Emma (1996)

[00:00:00] In 1995, we watched Cher Horowitz play Matchmaker in Beverly Hills. One year later, Hollywood took us back to the original source. Gwyneth Paltrow grabbed the bonnet and became Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse, proving that whether it's 1815 or 1996, meddling in your friend's love lives never goes out of style.

[00:00:32] Welcome to the No More Late Fees podcast. I'm Jackie. And I'm Danielle, and we're just two best friends and ex-blockbuster employees re-watching some of the best and worst movies from the late 90s and early 2000s. And this week, we're matchmaking with 1996 Emma. But before we dive in, let's get into some... If you love a podcast and you want to support us, here's how you can.

[00:01:02] Ready to fill our episodes? Buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com slash no more late fees. And today, we're joined by film and TV creator and lover of Regency Media, Ainsley Broom. Hello! Hey! Hello! Hello! It feels surreal to have you on the podcast because I literally eat up all of your videos

[00:01:30] watching you on TikTok, Instagram, especially when Bridgerton comes out. So I just love you like a ray of sunshine. So it's wonderful that you're on. Thank you all for having me. This is so much fun. This is truly one of my favorite films. So I can't wait to dive in and talk about it. So tell us just a little bit how you got started and how did you start creating content on social?

[00:01:56] So my degree, I guess because I've been a social media content creator for about 10 years. My degree is in marketing, so I was doing social media for companies for a bit. And then I started doing it for myself, just like everybody else when the pandemic hit. It was like, you know, let's see what TikTok's going on. And I kind of did that. I started off with kind of like Polynesian men thirst traps is kind of what I tell people.

[00:02:25] If anybody remembers the papaya video, introducing the world to that. And I kind of like moved towards talking about my culture and things like that. But sometimes when you did that, you got a lot of trolls and things got a little heavy. But that's when Bridgerton came along. And I've always been a historical romance, like girly. I think my mom started me young when I was Anna Green Gables. And so that is the gateway right there.

[00:02:55] I think it's 1985, Kevin Sullivan. And also with musicals, you know, having like a historical aspect to them. And they're also romance. And so I started talking about Bridgerton because I was like Regency. I fell in love with Jane Austen at the age of 12. I feel like a lot of young girls did as well and had this like when people are like, what's your Roman Empire? And mine was Jane Austen. Any little book or quote or anything I get my hands on as a teenager for Jane, I needed it.

[00:03:23] And so Bridgerton was the pathway to that. And then, yeah, I just started talking about it on TikTok a lot more and finding others who loved it. And yeah, that's kind of just like where it all started. Well, Jackie, let's get into Emma. So Emma Woodhouse is wealthy, clever, confident, and convinced she has a gift for matchmaking.

[00:03:47] After taking the sweet and impressionable Harriet Smith under her wing, Emma begins interfering in the romantic lives of everyone around her. But as one matchmaking scheme after another goes wrong, Emma is forced to confront her own blind spots and realize she may have completely misunderstood her own heart.

[00:04:07] The movie stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Toni Collette, Ewan McGrega, Alan Cumming, Greta Scotchy, Polly Walker, Juliette Stevenson, Sophie Thompson, and Philida Law. The movie was written and directed by Douglas McGrath, and you can currently watch it for free on Pluto. But before we start, let's get into our ratings rewind.

[00:04:34] So you know the drill. Before we get into the movie, we'll reveal the rating our Y2K versions of ourselves we give. Then at the end, we'll see if our current selves agree with our initial rating. Our scale consists of would buy it, would buy it again. The best wood plan repeat. Five day rental. Wood watch again. Two day rental. Eh, okay, but nothing to write home about. And same day rental.

[00:05:02] Throw it in the back, yonder. It's trash. So Ainsley, what is your Y2K rating of Emma? So I actually do remember renting this film. I'm pretty sure it was VHS or DVD. Like I can remember going to Hall. I don't remember going to Blockbuster, but we had Hollywood rental in my hometown. And I remember getting this one.

[00:05:28] And yeah, definitely if I had the opportunity to buy it, I totally would buy it. My Y2K self loved this film so much. So, cause I remember, yeah, I just, the fact that I remember us renting it, like that's how much it stuck in my brain. It was a canon event for sure. Yes. It was. Danielle? I don't, I never bought this, but I did like it. So I say five day rental.

[00:05:58] Jackie? Practicing the audience. These movies are not my jam. Much like melodramas. If you've listened to our notebook episode, you know, I have hard opinions. They don't get any better in this episode, but so all that to say, I've never seen this movie. Well, we're starting somewhere. I've watched the 2021 only because, and this is, this is why Danielle and my husband get along. He loves Jane Austen.

[00:06:28] And he was so excited to watch this movie with me. I really, I don't know if I'll pull out a lot of comparisons to the newer one with Anna Taylor-Joy. That's her name, right? But I really did like that one. Like it stayed in my brain. There's different things I like about this one versus the other. And I definitely will bring those up. So it should be interesting. Yeah. I was very, very, what is the word?

[00:06:59] Nervous about the new one when it came out. I was like, you know, but yeah, if we're going to talk about that later, I'll save my thoughts for that later. Okay. Well, for box office, this movie came out August 6th, 1996. It had a budget about 7 million worldwide gross, 37.3 million pretty. That's not bad considering how much the budget was. And for a Regency film.

[00:07:27] At the box office at this time, we have number one, a time to kill independence day. And number two, Jack at number three, 10 cup at number four, our girl Matilda at number five. And Emma came in at a rolling number 16. So, I mean, but yeah, I mean, honestly, back then, when you look at the box office, it was rough, you know, it was. And, and movies stayed in the, in the movies for so long. Yeah. Cause independence day, that's over a month.

[00:07:57] Yeah. Okay. So, Lil Raj, Roger Ebert at the Chicago Sun-Times gave this movie three out of four stars. He said, yet in its high spirits and wicked good humor, Emma is delight, is a delightful film, second only to persuasion among the modern Austin movies and funnier, if not so insightful. So, Lil Raj liked it. Jackie.

[00:08:27] Okay. That's not saying much on this show. That's for sure. Okay, Raj. I mean, he was old even back then. My God. Here we go. Three out of four, though. I feel like, I feel like critics these days would actually rate it lower because it's happy.

[00:08:47] I don't know if, I feel like any film nowadays that comes out with like a happy ending or has like a, whatever, they're like, until somebody dies or is crying at the end, it is a terrible movie. Yeah. You know, yeah, cause I feel like even Oscar movies used to have some contenders that were happy, but now it's like everything has to be like really gritty dramas for it to be considered. You know, back then the musicals would be nominated.

[00:09:14] For Best Picture, like that's what I was surprised to see, like Best Picture nominees for, because I was like, was everything used to be so sad? Like did every sad movie always get, and then I look back and I'm like, musicals were being nominated for Best Pictures. Yeah. It's hard times. Life sucks in the real world and we can't have happiness on the screen. And the color is gone. So, okay.

[00:09:42] Well, before we get into our cast and crew, let's hear a message from our pod pals. When you need a sister or two to chat with about your favorite movies and shows, come find us at Cisflix Podcast. Hi, I'm Paola. And I'm Nadja. We're two sisters and designers who love to talk through the movie. Listen in as we critique and discuss beloved chick flicks, their plots, their aesthetics, and the messaging behind every scene.

[00:10:11] What are our favorite rom-coms communicating about politics, feminism, and culture? What do the production design and costume design tell us about a story? And which sister will be sent to horny jail for lusting over the romantic leads? Join us for our bi-weekly in-depth movie recaps and let's talk through the chick flicks we hate to love, the tropes we love to hate, and all the aesthetic choices in between. All right, cast and crew, let's go.

