Could somebody please upload the whole 73 miniseries on you-tube? It seems
very interesting but how can someone judge if he hasn't seen the whole thing?
It could also help to enliven the board again, because if the film is so close
to the book as some people think it to be, then definitely there would be a lot
of Jane Eyre talk as a novel too.
When I "discovered" JE73 in February this year, there was only a few clips available on YT. (There have been more uploaded after that, but they are gone now.)
At the first viewing I was not impressed at all, but when I learnt to disregard the 1970s style of TV-drama, I was completely enchanted. I could not wait for anyone to publish the whole thing so I bought the DVD. This I have not regretted for a second. Sometimes the acting is so subtle that it does not show on a blurry YT-video. I have read that, in some countries, this DVD is considerably more expensive than other adaptations. What a pity! However, I thought it was worth every single Euro I spent on it.
Have you not seen JE73 yet? Then I recommend you to checkout the fansite (http://janeeyre73.bravehost.com/index.html) created by ThisbeCiel and the wonderful multimedia presentation (http://themave.com/je/) by J. Stowe. These will give you a hint of the parts that are not on YT.
/E 8-)
P.S. I really like reading you clever and intelligent comments on the other JE-boards, e_spanou, and I would love to hear what you think of this adaptation.
Hello domra! Thank you for your kind words and I'm sorry it took me so long to
answer. I was in Spain for one week where I purchased the 06 version with the
whole interviews, goofs etc for 17,5 euros which was very cheap if you
consider that I didn't have to buy the masterpiece theater and pay the
transportation. I searched for the 73 version but they never had it, therefore
it is pretty certain that I won't find it here in Greece. And unfortunately
after the trip it will take me some time, due to the expences, to make myself a
gift so soon, let alone that I don't own a credit card and have to borrow
someone else's, something difficult now that they have started to put taxes on
credit cards too :((.
However I will study carefully the youtube videos and tell you my opinion. I
have only seen the proposal, part of the seperation dialogue, part of their
first dialogue and although (I trully feel shame to admit it) I laughted at the
beginning with the clothes (which made Sorcha look like an evil witch let
alone the hats) I can say that she is a more outspoken, courageous and ironic
(towards Rochester at the beggining) Jane, pretty much as I have imagined her
in the book to be. As for Rochester once you get used to the theatrical style
of the whole play, he is quite natural and at ease with his lines and exactly
as Mrs Fairfax expresses it "you cannot be always sure whether he is in jest
or earnest, whether he is pleased or the contrary;". Truly playful and enigmatic.
So far, as Rochesters are concerned (and I haven't found a perfect one) I like
Welles' for the abrupt terrifying ways (I believe Rochester at times seemed as
a tyrant and harsh master to a stranger's eye especially in the beggining),
Hurt's for the "I have completely given myself up"-attitude, Dalton's for both
abrupt and boyish ways (and also he was the first one to make me really
believe he was in love with Jane which is his main saving grace in the book:
to love her and enchance her character) and Toby's for the natural ways, the
playfulness-teasing part and loving ways (although I didn't like the Hugh
Grant attitude "I know I am not the best boy in town, but I'm absolutely
gorgeous").
As for Jane's part, I really adored Ruth Wilson for expressing every passing
sentiment and I have found in her my perfect Jane. I liked part of the
suffering Joan Fontaine and her look of competition towards Blance, Gainsbourg
was too mild (without character) and too full of humility for my taste
(although I find her sympathetic), Sorcha as I've said is more dynamic but I
can't express a full opinion and as for Clarke I didn't like her much. For me
she seems too old and slow in her lines and I believe Dalton would have made an
even better Rochester with a Wilson on his side.
I will add more when I see all the other 73's videos.
You can check play.com once in awhile. They often have sales.
Here is a link to JE73: http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/877564/Jane-Eyre/Product.html. The DVD is currently available for 12.49€. You will need a creditcard, though.
If you buy from them, just make sure you get a new copy. Their return-policy does not seem to work. (At least not for me who lives outside the UK.)
/E 8-)
Oh, e_spanou, how I laughed when I read "... and although (I trully feel shame to admit it) I laughted at the beginning with the clothes..." !
