made.
Thank you so much for doing this! The 1996 version is far superior and it is not even close. That is a director who trusts his actors completely and it is a beautiful and jarring scene that will always make me emotional. Paltrow hits all the right notes and Northam pushes the confrontation right to edge it needs to be at. There is a reason they show this scene in film and acting classes. 2009 - Anya Taylor-Joy is a unique and compelling actress - and I truly think she is one of the best of that younger generation - but this scene is the prime example of why I tend to shy away from period pieces in general. Badly edited, incorrect direction, and I feel zero emotion aside from sadness that the performance was wasted.
2020: I really like the framing of this scene. At first, we see Knightley struggling, wondering. Then, at last, we see Emma. She is shot from bellow, while he looks up to the viewer. She later stands up, trying to justify herself. In the end, she sits back and we get a close up. I really loved the adaptation, I struggled with some famous scenes (notably the scene when Knightley admits his feelings), but I loved this scene. Knightley seemed emotional, she distraught, without a hint of aby reconsilitation on the way. 2009: What a lovely adaptation, even though costumes were a bit dissapointing, and sometimes Emma seemed to modern and too cheery. Brilliant emotions all around, even though I prefer emotional 2020, 2009 has very believable dissapointment and very natural reactions of Emma. I really like the ending of the scene. 1996 (movie, Gwyneth): The first adaptation I saw. Honestly not that great in my opinion, at least not this scene. The emotions are on point, but I do not like the decision to have Knightley be more peaceful in the end. He should be distraught, it feels like they got rid of drama and tension. Emma should be on the lowest point after that scene, it feels a bit redundant. I like Knightley being silent standing behind her. 1996 (Kate B.): One of the least favorite adaptations and one of the least favorite Knightley. Knightley taking Emma and scolding her in the open feels very wrong. I like that we see him being emotional, but like many times, he is more angry than anything else. I also do not really like that Emma is so calm at the beginning. While it did not really sink for her that she made a horrible mistake, she seems almost like she wants to brag about it, and not in the way she would try to hide from her own guilt. Knightley is too touchy. We know that he is not much rational when Emma is near, but he decided to scold her as a friend and basically looked away from his own feelings at that point. 197x: Unlike the others, I did not saw this version, so I can only judge the scene. Emma seems way too old, I am not sure who the actress is. Emma is supposed to be young know-it-all, I can't take that actress seriously. Knightley seems very distant. Maybe they acted the other parta well, but that scene did not win me over at all.
That is an excellent comment, and I agree with most of your points. In defense of 1996, Knightley acting more peaceable at the end is not attended to take away tension; instead, it makes the final comments of his reprimand more poignant. He basically told her, “I know you’re capable of being a good person, but you disappointed me today”. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than to know you disappointed someone you love and who loves you. And knowing that her actions not only caused harm to Ms. Bates and disappointment in him, is what breaks her. That’s my take on it and you’re free to disagree. But this version and 2020 are the only two that make me cry, showing that both are doing something right. And where I loose it in 1995 is when he says the final line “trusting that sometime you will do my faith greater justice than you do now.” 😢 Man, that hurts.
@saranemcova5448 Would it change your mind about the Gweneth Paltrow movie if that last part was in the book? I've been reading the book a few chapters at a time and then watching those chapters in various adaptations. This particular scene is in Volume II, Chapter VII.
Good comment on the whole. I think the Kate B. one is more defensible: it builds the drama of the moment very well and this Knightley is someone who is blunt enough. If he's not on the blunt side it is hard to make the story of their romance very plausible. And the Northam/Paltrow is also defensible, I think: it's true it plays the end of the scene softer on his part, but it shows that he's restraining himself from the tenderness he wants to express when he sees her suffering. That's a deft touch, I think. And those lines are indeed in the book, though I think they are the opening of his rebuke, not the closing. It really gets at the poignancy of the moment from his perspective: when he says he will tell her truths while he still can, he's acknowledging that he might be losing her to Frank Churchill (and he might be making that all the more inevitable by displeasing her), but he has to tell her what is for her benefit either way. The 2020 one is well-executed in itself, but the significance is ruined by how egregious her slight was to Miss Bates in that version: everyone is immediately shocked, Miss Bates is obviously holding back tears, it's super awkward in a way that nobody could deny to herself. So Emma has no chance of trying to play it off, and Mr. Knightley's rebuke is just him expressing himself, not saying something she really *needs*. She knows deep down that she was wrong, but she's tempted to laugh it off. The 2020 version just blows that whole dynamic up and replaces it with something else, sucking the meaning out of this scene.
Yeah I was really weirded out by them being so close to their other companions during the 1996 Kate and Mark version. Like, how is he going to chastise her properly in front of all these people. But I really do like Mark Strong as Mr Knightly.
My favorite over-all is the 2009. The Gwyneth version did this scene particularly well though, I thought. I have never watched the 2020 version, and I was genuinely surprised at how bad Anya Taylor-Joy's acting was at the end of the scene. The crying was so forced and fake that I almost laughed. I can't believe they couldn't get a better take than that. The rest of the scene in the 2020 was ok.
My favorite Emma has always been the Kate Beckinsale. The 2020 version, which I haven't seen other than this clip, won't be one I watch... primarily becaus Knightly looks to be practically equal in age to Emma. One reply has disliked the 'paternalistic' attitude of Knightly. Well, he held her in his arms when he was 16 and she an infant. A bit of 'I am older and wiser than you' can be forgiven, I think.
i dislike the Gwyneth Paltrow version the most. i think it is too gentle and you don’t feel the anger and disappointment, it’s almost as if he’s too scared of upsetting her when it should be the opposite. the 2009 one is my favorite since it hit me the hardest when i first saw it. but i also love the 2020 one with its modern sensibilities and the more equal feel it has. they all have their charm in a way, though
It seems the younger audience prefers the 2020 version as the characters seem more equal, as things are more today. I preferred the 90s versions but 😊probably because I love the 90s. 😂
I dunno, I'm in my 40s, grew up with the '90s versions, read the book three times, and the 2020 version is my favorite by far because of its creative interpretations, visual humor, and stellar acting. Is it perfect? No, but few things are (the 1995 Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility are pretty darn close). In some ways I think the Kate Beckinsale version is truest to the book. I really like the 2009 version (Emma herself is a bit too "countrified" though, and the number of platinum blondes is blinding), but although I think Jeremy Northam and some of the side characters are great in the other 1996 version, I can't stand Gwyneth Paltrow's affected theatrics in that role.
Alright, the jury will pass judgment. The first couple? Splendidly done! Both actors really created a certain vibe we now recognize as the silly ways of the over-priviliged of the early 19th century! The second couple, not too shabby either. Esp Johnny Lee did a recomendable job of it. But couple nr 3? Bland. Conceited, but in the wrong way. Elite actors who sail on blind routine, no zeal. Especially Gwyneth! Very poorly done! The first couple wins the prize, closely followed by pair nr 2,second prize. Couple nr 3? Disqualified for underachieving.
