Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2005 1:09:20 GMT -4
The IMDB database lists 17 different versions of Jane Eyre, with the earliest version listed as a 1910 silent movie.
Some of these versions were feature films, others were TV mini-series, others were cable movies. One was made in Brazil, one in India.
Interestingly enough, in almost all of the most recent versions, the actress playing Jane is less well known, while the part of Mr. Rochester is almost always a well known actor. (Perhaps a sad indication when the man is the more important actor, even in a famous woman's story.)
I've seen all of the most well known versions:
1944 Orson Welles/Joan Fontaine (with an uncredited performance of young Elizabeth Taylor as Helen Burns). I think Fontaine is too meek as Jane. Welles is fun to watch, but he's really sort of over the top. The meeting between Jane and Rochester out on the moor is well done, though.
1970 TV version with George C. Scott and Susannah York, This is a good version. I love the haunting score for this done by a young John Williams.
1983 - British mini-series Timothy Dalton/Zelah Clarke. Dalton is pretty good, but I was distracted by the difference in their heights. He appears to be more than a foot taller than she is and it looked really strange to me. However, I think this version, because it is a mini-series (11 parts) covers much more of the "young Jane" story than any of the other (shorter films).
1996 - Feature Film - William Hurt/Charlotte Gainsbourg. Sorry, but this one did not impress me at all. William Hurt always strikes me as self important.
1997 - Cable TV - Ciaran Hinds/Samantha Morton. My favorite. Big time. Samantha Morton (who I've since seen in many other things) is great as Jane. And I loved Hinds whose performance as Rochester was actually sexy. While obviously there is always an attraction between Rochester and Jane in the other versions, this was the first time it was actually sexy. Their scenes together where they talk in his room after Jane saves Rochester from the fire as well as when she thinks he is sending her to a post is Ireland, positively spark. And Hinds conveys a real panic as he is trying to talk her into staying with him after the exposure of his secret. Also, I think this one best conveyed the difference in their ages as I think CH really is that much older than SM. I liked this one best of all.
So, Jane Eyre fans, I'd love to hear your comments. How many have you seen?
Some of these versions were feature films, others were TV mini-series, others were cable movies. One was made in Brazil, one in India.
Interestingly enough, in almost all of the most recent versions, the actress playing Jane is less well known, while the part of Mr. Rochester is almost always a well known actor. (Perhaps a sad indication when the man is the more important actor, even in a famous woman's story.)
I've seen all of the most well known versions:
1944 Orson Welles/Joan Fontaine (with an uncredited performance of young Elizabeth Taylor as Helen Burns). I think Fontaine is too meek as Jane. Welles is fun to watch, but he's really sort of over the top. The meeting between Jane and Rochester out on the moor is well done, though.
1970 TV version with George C. Scott and Susannah York, This is a good version. I love the haunting score for this done by a young John Williams.
1983 - British mini-series Timothy Dalton/Zelah Clarke. Dalton is pretty good, but I was distracted by the difference in their heights. He appears to be more than a foot taller than she is and it looked really strange to me. However, I think this version, because it is a mini-series (11 parts) covers much more of the "young Jane" story than any of the other (shorter films).
1996 - Feature Film - William Hurt/Charlotte Gainsbourg. Sorry, but this one did not impress me at all. William Hurt always strikes me as self important.
1997 - Cable TV - Ciaran Hinds/Samantha Morton. My favorite. Big time. Samantha Morton (who I've since seen in many other things) is great as Jane. And I loved Hinds whose performance as Rochester was actually sexy. While obviously there is always an attraction between Rochester and Jane in the other versions, this was the first time it was actually sexy. Their scenes together where they talk in his room after Jane saves Rochester from the fire as well as when she thinks he is sending her to a post is Ireland, positively spark. And Hinds conveys a real panic as he is trying to talk her into staying with him after the exposure of his secret. Also, I think this one best conveyed the difference in their ages as I think CH really is that much older than SM. I liked this one best of all.
So, Jane Eyre fans, I'd love to hear your comments. How many have you seen?
I think I'd rate this as my fav overall.