[00:10:41] I see one on here that I just, I feel like this has to be big news. Okay. And, okay. Jenny Garth was considered for the lead role. You mean Kelly from 90210? Was she doing What I Like About You at that time or was that later? She was still on 90210. Yeah. I think it was a look more than anything. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and like wapish body.

[00:11:12] But, like, 90210, yeah, I don't see it. No. I don't. I love her. Yeah. Sorry, the amount of American actresses, like, to be considered for a British role. Yeah. Like, nowadays, I feel like that wouldn't be really heard of. It's like, you're getting an American to play this iconic British role. Why would you, you know? Back then, that was kind of crazy. Like, not a thing that they would do.

[00:11:40] I remember when even Renee Zellweger got Bridget Jones, how scandalous that was. Yeah. So, all of this seems kind of weird, but. She did. She did so well. What? I thought she was British after that. Mm-hmm.

[00:11:57] Well, and, like, when I think about other British, or so I say, not British, Americans who do British roles, I feel like, I know there's, like, content, like, there's mixed thoughts about Anne Hathaway when she was Jane Austen and becoming Jane. But I kind of liked her as Jane Austen. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I, I don't know, like, when I watch this, I'm like, how do I feel about Gwen Paltrow? Because sometimes I'm like, I hate her. But then sometimes I'm like, do I?

[00:12:27] I still love her in this role because, like, she does the naive, I have an opinion about something role very well. You know? Like. I think that's just who she is. Like, I, I know, I know for everyone. And then she just opened up her, like, goop line and was like, you need a candle that smells like my vagina is what she means. You know, that is true. That is what she does.

[00:12:56] Sometimes she does have, like, I will say, is she a Nepo baby? Hell yeah. Was she wrapped up, unfortunately, in the Weinstein entanglement of it all and harassed? And did she probably go through hell? Yes. On top of that. But I do think at times she does do a good job. Because, like, when I think of sliding doors, I really liked her, you know, her British accent.

[00:13:26] I'm not British. So somebody from there might say it's awful. But when she does a British accent, it doesn't take me out of the movie when I'm watching her. So, and she also does really well, almost in a villain way, too, when, in Great Expectations. Well, I don't know if she, that was a villain, but I know, I thought she was a villain in that movie. So every now and again, every now and again. And I did like her in Glee. So. I was about to mention Glee.

[00:13:55] I was about to mention Glee. Yeah. Yell at your mama. I loved, I loved her in Glee. Okay, we also had Nicole Kidman and Diane Lane, who apparently turned down the role. I could have saw both of them. And that. It would be interesting then to have two Australians. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:14:21] It's like, was there no British women actresses there this time? Kate Winslet. Oh, yeah, yeah. But I feel like they would have said, even though, like, at least in the Y2K era, I feel like they would have been like, she's too big. Yeah. And she wasn't. I'm not saying, that's all I'm saying. Right. But I'm saying that, like, Hollywood would have, like, deemed her that way.

[00:14:44] Because, like, when you look at Tony in the, you know, like, still, like, I can't believe that anybody would have, because she's in Mural. Have y'all talked about Mural's wedding? We haven't, because it's not in our time frame. But I absolutely adore that movie. Yeah, there is definitely a smear campaign, considering her or Janine Garofalo. Yeah. It's just, it was propaganda for sure. Yeah. It was kind of crazy.

[00:15:14] But Jolie Richardson was considered. But I don't think she had enough name recognition, to be honest, at that time. Another Nepo baby. But no. Yep. Well, the director decided to bring in American actress Gwyneth Paltrow to audition for Emma Woodhouse after a suggestion from his agent. And after seeing her performance in Flesh and Bone. And of his decision to bring her in for the part, McGrath revealed,

[00:15:41] The thing that actually sold me on her playing a young English girl was that she did a perfect Texas accent. I know that won't recommend her to most people. I grew up in Texas, and I had never heard an actor or actress not from Texas sound remotely like a Texan. I knew she had theater training so she could carry herself. We had many actresses, big and small, who wanted to play this part. The minute she started the read-through, the very first line, I thought everything is going to be fine. She's going to be brilliant.

[00:16:12] I mean, it did help that it was Merrimack. Like, literally thinking about how many movies Gwyneth Paltrow was in during the Merrimack's, like, height. She was in almost, it was like five people doing those movies. That evil man from that company wanted her to appear in The Pallbearer. He was really, really just evil. The Pallbearer was horrible. Was she not in that?

[00:16:41] She is. He wanted her to make sure she was in it first. Got it. Before going ahead and allowing the film to be made. So while she recovered from, she had wisdom tooth surgery. She had about a month to herself to do her own research for the part. And she also studied, like, horsemanship, dancing, singing, archery, and the highly stylized manners and dialect during a three-week rehearsal period. So she really took that time.

[00:17:10] It was really interesting to see how the rest of the cast felt about doing this movie. Like, so many of them did not seem enthusiastic at first. Yeah, Jerry North wasn't a fan of Emma. He admitted he couldn't get very far when he first tried reading the novel. And then, although he was initially considered for another role in the film, Northam wanted to play Mr. Knightley. And director Douglas McGrath independently came to the same conclusion.

[00:17:37] Northam later said he was drawn to Knightley because of the character's belief that Emma could become a better person. I mean, Knightley is everything. So what do you think of, like, with Jane Austen? Because I just feel like Jane Austen in the movies, because I'll be honest, I've never read any of Jane Austen's books.

[00:18:00] But it always feels like she has some sort of Mr. Darcy kinda-esque character in the movies. Maybe not to as much as just the degree of grumpiness. Yeah. But to some level they feel like... They're very, like, stoic in a way. Knightley, to me... I don't want to call him a golden retriever, because he's not a golden retriever.

[00:18:30] But he's, like... I would say maybe more, like, black lab. I don't know. You know how, like... Because, like, Knightley... I mean, Darcy is very much black cat energy. Mm-hmm. In a way. Whereas I feel like Knightley is more black lab energy. Where it's, like, I'm still, like, very, like, structured in a way. But I also like to have fun. Right. Yeah. If that makes sense. Yeah. Because, like...

[00:18:57] And I always, like, to me, the age gap is what gets me between Emma and Knightley. And I think when I was younger, it never really hit me. But as I'm older, I'm like, hmm, this is... I don't know if I like this. Yeah. Yeah. When he says in the movie, you were... I was 16 when you were born. I was like, say, what now? 21. And she's like, oh, you've had 21 years. 21 years. You're 21? And I was like, let me do that math. 37? 37.

[00:19:27] And also, like, I feel like maybe that was Austin's way of, like, commenting on how in society young women were pressured to get married. And men could literally be pushing 40 and they're still considered a valuable, like, match. Yeah. Whereas, like, if you're pushing 21, God forbid that you're single. I never thought of it like that. But yeah, I could see that.

[00:19:52] Because in Sense of Sensibility as well, they're much older for Kate Winslet's character and the guy she's with. Right. Colonel Brandon. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What's happening here? Yeah. She's a child. Yeah. I think that's why, like, as I'm getting older, I feel like when I was younger, I loved Parting Prejudice and Emma.

[00:20:17] But I recently read Persuasion, and I loved that book so much this summer. I don't know why, but reading that book as I'm, like, in my 30s, I was like, honestly, maybe Persuasion is the book that we all should be rereading about. Because it was less, it was kind of less about the love story and more about the people that were involved in Anne Elliot's life. And I'm like, yeah, girl, you should not have married this man when he was, when y'all were younger.