I'm always surprised to find how the 2020 version garnered so many fans. They of course had to bring the characters 'up to date', and put all those emotional outbursts... but I don't see them really authentic to Austen characters. In this scene alone too, a gentleman like Mr Knightley wouldn't openly taunt young lady like Emma in front of her coachmen. See in both 1996 versions how Mr Knightley controls his distress and hushes it down for the dignity of both himself and Emma in presence of other people. Emotional repression is, whether you like it or not, is an essential character in all of English period dramas.
I agree - the 2020 version is ridiculous. The silliest thing in it is that Mr Knightly, a country gentleman, occupies a house suitable for a royal Duke. I haven't seen the Kate Beckinsale version but I agree that in the Gwyneth Paltrow version this scene was performed very well. The scene won't work unless the audience sees that Knightly's rebuke is just and well deserved and the action of a good friend.
I think people can be a bit too strict when it comes to "authenticity" in adapting a period play/novel, and I think at least part of that stems from not realising that there are at least two different ways of making an adaptation authentic. One is sticking strictly to what the author/playwright wrote. the other is sticking to what the author wanted to _say_ and that can be very different. Characters in old novels constantly say or do things that, to a modern audience, paint them in a very different light to how they're intended to come across. Some words, actions, or manners carry very different connotations today than they did at the time. Making changes that make a character or relationship appear more like it's intended to be perceived does not make something a less faithful adaptation. Neither of these approaches are wrong, they're just different philosophies.
@@Casutama I always wonder what the authors would think if they could see the adaptations of their work. When it strays so far from the story I think they wouldn't be pleased.
I am for the Beckinsale version. Both look and sound very noble, like a lady and a gentleman. The others look cheap and clumsy. The last one seems a parody.
2020 Emma already feels ashamed. She is alone and seems to be going over the situation in her mind. Some of the other version has Emma either being unaware of what she did or uncaring.
The other reason I prefer the 2020 version is that Emma sounds immediately slightly defensive, implying that she knows that she misstepped but wants to pretend that she was justified. The other portrayals make it seem like she is somehow unaware that she was being cruel.
I disagree. In the 2009 she does as well. But she does it with her eyes and the way she's holding back. Emma has already realized she spoke badly by the time he approaches her, so having Knightly tell her off is humbling. In this version she typically gives as good as she gets when he tries to say something, but she puts up less of a fight this time because she knows he's right. I feel in this scene and the ones after that her embarrassment at her actions and words are palpable.
To me, the 2020 version felt like caricatures instead of lived in performances. And Anya Taylor -Joy is an excellent actress, I just can't get into the 2020 version the same way.
@@bast713 2020 is significantly modernized. That probably suits today’s audience and it’s a good product in its own right. But I agree with you; it’s too different from the original for purists like us :)
hmm. different folks different interpretations I guess. For me the 2020 portrayal of this scene is the 2nd worst. Behind only the 1972 version. Taylor Joy did not sound defensive because of self reflection, she came across as petulance and childish at getting reprimanded, and out of them all, her crying came across not as remorse, but as an act to elicit sympathy from Knightly.
I think the 2009 version is the most nuanced performance of the scene. However this scene is set up by the picnic scene before it, so you can't really discuss this one without bringing that one in.
Keep in mind that Emma has been looking forward to the trip to Box Hill very much. It is the first time she has ever been away from home, so it is a big adventure for her.
Her hopes for the adventure are already kind of being disappointed because it is so hot that no one wants to do anything and everyone is just sitting around quietly. Then Frank Churchill, who also cannot tolerate the quiet inactivity, and is presumably upset with Jane Fairfax's reserve and his inability to be more intimate with her, starts trying to stir things up. He is deliberately saying things about Emma which are very forward and would normally clearly indicate romantic interest (in the context of that society). He is presumably doing this to irritate / hurt Jane, and also because it is kind of his nature to be an attention seeker.
Emma is portrayed as both liking the attention a little bit, and maybe liking that something is happening, but also being a bit embarrassed by Frank Churchill's behavior. I always took this is a nuanced portrayal of the fact that she is a little immature, thus she likes the attention and the fun, but is still intelligent and of good character, so her deeper sensibilities know that Frank is being rude and she shouldn't be drawing attention to herself in this way.
Mr. Knightly makes a few polite comments, but Emma kind of realizes that something isn't right and Mr. Knightly doesn't approve. Of course, for his part, Knightly thinks that Emma is in love with Frank Churchill, and that she is therefore falling under his spell and being influenced by his bad and dishonorable behavior.
As Frank continues to push his game, Mrs. Elton starts throwing thinly veiled insults at Emma, which obviously irritates Emma.
Emma, after being irritated by Mrs. Elton, kind of seems to dive in more fully to Frank's game an starts laughing more forcefully etc. This could be read one of two ways, I think. One is that Emma has been distracted by her discomfort and her sense that Frank's behavior isn't good, by her irritation with Mrs. Elton and she is deliberately trying to irritate Mrs. Elton. Another is you could read it to be that Emma is deliberately trying to push down her discomfort and embrace having fun.
In either case, it is in this moment that Emma is cruel to Miss Bates and makes fun of her. Emma, initially thinks her comment was very funny, but she fairly quickly recognizes that others did not, and particularly the people she respects did not think it funny.
From there the party falls apart further, and all attempts at fun and levity are abandoned. That leads us up to the scene in this video.
This scene opens with Emma sitting on a log looking at the view from Box Hill. This is significant because before the trip she had been looking at drawings of Box Hill in a book, and talking about how the view was supposed to be remarkably beautiful etc. Her demeanor here is almost depressed. This is reflecting the fact that she had high hopes for this trip as her big adventure, and it has turned out to be a complete flop and disappointment.
Another important thing to remember is that one of the major themes of the story of Emma is that although she is smart and of good character, her immaturity is that she doesn't really know her own heart and her own feelings.
That is reflected in this scene where she feels kind of a general malaise. She is upset that the trip hasn't worked out, she is irritated by the Eltons, she was uncomfortable with Frank Churchill, and she probably has the vague sense of disappointment in herself as well. However, she doesn't really get all of that. Instead she is focused simply on the fact that she feels bad and her trip was ruined, probably mostly focusing on the Eltons.
So when Mr. Elton approaches, she stands up and quickly starts talking. This is the classic "I've just been about to cry, but I don't want anyone to know, so I will start talking about anything that comes to mind" moment. Her manner here is clearly someone who is upset and is trying to hide it.
Mr. Knightly, for his part, seems not to notice that she is upset and instead begins scolding her. Here again, I think you can interpret Emma's reaction a couple of different ways (speaking of how the scene is acted of course). She kind of looks at him with a very mild look of confusion, but not complete confusion or bewilderment. She is a little surprised that he is scolding her, but not entirely surprised.
