MovieChat Forums > Emma (1996) Discussion > Harriet Smith

Harriet Smith

posted 17 years ago by chatterley333
1 reply | jump to latest

I was really pleasantly surprised by this adaption. I had liked the Kate Beckinsale version and thought this might be a bit 'hollywoodish'. But no, Paltrow did a fine job and as for mr knightly.....he can park those boots under my bed any day of the week! I thought it was funny and lively and thoroughly enjoyable. I especially liked Toni Collettes Harriet Smith.

collette has a wonderful expressive face. I hadn't thought of harriet smith as being clumsy but she gave me a giggle especially when she reminiced her visit to the sick bed.
The other character I loved was Miss Bates. Great characters we have come to expect from Austen novels. My only complaint is that Jane Austen wrote so few books. But having just a few, I look on each as a very special treasure.

What secondary character do you like? Remember the minister/cousin in Pride and Prejudice?

[–] jazzpiano- 15 years ago

I totally agree!! For all the complaints about her being miscast, look what she did with the role - she made it work for her. Her interpretation of the role was very fair in my eyes, and a lot of her character's clumsiness would've been scripted so it's not Collette's fault at all if people dislike her characterisation. I really enjoy her as a performer, she's great.