[00:20:47] You guys definitely needed time to, like, apart to figure out who you were, who you are as people, and then come together. Yeah. Oh, but did you, just a side question. Did you like the Persuasion version that came out with, what's the Fifty Shades of Grey Girl? Dakota Johnson? Yeah. So, I understand people's, like, distaste for it, but having read Persuasion and watching

[00:21:16] that version, I kind of liked the Anne Elliot. I don't feel like they executed it the way that they should have, but I did kind of like the direction of Anne Elliot kind of being, like, existing within her story and kind of, like, breaking the fourth wall in a way. I wish it had been done a little bit better, but I kind of liked her being like, oh, yeah, I just hanging out, getting drunk while my, you know, while everyone else is partying

[00:21:43] or, like, you know, having somewhat of a pessimistic view on the world in a way, which is different than the optimistic heroines that Austin is normally seen to be writing. So, I kind of, I don't hate it as much, surprisingly, now that I've read the book, which is weird because so many people that have read the book and love Persuasion hate that version of the story, but I'm over here being like, I kind of like it. It's not that bad, y'all. Yeah.

[00:22:13] All right, so let's dive in. Where are we starting? It's like, what I love is that it literally, you hear her voiceover, so you kind of get some of that, but you're diving right into her life. Like, everything's already started. Like, there's no, I guess, big event to kick things off. Yeah, and there's no, like, exposition to really explain whoever one is.

[00:22:38] It's kind of, you just pick up bits and pieces to kind of like, okay, Harriet's the friend. Okay, like, Emma's the one kind of leading that friendship around. Emma is very sweet to her dad and takes care of him as much as she can. And, like, because my only frame of reference is Clueless, I just played the, like, okay, Harriet is Ty. Okay, okay, Mr. Knightley is Josh.

[00:23:08] And so I just played that game the whole time, like, trying to pair whoever one was. I feel like Jeremy Northam looks like Paul Rudd, but also the guy who played the Hulk the second time around. Eric Bana? Yeah. I don't know. It's like, if you put those two together, you get him. That's all I kept thinking about.

[00:23:35] I think what I like the most about the beginning of the film is the ornament that is being, that is given to Mrs. Taylor, who used to be Miss Weston. Like, anytime I start this film, I just love the intro just because the music is great and you have, like, that spinning ornament that, like, also does. One of my favorite things about film, when films do this, is, like, you have a painting of, like, the building or a scene and then you go into that scene. Yeah.

[00:24:04] That's, like, my favorite thing in a lot of films when they would do that, especially, like, Meet Me in St. Louis does it. And I love that Emma also does it. I love that, too. And who was, who was getting married? Because I kind of missed her. Her governess was getting married. Which, when I tried to, like, you were saying the comparisons to Clueless, it's, like, in

[00:24:28] a weird way, she plays the role of Dion, but also she plays the role of her teacher. Because remember, like, Mr. Hall and Mrs. Geist. So it's, like, because there really is no Dion character in this movie, in Emma, per se, but it's, like, the confidant part is, like, they split that character into two. That's how I perceived it when I was watching. I can see that, yeah.

[00:24:56] And we quickly find out that Emma prides herself on her innate ability to hook people up. My favorite part about Emma. I love her so much for it. I think it's also cool that in this character, like, in comparison to Pride and Prejudice, where the girls are under so much pressure to get married, and Emma's, like, whole thought process and even her father is like,

[00:25:26] yo, we're just ride or die at the house. Yeah. I feel as if the three characters of Emma, Mr. Knightley, and her dad are just cancers, because we like to be in the house. Why would we go out? And just, like, a little bit of hot gossip every now and then. But there's no pressure, really, for Emma to get married at all.

[00:25:53] And she even has a stance about, if you're rich, it's kind of chic to be single. You're fine. And I was like, oh, that's very different from some of the other interpretations. Like, even in Sense of Sensibility, the fact that they are unmarried and that they're not men, they can't even have the home that they grew up in. So she ain't got those problems. I find that interesting in this one.

[00:26:20] And so her, now that her governess is married off, her next project is Harriet, played by Toni Collette, which is wild that, like, she had to gain weight for the role and is still so thin. And that she's cast as kind of, like, the doubting no one wants her friend. Yeah. I don't get that. Yeah.

[00:26:50] I don't get that. And I don't get why she keeps being put in these roles. And she is, like, Toni Collette is one of the best actresses we've had from this time frame. Like, I could have seen her as Emma. Yeah. Like, she could have gotten more main characters instead of, like, kind of, like, a weird off. She... I could cry how good that woman is as an actress. Like, it's...

[00:27:18] And she's so pretty in this role, too. Like, when I watch her, I'm just like, she's so pretty. Because, like, they do, like, that goddess painting of her as well. And I'm like... Yeah. She could easily be Venus, you know? Yeah. Like, coming out, Venus be born. I don't know, man. This world is crazy trying to tell us certain types of people are the only people that can be beautiful. I don't get it. But, yeah.

[00:27:44] So, at first, Emma's like, oh, Mr. Elton. That's who you need to be attached to. Played by Alan Cumming. And Mr. Elton is always just, like, he's in the orbit. And, like, the viewer very early on is like, oh, yeah, because he's into Emma. And then Emma is just continually pushing Harriet at him.

[00:28:14] And Emma paints that portrait that you're speaking about. And Mr. Elton comes in. He's like, oh, I must go have it framed. So, he takes it and gets it framed. And, like, watching this, actually, when I watched the 2021, I was like, man, that was brilliant writing and clueless. Like, the allegories that they were using, but, like, in a modern context, were, like, perfect.

[00:28:44] Yeah. And so, like, that has convinced Emma, like, okay, we got this. He wants your painting. And then it's like, Harriet's real into riddles. And so, Emma's like, yo, yo, yo, Mr. Elton dropped off this letter for you, even though he gave it to Emma. And it's all cryptic. And we know how much you love that.

[00:29:12] So, he must really be into you now. Let's decipher it together. Type thing. I don't know. What were you going to say? Mr. Elton just pisses me off half the time. Yeah. He's a dick. He definitely is one of those guys that if you don't like him back, then that's it. Like, as he shows.

[00:29:38] But I think the thing that pisses me off about Emma is that if I were her friend, if I were Harriet, I would be so pissed. Like, why do you keep on trying to hook me up with people? Like, you are definitely hurting my pride. Yeah. Like, you only care about how things look on the outside. Like, I have this guy. I like him.

[00:30:05] And Emma is just, like, cannot even see beyond her hubris. And she is very naive and has it really truly lived life to understand that a match with the farmer guy is actually really good for Harriet because Harriet has no status whatsoever. But I have to give Emma a little bit of, like, you know, that's a good point.

[00:30:32] When Emma asks Harriet being like, well, did Mr. Robert pick up that book that you suggested he read? And I'm over here being like, I can't help it. I'm on Emma's side on that aspect. Like, if he really cared, I don't care how much time he has, you know, if he doesn't have time as a farmer to read a book, like, just go pick the book up. True. I do think that her making her not say yes automatically did up her worth with that man.

[00:31:02] And I think that was for the better. But who knows if that would have actually happened. Like, that man could have gotten, like, Harriet could have been really left out in the cold and not had anybody. Yeah. It was a gamble, to say the least. For sure. And that, what you love about Emma is such a turnoff for me. I'm just like, leave Harriet alone. Like, let her figure her own shit out. You're a nosy Nelly.