I read this as Emma has a general sense that her behavior was not good, but she has been focusing on her own hurt feelings and disappointments. I see her reaction here as the reaction of someone who deep down knows they did wrong, but have buried that realization under self-pity. The initial mild surprise is not that she did anything wrong, it is that Mr. Knightly is mad at her, not at the Eltons etc.
Her bad behavior was not born of genuine cruelty of selfishness, but rather of simple immaturity. The desire to have fun and to be clever without really thinking about how it affects someone else. When she defends herself it is the same thing. She kind of knows she did wrong, but she basically says "it wasn't THAT bad" and points out that what she said was accurate.
Mr. Knightly, however, makes her see that despite her jibe bing accurate, it was also cruel and hurtful.
At that point, she breaks down. She had been trying to hold together and push down her feelings before, but now the realization that SHE was actually cruel and hurtful to someone else overwhelms her defenses and she cries.
Yes! Even when she cries, it is something she tries to hide quickly to show off a strong feature as if she has nothing to be ashamed of even when she knows she was mean. She cries because of his rejection and for being called out, not for what she's done.
It'd be great to contrast the reactions of Miss Bates to being humiliated. The one that almost destroys me is the 1996 version acted by Sophie Thompson. You can just feel her struggling to save face and make sense of Emma's cruelty. It makes clear why Knightly has such a strong reaction and is so mortified by Emma's behavior.
Absolutely! I love Miranda Hart, but no one, *no one*, comes close to Sophie Thompson. The sense of bewilderment and distress she displays at Emma's sudden cruetly is absolutely heartwrenching. Tears in the eyes every time. Some talent those Thompson sisters have.
I agree completely! Sophie's performance is heart wrenching.
There were two 1996 ones. The second was with Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong (which is for me the best adaptation of Emma). Miss Bates was played by the excellent Prunella Scales.
Sophie Thompson was by far the best Miss Bates.
Not only is Knightley angry with Emma's treatment of Miss Bates he's angry with Frank Churchill for encouraging Emma's behaviour making his feelings towards Emma grow
My favorite was the 2009. Romola Garai portrays Emma as a spoiled and sheltered but deeply good person that cares about those around her. She's the most like the book for me. And Johnny Lee Miller's Knightly is perfect. Reserved, but his attention always seems to be pointing in her direction. In this scene you feel their age difference.
Completely agree. I love them and that series was the best written and interpreted of all. Romola was an amazing Emma, very much as I pictured her.
It's my favorite too!
It's my favorite too!! Im so glad to know that other people agree with me. :) They all have heart and an interesting take, but the 2009 is just HANDS DOWN the best.
Yes! I really think the 2009 Emma is the most fitting with the book - I wasn't fond of the 2020 portrayal because she seemed more deliberately cruel.
I love 2020 version. There is intense chemistry with the actors, and Knightly’s actor does such a good job with his lines. Like you can tell this is likely the first time he’s ever actually scolded her, for real and not out of teasing, and he was both worried it might ruin their relationship and angry that the woman he loves could be so cruel when he knows her not to be. You can tell in the scene that it terrifies him that maybe she isn’t who he thought she is.
I feel the same way
And to add to this, when he was done scolding her, she looked on the verge of tears. You can see his expression change because he feels bad for doing it but he had to. He sees her about to cry and doesn't know how to react so he leaves. He loves her so much
This is the Emma from the book.
I liked that about it too. Seeing the complexity of his thoughts and emotions was such a good spin on the character. I also detected jealousy behind it because in the few scenes before this they were having a moment and he was about to confess but this other gentleman arrived with her friend. Emma asked the man to stay and thought it was him. Lol. Then this picnic day came and Emma was giggling with the other man, until she put her foot in her mouth. 🤣
The frustration Emma showed resonated well with Mr. Knightley, and she too showed the same depth.
The 1996 version is my favorite. Mr.Knightley and Emma portray this scene the most faithfully to the book. Beautifully done
I totally agree! I love how he is almost whispering when he talks about how Ms. Bates has treated Emma, which kinda makes it even more poignant than him shouting those lines. In addition, I believe this is also the only version that includes the last part where Mr. Knightly talks about not enjoying this conversation and hoping to see Emma improve. I also feel like this is the only version where Emma walks away truly ashamed of her behavior and not just upset that Mr. Knightly got onto her.
@@AndrielleHillis I agree! It's a beautiful scene.
@@AndrielleHillis I totally agree. Im not happy with the way he pulls her arm but other than that, its perfect. I love the 2020 Version a lot too.
Beautifully done Mr. Knightley, beautifully done!!
@@AndrielleHillis Agree! Particularly on the guilt Gwyneth portrayed compared to other Emmas!
I’m sorry, for me there is no comparison. Jeremy Northam gave such a compelling and dynamic performance I can’t see any other adaptation as its equal. He was angry and still so gentle. You could hear that he was more hurt and disappointed than chastising. You could sense that this was somehow personal for him in a way he couldn’t fully communicate in that moment. You got the sense that he felt he was losing her as she was losing herself.
You are absolutely correct! Jeremy is the flawless Knightly!
Slightly off topic, but Jeremy Northam's face during the Christmas scene is so animated and funny, it makes me laugh every time. He's my favourite Mr Knightley.
This. You can really see it's painful for him to point it out to her. There is nothing worse than someone being disappointed in you, and I actually like Paltrow's depiction of this too.
I like Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightly, but I thought Gwyneth Paltrow as pretty terrible as Emma.
Jeremy Northam is fantastic in that scene, but Gwyneth's blank face ruins it for me. Did she just have to freeze and do nothing but grimace for 3 minutes straight?
Northam's has peaks and valleys. It's almost shocking when he touches her to make her face him. And the whisper of "badly done," is so tender. And I think the long tracking shot was the right choice with them moving closer to us. It allowed us to see both actor's expressions and the decision to have them walking was great (I do think Paltrow could've done more, especially since Northam is so electric). His speech was also longer which helped lend itself to the dynamic shifts pretty well. He is the best for me!
I like the 2020 version but I wish there were less cuts away from Knightly. There's a hopelessness from him, which I enjoy. But I think Emma's crying was too over the top despite it fitting with the overall humor of this film.
2009 was angry and stern, despite Miller's expressions being pretty much set and concentrated through it, his voice was fantastic. I felt his anger.
Mark Strong and Kate Beckinsale. . . Not my cup of tea. I didn't like the blocking, and it just felt a little hollow comparatively.
1972 Emma pissed me off. The expression on her face. . . ugh.
The Mark Strong one is interesting because he's scolding her at the same time he's being caring and considerate as he puts her in the carriage, showing his love despite everything.
And her expression doesn't change. She looks like the first Botox victim.
