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Top 9 Period Film Romances
by Helen Earnshaw | 16 April 2015

4. Emma

We have already seen Gwyneth Paltrow embroiled in one period romance, and now we look at a second with Emma. Emma was released back in 1996 and was an adaptation of another Jane Austen classic.

Emma is set in early 19th century England. Emma Woodhouse (Paltrow) thinks she is the matchmaker of her community and tries to set up her friend Harriet Smith (Collette) with the minister Mr Elton (Cumming). Arrangements fall through and the confusion of who loves who grows larger.

While Emma is focusing on the love lives of just about everyone, she does neglect herself somewhat... but that looks set to change when she meets Frank Churchill (Ewan McGregor). However, Emma and Frank are not met to be as she realises the man that she wants to be with has been right there all along.

Emma is a charming adaptation of a great book and Paltrow is terrific as the busybody Emma. She and Jeremy Northam - who plays Mr Knightley - have a great chemistry and you are always rooting for them to be more than just friends.

We have seen quite a few different adaptation of Emma over the years, but it is this film by director Douglas McGrath that remains the best.