I love this film version of Jane Eyre
Hello everyone, let's come together and say something about this film.
shareyes, this version is the most famous one in china,but it seems it is not that famous outside china.
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MovieChat Forums > Jane Eyre (1971) Discussion > I love this film version of Jane Eyre
I love this version but like the poster above, mine had missing scenes I rememeber well from seeing on TV.
One scene I really liked was after Rochester complimented Jane and the next day she wore a lighter dress. Significant. Then when she heard he had left for his fiancee, she reverted to wearing the dark gowns. Showed her feelings by what she wore.
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This the first version of Jane Eyre I ever saw and just loved it. I was in junior high and never got to see it again, but never forgot how great it was. Have seen other versions, some good and some fair, but always remember this one. George C. Scott is a wonderful in the lead role, he will always be Mr. Rochester to me. Just found the DVD on ebay and was able to watch it last night, still a great movie.
shareHmm this 'Jane Eyre' was alright to me, not the best though! I prefer the version with Timothy Dalton and also the one with Charlotte Gainsbourg.
So many "different" takes on the characters within the novel.
"I promise you, before I die I'll surely come to your doorstep"
JANE EYRE is still, after over 30 years, my favorite novel. It's the only novel I take out and re-read.
Two things made this my favorite adaptation. The stunning music -- by John Williams, who, otherwise, has wrecked movie music for the past three decades -- is both lush and evocative.
But the clincher, for me, was a marvelous performance by Susannah York. Always one of my favorites, she captures the many layers of Jane. Though (arguably) a bit old for the part at the time, Ms. York gave one of the great performances on TV.
It's always a treat to see memorable performances by well-known actors in supporting roles. Jean Marsh and Ian Bannon were wonderful.
Cheers,
Julie the Jarhead
I love this version of Jane Eyre as well, and agree that the music is hauntingly beautiful. Despite criticisms I've read here, I personally find George C. Scott perfect as Mr. Rochester.
True, the lovely Susannah York may be a bit old for the role, and Charlotte Gainsbourg (1996 version) does have more the appearance I would have envisioned for Jane. However, I agree that Ms. York gives a flawless performance, perfectly capturing Jane's dignity, self reliance, restraint, modesty, and underlying passion. The chemistry between her and Scott is perfect in this film.
I'd also like to offer a word of praise for both the young actresses who play Jane and her friend Helen at Lowood School. Sara Gibson (young Jane) has such a serious, thoughtful expression throughout. Some might call it melodramatic, but I was nearly moved to tears during the heart wrenching scene where Jane is standing in the classroom on that stool, listening to her friend Helen coughing outside in the courtyard.
Jean Marsh of Upstairs Downstairs fame is one of my favourites, and she predictably gives a wonderful performance in her limited role as as Mrs. Rochester. I also love the moor scenery and found Thornfield Hall perfectly depicted, both the exterior and interior scenes. Great overall atmosphere and great movie!
Agreed, Scott is EXACTLY how i imagined Rochester from hte book! Uncanny.
Also, he's an amazing actor.
<< I also love the moor scenery and found Thornfield Hall perfectly depicted, both the exterior and interior scenes. Great overall atmosphere and great movie! >>
I agree. This is the only version I've seen that doesn't have a feel to it of being filmed on an obvious set. You actually get a sense of how big the house is, and that there are of course, considering its size, more people in it than just Jane and Mrs. Fairfax and an odd maid or two.
This is also the best depiction of Mr. Rochester I've seen. George C. Scott is a blunt and forceful presence. He was actually a heavy drinker who beat some of his lovers, like Ava Gardner. But this inately rough, powerful quality makes his Mr. Rochester read as formidable in a way that other portrayals have lacked.
I was less impressed with Susannah York, who is a perfectly lovely actress, but seems too serene (and classically beautiful, even in drab makeup) to play Jane. I guess we all have images in our head as to what certain characters should look like...but Jane is not supposed to have any redeeming physical features, aside from clear eyes and skin, I suppose. However, it seems nearly impossible, throughout Hollywood history, to find an actress who is enough of a name to play a leading role like Jane who also isn't at least basically attractive. (I also imagine Jane to be more prickly. She's composed, but should give off flinty sparks in her encounters with Rochester.)
I was struck by how the character of Mrs. Rochester was given a bit more time here. We actually get closeups of her face, and Jean Marsh is an exciting, and weird, starkly beautiful actress. It's very touching that after she attacks Mr. Rochester in the scene where Jane meets her, she then becomes tender and strokes his face.
All in all, I liked this version a lot...much more than the others I've seen. The only other thing I didn't really respond to was that the costumes have a sort of heavy, rented look that lack a sense of original artistry. Still, I was shocked to read here that this is a made-for-TV version. It looks more expensive and carefully produced than THAT!
Yes, I loved Ian Bannen in the role of St. John Rivers. The absolute best Rivers I have seen.
Brideshead is A Thousand Moments and MacBeth