I’ve seen a lot of criticism for Paltrow, but it strikes me as the most realistic Emma reaction, imo. She realized in the previous scene she did wrong, now she’s trying to dismiss it, and can’t really argue with Knightley (probably a little tongue-tied from embarrassment and trying not to react). The silent face-crumple, the slight-pulling together after as he’s softening; maybe it’s just because I’ve gone through that progression of facial-expressions in a similarly deserved dress-down, but it’s the version that cuts me to the heart every time. 💔
I love the old films
The actors are ridiculous
I prefer the 2020 version of this scene because Knightley's delivery is the least paternalistic. He doesn't come off like a stern father scolding a naughty child the way the others do, but rather as someone shocked and distressed by the behavior of a friend. For me, it's much more affecting.
Well, the problem with 2020's version is to show a love relanshionship in wich gender does not matter, but we where in XIX century, and it's matter a lot. And, in Emma, we have an age gap, this is important in the story as well. I like 2020's version it's pretty, but is a disservice as well.
@@ShoujofanHow is that worse in every other version of this scene though?
@@poppyonline4034 My comments above express my take on the 2020 scene.
@@Shoujofan I agree. The age gap is a factor in this relationship with Knightley being her moral compass.
I’m sorry, but what? How is 2020s version meant to show a relationship where gender doesn’t matter? I’m a little confused by your whole comment. If you mean gender roles, I think it does a good job. Both Emma and Knightly tease each other and can call each other out on their nonsense.
Jeremy Northam is my favorite Knightley. And his version is the only one that includes the last part of Knightley’s speech from the text. Although Johnny Flynn’s is almost verbatim from the source, it stops at “badly done indeed!” As most of them do. But the staging of Jeremy Northam and Gwyneth Paltrow is very true to Austen’s description of the setting in the book, the way they are walking towards the carriage but have not gotten into them yet. 😍
He's trying to soften the blow.
Jeremy Northam was the best. The quietest, and the most feeling.
Easily the best version.
I love him! ❤
Yes I agree
Jeremy Northam will always be my Mr. Knightly.
Not only did he bring Knightley alive and was the most believable, Northam was also the most, most handsome compared to the rest.
The Jeremy Northam Mr Knightly was always my favourite for that particular scene
I love the Jeremy Norton version because it shows how Mr. Knightly is a very gentle person but who stands up for what is right when needed. ❤
Analyzing these scenes I've realized what i really want to feel is just how dissapointed Mr Knightly is with Emma. And I think 2009 did that the best. I love when Jonny Lee Miller delivers the line, "...she is poor Emma" and we see Emma's face, realizing how shamefully she's behaved. His dissapoinent is so palpable to me. The dialogue was so well written and the actors expressed it perfectly.
I also loved the 1996 Gywneth Paltro and Jeremy Northam version. The dialogue was wonderful as well, not sure about the postioning of the two charcters it looks a little too romatic for the situation. Though it was effective in Emma looking properly chastised what with her head hung in shame. Great perfomance from Jeremy Northam.
1996 with Mark and Kate was alright, i didnt like how the dialogue, the shots and how the whole scene was written. I do love Mark Strong's scolding tone, its similar to Jonny Lee Millers and i liked that very much. Though I really love this version, this particular scene wasn't as well directed unfortunately.
Idk how many times I've edited this lol.
I love the Northam/Paltrow version. All throughout the movie, Knightley and Emma have been playful and lighthearted in their interactions with each other, which is why it was quite shocking when he raised his voice to reprimand her. And Paltrow was able to effectively communicate with her facial expressions the shame and regret of her actions against Miss Bates. She was not crying because Knightley scolded her; she did so because she realized her wrongs and the guilt was making her lose her composure.
If there is one thing that historical novels have taught me, it's that servants absolutely gossip and your private matters will end up being the town entertainment. Which is why it did not sit well with me when 2020 Knightley was loudly arguing with Emma in the presence of the coachman.
Absolutely. Modern historical dramas often seem to be saying "look how in the olden days the lower classes were considered barely human!" and to prove it they have the main characters behaving as if the servants were invisible, or blind and deaf.
How stupid can you get.
I like the Kate Beckinsale/Mark Strong 1996 one best. Knightley is angry but controlled and chooses his words well. And I love the fact that he remains the absolute gentleman - he hands Emma into the carriage with care and consideration while saying his piece to her. I also like Emma's reactions too - flippant and defensive at first, then silent with shame, and not showing her tears of remorse until it is too late for him to see them.
It really is excellently done.
Still my favourite Emma
My first and favorite Emma! I also thought they nailed the dynamic they have, the age gap, and Knightley being the man with the brass to tell it like it is and not just spoil and indulge Emma
Yes, she acted like a thoughtless young lady. Her change in demeanour was more realistic. From uncaring to upset.
Love Strong and Beckinsale
This pivotal scene is what is missing in Clueless. They made it so short and irrelevant.
I was just wondering why no such interaction happened in clueless 😮 it would hv given more depth to josh
@@stuffedpotato9826 Honestly, the closest scene I think that applies to this is when Cher assumed Lucille, her maid was Mexican and she got mad then Josh correct her, the other scene I also think that would applied to this was when Tai got offended by Cher when she said "Are you sure you're good with Josh? I mean he's kind of a school nerd." and then then Tai humbled her by saying "You're a virgin who can't drive."
@@stuffedpotato9826 yeah the sandwich scene is the equivalent, but it didn't have much weight in my opinion
They might’ve took it out or changed it to keep the tone silly and lighthearted. Like the other commenter said above, the closest we got is the part about Josh and the maid.
I like how this scene is captured in 2020’s and a 1997’s version with Paltrow. We can definitely recognize feelings at Mr.Knightly’s end.
But the 2020 version is more emotional though, that I personally like.
We see Knightly suffering and wondering how could the woman he loves make such a thing. And we see Emma trying to save her face till the last moment, but knowing she behaved terribly and realizing she disappointed the man whose opinion means a lot to her.
Definitely love this adaptation ❤
Gwyneth paltrows performance is so good. You can see she already feels bad before the conversation, even as she's defending herself, but then you can see her understanding of it shift and she realizes how much worse it was than she originally thought
Are you mad? It was under-performing all the way! She totally concentrated on the standing of her class and the asumed reserved way in which they spoke. Emma's emotions, her being confronted with her naievete and limited 'wisdom' and her wounded pride... nothing of that comes through! Badly done, Gwyneth!
I have always liked the Romola Garai/Jonny Lee Miller adaptation. Garai does such an excellent job of capturing a thoroughly believable combination of childlike innocence and thoughtlessness, as well as enthusiasm. She is my favorite Emma, and I am still in love with this version.
But I had totally forgotten Jeremy Northam's depiction of Mr. Knightley! (I saw this version when it first came out, but Paltrow's Emma comes third for me.) I agree 100% with what @Book_Dragon2562 says!
Thank you for posting this video. It was so much fun to watch!