Do NOT feel ashamed! I myself just shook my head in fear the first time I saw the costumes used in this adaptation. (Since period dress is a part of one of my professions, I am a bit of a "costume nerd".) Now I have made peace with the costume designer because I understand that the budget for this mini was not very large. (Some bonnets can be seen in 'Emma' from 1972, btw ;-) )
Overall the costumes are not too bad (if one looks at fashion design around 1836-37) - although the could fit better - but because there are so many close-ups, one would wish they had used other fabrics (and proper undergraments). The only dresses I still cannot stand is Mrs. Fairfax's (they look as they belong to another decade), Grace Poole's and the ghastly thing Lady Ingram wears in the evenings. Also, in the last scene at Moor House, Jane wears a collar which I truly wonder what pattern/source it derives from.
/E 8-)
So lets talk about costumes! In the 44 film I didn't like much Joan's Fontaine's
dress not because it didn't fit well but because it had thin lines on it and
Jane being a simple girl, I don't think she would choose clothes with patterns
(furthermore the thin lines remind me of mafia movies). I also have to say that
when she played Rebbeca her make up made her look more simple and less elegant
than in "Jane Eyre" where she is supposed to play a non beauty but in fact is
as brilliant as Blanche. And something peculiar in this version: when Jane
talks to the "master" for the first time in Thornfield he is washing his feet
(in the parlour?) and makes Jane to spill him water with a pitcher. What were
they thinking? That he tries to degrade her in a way or they thought it manly
enough?
In the 73 version the costumes look very artificial as we said before and the
bonnets are weird and have too much volume. In the 83's version I believe
Zelah's costume make her seem kind of plump. Not a wise choice near a so
impressing, tall and thin Rochester. Were the sleeves so voluminous those
days? In the 1996 I don't remember much about what Gainsbourg wear. I think it
was black and therefore nearer to the book. I like her presence and appearance
as Jane. She looks young too. But too quiet, shy and supressed. I don't care
to characterize her partners acting, he is way too mild and depressed and
looks really old.
And to end with the 2006 version is a very bright one. Jane wears light grey-
blue (not black) and occasionally adds a red ribbon. Mr Rochester wears red
jacket with yellow waistcoat (?), Bertha appears dressed as a luxurius
mistress with red velvet robe. All together a milder and happier depiction of
the novel with beautiful faces, excellent photography, easy lines. The Ingram
dresses are very nice also. I like Blanche's blue dress ("I think it the most
beautiful dress I have ever seen"-adele) and her mother's brown one, but the
twins' are silly.
"I can be on my guard against my enemies but God deliver me from my friends"
- Charlotte Bronte
Dear 'domra': as you remember, I've put you a question about costumes - specifically, about Jane's hats - at 'YouTube'. Now, let me put another question, about her collars. You say
Also, in the last scene at Moor House, Jane wears a collar which I truly wonder what pattern/source it derives from.
I don't think it will possible to download the whole 73 mini-serial on 'YouTube' for now: it's the very first time (oh, yes! the very first time!) it's being distributed - and not by the BBC but by little 'Acorn Media UK', which I'm sure will demand 'YouTube' to close the account...
As far as I'm concerned, I was one of many who had the privilege to see this mini-serial back in the 70s and had to wait 33 looong years for its release on the market. I gather the current DVD edition by 'Acorn Media UK' is somewhat expensive; but, believe me: it's worth every penny! Why did the BBC make us suffer like that is beyond my comprehension: the mini-serial was extremely popular in its day, and it has remained deeply rooted in our hearts since (as you may confirm by reading some of the posts here at 'IMDb').
To fully acknowledge how interesting this mini-serial is, I would particularly recommend you (if I may) to check out - besides the six video downloads there are now on 'YouTube' - the script of episodes 2 to 5, transcribed by 'ThisBeCiel' in the beautiful site my good friend 'domra' has pointed out to you above, and compare it with the novel: it's really very good! (In passing, the script of episode 1 is to come soon in the same site.)
Enjoy!
João Pedro
"You're not turning to look after more moths, are you?..."