Emily Hill of the Evening Standard isn’t thrilled with this adaptation of Emma:
The tension of the series comes not from the characters being marooned in stuffy Regency England, but from the bizarre twenty-first-century dating psychobabble. At some point, whoever created this very pretty 9 pm drama seems to have thrown the actual novel aside and adapted the work with exclusive reference to other Jane Austen adaptations and what they think middle-aged women want to down with their end-of-Sabbath Chardonnay. Even the actors seem to be stuck in synthetic Austen-land.
My review of Emma sits at this link
Having watched 3/4 of the film, tell us what you thought of Emma, Episode Three
My rambling discourse about hair echoes my thinking about this production of Emma, for I can’t decide whether I like it or not. Count me as one of the viewers who is still sitting on the fence. I understand that the producers wanted to modernize and jazz Emma up, so that a new audience can appreciate her story. But many liberties were taken in the process, such as with Jane Austen’s dialogue and wit, which are practically nonexistent. Let’s examine the hair styles in this film. Ringlets were in vogue at the time Jane Austen wrote the novel. They peeped out of bonnets and mobcaps. Even when hair was pulled back into a chignon, ringlets would be fashioned around the face and in front of the ears.
In this image, Harriet Smith’s hair style has ringlets aplenty, but is more reminiscent of the updos worn in 1826-1832, when the ringlets resembled poodle ears. Of course, this hairdo did have a certain cinematic effect, for Harriet is a bit silly and naive and the hairdo suits her personality to a tee. If you recall, Mrs. Bennet (Alison Steadman) in 1995’s Pride and Prejudice was given a similar hair do, and every time she spoke, her ringlets shook, making her seem even sillier.
Ballgown 1826
Fashion plate 1832
In the next image, Christina Cole (Augusta Elton), below, demonstrates the sort of hair/bonnet combination I have come to associate with the era. Her loose ringlets peep out from under her straw hat most becomingly.
Emma was published in 1815. Let’s compare Augusta’s hair and cap to fashion plate images of the same year. Close enough, don’t you think? Her bonnet is different, but there were many modish styles to choose from and one can’t quibble with a becoming straw cap.
Jodhi May as Mrs. Weston
Why was such a plain and unflattering hairstyle chosen for beautiful Jodhi May? Was her hair Quakerish on purpose so that she would not compete in beauty with Emma? At this point she is no longer a governess, but the mistress of her own house and can dress herself accordingly. Even poor Miss Bates (sitting at right below) shows more attempt at “styling”.
Miss Fairfax and Miss Bates at Box Hill
This plain upswept chignon was adorned with simple curls in front of the ears, which would have helped Jodhi’s hairstyle immensely, making it seem more “authentic.”
In this image, Blake Ritson wears his hair a la Brutus, a style commonly worn by men in the Regency era. Poor Harriet (Louise Dylan) is stuck with the poodle style for the duration of the film.
In the image below, Blake looks like he’s about to enter Bedlam, which I suppose was his hair stylist’s intention, for Mr. Elton IS a ridiculous character. Still, Blake’s facial ticks should have been enough to clue the viewer in. We didn’t need crazy hair as well.
Did the stylists use 21st century hair gel to accomplish this style?
To be fair, men pomaded their hair and created fantastic styles. Witness Beau Brummel in 1805.
Which begs the question: Why did Jonny Lee Miller fashion his hair a la the 21st century?
Oops, wrong image
I meant to insert this one
Men wore their hair in many styles, some elaborate, and some quite sleek and modern to our eyes. Jonny’s hairstyle is remarkably close to McMurdo’s below, who, from the neck up would not look too out of place in today’s world.
Lieut Colonel Bryce McMurdo, 1800-1810 by Henry Raeburn
Women often wore caps in bed, which they drew over their paper curlers. Hair was washed only occasionally in those days, and caps prevented pillow cases from being soiled from accumulated oil and dirt.
Ok, we get it. Harriet is SICK. Where is her night cap?
I just had to include the image below. Yes, very young girls at that time wore their hair loose, and, yes, they had to be taught their manners. (For aren’t we all little savages until our governesses teach us better?) For my finnicky taste, this image shows a woman who is much too modern in hairstyle and facial expression. At the very least, Emma would have been taught to place her hand in front of her mouth when yawning.
Goodness. What would the servants have thought?
I’m still on the fence, waiting to like this film adaptation. It seems that the numbers are tanking and people are not staying with the show (a bad omen for the future of bonnet movies on BBC). Kali at StrangeGirl.com and blog author of Emma Adaptations is still liking this adaptation, although elements are starting to get on her nerves. Please feel free to agree or disagree with anything said in this post. :)
Ahahahah! VIC RULES! :D
[…] …by Vic of Jane Austen’s World. Consider appropriate men’s and women’s hairstyles for the period, including headgear. Check it out! […]
Could you please expand upon “paper curlers”?
Love your blog – thanks so much!
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Back in the day, a young lady would curl her hair in paper lengths, which were twisted and tied to hold the curl in place. I plan on completing a post on hair this week and will include an image.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for making me laugh out loud at work.
Did you find it as amusing as I did that Emma wore the period-requisite paper curlers to bed (episode 2 I think) but never a curl do we see adorning her face in her day dos? I’m surprised you didn’t include an analysis of Emma’s hair style. I’m sure it would have been highly amusing.
I’m also still unsure of my opinion of this adaptation. I think Romola Garai is, overall, a good Emma except in her manner of walking. She bounces and flits around in a manner I find it extremely hard to reconcile with Emma Woodhouse.