Thank you for posting this compilation and comparison. I loved the Jonny Lee Miller/Romola Garai version of Emma; I'm not sure why but perhaps it was the chemistry of the two actors and the fact that the dialogue was somewhat condensed and there was no carriage or other people about. I do like watching Garai better than Paltrow, which is not a comment about their relative acting abilities. Garai had me liking Emma more, seeing her as acting out of childishness. Now I want to watch all these versions in full length!
My pleasure! I love Jane Austen's adaptations.
2009 is my favourite and it doesn’t get talked about enough!
I agree - I feel like the decision in the 2009 to have this conversation in private was a good one.
I love the 2009. Romali Garai's Emma feels like yes she's spoiled and sheltered, but she genuinely has a good heart and wants the best for those she cares about. The performances feel lived in and I think they portray the friendship between Emma and Knightly well. They have excellent chemistry and their comfort around each other really comes across well.
The 1996/ITV was my favorite. I love the timing of his shutting her into the cab and her looking back at him but only after a moment. I also think the little bit of physical contact works here. The timing of their movements also helps the tension. I like how you can feel his anger as well as his disappointment, and how she shows defiance as well reflection. Thanks for showing these back to back!
I like the fact that, even though he is very angry, he still observes all the courtesies of helping her into the carriage.
And I see the playing a slightly paternal Knightley as justified.. He's 16 years older. He admits to groom... err... guiding her through the years later in the book
I agree. I also think the reconciliation scene before Knightly goes to London, is best in the Beckinsale version.
Wow, this is great! I love them all but I've always had a soft spot for Jonny Lee Miller. His delivery ranges on such a wide scale, he goes from irate anger to resigned, sad disappointment in a matter of minutes. Being on the receiving end of anger makes you defensive, but when someone you look up to feels disappointment in you... and sadness. Well. Jonny Lee Miller tugs at the heartstrings on a deeper level than a mere tantrum. Romola's Emma felt that pain alright. 💔😭
Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightly is the best to me. I also much prefer Romola Garai as Emma.
They’re all good, but my favourite is the 1996 version, not least because I think Jeremy Northam was drop-dead gorgeous as Knightley.
The 1972 one is not great. Mr Knightley is OK but Emma......
I thought that it was the ACTING that mattered.
Mark Strong and Kate Beckinsale. He manages to get the age difference without it being creepy. She is thoughtless but capable of remorse. The timing is perfect: just as he turns away she turns back ready to admit her mistake, but it's too late.
Interesting how Strong is still the complete gentleman, he's holding her arm, puts the step down, and hands her in even as he's taking her to task.
Much as I love Northam's portrayal, my favorite, his putting a harsh hand on her to turn her round doesn't feel appropriate either to his feeling for her or her dignity in the view of the drivers.
Thank you I really enjoyed the portrayals all side by side. 💜📚
I like the Paltrow version best. Because he actually tells her that he's calling her out because he knows she's better than this. It takes a real friend to confront you on your stuff, rather than just ghosting the relationship.
It's very faithful to the text.
Exactly! Northam really expresses the pain the whole encounter puts him in! I’ve always felt that that emotion is one of the most relatable moments of the entire story-the discomfort of telling a friend when they’ve done wrong because you genuinely want them to do better and know they can
agreed entirely
I like both the 2020 and the Paltrow versions. 2020 because there is such a genuine sense of anger and conflict between the two. And the a Paltrow version because it seems to better express the intimacy in their relationship. However, in her private writings Austen wrote that the she had set out in Emma to write an unlikeable female lead and I think that is best expressed in 2020 where it seems like she cries more from frustration than regret. Whereas Paltrow’s Emma seems to understand gradually whilst she is being reprimanded by Knightley who she respects so much that she really has behaved badly. To me the transition is a little too quick. In the book Emma’s personal growth seems to be more a matter of reflection on what has been said than a response to what is said.
And the part that breaks her the most is his stopping to make sure she knows he isn’t just being mean but because he believes she is better than that
Each of them have something lovely. I am not a big Emma person but this is a general favorite scene for a reason and these actors are killin' it!
2009 version is my favorite. When Jonny Lee Miller’s Knightly is interacting with Romola Garai’s Emma. His disappointment was palpable to me in a way others weren’t. Tasmin Greig was so wonderful as Miss Bates. It was the first time my heart ached for her. It was so well acted. I really loved 2009. It’s my favorite.
❤ The whole cast is wonderful!
I agree, the 2009 one was absolutely the best in my opinion. I actually like all of them except the 1972 version, the others are still well acted and their characters well done. But I do feel the actors in 2009 played the characters so naturally, you can see and feel and understand each of their emotions, even all the side characters, every actor in it was perfectly cast and well directed!
This one was my favorite as well. I just cannot get into the 2020 version. I turned it off 30 minutes in.
I absolutely agree! Perfect casting and acting! Loved this version!
Yes…I adore the 2009 version, and detest the 2020 one. That girl’s cry seemed so fake. Ugh
Thank you ❤❤❤this is when Emma and Mr Knightley were meant to be together forever
Thank you SO much, OP, for taking the time to compile and post these clips! This scene is my favorite part of any Emma adaptation and, despite having watched all but the 1972 version, I hadnt realized how many little variations there are in the dialogue and staging. So cool to watch and analyze!
Mark Strong played it so well. His scolding cuts like a knife and his compassion for Miss Bates feels so real. Emma takes her licks and starts to grow from there.
2009 version was in a completely different class than the rest. The emotions felt genuine and not like a costume drama
Emma “ how could I, no one could have resisted “ But the others did resist. It was right for her to get scolded.
The 2020 version looks great but it’s an argument between equals. According to the original text- Knightley tends to be paternalistic because of their age difference (16 years) and Emma’s own father being too self absorbed to correct her. This is an important part of the plot. That’s why I like 1996 version the best. Paltrow takes his scolding like a child does.
but age gap doesn´t mean that all their interactions must be fatherly (specially when they're meant to be lovers, too much of fatherly figure seems icky) they´re still close friends and age can mean wiser, not authoritarian.
Johnny Flynn is in reality much elder as Anya Taylor-Joy, but I like it, that he is more passionate and feeling and less a bore stiff preachy type. They had both a great chemistry.
See, that's why I like the 2009. Her embarrassment at having acted the way she has is palpable and we can see that she cares deeply about Knightly 's opinion. And she knows deep down he's right.
@@johat1219 They aren’t lovers at this point. The paternalistic relationship is a significant barrier to their romance. Age and gender conferred more authority at that time than it does today.
@@sabinenoll5947 These days we don’t think a man pushing 40 - like Knightley is supposed to be- is “old”. Emma’s dad is probably only in his 50s.
2009 Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai for me, too. Their interactions seemed very real to me.
Mark Strong is probably my top pick, but all the men give it such gravitas that you can truly feel their disappointment.
Now I’m even a bigger fan of the 2009 version!
The Jeremy Northam scene shows that Mr Knightly is clearly distressed at having to issue such a stern correction. Indeed, he is my favourite Mr Knightly.
