The Jane Austen ITV Collection - Mansfield Park / Northanger Abbey / Emma (3 Disc Box Set) [2007]

This box set is great value for money. I enjoyed all three of the Jane Austen adaptions. Every DVD comes in its own case, all three films have subtitles for the hard of hearing, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park also have an audio description track for visually impaired audiences. These two films are presented in a 16 : 9 aspect ratio (widescreen), Emma, which is an older film dating from 1996 is in a 4 : 3 aspect ratio, likely the original format for a made for TV production from the time. Picture and sound quality of all films is good. Very happy with this purchase.

Excellent adaptation of Northanger Abbey . Very good adaptation of Mansfield Park, though perhaps the actress who plays the heroine, Fanny Price, is too good looking for the part, but she acts it well. Very good adaptation of Emma.

This box set contains three DVD's - all in their own case and contained in an attractive holder. All three films are ITV productions, with "Emma" and "Northanger Abbey" being very good, but "Mansfield Park" is much weaker. The highly regarded Andrew Davies adapted Jane Austen's 1815 novel "Emma" for ITV. Previously, he was the screenwriter for the much heralded 1995 BBC TV serial "Pride and Prejudice" starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. There is little doubt that this ITV adaptation is far superior to the 1996 "Emma" movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow. "Emma" is dominated by the superlative performance of the sultry Kate Beckinsale in the title role. She gives a tremendous display of pride, humour and cunning - she is almost too clever for her own good. Samantha Morton is wonderful as Harriet Smith, showing early naivety and gullibility, but emerges strongly through her problems. And Mark Strong is brilliant in his portrayal of the dashing George Knightley - he overflows with energy, decency and wise decision-making. Wonderful locations were used which brought the film to life, including Broughton Castle in Banbury, Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, Stanway House in Gloucestershire,Trafalgar Park in Salisbury, Dorney Court in Buckinghamshire, Lacock in Wiltshire and Thame Park in Oxfordshire. Also, wonderful authentic costumes give at a wonderful period feel. "Northanger Abbey", also adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies, departs from the novel mainly during the inclusion of dream and fantasy sequences that show what a big impact the reading of gothic horror and romantic novels had on lead character Catherine. Felicity Jones gives a wonderful wide-eyed portrayal of Catherine, full of energy, emotion, humility and humour. Her friend Isabella Thorpe is engagingly played by the alluring Carey Mulligan. Her portrayal is full of honest intentions and optimism, but she finds it difficult to distinguish bad men from good. And, J J Field is appropriately dashing and exciting as Henry Tilney. Due to attractive tax incentives, it was filmed in Ireland, with the stunning and grand Lismore Castle in County Waterford making an atmospheric location for Northanger Abbey. The third film "Mansfield Park" is a big disappointment. Billie Piper is truly awful as Fanny Price - her acting is incredibly wooden, and she looks washed up to say the least. Why was she cast in a Jane Austen adaptation? Blake Ritson is one of the few actors to put in a decent display as Edmund Bertram, and Hayley Atwell is a breath of fresh air as Mary Crawford, but overall this is a doomed film. A poor disjointed script, uninspiring locations, average costumes and mostly terrible acting. Overall, two films are worth watching, but "Mansfield Park" is a total flop.

Haven't stopped playing it!

It is a pleasure to watch Jane Austen stories, it’s lovely

Norhtanger Abbey is well made and well acted great adaptation. Emma I am not convinced Kate Becinsale was the right person to play Emma but the story is well done and the rest of the cast fit well, so another good adaptation. Oh dear Mansfield Park, Billy Piper is really not the best choice does not suit the shy and subservient Fanny at all, you hardly see Mariah,and the orther Bertrum family really, almost no mention of Portsmouth or Fanny's return 'home'. If they had more time allotted for the story rather than slashing it to bits to squeeze the story in to a short space of time might have been worth it, but the worst adaptation I have seen by far. So will only be watching the other two I am afraid.

I'm still watching it but I have seen the films before and I having read all the Jane Austen books ( Pride and Prejudice 7 times!!!! ) I think some of the films are quite close to the books! I am really enjoying it! Love it in fact!

Great to build up my collection again for these products and I love the classics and enjoy having these on dvds and cds

This is a really good buy in my opinion. Though it is region 2.

Love the 3 dvd’s

Really enjoyed this Jane austen dvd collection to already add to my existing set

Die Emma-Verfilmung mit Kate Beckinsale gehört zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsfilmen und war der eigentliche Grund, weshalb ich diese Collection gekauft habe. Ein ruhiger, schön gemachter Film, dem Buch treu im Geiste, gestattet er sich einige verdiente Freiheiten. Northanger Abbey ist eine erfreuliche Überraschung, vor allem nach der schrecklichen 80er-Jahre-Version. Aber zu dem Verbrechen an "Mansfield Park" lässt sich einfach kein gutes Wort sagen. Nicht nur, dass Fanny fehlbesetzt ist mit ihrem schwachsinnig wirkenden Lächeln und der Unfähigkeit, sich anders als rennend fortzubewegen - der ganze Film hat mit dem Charakter des Buches nicht mehr viel zu tun.

Lo conoscevo già è sto raccogliendo un po alla volta tutte le diverse edizioni delle opere della austen. La raccomando caldamente a chi ancora non la conoscesse. Buona visione