I've noticed that in this movie the greetings and goodbyes between everyone.. that there was a noticeable lack of bowing or curtsies such as in Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility etc.. I gather it has to do with everyone's social standings? I know there was an EXTREME amount of bowing & curtsies from the ladies & gentleman to each other in Pride & Prejudice (2005) but I'm assuming it's because the Bennets were "lower" than their counterparts?
shareNo, it has to do with Douglas McGrath (writer/director, SNL alum and Woody Allen collaborator) not knowing his stuff - same with having Emma play the piano with her gloves on, the bad posture from the ladies, Jane Fairfax sitting with her hands clasped around crossed knees like a courtesan, there are many, many little errors with respect to period appropriateness.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
Sitting with her knees crossed hardly made Jane Fairfax like a courtesan:
http://romantic-era-clothing.blogspot.com/2011/11/regency-era-fashion- plate-december-1820.html
http://regency-clothing.blogspot.com/2012/05/regency-era-fashion-plate s-april-1812.html
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=481473501889945&set=a.4866 27238041238.97245.369253633111933&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=377944318909531&set=a.3779 38305576799.75587.369253633111933&type=3&l=a2e482f014&thea ter
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/27/9b/45/279b45a75273db7ad e32b28ef987401e.jpg
Those all come from the most influential and popular fashion catalogs of the Regency period.
http://hibiscus-sinensis.com/images/shoestore.jpg from a shoe catalog
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/1812-neoclassical-Y oung-Ladies-at-Home.png
http://www.thomas-lawrence.org/Mrs.-Henry-Baring-and-her-Children--181 7.html
http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/43685 3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/the-ladies-of-the-fa mily-of-mr-william-mason-of-colchester-11750
Come, we must press against the tide of naughtiness. Mind your step.
Goodness me. I was wrong, and I thank you for clearing away that misapprehension. My stage comportment coach should have seen these!
I would just note, though, that in none of these poses is the young lady shown leaning forward and clasping her hands around her knees, pushing her breasts into prominence.
I stand by the rest of my comments, though, and, for further comment on the period-inappropriate comportment of the film, refer you to David Monaghan's excellent essay "Emma and the Art of Adaptation" (which I had not read when I posted earlier). He notes that in this context, Mrs. Elton must work very hard to appear notably vulgar. This critique, which compares the two 1996 "Emmas" and 1995's "Clueless," can be found in the Cambridge Press "Jane Austen on Screen."
Thanks again - and cheers.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
I do agree with you on playing the piano in gloves--it wouldn't allow your fingers to stretch over the keys properly and would cause lots of fumbling and missed notes. And posture/comportment was definitely important, I think the Regency style of dress itself can maybe cause it to look like someone is slumping when they might not be, or if there is less than perfect posture, it exaggerates the faults so looks worse than it might otherwise. (I'm thinking particularly of this scene in Sense & Sensibility http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/sense-and-sensibility/images/7076942/title/s-s-1995-photo).
Come, we must press against the tide of naughtiness. Mind your step.
And in turn, I will agree that the costumes may exaggerate the effect of less-than-ideal posture. However, having seen a lot of films attired in Regency fashions, I promise it is entirely possible to hold one's self erect.
Have you seen the Kate Beckinsale "Emma?" All the ladies have excellent posture and carriage.
There are other improprieties, too, in the Miramax film. Frank Churchill places his naked hand on Emma's shoulder at the piano, lingeringly, ladies push food into their mouth with one finger (both Mrs. Elton and Emma at least commit this breach). Mr. Knightley jerking Emma around by the arm. For a few that come immediately to mind. Little errors, but they do add up.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
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