Whatever you think of religion, it’s integral to Jane’s character and the entire book, and therefore I heartily object.
Instead of self-respect and God, she talks about “rights.” It seems all reference to religion is to be erased from this version. They also take morality out of it completely when Jane talks of leaving Rochester as he tries to convince her to live as his mistress. Gateshead is completely cut out of the story, dialogue is changed - key dialogue like Helen Burns’ death scene (they completely ignore the character’s piety and instead make her a kid who doesn’t know she’s dying). What can I say.Ĭinematography: See also - production values.Īdherence to the book: Fail. MORE IMPORTANTLY, when he introduces them, Rochester tells Jane he “loved her as I love you know” WTF that is not how Bronte wrote it. I mean, really, if you’re going to cast someone who was later eulogized as an English Rose, maybe cut that dialogue about not being pretty from the movie.Ĭraziness level of the attic wife: Crazy, but not crazy enough to tear the veil. Scott might qualify, but Susannah York more than makes up for it by being SO FAR from plain that it is completely ridiculous. Laughability of scenes in which the lead actors refer to themselves as unattractive: George C.
Young Jane looked too old, but she did a good job with the part. But I do it for you, reader.Ĭhild Star Rating: Pretty good. I’ve have never even tried to watch this one previously - my expectations are low based on the fact that it’s from the seventies and neither of the leads fits my idea of Jane or Mr Rochester. Jane Eyre 1970 starring Susannah York & George C. Laughability of scenes in which the lead actors refer to themselves as unattractiveīonus points were given if the film included the fortune teller scene. Important elements that were taken into consideration include, but are not limited to:
Even the best movie falls short of the actual book - obviously.
Full disclosure, I omitted the 1996 Zeffirelli version because although Anna Paquin was amazing, I could not get over the casting of William Hurt as Rochester. Some films required more deliberation than others. Through much deliberation, I have written this in order of rank, from worst to best. Why are you reading this if you haven’t read the book? I’ve probably already spoiled something by now. Warning, part deux: do I even have to mention SPOILER ALERT? This post is basically one big spoiler. Everyone else, you might as well leave now.
For the three of you who continue to read this, I’ll assume that you’re equally obsessed with Jane Eyre and are therefore okay with this. At some points, it devolves into a sort of stream-of-consciousness thing akin to Movie Yelling on The Toast. And equally possible that I created an elaborate rating system to determine the merits of each film. Who knew?) It’s entirely possible that - in the interest of research - I have watched most of these film adaptations of Jane Eyre. (Including a 1943 horror movie involving a zombie. There are even more if you include versions filmed in other languages, and more than that if you consider adaptations more loosely based on the story. There have been over sixteen English language film versions of Jane Eyre, beginning in 1910 with the first of eight silent movies based on the book.