[00:31:32] You have nothing better to do because you don't have to worry about marrying for love and status. Like, just leave people alone and they'll figure it out on their own. Or they'll ask you for help if they need it. True. I mean, I will, yeah, I don't like that she meddled so much with Mr. Robert. But the one question where she's like, but did he actually take an interest in what you're interested in? I'm kind of like, point, but also back off, girl.

[00:31:59] Because, like, your friend's in love and he loves her. So, at the end of the day, that's what really counts. But also telling Harriet to be like, you know, this guy also needs to be interested in what you're, you know, kind of like coaching her in that way. Yeah. But no, I agree with him.

[00:32:17] And even at the end, like, you could, like, there was such an understanding of, like, how disattached Emma was from understanding, like, what coupling meant. Because she was sitting there, like, loved hanging out with Mr. Knightley and then not even realizing, like, oh, this is what it's about is, like, enjoying each other's company.

[00:32:45] And that's how you, like, build that relationship. Like, she'd, like, over her head for nine-tenths of the movie. But I do love that Jane Austen does write a few characters that are absolutely clueless. But that is literally us in our 20s. I'm sorry. I wouldn't, I would pay money to not have to go to how dumb I was when I was in my, like, not knowing a thing.

[00:33:14] And these two broads right here, they both, they both didn't know Jack Diddley, really. Because if Harriet really understood what was going on, she would be able to clock Emma and say, ah, I'm sorry, boo-boo, but that guy liked you, not me. You know? Which I feel like a Dion character from Clueless would have, like, Dion would have never had Cher doing this stuff with her. But someone just as naive.

[00:33:41] That's why in Clueless, he says, you found someone just as clueless as you. Which is true. I think, too, like, when it comes to, like, I always also think about Sean Lucas in Pride and Prejudice where she's, like, we're all fools in love. And I think, like, when, because I'm in my 30s and I, like, recently told a guy, like, I need a flashing neon sign. Like, I need someone to literally tell him because I am as clueless as Emma.

[00:34:09] Like, I just, I don't know if a guy likes me or not because I'm like, oh, we're just pals. We're just buddies. Because, like, when you've been in the friend zone most of your life, you're just kind of like, I don't know if this guy likes me, you know, to take me on a date. Or if he just likes me to just hang out and pal around. And so. Yeah, right. Yeah, I'm like, I hate that I'm still in my 30s. And I'm like, do you like me? But I do think, I do think also, like, things have shifted a little bit in culture and dating.

[00:34:39] Because I find that younger men now, it just depends. I used to always feel like men, if they had intention, like, when men like something or want something, they usually go after it. But I do find that, like, I don't know, social anxiety is playing into it. Or that things have shifted where some of the guys think that, like, they're the prize. And that you should be chasing them. A lot of, like, dating etiquette and stuff has been a little confusing.

[00:35:06] So I can imagine it's a little bit harder to read. We've got more Elton's in the world than we do Nightly's, unfortunately. Because Elton definitely thought he's the prize. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, we get to the scene where it is revealed that, like, Elton's not into Harriet. He's into Emma.

[00:35:31] And then, and Emma's like, no, like, that's, no. She's like, I don't want you. What are you touching my hand for? What are you, like, he's like, and he's, it's not even that he's just like, no, I like you. He is just so grossed out and disgusted that Emma would even suggest that someone like Harriet would even be good enough to lick his boot.

[00:36:00] He is disgusted by that. And he's so mad on behalf of Harriet. Like, I just want to kick him out of the carriage at that point. Yeah. You can walk in the cold, buddy. For real. Like, what are we doing? And then he goes off to Ibiza. I don't know where he went. That's how I felt like he went on vacation and picked up some crazy ass broad.

[00:36:25] I mean, two peas in a, like, conceited pod. I cannot believe you have them as your background, by the way. It's just. Yeah, that's what I was like saying. It is such a. That was such a choice. At the end, when she was, like, talking shit about the, like, wedding, I was like, hmm, I kind of like you now. Like, I'll sit by you and at least listen to what you have to say. I may not agree with you, but I want the tea nonetheless.

[00:36:54] Miss Elton, or Mrs. E, is honestly, in a way, kind of like the mirror of Emma when I think about it. Yeah. As I've gotten older, they're basically the same person, but she's a little harsher than Emma is. Yes. I do think it's like the packaging is different, but she thinks, like, when she takes on, what's that lady's name? Jane Fair. Yeah, she just takes her under her wing, and she's like, oh, by the way.

[00:37:23] And they didn't have a discussion. The lady didn't ask for help, and it feels more intrusive when she does it. But you're right. It is parallel and a mirror to everything Emma's doing. And I love that Emma is annoyed by it, because sometimes the things that we see in other people that we can't stand are literally because it's things inside of ourselves that we don't really always love. Yeah. So, so divine. But it just clicked to me who this lady is.

[00:37:52] I was like, this face, it's so familiar. And I know what it is. She's the mom from Bend It Like Beckham. I could not imagine. Oh, yes. And she was just as horrible in that movie. So I love somebody who plays a lot of villainous types or like antagonistic roles.

[00:38:15] But yeah, one thing I will sidebar mentioned about Emma that I think is interesting that I feel like not many Jane Austen films allow us to do is explore all the seasons. Like with Emma, we always get to experience what I believe like spring, fall, summer, and winter. Like we get to see that, which I feel like most Jane Austens we're seeing mainly just spring and summer. Yeah. Which makes sense because back then, that's marrying time. Right.

[00:38:46] So. Yeah. That's what I love a lot about Emma is getting to see like Christmas time during Regency era. Yeah. I don't. One thing that kept on creeping in my head was a plot line from Little Women because when they go and she's like helping the neighbors and the people in the town and whatever. And I'm like, don't hold that baby, Beth. You're going to get sick. Yeah. All of us are like triggered from like.

[00:39:15] No, I feel that. Wait, wait, wait. Yes. And I know it happened because we, like it's historically documented, but the way these people would bring like the whole outside, the inside outside for like tea time. Oh, yeah. I'm like, there is a goldfish bowl full of goldfish behind them as they're sitting in the field on like chases sipping their tea in the afternoon.

[00:39:45] Like what is happening? Like, that brings a good point. One thing that like whenever, especially like a period piece, we just do not get the same kind of set design that we used to. And it's, you know, everything. I think the set is another character. But I do love that they decided to have like a lot of pastels, even in the clothing. Obviously, during that time period, I don't think that's historically accurate.

[00:40:12] But even like in one of the rooms, you see this like pink pastel on the walls and it just like brightens up because these, these like really big castles can feel kind of dark. So I love that they added these little touches of color. For Regent Sierra, they did. They did have a lot of, they did have a lot. If you look up some of the like tea rooms and like midday clubs, I guess what you want to call them.

[00:40:39] They did have a lot of these like teals and bright pinks in them. And a lot of like the clothing for that time period was also like very whimsy. Like the 2021 version of Emma, like it does play into the more pastel bright pinks and teals that came out during that time period. So yeah. Ooh, I love that then. Which is why like when you see things like what's upcoming with the Sense and Sensibility adaptation that's going to be, I think, happening in September.

[00:41:05] A lot of like really Regency lovers are not happy with it because it's like a very grayscale, brown, muted, muted tones when the Regency time period was very bright and like, you know, exploring with color. One thing that I think about though is like, were they bathing back then? Because, and so every time I watch this, that, that creeps into my head and I'm like,

[00:41:35] did you smell? Do you guys both smell? How bad is it? Can y'all smell each other? I'm just wondering. Asking for a friend. Yeah. I'm trying, I don't, I, there's a creator who goes into like talking about more like sexual health of the time periods and her name's Esme. I don't care to give her last name off the top of my head, but she kind of goes into that.

