I have rated this quite highly on two counts - one, the casting (largely forgotten names litter the cast including Doran Godwin as Emma, John Carson as Mr Knightley, Debbie Bowen as Harriet, Constance Chapman as Miss Bates, and Timothy Peters as Mr Elton) and two, an absorbing adaptation even if done in obviously studio (and rather cheap) sets.

Running at four hours plus, this version does more justice to the book than more cursory and recent attempts have been able to. Although both Emma and Knightley come across as a little older than they should be (21 and 39 I believe in the book), their growing understanding is believable, and you do find yourself hoping for that elusive happy ending.

What does mark it down is the annoying tune! Quick bit of trivia: Blackadder fans should note that Robert East, Prince Harry in the first series, is here as Frank Churchill.

Whoever did the casting for this is at least 90% responsible for the dryness in my nethers, and Emma looked coked out of her mind.

70s BBC miniseries of the Austen novel, some of which at least I remember watching at school. 

It’s a fairly straightforward adaptation - there’s no jumping into lakes or false narrators here, and has the usual back of the sofa budget the BBC put into these things back then - you can see sets wobble and apart from the fateful picnic, the entire thing is shot in cramped studios. 

It’s broadly competent, but never inspiring - the adaptation is an episode too long, and there are several weak performances and 70s haircuts - and (without being too much of a dick about it) it’s not surprising that many of this cast remained obscure.

this mr. knightley did not deliver THAT line

Ended up DNF'ing this after about 70 mins. In a world where there are fewer adaptations of Emma this might fill a needed gap, but it's hard to appreciate the stilted acting, static, lifeless photography and rambling, overextended dramatic scenes in hindsight. The two leads feel hopelessly miscast, not just in their age (but they are far too old) but also in mannerisms. Not that anyone else fares much better.

Hard work, unfortunately.

Definitely the most boring of the Emma adaptations. It was pretty true to the book but pretty boring

Sat through all that for a kiss-less ending smh

this felt blasphemous.

Alors là, j'ai vraiment du me forcer pour la finir, parce qu'il fallait que je les voie toutes. Il n'y a aucune complicité entre Emma et Knigthley, mais pas étonnant vu qu'il est joué par un sombre connard qui a l'âge d'être son père. Frisson de gêne quand à la fin il la force à l'appeler par son prénom car ils sont fiancés et qu'elle n'y arrive pas car trop habituée à la supériorité qu'il a sur elle. Mais rassurez vous il n'est pas le seul a gâcher cette adaptation de 4h30. L'ensemble des personnages est vide et Emma est bcp trop innocente. Arrive évidemment à la dernière place du classement.

Like other BBC adaptations of the 70’s it has terrible production value, acting, and casting. It’s also extremely faithful to the book. Only recommended to Jane Austen completists.