MovieChat Forums > Emma (1997) Discussion > Filmed in widescreen!

Filmed in widescreen!

posted 17 years ago by JillyConCarne
7 replies | jump to latest

I just flipped past my local PBS station and the Beckinsale version of Emma was broadcasted in glorious widescreen! Curse those A&E DVDs! I thought it was funny how they turned out an anamorphic special edition of P&P but Emma, filmed a year later, was only available in fullscreen. It makes me wonder about other A&E/British co-productions released on DVD, such as the first batch of Hornblowers, the Poirots starting with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, etc.

Does anyone know if the Region 2 release shows the full picture?

[–] randommovies2002 17 years ago

No, the region 2 dvd isn't in wide screen either.

[–] millernumber1 16 years ago

Actually, having seen the original broadcast on tape (my mom taped it in 97), and comparing the new broadcast to my dvd, I think they just cut off the top and bottom - which I thought was rather sad, as it ruined some of the compositions.

[–] JillyConCarne 16 years ago

Oh sad day! Thanks for the 411, millernumber1!

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] JillyConCarne 16 years ago

I have neither the DVD or a taped version of the PBS broadcast to compare, but thank you for giving me hope, randommovies2002! :)

[–] boogles 15 years ago

I think it was filmed on Super16 film so the aspect ratio will be about 14:9 (widescreen yes), but on ITV 3 (in the UK) it gets shown in fullscreen.

[–] JillyConCarne 12 years ago

Well, I got my hands on the German (but apparently edited DVD--107 minutes down to 94!!) and compared it to the poor quality Region 1 version uploaded in parts on YouTube (I'm pretty sure it's the A&E version judging by the poor coloring I remember) and here's one screenshot (would do more but this isn't a priority at the moment):

img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/JillyConCarne/YouTubevsGermanDVD_zps26e368f4.jpg

Yes, the first screencap is from a low-quality YouTube video but you can tell how Emma is SUPPOSED to look (just as gorgeous as the remastered 1995 Pride&Prejudice!!). I wish I could find out whether the UK release looks this good and has the full running time.