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synn (synn) wrote,
@ 2008-11-28 12:08:00

question
What's the movie/tv version of Jane Eyre that's supposed to be the best?
I'd really like to see a good film version of it (the only one I've seen is an old black and white version, don't recall the actors in it)

Anyone know/have recs?

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loupgarou1750
2008-11-28 12:25 pm UTC (link)

The 1970 version starring George C Scott and Susannah York stands out in my memory. Mind you, I haven't seen it since sometime in the 80s and can't guarantee that it's a faithful adaptation, but the performances were good (although IIRC, Scott didn't try to do a British accent, which may very well have been a plus) as was the cinematography. Unfortunately, I've read that the DVD version is terrible, bad quality, chopped up, missing chunks of dialogue, etc.

I haven't seen the version with Timothy Dalton, but one of my friends, who has excellent taste, thinks its the best version available and is apparently very faithful to the book.

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synn
2008-12-01 07:01 pm UTC (link)

Thanks - I don't think I've seen the 1970 version... I'm not so picky as to care about the accent. Honestly, I don't really notice them at all, in movies. Alas for the DVD though.

The reviews for the Dalton version and Stephens version are both high on Amazon, but my local blockbuster has neither (they don't have *ANY* jane eyre, which is sacreligious if you ask me). Maybe I'll just have to get both eventually to find out... Thanks : )

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perverse_idyll
2008-11-28 09:20 pm UTC (link)

The one I like best of the four I've seen is the most recent BBC version, with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. The actors are very good, they have chemistry, the script is literate, and the film's directed with a certain flair. The only odd note is struck in the opening scene, but after one spasm of pretension it leaves cheap symbolism behind.

This is the Netflix page for it.

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	synn 2008-12-01 07:02 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks! I don't suppose you remember if they have the scene where Rochester impersonates a gypsy in it? Personally, I think that's one of the best scenes in the entire story, but it seems like a lot of the film versions chop it out... (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

perverse_idyll
2008-12-01 07:09 pm UTC (link)

Hm. In fact, they don't. They change it. The filmmakers apparently decided against trying to convince the audience that Rochester's really fooling Jane by dressing up in women's clothes. Because this Jane isn't gullible; she's too obviously sharpwitted. So he brings in a real gypsy and hides behind a curtain to eavesdrop on their convo.

The scene works wonderfully in the book itself, but I've never seen a convincing version of it onscreen. So I was just as glad that they decided to re-write it. From my POV, it takes nothing away from the flow of the story or the sense of betrayal Jane feels.

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	synn 2008-12-04 10:48 pm UTC (link)
	I could see that working relatively well, and I get why they might go that route. Better than totally omitting the scene... it just always seemed one of the biggest moments to me, and I'd rather have seen some of the later moments after she's left Rochester's cut than that scene. (Reply to this) (Parent)