20 Questions for Period Drama Week at Elegance of Fashion

It is Period Drama Week over at Elegance of Fashion from Sept 4th-10th. She has asked many of us to participate by answering these questions below on our blogs.


So, here goes... hope I won't leave anything out!



1. How did you get into period dramas?


My Mother, Sister, and I first began watching Anne of Green Gables many years ago ... and then, we were hooked!

2. What is it that you like about period dramas?

Everything - the way they dress, speak, and behave.

3. Do you usually read a book and then watch the adaptation or do you watch the adaptation and then read the book?

Just depends... I love to read - sometimes I read it before - sometimes after. Either way, it's fun to see how close the movie is or isn't to the original story

4. What are your top three period dramas and why?


Emma, Pride & Prejudice, and Anne of Green Gables - all are beautiful stories about family and love

5. From those three period dramas that you picked, who are your favorite characters in each one?

Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Shirley

6. Which author do you like the adaptations of their works best?

Jane Austen

7. Which period drama characters are the funniest to you (Keep it under three)?

(Hmmmm, still thinking...Any Suggestions???)

8. Which period drama characters are the most annoying (Keep it under three)?

Jane Fairfax, Mr. Elton, Mrs. Elton


9. Which period drama characters are in your top three?

Emma, Knightley, Anne Shirley, and Gilbert Blythe (I squeezed in one more!)

10. When you watch period dramas, what is it that you pay the closest attention to (ie. costuming, scenery, etc.)?

Relationships and witty conversations - I try to catch every detail!

11. Which period drama which you haven't seen yet do you most want to watch? (Suggested by Miss Laurie from Old-Fashioned Charm)

Hmmm.... Maybe the Mandie Movie Series

12. Which period drama has the prettiest soundtrack or background music? (Suggested by Miss Laurie from Old-Fashioned Charm)

Emma (both versions! However, the New 2009 is even better!).... I have all the Soundtracks and it is absolutely Beautiful !!!


13. Which period drama has your favourite screenplay/script? Why? (e.g if it is similar to the original text, if there is one, or if it has been improved in some ways) (Suggested by Abby from Newly Impassioned Soul)

Emma, Pride & Prejudice, and Love Comes Softly - all follow the books fairly close.

14. Do you like having multiple versions of some period dramas? Do some period dramas need a newer version? Or are the older versions better? (Suggested by Abby from Newly Impassioned Soul)

Yes, I love a variety of movie versions.... that way I can choose my favorite!

I personally think we need a new Persuasion Movie (by Jane Austen). It's time it receives a new upgrade. My apologies to the actresses, but I would like someone else to portray Anne Elliott. I adored the book, but not the movies, thus far.

15. "What is the longest period drama you've seen?" (Suggested by Charity U from Austenitis)

Perhaps Mini-series like Cranford, Wives & Daughters, Pride and Prejudice, or Buccaneers, or maybe even Anne of Green Gables & Anne of Avonlea.


16. Who are your favourite actors/actresses from period drama? (Suggested by Maria Grazia from A friendly meeting place to read and discuss anything Austen...)

Definitely Megan Follows as Anne Shirley and Romola Garai as Emma and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet

17. Do you prefer watching a regular-length movie or a more in-depth mini-series? Why?(Suggested by Melody from Regency Delight)

Either.... as long as they are good. Mini -series are wonderful though - because the story we are enjoying will go on even longer...

18. What period drama has one of your favorite actors/actresses in it?' (Suggested by Miss Raquel from God's Daughter)

Anne of Green Gables - Megan Follows

19. Which heroine from which movie was your least favorite? Why? (Suggested by Jen Corkill)

Anne Elliott - Persuasion

20. Which three period dramas are your least favorite? (Okay, I added in that one, but it was inspired from Jen Corkill's suggestion)

Based on movies I've seen vs. the original books- Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Love's Abiding Joy


Thank you for reading along...


I have enjoyed answering these questions and if you would like to participate, too... be sure to take a step back in time and visit the web-site : Elegance of Fashion!







God bless you all...