[00:41:59] And even like, you know, I think it was Regency or somewhere else where like you would just squat in the street and just, there you go. Like, and that'd be that. Sorry. No, it's not you. It's a running joke on this show. Yeah. I feel about Clemson. Danielle takes hygiene very seriously. As everyone should. Yes. Please wash yourselves. Yeah.

[00:42:27] Well, when I was talking about the pastel colors, it says that Myers, because the costume designer for this film is Ruth Myers. And she said, she told Barbara DeWitt from the LA Daily News that using pastel color clothing to get the watercolor effect was one of the major challenges during the production, which I thought was interesting.

[00:42:48] She also, she also said that she designed the clothes because she wanted to mirror the lightness of the script within the costumes and give a spark of color and life to the early 19th century setting. So it was very purposeful that the color palette she chose for the costumes. And she did an amazing job. She had only five weeks to create 115 costumes for this production. Wow. So she was constantly working on the set.

[00:43:17] I tip my hat off to you. But one of my favorite things about these period pieces is that a lot of the costumes are reused on different sets. So you can kind of track them. And I think on this one, we had, there's so many, but the muslin, is it muslin day dress that Toni Collette wears while she's reading Mr. Elton Charade?

[00:43:43] Is the same costume worn by Helen Frazier at Fullerton in North Hanger Abbey in 1987? And then Kate Asheville in Princess of Caribou? And then Sophie Miles at Portsmouth in Mainsfield Park in 1999? And then Charity Wakefield's What Edward Calls at Mrs. Jennings' London House in Sense and Sensibility from 2008? So I love that you can kind of see that these have been reused.

[00:44:13] It's one of my favorites. So now... The department should always do a fantastic job. Yes. Especially, like, even if their interpretation is different or outdated, I'm always interested to see why they chose a certain, you know, design or color for, you know, whatever reason. Yeah. So now we... Elton is pissed. He goes on vacation. Huh? He's out. He's out. He's in a visa.

[00:44:41] Booch, booch, booch, booch, booch. And he's about to meet his lady. And so now Emma is reeling because she got it so wrong. And poor Harriet is trying to figure out life. And she's trying to pick her up. And she... I do like that she's so apologetic that she never intent... Like, her intentions are always better. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and Harriet's like, well, I got Mr. Martin over here. And Emma's like, no.

[00:45:12] I got someone for you. The hate for this farmer. My God. This poor man. I kind of like how Knightley's like, I'm also matchmaking, Emma. Can you back off? Right. Oh, man. And he tells her about herself. I do like... I like that he checks her, but sometimes it gives very much father and daughter vibes at times. Mm-hmm. And I don't like it.

[00:45:41] Well, because he could have been her father. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, like a teen dad. Yeah. But yes, you're correct. You're accurate on that assessment. So... Yeah. I do... I do appreciate the checking. I guess because, like, I've had a few guy friends who I've had crushes on who have also checked me. I don't know if I... Like... I don't know. It's kind of like you're... But we check each other. Yeah.

[00:46:10] So I wouldn't like Emma would check him in a way, you know? Because it's like that, like, tug and pull or push and tug. Whatever. I don't know. I just... You know. In the beginning of the movie, they joke about, like, kind of being like brother and sister. And then by the time we get to the end of the movie, they're like, brother and sister, never. And I was like, wait a minute. And my favorite line in this whole film, not... Maybe not the whole film, but one of my favorite lines is when he...

[00:46:39] I know I'm jumping ahead of the timeline, but when he asks... When she asks him to dance with her and she was like, it's not as if we're related. And he's like, related? Indeed we are not. And I'm like, indeed we are not. Indeed we are not related. And she's like, it just doesn't click for her how she feels. So in the second act, we are introduced to Ewan McGregor's character.

[00:47:05] She is going about her business and her carriage gets stuck in the lake? Question mark? I don't know what is. The marsh? Street? I don't know what's going on. She runs into this, I would say, haughty man. Very boisterous man. What is his name? Frank, by the way. Frank Bear? No. Churchill. Churchill. Yeah.

[00:47:31] So Mr. Churchill, is he the son of her... Mr. Weston. Mr. Weston, her governess baby daddy without a baby. That's his first child, his first wife's child or whatever. But she, he lives with his aunt because I guess he's going to inherit her estate. And so she's heard a lot about him. So what is supposedly happy, everybody's matchmaking, by the way.

[00:47:59] So her ex-governess and her baby daddy are trying to bring these two together. So he rolls up and he already, he already pissed me off. Because you see I'm stuck in this mud, bitch. And he's talking about, oh, looks like you're having trouble. He takes the poor pony around. And then he's like, just kidding. I guess I'll help you. I'm Mr. So-and-so. Like, get out of here.

[00:48:28] Leave me. It's the typical Austin, let's show you someone exciting who has a ton of charisma that you're like swept away with. Because like, I put Churchill with like Wickham, with like Willoughby. He is that, you know, just easygoing life doesn't matter. Like whatever in life, you know. And our heroine is always like, oh, I love his like charm. And like his, whereas like the guy that she actually ends up with is like, I hate this

[00:48:58] man. This man sucks. I do like that Emma's not, her head doesn't really turn for him that much. No, it's like a brief like, hmm, interesting. Like, let's hang out for a bit. And then it's like, hmm, not my time. I think she's more intrigued by him saying what his last name is, knowing that her dear friends have talked him up so much. I don't, you know. History of the man. Like, there's nothing more intriguing than somebody that you don't know much about.

[00:49:28] And like, she's been surrounded by all these people that she already knows. So it's like, who's this new guy? Exactly. And I, and I always wonder if, because like, I'm like, I don't like his character, but I don't know if it's the character or how Ewan McGregor played him. So I was really happy when I was doing the notes that he, Ewan McGregor said he chose the star in the movie because he thought it would be something different because he had just

[00:49:53] finished train spotting, which yes, very different in comparison. But he's 180. Yeah. Absolutely. He later said that he regretted appearing in the film because the quote unquote, my decision making was wrong. It's the only time I've done that. And I learned from it, you know? So I'm glad of that because it was early on and I learned my lesson. It's a good film, but I'm just not very good in it.

[00:50:21] So I'm like, was he not very good in it or was it the character? But I'm glad he said that because I'm like, maybe he just wasn't that good. And something about his hair, that wig, something that was ashy. It looked like Prince Charming from Shrek. That's what it was giving. I think to me, I feel like he did well in terms of, because like when you watch what's Callum Turner play that character as well, it's kind of the same in a way.

[00:50:51] Yeah. Like this just charming new dude on the block who like, it's kind of, I don't know. I felt like his choices were correct, but. Yes, I think he does a good job because I can't stand him. But I do think for me, it was also one of those, oh, that's Ewan McGregor. I did not look at him also as a character. So he did take me out. When that boy started singing, I said Moulin Rouge too? Because that's what it felt like.

[00:51:21] Yep. Yeah. Yeah. And also shout out to that same Polly Walker who is also a Bridgerton batty. She looks stunning in this movie. I know. She looks so good. She should be the romantic lead for so many films, I feel. Yes. Like, where was the casting for her in like a bunch of rom-coms? And I will say they purposely did not put her with like next to Gwyneth Paldra too much

[00:51:50] because the contrast, my girl. Yes. It's giving mashed potatoes without the gravy, you know? Yeah. And I will say what I love so much about like her being in this film specifically and like going down the road and basically being in the mother to the Emma, I feel, of Bridgerton. Because when you look at the friends to lovers in the Bridgerton, in the Bridgerverse, Colin

[00:52:19] and Penelope's story is that in no sense. And so it's kind of like this universal like connection, invisible string moment that we get. Yeah. I do feel like Penelope is Emma, but like the writing, she's a little bit of Elizabeth Bennett to an extent because of the writing aspect of it. But yeah, I think you're absolutely right. So it is really fun.