Absolutely love his portrayal.
I am firmly in the 2009 camp, that's my favorite version. But they are all very good, and the 2020 version is an exceptional production.
2020. Emma shows regret before Knightly even speaks, which shows good on her, and then, like a spoiled narcissist, she tries to make him stop by telling him she’s hot and tired. Realistic and well done. It gives her a deeper hole to crawl out of. Then Knightly realizes how what he’s said has affected her, and you see the struggle between wanting to comfort her, and being justifiably furious with her.
2009 and 1996 100%! 🙌🏻🥰
The Paltrow/Northam version is the most elegantly written, imo. The most subtly and skillfully acted and directed, with the most complexity of human feeling and behavior. Just beautiful.
Yeah, this comparison really brings out the difference in screen writing. Some of the others are sooooo clumsy!
gwyneth is that you?
1996 version was the best. The script was excellently written, the director was extremely good and the actors delivered an exceptional performance. We feel Mr Knightley's upset but also his care and compassion, and we see at the end Emma's upset, she looks like any young woman who comes to understand life. the 1996 version is excellent realised, better then any other version.. 1996 version totally own our hearts . In all the other versions Mr Knightley lacks empathy and Emma looks hysterical, which is not in line with the original book. In 1996 all the other characters where presented in a very positive way, Miss Taylor, Mrs and Mr Elton, etc etc.
comparing the whole movies I like the 2009 version best it's the one where I can sense Austens approach of an likeable heroine throughout the story while still routing for her.
I prefer the 1996 version. Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam seemed much more authentic to me.
👆
Because I'd seen all the other versions before, usually more than once, the revelation for me was the 1972 adaptation. Not because of how good it was -- because of how weak it was. As with many British adaptations of that era, it was reliably miscast with actors who looked significantly too old for their roles. And they somehow managed to omit the phrase "Badly done" from the scene!
Have to say that the Paltrow Northam version is the best and to me the most faithful to the book and the period. In this version the characters are friends who discover that they are in love and this development is very well illuminated in this scene. Paltrows Emma looks genuinely distraught at having failed herself and her friend Mr. Knightly and Northam’s Mr Knightly strikes the perfect balance between calling out Emma’s bad behaviour and the tenderness and love he feels for her. To me all the other versions are adequate but none of them are as perfectly pitched emotionally between the two characters, the words they speak and the attitudes they strike in the rhythm of their voices and body language. The other versions lack any real emotional punch and while there are many accolades for the 2020 version it to me is the worst because that Emma did not appear in the least sincere in her response to Knightly’s remarks to her. That said you have to go a long way to ruin Austin. When you need to fall in love with love - read - or watch Austin.
2009 best Knightly and Emma ever.
Kate B was closest to the book in that he handed her into the carriage ....and then she cried when he walked away.
I've never seen the 2009 BBC version, but I found it well done, in close second to the Paltrow version, my personal favorite.
I love the 2009 version! It's my favourite ❤
I loved the Kate Beckinsale one! It was perfect from dialogue delivery to acting! All other scenes feel so ethics not right in them but that 1996 one is perfect! Feels natural
How strange to be reminded how immensely talented Gwinnett Paltrow is. I’d quite forgotten the depth she was capable of, it’s a tricky role, and she really was amazing in it.
My least favorite is the 1972 version for numerous reasons, one of which is that Emma looks to old to even pass as 25, and she ought to be 21. Emma feels guilt about her words towards Ms Bates so she wouldn't speak so haughtily at Mr Knightley about what she did.
I think my favorite is still the 2020 version then Gwyneth Paltrow's 1996 version. I thought it was a bit odd at first, especially when Mr Knightley basically manhandled her to face him but when he walked away then stopped to tell her that he felt the need to tell her the truth always because he is her friend and sees the good in her, I think that was incredibly lovely. Those words would've made Emma cry all the more and made her think on her actions because she would see that he cared for her and he wasn't just saying those things to scold her for the sake of it.
I did not like Emma until I saw the 2020 movie. I just couldn’t understand the character of the story, then the 2020 one made me understand the basic story and from there I could enjoy all the other Emmas-now Emma is one of my favorite stories and I love them all.
Cada versão, uma direção diferente e forma distinta de representar o mesmo diálogo
E essa é a graça da coisa toda.
That the 2020 version, with Anna Taylor Joy, was directed by a women has always been very obvious to me and this scene certainly highlights this. Also, that edit on the horse whip and the “go” straight to camera 👍👍👍
Gwyneth’s and Jeremy’s portrayal will forever hold the highest position of the most well executed scene. I don’t know which version is most accurate to the book but theirs is the epitome of the interpretations shown here.
The range of tone and emotion with the closure of the desire to prove himself a true friend is epic. The best of marriages would have two people comfortable enough to not only praise but censure their beloved to encourage their growth. The way his voice softens on the second “badly done” breaks his heart as much as ours and hers.
I like them best too
Also he doesnt storm off angrily like the rest of them! He leaves disappointed and gave Emma his reasoning to why he was so upset woth her.
The 2009 version on this scene is my favorite, it could be just that it's just a preference for the version I saw first, but imo I think it's the version with the best acting. Also, I do wish that this included the Emma Approved version of the scene.
Jeremy and Gwyneth❤
2009 version overall was the best
2009 for the win ❤ 🏆
2009 has a lot of passion. The 1972 version seems strange, they seem so uptight but that is probably suitable for Jane Austin. I enjoyed the 2020 version a lot.
I have always held Jeremy Northam’s Knightley in my heart as the best. He does speak to her a little more fatherly but he does emphasize in the film that he considers himself much older than she.
The new Emma with Johnny Flynn just gave me a whole new perspective. He is fascinating to watch and his interpretation is completely different.
Beckinsale and Strong do it best, but I do like the 2020 Knightley as well - he has a pugnacity that adds spark to his performance.
Jeremy Northam as Knightley - a brilliant, definitive performance. Emma realises that she hurt not only a woman she should have been kind to but Knightley, too because he’s not just angry. He’s sad, because he loves her and it upsets him that he must tell her the truth and probably distress her. The love doesn’t come across in the other actor’s performances. In the 2020 version particularly, the scene is reduced to a tiff between ‘ boyfriend and girlfriend’. It’s less than Jane Austen wrote, in terms of content and meaning. It’s simplified, as if modern audiences need simplified literature and drama. The age gap ( in terms of appearance) has been reduced too, no doubt for the same reason.
These days, Mr Knightley can’t be older, or wiser, or a character that audiences greatly sympathise with. That would give him too much importance. In 2020, he’s just the supposedly attractive boyfriend - just a foil, for Emma. The Austen era was one in which there was no alternative other than hoping to marry a kind and decent man if independence wasn’t possible. That was extremely important to women. That might not go down well in current times but if it’s not shown on screen - it’s not Austen. I find it amazing that anyone involved in filming the story might think that they can improve on Jane Austen’s work by
‘ updating ‘it probably to make it more lucrative. What next - a cartoon version with songs ?