Emma ~ PBS Masterpiece Theatre ~ Jane Austen

MOVIE REVIEW

Emma ~ Masterpiece Theatre

Network: PBS

Original Air Date: in America ~ February 2010

CAST:

Romola Garai ... Emma Woodhouse
Jonny Lee Miller ... Mr. Knightley
Michael Gambon ... Mr. Woodhouse
Dan Fredenburgh ... John Knightley
Poppy Miller ... Isabella Knightley
Robert Bathurst ... Mr. Weston
Jodhi May ... Anne Taylor
Louise Dylan ... Harriet Smith
Rupert Evans ... Frank Churchill
Laura Pyper ... Jane Fairfax
Blake Ritson ... Mr. Elton
Christina Cole ... Mrs. Elton
Jamie Glover ... Henry Knightley
Jefferson Hall ... Robert Martin
Joshua Jones ... James Knightley
Tamsin Greig ... Miss Bates
Valerie Lilley ... Mrs. Bates
Veronica Roberts ... Mrs. Goddard
Pauline Stone ... Mrs. Martin
Eileen O'Higgins ... Miss Martin #1
Sarah Ovens ... Miss Martin #2
Liza Sadovy ... Mrs. Cole

PLOT:

from PBS Masterpiece Theatre:

Emma Woodhouse (Romola Garai, Atonement) was born with the sun shining down on her. The radiant, privileged girl grows into a remarkable talent for matchmaking, as observed by her loving but disapproving father (Michael Gambon, Cranford) and childhood friend Mr. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller, Endgame).

When the decidedly less privileged Harriet Smith arrives, Emma meddles with fate to find her a match, until her flawless intuition is called into question. Dissuaded from more matrimonial predictions, Emma nonetheless continues to cheerfully contemplate superior men — and meets one of her own in the handsome, gleaming Frank Churchill. But after being so busy managing everyone else's heart, does Emma know her own?

A fiercely funny new version of the Jane Austen novel, Emma was adapted by Sandy Welch (Jane Eyre).

Movie Review:

Absolutely Wonderful!!!

I thought nothing could compare to the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma Film Version... I was so wrong!

I LOVE them both!!!

This Mini-Series Style Adaption was Beautifully Made for PBS. They had a terrific Cast and I loved the Gorgeous Scenery and lovely Background Music! All the little details were perfection!

The Most Important thing, however, is a good Emma & Knightley. If they are chosen wrongly - then forget it. Trust me, though, again in this movie, like the feature film, they were perfectly casted and the actors romantic chemistry together was fantastic! Everything about this was simply wonderful.

Emma, played by Romola Garai... was everything you expect of Emma Woodhouse... playful, teasing, lovely, sweet, kind, meddlesome, pretty, clever, witty, and irresistibly charming! She had the biggest and most beautiful smile and laughter... I loved it!

Mr. Knightley, played by Jonny Lee Miller... was also an ideal Knightley... clever, mature, controlled, handsome, self-assured, and confident. There's something unique about the Knightley character - he speaks with purpose or he doesn't say anything, at all. His expressions often speak for him.

The movie, Emma, is not only a Beautiful Love Story, but a precious tale of a family, dear friends, and towns people in Highbury. I loved how the screen writer added in so many more scenes that included Emma's Sister, Isabella...  played by Poppy Miller. I loved her addition to this Movie... she was absolutely perfect in her role. Most of all, I adored her sweet expressions - especially the moment when she read in a letter of her Sister Emma and Knightley's engagement - she gushed and giggled perfectly with excitement! I liked her very much as the older sister to Emma - Perfect, Indeed!!!

Frank Churchill, played by Rupert Evans, was fantastic, too! I think most young ladies have known a Frank Churchill in their time - a flirt, a charmer, one who teases, one who doesn't exactly mean what he says... in short, somewhat of a 'player'. I think Emma was wise to him, a good judge of character after all... well done!

Jane Austen's stories have a way of weaving into them such real people - character traits of good and bad - and yet, you can't help from liking each and every one!

"The Most Beautiful thing in the world is a Match well made" ... and everything about this Movie version was ... well made!!!

"Well, Done ... Emma!"

See or Skip:

An absolute SEE for any Jane Austen fan!

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