[00:52:45] I love how cheeky Mrs. Featherington can never go wrong in my book. Love her so much. She's so good. So now Mr. High Horse is in the picture. Him and Emma hit it off. They're really good friends. I do like, like you were saying, Jackie, in Clueless that this character, she turned him gay because I can see it, you know? Yeah. Especially like them just hitting it off and Emma being just so clueless.

[00:53:13] But obviously in this version, we don't get that. But he's a sneaky little bastard because he's playing his games. Emma does call this out later that, okay, I didn't like him, but he was, he thought he was playing games with me. Yeah. He didn't think that like we were hitting it off, but he was secretly engaged. We find out later to Miss Featherington. Fairfax. Yes. It's true in Fairfax, yeah.

[00:53:39] Well, and it's, and he's the second person that she's like, Harriet, girl Frank over here. And. And Harriet's like, okay. Because she, she almost gets jacked with Harriet. I said, oh my God, y'all ain't just leaving your jump in a pitch. Jesus. I know. There's so many. I was like, I'm like, are they going to get raped? This is real scary. This took a turn. It was bad. Yeah.

[00:54:10] And all he had to do was come on this horse. He didn't have to beat nobody up. I was like, oh, okay. And that, like, even that, like the, the parallel to Clueless where Christian saves time from being dumped over the side of the balcony at the mall. I'm like, the brilliance of Amy Heckerling. Like, knows no bounds. A hundred percent. So, but I, they kind of breeze up, like, they don't talk about it again. No.

[00:54:39] You don't see her dad or anything. It was just like, okay, well, the streets must be rough. I almost died, but I didn't. So, we're good. So, I'm just still falling in love. Yeah. Yeah. At least she wasn't wearing an alaya, you know? Right. So, then, yeah, now, now Frank is engaged to Jane. It's revealed. And so, Harry's like, the fuck? Like, again?

[00:55:09] While this is happening, Mr. Elton rolls through his, his, his, his babe. And she is a lot sucking the air out of all the room. The scene where they're going to, they come to, like, could you imagine? You like me. I reject you. And then you decide to go to Ibiza. You come back with this crazy bitch. And then you want to go room to room in my house. And she is sucking up the air in it. The scene about everything.

[00:55:39] In the corner. Like, be quiet. Leave him alone. She's like, take him a bath. And I was like, yeah. I agree. But also, you don't know our lives. You don't know. So. And then she also does what really grates on Emma to be like, oh, Knightley. We met Knightley. And Emma's like, it's Mr. Knightley to you. Right. Right, bitch. I am you. You don't know him like that. Exactly.

[00:56:08] I hate that Elton's like, I'm old. I'm a married man. I'm a married man now. Oh, sassy. But the thing is, men still do that bullshit today. It pisses me the fuck off. Sorry, this is where I will really come out. This is what really grinds my gears is you will be friends with a dude. And then all of a sudden he gets married and it's like, oh my gosh, you are like poison. I cannot touch you or else I will die.

[00:56:36] And I'm like, sir, like chill. Like, just chill. Like, I don't want you anyway. Yeah. What's odd though is that like, at some point, Mr. Knightley kind of makes it seem that the reason that Miss Elton is so rude to her is because Elton, she tried to hook Elton up with Harriet.

[00:57:02] And I was like, no, it's because she knows that her man was liking you. Yeah. She was second choice. Yeah, because I think there's a mention earlier in the film that I didn't really think about until I was rewatching it again. And it was, I think, Mr. Knightley made a mention of Mr. Elton having visited a bunch of sisters that were coming into money.

[00:57:29] And like, that's why he was like, yeah, he doesn't give two hoots about Harriet. Why do you keep trying to set this up? And so she, I think she was probably expecting a proposal, but Mr. Elton probably was letting her know, oh, no, I'm going to be proposing to this Emma Woodhouse. And when that doesn't go through, he's now back, you know, and brings her to, you know, where they're at.

[00:57:55] I think it's really interesting that in Clueless, we have Amber, where it's like planting a seed as if she's supposed to be like this evil person. But if you really think about it, when you really watch the movie, you don't get a lot of pieces that show her as this villain character at all. But if it's based on this character, I think that's the inference that we're supposed to get.

[00:58:22] That never, I think, fully comes through or like that thread is not fully pulled through in Clueless. But after re-watching this, it just clicked, I'm like, oh, yes, if she was like this, yes. Yes, Cher. Totally understand. So now Cher is, Cher. So now I was like, okay, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. We'll still find you someone. We got to go to this dance with the Elton's.

[00:58:52] And so everyone's dancing, jiving, but Harriet's on the side, doesn't have a dance partner, much like Josh does for Ty. Mr. Knightley does Harriet a solid, dances with her, and Harriet's in love. Like, this is it. And Emma's like, hold on, my Mr. Knightley? And Harriet's like, the same. And Emma's like, oh, I don't know how I feel about all this.

[00:59:21] But Emma doesn't say, I don't know how I feel about it because I like Mr. Knightley. I think if she had said that, it would have been better. But it's almost the way that Harriet interprets that is like, I'm not, oh, so Mr. Knightley is just way above my pay grade is what you said. And so there's a miscommunication there. I also think that another miscommunication is early on, she tries to hint, Harriet tries to hint that she does have a thing for Mr. Knightley.

[00:59:50] But Emma presumes that she's actually talking about Mr. High and Mighty guy. So that's where it really takes a deep end. And Emma does mention that if she does like, what is his real name? God, I can't keep forgetting. Churchill. Yeah. If she really likes Mr. Churchill while he's gone, because he does go leave a few times, that she will miss him.

[01:00:20] And she realizes she does not like him because she does not miss him. But when Mr. Knightley leaves, that's all she thinks about. She's even having the chef cook something that's Mr. Knightley's favorite. And she's like, oh, damn, he's not here. Something that's so relatable. You remember all the things that that person loves and you're just like, the way I can be closer to them is by A, B, or C. And I'm like over here being like, yeah, I'm a lover girl. That's how I am.

[01:00:49] I'm like, he mentioned watching this one show. So I'm going to watch it because he said he watches it. There is a scene. It's almost like Emma gets so annoyed by Mrs. Elton that she does take it out on Mrs. Bates, I think. Mrs. Bates was her heart. Or Mrs. Bates. I will say the character, when she does this, I'm like, she ain't wrong though.

[01:01:19] Yeah. I know. It's so sad. Because Mrs. Bates, the characteristics that she has reminds me of a family member. And I was like, this bitch came on my nerves. Oh, that's why. So when she called her out, I was like, yeah, valid. And then Mr. Knightley's all mad. I was like, what's the problem?

[01:01:42] Well, because he has such high expectations of Emma, or like hoping she'll be, she'll involve into a good person. That when she does that, he's like, oh, like all of this stuff is kind of like gray area. But now you're just being mean, and you're not even realizing you're being mean about it. Yeah. Yeah. Don't tear me a new asshole about this. Get out of here.

