The Best Movie Version of "Jane Eyre"
Timothy Dalton makes the most of his theatrical training and experience, bringing to life Mr. Rochester, the mysterious owner of Thornfield. The man is intriguing from the moment he appears in the movie. You know little about him, but you just feel that there is a reason for his sternness. His bright mind and sharp conversation reveal a man of great intellect, and his unusual manner betrays being familiar with grief and perhaps having resigned to it. There is some dark story behind all this, and you just can't wait to see it unveiled, together with Jane.
Jane, played by Zelah Clarke, is impeccable. She is exactly the Jane described in the book: small and plain as a child, petite and plain as a young woman. You believe Mr. Rochester when he ways that he wouldn't have guessed her age: she can be eighteen or thirty. In reality, she is 18, but her character is fully formed and so well-rounded that it puzzles and intrigues Mr. Rochester. Her calm demeanor, dignity, smart observations and thoughtful opinions are what attracts him, not physical beauty; this is a very important aspect of the book, and it is portrayed brilliantly in the movie.
I have seen the 1970 version with George C. Scott, and although I am a big fan of his talent, I did not like the movie. George Scott did a very good job as Edward Rochester, but his partner Susanna York was A) too old, B) too pretty to play Jane. There is no way she can pass for an 18 year old, and what happened to plainness? Besides, the movie takes too many liberties with the story.
The same can be said about the 1997 version with Ciaran Hinds, who just does not make a believable Rochester, in my opinion, although he is a very good actor. Franco Zeffirelli's version (1996) I would have described as "good acting, poor casting." William Hurt is tragically miscast, he does his best but is still not believable, especially for big fans of this story.
I have not seen the newest, 2006 release of Jane Eyre yet; according to most reviews, it is a good adaptation, but I doubt it that the 1983 masterpiece will be outdone.
Published by Laura Lond
I have done many things in my life, from picking herbs for the local pharmacy when I was a kid to working for large international corporations, but I have always wanted to be a writer. View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentJane Eyre is a good
literature and is worthy of reading.
I have read Jane Eyre since I was in junior high scool, I thought it was a good novels and I really enjoy it very much.
Though their love was miserable. but I still touched it from my bottom of my heart.
I strongly recommended everyone to see this novels.
And I also heard that it became to have a movie, I wanted to watch it very much.
I had heard that Timothy Dalton was the best Mr. Rochester. I have added this version to streaming on Netflix :) I just finished the book - I read it probably 20 years ago in high school and re-read it with relish again.
Continuation of the post below - And Ciaran manages to play the deceitfulness of Mr Rochester trying to make Jane jealous with kindness and sympathy, as he tries to draw out of her the realisation that she loves him, and not to hurt her on purpose. There is also a fun 2006 version with Toby Stephens if you are in the mood to watch a more steamy version of the Jane/Rochester relationship. However, this version is not particularly faithful to the book or characters, with many added elements. Janes smiles too much and you'd never see a 'Quakerish governess' wear a red handkerchief around her neck. Toby Stephens also plays a somewhat less forceful (sometimes verging on cute and attractive!) Mr Rochester. I get the impression sometimes this is Toby Stephens playing Hugh Grant playing Mr Rochester!!!
I agree that this version is the most faithful to the text of the book. Indeed it is a delight to see many scenes enacted word for word. But it feels like the main characters lack some of the soul you'd expect them to have; some of the motivations that impel them are just missing. There is very little chemistry between them and Timothy Dalton is better looking and younger than Mr Rochester should be. The 1997 version with Ciaran Hinds has the best casting I believe, though not as satisfying from a literary point of view. It is a shorter version so many scenes, whole characters and even Jane's unexpected inheritance are all cut by necessity of the format. But it has the best Mr Rochester, Jane, Mrs Fairfax and the best St John. In this version you do believe that Jane is fighting very hard indeed to maintain her passionate nature in check (it comes too easily for Zilah Clarke!) and there are tears where the book says there are tears. And Ciaran manages to play the deceitfulness of Mr Ro
I haven't seen this yet, but I'd like to see it now after reading your article. Maybe you didn't like Ciaran Hinds (though I liked the part where he says "Jane, we are one soul!) as Rochester in 1997, but Samantha Morton was a great Jane Eyre. She's terrific in most anything. Also, Orson Welles was a pretty good Rochester though Joan Fontaine wasn't too hot as Jane in the 1944 version and Margaret O'Brien was a hoot as Adele!
I loved the book Jane Eyre...still one of my favorites :)