1996 Cinema version is the most realistic and painful! Emma knew exactly what she had done and Mr Knightly really cares about them both! Lovely.
2009 for sure! I love jonny lee miller so much! Their chemistry is also unmatched in this series! ❤
For me, there is no doubt. I have always had an affinity for Jeremy Northam's performance in the 1996 Theatrical version. I found his delivery more impassioned than the others. Probably because of the arrangement of the words in the script. Additionally, there's the point when they were walking and he spins her around to force her face him and pay attention to his words. How he subtly displayed such disappointment in her actions.
The 2009 version is best in my opinion.
It's my favorite as well. I love them all but 2009 is so special and I adore it ❤
I think I prefer 1996 versions, because the emotion comes across without the actor raising his voice. Especially so that the servants wouldn’t hear…
2009 and 1996 ITV are top notch, so distinctive and very well contoured characters. Realistic exchange.
i have seen every adaption and my favorite by far and large will forever be the 2009 BBC production. UGH the actors play out the scenes exactly how you would imagine them, its like reading the book! Romola Garai is the best Emma hands down; she IS Emma in that production. I don't know how to describe it, other than she was perfect. Emma is my favorite Jane Austen book and Mr. Knightley is my favorite leading man of hers. personally, I think the handsomest is Johnny Flynn hehe, but there is something to be said on how Jonny Lee Miller portrays Mr. Knightley. All of the adaptions have their own charm but 2009 you have my heart!!! :)
Romola is amazing. Overall I would give the Beckinsale/&c. version no.1, but for portraying Emma, Romola is the one. See her part in Daniel Deronda; this period has been her genius-zone for me, yet I have not heard of her work of late... Best wishes~~~💙
2009 version is the best❤
the 1996 version is my favorite
amei q cada versão fez bem diferente mantendo o mesmo sentido
I could watch them all, it's just that they were not all given the exact same material from their writer/s with which to work. That made a huge difference.
I love the 2009 version the best. The characters are written and acted out the best. Romola is the best Emma so far.
The Paltrow is not well regarded, and for good reason, but I do like the direction/acting choices in this scene. Having her cry during the lecture in a way visible to us, but uncertain to Knightley is a really nice way for Emma to be able to react to his words without him seeming cruel.
I have seen all except the 1970s one. I like all of them in different ways.
I have seen all the versions, except 1972, and I have to say I love them all (even Clueless). I love that each version takes a slightly different tone, and yet they all stick faithfully to Austen's story and very close to her exact wording. It's interesting that Austen herself thought that Emma was a character no one else could love, except her. And yet, each version seems to capture Emma perfectly-- both her bad and good qualities.
I think part of the problem is calling it ‘Emma’. When it was called Clueless, the difference in age and experience fits perfectly with that modern telling, while keeping the spirit of Emma and her need to grow into a more self aware person who possesses wisdom and restraint to balance out her other impulses, and in order to have a relationship with someone worthy, who cares for her deeply but also sees that she needs to grow. In Clueless he is a sort of step (very distantly) older, college educated brother figure which I think is such a genius translation of the societal gradation in differences between them, and allows for a more relatable portrayal of how people court/date now, as is appropriate for the point of that movie.
In 2020 Emma, to make a movie that is set in the regency period and looks like it is meant to be a basically faithful if fresh version of book Emma, but then change the characters, their relationships and ignore the historical reference points on some levels but not on others (we lose a lot of the satire of Jane here) puts it, for me, a bit more in the zone of a regency romantic comedy, just with much cleverer dialogue from the source. I like the 2020 version, my brain just has to do some negotiating around also having read and enjoyed Emma and loving Jane Austen in general, who would have been most particular for a very good, satirical reason in any writing choice she made.
Thank you so much for doing this!
The 1996 version is far superior and it is not even close. That is a director who trusts his actors completely and it is a beautiful and jarring scene that will always make me emotional. Paltrow hits all the right notes and Northam pushes the confrontation right to edge it needs to be at.
There is a reason they show this scene in film and acting classes.
2009 - Anya Taylor-Joy is a unique and compelling actress - and I truly think she is one of the best of that younger generation - but this scene is the prime example of why I tend to shy away from period pieces in general. Badly edited, incorrect direction, and I feel zero emotion aside from sadness that the performance was wasted.
The Beckinsale one is good as well, but I think you're right: the direction of that scene is best in the 1996 one.
Isn’t the 2020 the one with Anya?
Anya Taylor - Joy Version 2020
i totally agree 1996 is the best representation of the novel,. The writer, the director and the actors created a finesse piece of art.
I think if i could put 2020 Knightly with 2009 Emma...I'd have my perfect version of this scene. 👒
This is a really cool comparison video. My favourite is the 2020 version.
2020 for MR. Knightley´s dress down, 1996 TV for Emma´s reaction.
Jonny Lee Miller & Mark Strong are both so handsome
Mark Strong is gorgeous, with or without a wig, but I don't like Lee Miller. My second Mr. Knightley is Jeremy Northam.
2020: I really like the framing of this scene. At first, we see Knightley struggling, wondering. Then, at last, we see Emma. She is shot from bellow, while he looks up to the viewer. She later stands up, trying to justify herself. In the end, she sits back and we get a close up. I really loved the adaptation, I struggled with some famous scenes (notably the scene when Knightley admits his feelings), but I loved this scene. Knightley seemed emotional, she distraught, without a hint of aby reconsilitation on the way.
2009: What a lovely adaptation, even though costumes were a bit dissapointing, and sometimes Emma seemed to modern and too cheery. Brilliant emotions all around, even though I prefer emotional 2020, 2009 has very believable dissapointment and very natural reactions of Emma. I really like the ending of the scene.
1996 (movie, Gwyneth): The first adaptation I saw. Honestly not that great in my opinion, at least not this scene. The emotions are on point, but I do not like the decision to have Knightley be more peaceful in the end. He should be distraught, it feels like they got rid of drama and tension. Emma should be on the lowest point after that scene, it feels a bit redundant. I like Knightley being silent standing behind her.
1996 (Kate B.): One of the least favorite adaptations and one of the least favorite Knightley. Knightley taking Emma and scolding her in the open feels very wrong. I like that we see him being emotional, but like many times, he is more angry than anything else. I also do not really like that Emma is so calm at the beginning. While it did not really sink for her that she made a horrible mistake, she seems almost like she wants to brag about it, and not in the way she would try to hide from her own guilt. Knightley is too touchy. We know that he is not much rational when Emma is near, but he decided to scold her as a friend and basically looked away from his own feelings at that point.
197x: Unlike the others, I did not saw this version, so I can only judge the scene. Emma seems way too old, I am not sure who the actress is. Emma is supposed to be young know-it-all, I can't take that actress seriously. Knightley seems very distant. Maybe they acted the other parta well, but that scene did not win me over at all.