[01:02:06] I did, as I was watching that scene, I was like, Danielle's not going to find anything wrong with what Emma said. She just told her like it was. It is true. Like, Mrs. Bates, bless her heart. She like never knows when to shut her mouth when she's supposed to. But I have to admit, I like have this like heart for, because Mrs. Bates is like, she's a spinster. Life is down on her. She has to take care of her mom. And I just love her so much because she's always like, pork mother.

[01:02:39] But yeah, when Emma says that, I'm just like, but here's my thing. And this is going to sound weird, maybe. But why is it that when Mr. Knightley, no matter what version I watched this in, whether it be 96, 2021, or the TV series, whenever he goes off on Emma and is like, badly done, Emma. I'm like, kind of hot. Kind of hot. Tell me badly, Emma. And I'd be like, yeah, man. I don't know.

[01:03:07] Emma took it and was crying. I would have cussed his ass out. I would have said sorry to her later, but nah, you ain't calling me out like this. Because she's annoying. The way he reprimanded her, it just brought me back to bring it on where he's like, uh-uh, not cool. Like, it was the same vibe.

[01:03:31] What I didn't like is that he lectured her, took a pause, came back, kept harping on it. And another thing. Uh-uh. I got it the first time. Well, because I think he's like, it's not just the, it wasn't just her saying something to Miss Bates. It's the fact that she joined in with Frank Churchill on it, and he can't stand Frank Churchill. And like, Frank Churchill is like the worst of society in Mr. Knightley's eyes when it comes to like good manners.

[01:04:01] And so for Emma to stoop to that level, he was like, I thought you were better than this. I thought you were better than Frank Churchill. You know, you know what would have got me better? If you had put a ring on it instead of having me out here with this sucker dry head, head and shoulder loser. Well, it's like, okay. But, you know, I keep on bringing, sorry, I'm so single, y'all. But it's like, and I've fallen for too many of my guy friends, and they've all, they've done me like a Mr. Knightley except for proposed.

[01:04:27] But it's like, you can't have an opinion on my love life if you're not going to do anything about it. Like, that's what annoys me about with Mr. Knightley and men like him is that like, I've had too many guy friends who are like, you don't need to be dating that guy. And I'm like, who are you to tell me who I can and can't date? And you're not my brother, but you're not my dad. And we're not related. Like, and you won't date me. So, you know.

[01:04:54] So, at this point, Emma has realized she's majorly, totally, butt crazy in love with Knightley. And she has to. Is that on a t-shirt? Totally and butt crazy. Well, that's what Cher says about Josh. I was just repurposing for. I think we should make a shirt for that though. Instead of, but for Mr. Knightley. A hundred percent. I'll get that created and up on Redbubble. I'm right on top of it, Rose. Rose.

[01:05:23] Right on top of that, Rose. And so, Knightley returns from wherever he went. But Emma, at this point, she knows that she's in love with Knightley, but she thinks that Knightley went to go talk to her brother-in-law about him wanting to marry Harriet. Because she's not even putting two and two together that it's about her.

[01:05:47] So, when Knightley and her, like, coming together and he's ready to confess, she's like, nah, nah, I'm not trying to hear that, homie. Because she thinks he's going to say something about Harriet. And then he feels rejected. I'm like, these idiots. I cannot. And then finally, it's just like, Knightley's like, no, it's because I want you. I don't want you to marry anyone else because I don't want to marry you type thing. It's like, I don't want to think of you as a friend anymore. Like, no longer.

[01:06:14] Like, Knightley and Emma would have done so well during the trend of, like, I'm going to kiss my boyfriend, I mean, my best guy friend and see what happens. Yeah. You're so right about that. I will say in this scene, what took me out is I was looking at the actor's teeth. And you should never do that with a British actor. My God. Oh, no. It's one of my favorite proposals, though. I just, I don't know. I love Emma and Knightley.

[01:06:42] I mean, even though the age difference is a little, as I'm older, weirds me out. But, like, I don't know. I love the, kind of the way they both, like, I don't like how he, though, says, like, anytime I've, like, reprimanded you, you've taken it so well. Like, you do. You know what I also feel like? Where does that man live? Because I ain't never seen the house. And he talking about, well, if it'll make you happy, I'll live in this big-ass mansion that your daddy has. What?

[01:07:11] Well, she's the only girl, right? Well, no, she's the second daughter. Oh. But the thing is, the thing is, is that their siblings are married to each other as well. His older brother is married to her older sister. To her older sister, yeah. And then there's. So they get, they get the Knightley house. Yeah, Knightley and Emma get the Woodhouse. It all works out. Yeah, but I just want to know where he lives. Because someone. He probably has a bachelor pad somewhere. Much like, you know, like, Colin Bridgerton has his bachelor pad.

[01:07:40] Because he was always at the house. He probably just hung out. I'm sure it's big enough where he could have his own room. He didn't have to move very far. No, not at all. And the other, comparison to the other, the newer Emma, I will say that the actors who play the counterparts look closer in age than this version does. So the age thing doesn't bother me.

[01:08:09] Like, I'm not, it's not as noticeable. Like, I don't pay attention to it as much as I did in this one. Yeah. But I do love. Is it North? Jonathan. James North? I shouldn't know the name. Northam? Northam. Yeah, Jeremy Northam. He's just, he's so handsome. So the next scene is the wedding where Mrs. Elton still has opinions. I'm here for. I love it.

[01:08:38] It's one of my favorite parts of the film when you finally figure out who the narrator is of the story, you know? And it's kind of interesting to see, like, when she turns and faces the camera. I'm like, I like it. Yeah. Well, Emma's wedding dress was made from silk crepe and embroidered with a small spring pattern while the sleeves and the train were made from embroidered net.

[01:09:01] Of the dress, Myers, the costume designer, stated the inspiration for Emma's wedding dress began with a small amount of exquisite vintage lace that became the overlay. I wanted a look that would not only be, you know, for the period, but also one that will complement Gwyneth Paltrow's youth, her swan neck, and incredible beauty. It's a lot of add-ons here. Yeah.

[01:09:30] I was also hoping to evoke happiness and the English countryside. The sun did shine on the day we shot the scene. Nice. So romantic. It is one of my favorite, like, weddings in a Jane Austen film. Oh, yeah? Yeah, between this one and I love the Pride and Prejudice wedding scene from the 1995 version with Colin Firth.

[01:09:59] That one is like a, I think it's a winter wedding, I believe. My favorite is Bride and Prejudice because an Indian wedding? Yes. Every time. Beautiful. And I did like when Bridget Jones actually got married as well. Was that one the winter? I feel like I'm going crazy. There is a winter scene.

[01:10:24] There is a winter scene, but when they get married, it is in the third movie and it's kind of like spring-ish. Hmm. Or maybe it is one. I can't remember, but I do associate the first movie with winter, so I can see how you could think that, too. Oh, sorry. Yes. The Pride and Prejudice version, I think they are winter. Yeah, they're winter. It's a winter one. Sorry. Okay. Yeah. Okay. I'll wait. Well, Jackie, say the epic line. And that is Emma.

[01:10:54] We did it. We did it. I don't have to watch it again. Oh, boo. Well, Alan Cumming wrote on his official website that the friendship that developed between himself and the director, McGrath, was one of the most memorable things about his time working on the film. He went on to state that the worst thing about the shoot was his hair, which had been lightened and curled for the character.

[01:11:19] He does such a good job at being such an a-hole because I think my favorite character of him being an a-hole besides this one is I love the movie Circle of Friends so fucking bad. It's such a good career. And he is so horrible with it. He plays Smarmy really, really well. Really well, yeah. Yeah.

