Posted by Marilyn on July 11, 1997 at 14:30:08:
In reply to Re: Discussing film adaptations posted by Sylvia on July 10, 1997 at 23:56:17
]I do enjoy good literature. And for me, a good book stands on its own. What you saw as "distortion," I saw as merely the filmakers' intrepretation. I enjoyed seeing how each of the filmakers' who have done Emma chose to visually present the plot, characters, scenes and dialogue. In some cases, I've felt that scenes were actually improved in the adaptation vs the presentation in the book. My favorite example is the proposal in Emma2. As you know, the setting in the book is the garden at Hartfield. But re-setting the scene in that beautiful field and using a stroll to create the tension in the dialogue was visually exciting to me.
] I think that it's interesting how Shakespeare has been intrepreted in so many different ways by so many different playwrights and filmakers. It shows to me how wonderful the original material was to inspire so many. I think we can say the same about JA.
Very well put, Sylvia. I think you gave a wonderful example of Doug McGrath's creative license with the proposal scene. I think another good interpretation is the Donwell Abbey archery scene McGrath chose for the revelation (to Knightley) of Emma's interference with RM's proposal to HS. At first Emma is good competition for Mr. Knightley, then as the events unfold and he scolds her for her culpability, each shot gets more careless - so much like her personality.