Jane Eyre

While I may not have seen every version of Jane Eyre, this is my favorite of those encountered and definitely preferable to the more recent ones. This adaptation is made by George C. Scott who, as others have noted, positively IS Mr. Rochester. In fact, I've never really been able to properly appreciate any other version, because I keep longing to see Scott in the part. Forget William Hurt, Ciaran Hinds, or even Timothy Dalton. Scott has taken command of Rochester's role for me, just as Alastair Sim in the 1951 A Christmas Carol commands the role of Scrooge, making all others second best.

Of course this is Charlotte Bronte's classic story of an orphan, Jane Eyre, who is first sent to Lowood School, and then upon reaching young womanhood, obtains a position as governess to a little girl called Adele at Thornfield Hall. Adele's father and the lord of the manor is the enigmatic Edward Rochester. As opposite as employer and governess appear, as intimidating as Mr. Rochester seems and as wary as Jane is, the two become attracted. However, Thornfield Hall has an air of mystery about it...

Susannah York seems a bit too old and perhaps too pretty for the role, as Jane is intended to be rather plain. Charlotte Gainsbourg from the 1996 version is actually my favourite Jane portrayal. However, York is convincing enough as the maidenly but rather spunky governess. The two, Scott and York, have amazing chemistry together, an endearing tenderness in some of their scenes. It is touching to behold the interactions between the rough hewed, gruff, & brooding Mr. Rochester and the shy, gentle, principled, yet underneath potentially passionate Jane. Some have criticized Scott's Rochester as lacking passion, but I personally found him perfect in the role.

Everything else as I recall is well done, including supporting cast, Yorkshire moors scenery, haunting atmosphere, and lovely musical score.

Just a point of interest, these two stars appear together again in the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol, with Scott as Scrooge and York as Mrs. Cratchitt. I enjoy all the versions and Scott's sideburns are wonderful, but he seems to be enjoying playing Scrooge a wee bit too much! He's a lot better here as Mr. Rochester.

RELEASED IN 1970-1971 and directed by Delbert Mann, "Jane Eyre" adapts Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel about the eponymous character (Susannah York) who becomes a governess of a French girl at a huge estate in northern England circa 1800 after an upbringing at a harsh religious orphanage. She slowly gets to know the surly, world-wise master of the estate, Edward Rochester (George C. Scott), and his curious situation. Eventually she meets a devout clergyman, St. John Rivers (Ian Bannen), and his two sisters. Can Jane escape the shackles of a pre-Victorian world ruled by men and legalism to find love?

While this version of the oft-filmed book was released to TV, it has the vibe of a theatrical release with great northern England locations, a superb score by John Williams and quality actors. The book was criticized as "anti-Christian" when it was published, but it's actually anti-legalism. Mr. Brocklehurst (Jack Hawkins) represents a poisonous form of dead religiosity at the orphanage while the seemingly unbalanced St. John Rivers represents a much more subtle and less extreme form.

The story's about Jane navigating the pitfalls of society and religion in a fallen world and, maybe, hopefully, finding freedom and genuine love. The locations/tone/themes are akin to "Sense and Sensibility" (1995), but with an anti-legalism subtext. Jane Austen's 1811 novel no doubt influenced Brontë's book. Both movies are worth checking out, but I slightly prefer "Jane Eyre." It's the perfect antidote to CGI-laden "blockbuster" drivel.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 48 minutes and was shot in North Yorkshire in northern England (Ripley Castle, Ripley; Pateley Bridge; Brimham Rocks; and Grinton). WRITERS: Jack Pulman wrote the screenplay based on Brontë's novel.

GRADE: B+/A-

I have never seen a feature-length version of JANE EYRE which did Bronte's novel justice. To minimize her coming of age novel to a gothic love story strips Jane of her arc and the story of its coherence. This 1970 production suffers from rushing the story, cramming it in under two hours, as well as from a poor transfer. Susannah York and George C. Scott are both miscast-- York is too pretty and Scott is too subdued. That the two share no chemistry does not help.

The one ace the movie has is the John Williams music. Williams had been working in film and TV for about a decade at this point, and this is perhaps his first standout movie score. The love theme is gorgeous, prefiguring the more famous "Across the Stars" from the Star Wars prequels, and the music for the spookier scenes feels like an embryonic version of the mystery motif in the first two Harry Potter movies. But even apart from what he would do later, the music is just so perfect. Such a shame the movie is not of equal merit.

... but not quite. The 40s version had the mist and the overacting of the great Mr Welles - this has a fabulous cast, particularly Scott and York who are both superb, but just falls short of the magic of the creaky old b&w version. This one has its moments a-plenty though and is well worth tracking down. A definite 8 out of 10.

No wonder I think this is the best adaptation of Jane Eyre - I didn't realize that Delbert Mann directed it until I read it on this website. I loved this film - if memory serves me it was a made for t.v. movie. George C. Scott and Susannah York were perfectly cast. I also remember a very touching and well acted death scene between young Jane Eyre portrayed by Sara Gibson and Helen Burns portrayed by Rosalyn Landor. Jean Marsh was also good as Mrs. Rochester. The music was hauntingly beautiful. I am fortunate that I taped it when it reran on a cable movie channel several years ago. If you like the story and have the opportunity by all means watch this great version of a classic novel.