[01:11:45] Well, Mrs. Bates and Miss Bates, mother and daughter in the film, are played by real-life mother and daughter Phil Lydia Law and Sophie Thompson, who are also real-life mother and sister to Academy Award-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson. Awesome. Emma Thompson is also a huge Shane Austin fan, like major. Yeah. I love when she writes. I love when she produces movies.

[01:12:12] She's like, oh, she's so good. And she's married to Guy Wise, who starred as Willoughby in the 1995 Sense and Sensibility, and they were set up because of their co-star, Kate Winslet. Oh, I love that. Yeah. She deserved that after What's-His-Face. Because Emma Thompson, her husband, who, crap, his name escapes me. Who cheated on her. Kenneth Branagh. Kenneth Branagh. Kenneth Branagh, yep.

[01:12:41] With Helena Bonham Carter, wasn't it? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yep. And then they were all in Harry Potter and trying not to near each other. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But she, like, the story that they tell about how her and Greg Wise got together is super cute. Aw. I love that.

[01:13:02] Well, Thompson, Sophie Thompson also revealed that it was a coincidence that she and her mother were cast alongside each other as the casting director had their names on separate lists. Oh. Oh. Oh. That's cute. Yeah. I love it. Well, despite the English setting and characters, Jeremy Northam, Sophie Thompson, and Polly Walker are actually the only English-born leading actors in this film. Gwen of Paltrow, as we already know, is American.

[01:13:30] And Dennis Hawthorne is Irish. Ian McGregor, James Cosmo, Philida Law, and Alan Cumming are all Scottish. And Greta Scacci is Italian. And Toni Collette is Australian. So they really were out there calling all the countries to come out except British. That's interesting. That would never fly today, I feel like.

[01:13:59] And Douglas McGrath first fell in love with Jane Austen's Emma while studying at Princeton, and he spent years believing it would make a great film. After earning an Oscar nomination for co-writing Bullets Over Broadway, he had pitched to Merrimack's modern adaptation set on New York's Upper East Side. The studio did like the idea, but McGrath soon discovered Amy Heckerling's modern Emma adaption, Clueless, was already in production, leading his version to remain in its original period setting. Hmm.

[01:14:29] That would have been interesting. Like you said, Ainsley, I love every attempt at doing anything Jane Austen. Like, I used to watch a web series. Did you just one? Where she's like, yes! I love that so much! You got so excited. I could talk about that with you for days, trust me. It was Elizabeth Bennet Diaries or something like that. Lizzie Bennet Diaries, yeah. Yes. Loved it. Loved it. Me? Mm-hmm.

[01:14:59] Oh, sure. I actually was looking at it, anytime I watched this version of Emma and the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice in almost any Jane Austen, I hear this piece of music and I'm always like, wait, is that, is that? And so, anyways, Emma and Mr. Knightley's dance is called Mr. Beveridge's Maggot to the tune of the same name. A maggot is a whimsical fancy.

[01:15:23] And this same tune and dance were previously used in Pride and Prejudice 1995 for Elizabeth Bennet's dance with Mr. Darcy at the Netherfield Ball. The thing that trips me out so much about that version is that we all think that he was in the water and came out in the shirt and he told us, Colin Firth is like, that did not happen. And I'm like, where did we get that from? But it's in there.

[01:15:47] He goes on a talk show and talks about how, like, him coming out of the water does not happen. Oh, he just goes in. Yeah. Well, that shirt's still wet when he's, like, hanging out on the grass and when he's walking towards Elizabeth. So, like, listen, man, you have started an incredible trend and one that will be long-lasting thanks to the likes of Bridgerton and the other Bennet sister. So. So good, by the way.

[01:16:15] Okay, Jackie, let's wrap it up. Lastly, President Bill Clinton fell asleep while watching this movie in the White House. Gwyneth Paltrow recalled he was snoring right in front of me. I was like, wow, I guess this isn't going to be a real hit movie. But it was. So fuck you, Bill Clinton. The sass. All right, Ainsley, why don't you tell everybody where they can find you on social? You can find me on Instagram and TikTok.

[01:16:45] Mainly that's where I normally hang out under Ainsley underscore broom. And you guys can, as usual, find us at NoMoreLateFeeds on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and Threads. And let's get into these present day ratings. We'll start with you, Ainsley. What is yours? I am a would buy it again. I actually have it. I literally bought it. I did buy it. It's on my Apple library. So I literally pop it on.

[01:17:14] Sometimes it's on my, I'm a friend's lover's girly. So it is that piece of music that starts off the film is like very calming and soothing to me. And so, yeah, I definitely am a re-watcher. Jackie? So this relationship is give and take. A couple weeks ago, Danielle gave a lot by watching Biodome. I gave a lot this week by watching Emma.

[01:17:42] So it's a same-day rental for me. Damn, girl, not even two-day. All right, well, I'm going to stay at a five-day rental. I think I'm like, I'm glad I've been trying to hold off from watching a lot of these interpretations from this time period because I know we're going to do it on the show. So I'm really interested to see how I feel re-watching Sense and Sensibility because I do feel like it will rank higher for me than this one.

[01:18:11] I already know how I feel about the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. Unfortunately, we will not do the 1990 version. Was it 95 version? 1995. It literally hits right in like... We won't do it because it's like a miniseries and Jackie will die trying to watch all of it. It's worth it, though. It is worth it. It's so worth it. But she does not like it, so I'm not... You know what's going to have to happen? What?

[01:18:39] Is you're going to have to come to Austin and sit down with Ken and watch it, and I'll just be in and out. Listen, it is a... In our family, it is a... When I was younger, every time we would have a movie night, I would suggest it to where I was banned from being able to suggest it. And now it's slated as a... This is a Christmas Day tradition, and we have to watch it on Christmas Day, and that's the only time we as a family can sit down and watch it. It is worth it. It's worth it.

[01:19:08] Listen, if I'm ever in Austin, I will pop over. Yeah. Free five hours. We can sit down and watch it. You can come on down to Florida, girl, and we can watch Anne and Green Grable's, the first two parts, and the... The continuing story. That came out on PBS, and if we really want to get fancy, I'll put on the Avonlea any day. Road to Avonlea? Listen, Road to Avonlea was also my childhood.

[01:19:36] Well, I have both versions of Pride and Prejudice on my iTunes because Ken loves it. But I am intimately familiar with the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack because for a long time, that's what we listen to to go to sleep. So, like, those first few piano notes, I'm like, oh, yeah. I know what this is. Hold up. I wonder, where does Pride and Prejudice Zombies land for you? I've never heard of that. No, I don't think I've seen that one.

[01:20:05] Okay, let me tell you. Younger Ainsley would have, like, was very much a purist to just enjoy the story. Before 16 film, but it is definitely a great way to visit the Pride and Prejudice story. Gotta check that one out. Well, if any of our listeners have any opinions, you can call or text us at our quick drop, 9096016653.

[01:20:33] You can tweet us, thread us, Blue Sky. Leave messages on Spotify, Apple Reviews, wherever. And we'll read your stuff. So, send it on over. And thank you, Ainsley, for joining us. Thank you. Thank you for having me. This has been so much fun. Oh, we're so glad. We've enjoyed it so much. Thank you. Anytime I can talk about Austin, I'm happy to be there.

[01:21:03] And if you have very few brain cells left, stay tuned next week as we hit a Pauly Shore, I think our first Pauly Shore movie with Biodome. So, buckle up. Technically our second. Which one did we do? A Goofy movie. You're right. Our second Pauly Shore movie. Our first live action Pauly Shore movie. Yes. So, stay tuned for the weasel next week.

[01:21:32] And be kind and rewind. lines.