Alexa, I debated on analyzing Emma hairstyles, but she really only had two – the one shown in her youth, and the the plain chignon, which, as you noted, had no whispy curls around her face. She would NOT have been considered very modish. One would think she would have been the best dressed and best tressed woman in Highbury.
I took the lack of variety of Emma’s hairstyles as representative of her not being personally vain. Emma, unlike Mrs. Elton, truly doesn’t like finery. She is the most beautiful person in Highbury, and has no need of fashions or whatnot to prove it to herself or others.
But then, I thought Jodhi May looked lovely with her hairstyle as well, so I could just be a tasteless minion. :-)
Oh Vic – this is hysterical – and I haven’t even seen the episodes yet! – thanks for brightening all of our days! [and how much better JLM looks in the photograph… ] I just finally watched Daniel Deronda with Hugh Dancy and Romola Garai – I thought she had too many contorted facial expressions in that and fear that might be the problem with this Emma as well…
Romola’s facial contortions get in my way of appreciating her talents as an actress. They are too broad and exaggerated for my taste, but then again, I prefer Romola’s acting to Kristin Stewart, whose facial expressions are almost non-existent. Mark my words, that young lady will NOT need botox injections in her forehead when she hits forty.
Her facial gymnastics have really gotten in the way of my liking this version of Emma, much to my great disappointment. I liked Garai a lot in Mary Bryant, but then again that is a role that calls for a lot of over the top emoting. But her interpretation has pretty much ruined this Emma for me. Initially, I thought JLM might be the disappointment, but he’s actually grown on me a bit in the last episode. IMO he’s the better actor of the two. But I know Romola’s got her vocal fan club out there!
In any case, the Beckinsale/Strong version will definitely be remaining as my favorite for the foreseeable future.
BTW: loved this post!
PS– I totally agree about Kristen Stewart!!!
Vocal Romola fan club, represent! That would be me.
Okay, I was only at “liking it” or “on the fence” for the last two weeks. But this week has whanged one in the gold, knocked me flat on my back into the “loved it” side. Everything just worked for me this week – the characterizations were back on track, the directing and acting were fantastic, and the music heartbreakingly lovely.
And I am not ashamed to say I shed tears in the middle of the school computer lab while Emma and Mr. Knightley danced. Oh, Emma, such happiness.
Your comment gives me hope. My polls indicate that over half the viewers like or love Emma, and the numbers are rarely wrong.
“The hair was curled, and the maid sent away, and Emma sat down to think and be miserable.—” Chapter XVI
When I was growing up in Ireland of the forties and fifties I used to have, every Saturday night, my dead-straight hair wound around twists of newspaper and then tied with rangs. This was to make me look ‘respectable’ for Sunday morning Mass. I still remember the agony of the procedure!
[…] Customs During The Regency EraRegency Wedding Dresses and Later Developments in Bridal FashionsEmma 2009: Episode ThreeLost in Austen: A Review of the Movie, Episode OneSocial Classes in England, 1814Fashions During […]
I’ve only seen the first two hours and I’m definitely tuning in for the rest of it. I agree with those who think Romola is too modern in her interpretation. JLM though, is absolutely making this for me. I disliked Emma with Gwyneth as the lead, and though I liked Kate Beckinsale in her version, I didn’t swoon for Mr. Knightley like I really, really wanted to. In fact, this is the first Knightley I’ve ever seen who had the quality of the man as written. The production quality is great and most of the side characters are as amusing as they are meant to be. I’m looking forward to Sunday’s episode!
I heartily agree with Miss Hill of the Evening Standard. This adaptation is laking- in the costuming (too many fabrics that would not have been used in 1815) and most of the acting. Romola Grai, however pleasant to watch, is not suited for the period. Her modern posture, movements and facial expressions, I feel, detract from the story. On the brighter side of things, I feel this version to be light and happy- something rather wanting in modern television programs. All in all, I like this adaptation, but there are many distractions which make it difficult to fully enjoy and experience the story. It is all rather beige to me, I’m afraid.
(*Lacking), rather.
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[…] ahead), read Vic (Ms Place’s) view on episode three and the hair styles in the adaptation at Jane Austen’s World and be enlightened by Kali of the Emma Adaptations page and Strangegirl blogon her reactions to […]
I just have to say that this is the best version of Emma I have seen so far! I HATED the version with Gweneth Paltrow because I did no feel she played the part well and Mr. Knightley was not handsome at all in that version (something about his bottom teeth and lip bothered me). I think that this recent version captures the characters very well and stays true to the book. I will admit thought that at certain times Garai played the part a little bit on the silly side. I was really happy to see that they found a Mr. Elton who is attractive and snobbish! In some versions, they portray him as an unattractive male which is not right at all. The casting of Mrs. Elton is perfect. Miss Bates is perfect in this version also. I wish they would have shown the Knightley/Woodhouse wedding though!
I absolutely love Sheryl Cole. I am hoping she will stand through these difficult times. His love is just not worth fighting for.
I love both this version and the Gwyneth Paltrow versions. They’re both very enjoyable. I haven’t seen the Kate Beckinsale version yet.
I’ve finally seen the Kate Beckinsale version. It has its virtues, but it’s also my least favorite version of the novel. As for this version having “modern sensibilities” . . . I don’t care. I watched “EMMA” to be entertained, not to use it as a tool for learning about Regency society.
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