That is an excellent comment, and I agree with most of your points. In defense of 1996, Knightley acting more peaceable at the end is not attended to take away tension; instead, it makes the final comments of his reprimand more poignant. He basically told her, “I know you’re capable of being a good person, but you disappointed me today”. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than to know you disappointed someone you love and who loves you. And knowing that her actions not only caused harm to Ms. Bates and disappointment in him, is what breaks her. That’s my take on it and you’re free to disagree. But this version and 2020 are the only two that make me cry, showing that both are doing something right. And where I loose it in 1995 is when he says the final line “trusting that sometime you will do my faith greater justice than you do now.” 😢 Man, that hurts.
@saranemcova5448 Would it change your mind about the Gweneth Paltrow movie if that last part was in the book? I've been reading the book a few chapters at a time and then watching those chapters in various adaptations. This particular scene is in Volume II, Chapter VII.
Good comment on the whole. I think the Kate B. one is more defensible: it builds the drama of the moment very well and this Knightley is someone who is blunt enough. If he's not on the blunt side it is hard to make the story of their romance very plausible. And the Northam/Paltrow is also defensible, I think: it's true it plays the end of the scene softer on his part, but it shows that he's restraining himself from the tenderness he wants to express when he sees her suffering. That's a deft touch, I think. And those lines are indeed in the book, though I think they are the opening of his rebuke, not the closing. It really gets at the poignancy of the moment from his perspective: when he says he will tell her truths while he still can, he's acknowledging that he might be losing her to Frank Churchill (and he might be making that all the more inevitable by displeasing her), but he has to tell her what is for her benefit either way.
The 2020 one is well-executed in itself, but the significance is ruined by how egregious her slight was to Miss Bates in that version: everyone is immediately shocked, Miss Bates is obviously holding back tears, it's super awkward in a way that nobody could deny to herself. So Emma has no chance of trying to play it off, and Mr. Knightley's rebuke is just him expressing himself, not saying something she really *needs*. She knows deep down that she was wrong, but she's tempted to laugh it off. The 2020 version just blows that whole dynamic up and replaces it with something else, sucking the meaning out of this scene.
@@Praetoriusifyah that's great insight about the 2020 version.
Yeah I was really weirded out by them being so close to their other companions during the 1996 Kate and Mark version. Like, how is he going to chastise her properly in front of all these people. But I really do like Mark Strong as Mr Knightly.
Mark Strong by far is the best!
My favorite over-all is the 2009. The Gwyneth version did this scene particularly well though, I thought.
I have never watched the 2020 version, and I was genuinely surprised at how bad Anya Taylor-Joy's acting was at the end of the scene. The crying was so forced and fake that I almost laughed. I can't believe they couldn't get a better take than that.
The rest of the scene in the 2020 was ok.
Crocodile tears because she was feeling sorry for herself. They probably really couldn't get a better take.
My favorite Emma has always been the Kate Beckinsale. The 2020 version, which I haven't seen other than this clip, won't be one I watch... primarily becaus Knightly looks to be practically equal in age to Emma. One reply has disliked the 'paternalistic' attitude of Knightly. Well, he held her in his arms when he was 16 and she an infant. A bit of 'I am older and wiser than you' can be forgiven, I think.
i dislike the Gwyneth Paltrow version the most. i think it is too gentle and you don’t feel the anger and disappointment, it’s almost as if he’s too scared of upsetting her when it should be the opposite. the 2009 one is my favorite since it hit me the hardest when i first saw it. but i also love the 2020 one with its modern sensibilities and the more equal feel it has. they all have their charm in a way, though
It seems the younger audience prefers the 2020 version as the characters seem more equal, as things are more today. I preferred the 90s versions but 😊probably because I love the 90s. 😂
I dunno, I'm in my 40s, grew up with the '90s versions, read the book three times, and the 2020 version is my favorite by far because of its creative interpretations, visual humor, and stellar acting. Is it perfect? No, but few things are (the 1995 Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility are pretty darn close). In some ways I think the Kate Beckinsale version is truest to the book. I really like the 2009 version (Emma herself is a bit too "countrified" though, and the number of platinum blondes is blinding), but although I think Jeremy Northam and some of the side characters are great in the other 1996 version, I can't stand Gwyneth Paltrow's affected theatrics in that role.
The BBC version of 2009 is the best and most natural one.
Alright, the jury will pass judgment. The first couple? Splendidly done! Both actors really created a certain vibe we now recognize as the silly ways of the over-priviliged of the early 19th century! The second couple, not too shabby either. Esp Johnny Lee did a recomendable job of it. But couple nr 3? Bland. Conceited, but in the wrong way. Elite actors who sail on blind routine, no zeal. Especially Gwyneth! Very poorly done! The first couple wins the prize, closely followed by pair nr 2,second prize. Couple nr 3? Disqualified for underachieving.
I'm always surprised to find how the 2020 version garnered so many fans. They of course had to bring the characters 'up to date', and put all those emotional outbursts... but I don't see them really authentic to Austen characters. In this scene alone too, a gentleman like Mr Knightley wouldn't openly taunt young lady like Emma in front of her coachmen. See in both 1996 versions how Mr Knightley controls his distress and hushes it down for the dignity of both himself and Emma in presence of other people. Emotional repression is, whether you like it or not, is an essential character in all of English period dramas.
You can tell most of the people commenting here is younger than 40 lol
I agree - the 2020 version is ridiculous. The silliest thing in it is that Mr Knightly, a country gentleman, occupies a house suitable for a royal Duke. I haven't seen the Kate Beckinsale version but I agree that in the Gwyneth Paltrow version this scene was performed very well. The scene won't work unless the audience sees that Knightly's rebuke is just and well deserved and the action of a good friend.
I think people can be a bit too strict when it comes to "authenticity" in adapting a period play/novel, and I think at least part of that stems from not realising that there are at least two different ways of making an adaptation authentic. One is sticking strictly to what the author/playwright wrote. the other is sticking to what the author wanted to _say_ and that can be very different. Characters in old novels constantly say or do things that, to a modern audience, paint them in a very different light to how they're intended to come across. Some words, actions, or manners carry very different connotations today than they did at the time. Making changes that make a character or relationship appear more like it's intended to be perceived does not make something a less faithful adaptation.
Neither of these approaches are wrong, they're just different philosophies.
@@Casutama I always wonder what the authors would think if they could see the adaptations of their work. When it strays so far from the story I think they wouldn't be pleased.
But then he yells in all of them so i don’t understand your point, especially in the 1996 one when he grabs here
I am for the Beckinsale version. Both look and sound very noble, like a lady and a gentleman. The others look cheap and clumsy. The last one seems a parody.
2020 Emma already feels ashamed. She is alone and seems to be going over the situation in her mind. Some of the other version has Emma either being unaware of what she did or uncaring.