''Emma'' was a six-part TV serial adaptation of

Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century ...

's 1815 novel '' Emma'' by

BBC Television BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1 January 1927. It p ...

that was broadcast in 1972. It was directed by

John Glenister John Glenister (12 October 1932 – November 2024) was an English television director. His credits included '' The Six Wives of Henry VIII'', '' Emma'', ''Rumpole of the Bailey'', ''Play for Today'', Dennis Potter's 1971 biopic of '' Casanova'' ...

. This dramatisation brings to life the wit and humour of Jane Austen's novel ''Emma'', recreating the female character of whom she wrote, "no one but myself could like." Emma presides over the small provincial world of Highbury with enthusiasm, but she finds that it is all too easy to confuse good intentions with self-gratification. Often insensitive, well-meaning and incorrigible, having engineered the marriage of her governess, companion and friend Miss Taylor, she now turns her attention towards making a match for the local vicar Mr Elton and her new protégée Harriet Smith. Her one voice of reason and restraint is Mr Knightley, who has known her since she was a child and who watches her behaviour with wry amusement but sometimes with real anger. Alongside, the lives of other characters proceed in ways not always understood by Emma, and she has many lessons to learn before the end of the story.

Cast and crew

Doran Godwin Doran Godwin (born 18 May 1944) is a British actress. Godwin has appeared extensively on both TV and in the theatre. She is mainly known for her roles as Erica Bayliss in the TV detective series '' Shoestring'' and as Philippa Yeates in '' The I ...

–

Emma Woodhouse Emma Woodhouse is the 21-year-old titular protagonist of Jane Austen's 1815 novel '' Emma''. She is described in the novel's opening sentence as "handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition... and had lived nearly ...

* John Carson –

George Knightley George Knightley is a principal character depicted by Jane Austen in her novel '' Emma'', published in 1815. He is a landowner and gentleman farmer, though "having little spare money". A lifetime friend of Emma's though nearly seventeen years ol ...

Donald Eccles Donald Eccles (26 April 1908 – 2 February 1986) was a British character actor. Donald Yarrow Eccles was born in Nafferton, Yorkshire on 26 April 1908 the son of Charles Henry and Constance Eccles; his father was a doctor. Eccles was educated ...

–

Mr Woodhouse Mr Henry Woodhouse is a central character in Jane Austen's 1815 novel '' Emma'' and the father of the protagonist, Emma Woodhouse. He is a wealthy member of the English landed gentry The landed gentry, or the gentry (sometimes collectivel ...

Constance Chapman Constance Chapman (29 March 1912 – 10 August 2003) was an English character actor working in theatre and television. She also made occasional film appearances. She made her stage debut in 1938 in ''Hay Fever'' at the Knightstone Theatre, Wes ...

–

Miss Bates Miss Bates is a supporting character in Jane Austen's 1815 novel '' Emma''. Genteel but poor, and a compulsive talker, she is memorably insulted on one occasion by the book's heroine, to the latter's almost immediate remorse. Background Living in ...

* Robert East – Frank Churchill *

Ania Marson Ania Marson (born 22 May 1949) is an Anglo-Polish actress. Her roles include playing the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia in ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' (1971), and the demon Voleth Meir, 'the Deathless Mother' in ''The Witcher'' (2021). ...

– Jane Fairfax * Ellen Dryden – Mrs Weston * Raymond Adamson –

Mr Weston Mr Weston is a supporting character in Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on th ...

Fiona Walker Fiona Walker (born 24 May 1944) is an English actress, known for numerous theatre and television roles between the 1960s and 1990s. An early leading role was as Sue Bridehead in a BBC television production of ''Jude the Obscure'' (1971). She ma ...

– Mrs Elton *

Timothy Peters Timothy Jason Peters (born August 29, 1980) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado for Rackley W.A.R.. He was a member of t ...

– Mr Elton * Debbie Bowen – Harriet Smith *

John Alkin John Alkin (born 17 January 1947) is an English actor turned spiritual healer. He was born in Rugby, Warwickshire, under the name John Kenneth Foinquinos. Biography Acting career Alkin is best remembered for two roles: DC Tom Daniels in Thames ...

– Robert Martin * Mary Holder – Mrs Bates * Vivienne Moore – Williams * Amber Thomas – Patty *

Hilda Fenemore Hilda Lilian Fenemore (22 April 1914 – 13 April 2004) was an English actress with a prolific career in film and television from the 1940s to the 1990s. Fenemore played mainly supporting roles which were characterised in her obituary in ''The ...

– Mrs Cole *

Norman Atkyns Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 9th and 10th centuries ** People or things connected with the Nor ...

– Shop Assistant * Meg Gleed – Isabella Knightley * John Kelland – John Knightley * Belinda Tighe, Yves Tighe, Arran Tighe, Emma Horton – The Knightley Children *

Mollie Sugden Isabel Mary Sugden (21 July 19221 July 2009), known professionally as Mollie Sugden was an English actress and comedian. She was best known for being an original cast member in the British sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' (1972–1985) as senior ...

– Mrs Goddard * Lala Lloyd – Mrs Ford *

Marian Tanner Marian may refer to: People * Marian (given name), a list of people with the given name * Marian (surname), a list of people so named Places * Marian, Iran (disambiguation) * Marian, Queensland, a town in Australia * Marian, a village in toe co ...

– Betty Bickerton * Sam Williams – Gypsy Boy *

Tom McCall Thomas Lawson McCall (March 22, 1913 January 8, 1983) was an American, politician and journalist in the state of Oregon, serving as the state's thirtieth governor from 1967 to 1975. A progressive Republican, he was known as a staunch environme ...

, David Butt, Christopher Green – Musicians

References

External links

* 1972 British television series debuts 1972 British television series endings Television series based on Emma (novel) Television shows set in England Costume drama television series BBC television dramas 1970s British drama television series 1970s British television miniseries Television series set in the 19th century British English-language television shows 1970s British romance television series {{BBC-drama-tv-prog-stub