- Title: USA: GWYNETH PALTROW PLAYS EMMA IN A NEW JANE AUSTEN ADAPTATION
- Date: 13th July 1996
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) TONI COLLETTE SAYING HOW EMMA'S INTENTIONS PROVE DESTRUCTIVE BUT ARE ULTIMATELY HELPFUL (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 28th July 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVADHWWOQFP3PSBJMZCJLLSM1XLL
- Story Text: Gwyneth Paltrow takes top billing in "Emma", the latest adaptation of a Jane Austen novel to make its way to the bigscreen.
This story of the pretty, clever and just a little self-satisfied Emma Woodhouse was scripted and directed by American Douglas McGrath in his debut behind the camera.
Emma is a 21-year-old living alone with her father in the small town of Highbury, England. When her beloved governess, friend and confidante Miss Taylor (Greta Scacchi) leaves to marry their neighbour Mr Weston (James Cosmo), Emma is faced with a great gap in her life -- and a great dilemma -- how to help others lead a life as perfect as her own.
She turns to matchmaking and takes under her wing Harriet Smith (Toni Collette), a simple young woman who is not quite up to the mark in society.
Undaunted, Emma sets about finding Harriet a suitable husband.
Harriet is delighted to entrust her future to the self-appointed matchmaker and is persuaded to break off her arrangement with the local farmer Robert Martin, whom Emma considers beneath Harriet.
This interference annoys Emma's brother-in-law, Mr Knightley (Jeremy Northam). Knightley owns nearby Donwell Abbey and is one of the few who recognizes Emma's faults.
He follows with much amusement her blundering excursions into other people's hearts.
Among those also appearing in the film are Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill, a dashing young suitor of rather secretive intentions.
"Emma" was shot in and around the Dorset countryside, specifically the village of Evershot, which still retains vestiges of early 19th century England.
Before his move into film, McGrath wrote a satirical column for the political weekly "The New Republic". He then co-wrote with Woody Allen the screenplay for the Academy Award winning "Bullets Over Broadway." "Emma" opened in the United States last week. It will be released in Europe later this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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