Looking at the movies as a whole, my favorite is the 2009 BBC mini-series with Romola Garai; but it is fun to take specific scenes and compare them, because each movie has some good points that the others do not.
There are really a lot of different things to compare in the scene where Emma sings (Frank joining right in) at the Cole's dinner party, including the featured song. I'm going to present all 3 here, and have multiple polls at the end in which to vote.
1: "Silent Worship" from the 1996 Miramax film
Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma and Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill
Thank you, Miss Laurie, for the sound file!
Lyrics:Did you not hear My Lady / Go down the garden singing / Blackbird and thrush were silent / To hear the alleys ringing
Oh saw you not My Lady / Out in the garden there / Shaming the rose and lily / For she is twice as fair.
Though I am nothing to her / Though she must rarely look at me / And though I could never woo her / I love her till I die
Surely you heard My Lady / Go down the garden singing / Silencing all the songbirds / And setting the alleys ringing.
But surely you see My Lady / Out in the garden there / Rivaling the glittering sunshine / With the glory of golden hair.
Song information:
The Italian version of this song was originally from an opera by Handel, but the version in this movie was adapted by Arthur Somervell in 1928. Had Emma been a real person she never could have sung that in her time. Wikipedia informs me that the original aria was recorded in one of Jane Austen's songbooks which leads me to imagine that's why they used it; but I've done no further research on the subject.
Some thoughts on the clip:
Right before this scene, Mr. Cole asks Emma to perform; she says she fears she lacks the talent, to which Mr. Cole responds "Perhaps I should ask Miss Fairfax." The next second shows Emma playing. I always find this amusing.
I love watching Mr. Knightley's reaction in each version when Frank starts singing!
When I watched Frank Churchill in this scene the word 'imp' kept coming to my mind. By the way, that Frank really does need a haircut.
This song and performance seems more sentimental than the others.
2: "Father, Father Build me a Boat" from the 1996 A&E adaptation
STARTS 0:38, ends 1:28
{Note 1/16: Video not currently on YouTube.}
Kate Beckinsale as Emma and Raymond Coulthard as Frank
Lyrics:
It was early in the month of May, / Down by the green hills I chanced to stray. / I heard a young maiden sigh and say that the man she loved / Had strayed away.
Oh, father, father build me a boat, / For it's over to Ireland I'm yearning to float / To search for my true love through tempest and storm / For I know in his arms / I'm safe from all harm.
Song information:
Most things I read say it's 'traditional', but some things list Herbert Hughes as the composer. He was also a collector folk songs as well as a song writer however, so he might not have actually written it; if he did it wouldn't have been around when Emma was set, as he wasn't even born until 1882.
Some thoughts on the clip:
There seems to be much less of a focus on this scene than in the version with Gwyneth Paltrow.
The Mr. Knightley in this version is so scowlish!
I still can't decide whether I like Rupert Evans as Frank better than Raymond Coulthard or not...
STARTS 6:04
Romola Garai as Emma and Rupert Evans as Frank
Lyrics:
Oh where, tell me, where is your Highland laddie gone? / Oh where, tell me, where is your Highland laddie gone? / He's gone with streams of banners where noble deeds are done / And my sad heart will tremble till he comes safely home.
Oh where, tell me, where did your Highland laddie stay? / Oh where, tell me, where did your Highland laddie stay? / He dwelt beneath the holly bush beside the rushing Spey / Where your blessing followed him the night he went away.
He dwelt beneath the holly bush beside the rushing Spey / And many a blessing followed him the night he went away.
Song information:
It's a Scottish folk song. From what I can find out, it was composed after the time period of Emma as well. *Sigh* So much for authenticity.
I was having an immensely difficult time finding lyrics online to match the words in the movie, so what's up there is directly from the subtitles. I suppose these words are different than the ones generally used.
Some thoughts on the clip:
I like the lightheartedness of this one. It seems so Emma-ish. And Frank-ish, for that matter.
Did you notice this is the only one where Emma doesn't stop singing when Frank starts?
Poor Mr. Knightley...
Conclusion and polls
Even after writing all that, I still don't have a favorite. I'm going to make a number of polls and whichever version gets the most votes total will get the ending vote! :-) I hope you have fun voting, too. And don't forget to tell me what you voted! I will probably do so in a comment.
As you're probably getting tired of all the polls, I will refrain from making one or two about Emma's hairstyles and dresses.
