MovieChat Forums > Jane Eyre (1973) Discussion > My favorite version...and I've seen 6 ve...

My favorite version...and I've seen 6 versions. It's nearly flawless

posted 17 years ago by icequeen2010
3 replies | jump to latest

For starters, let me tell you which versions I've seen

1970 movie (George C. Scott, Susannah York)
This one; 1973
1983 miniseries (Timothy Dalton, Zelah Clarke)
1996 movie (William Hurt, Charlotte Gainsbourg)
1997 movie (Ciaran Hinds, Samantha Morton)
2006 miniseries (Toby Stephens, Ruth Wilson)

I've seen all of them at least once; some of them, I've seen several times. I just feel that the 1973 is the best of all of them. First of all, it's the only one that nailed the casting. In all the other versions, either the Jane or the Rochester is too attractive (or, in the case of the 1997, the actor didn't come close to accurately portraying Rochester). In the 1973, both actors are certainly very good looking, but not in a way that takes away from their character or is unrealistic. Sorcha Cusack is pretty, but not in a Blanche-Ingram-sweet-faced kind of way. And Michael Jayston is handsome, but not in the way that Timothy Dalton was- which was almost distracting and made me think "Yeah, right...you're not Rochester". Also, I'm not a Jane Eyre purist or anything, but it does help the the plot was almost exactly the same. The acting was spot-on, you really sympathized with Cusack's Jane, blah blah blah I loved it.

P.S. For those curious, I regard the 1996 and the 1997 versions tied for worst version

[–] kat63 17 years ago

I've seen most of the versions including the 2006 one and I still rate this as the best. What it lacks for in production value it more than makes up for with quality acting from Michael and Sorcha, accuracy to the plot and dialogue and wonderful on screen chemistry.

I thought Ruth and Toby were excellent in the new version but sadly let down by a dire script and dodgy dialogue.

[–] dqmwfan 17 years ago

NO WAY THIS WAS SO BAD . 1983 IS THE BEST ONE BECAUSE OF RIVERS FOR ONE THAT PART WAS ALL PERFECT . ALSO THIMOTHY DOLTON AND ZELA WHERE PERFECT READ THE BOOK AND WATCH THAT RIGHT AFTER YOU WATCH THE 1983 VERSION .

[–] domra 16 years ago

icequeen2010,
I have seen the ones you mentioned (plus 1944) and I agree heartily; the 1973 adaptation is the best! However, the Gateshead/Lowood scenes are better in the one from 1983 in my opinion.
The 1973 cast - including the supporting roles - is, in general, very good. I can watch Sorcha Cusack, Michael Jayston, Megs Jenkings, George Whitehead and the others over and over again. But I am sorry to say that Juliet Waley is not my favorite 'young Jane' as her acting is not very good. (I have not made up my mind about which actress I like best in that role.)
/E 8-)