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DVD Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre--the mother of all gothic romances--gets abundant passion in this 11-episode BBC miniseries. Young Sian Pattenden is wonderfully willful and impetuous; viewers will immediately identify with the child Jane as she fights against ill-treatment at the home of her aunt and at boarding school. It's a shame to see her grow up into Zelah Clarke--until Clarke asserts her own quiet yet fierce spirit. The plot really starts rolling when Jane takes a position as governess at Thornfield, a handsome estate owned by the imperious and tortured Mr. Rochester (Timothy Dalton, a few years before he became James Bond). From there, this 1983 adaptation rips through the perilous highs and devastating lows of Charlotte Bronte's powerful novel, in which the courtship of these two prickly personalities gets twists and turns galore. Though the visual style is a bit pedestrian, the well-crafted script and skillful performances grow more gripping with every episode. The necessary feverishness springs from simple yet effective means, like macabre laughter floating down the halls of Thornfield. The scenes between Clarke and Dalton crackle with chemistry; Bronte fans will not be disappointed. --Bret Fetzer
I first saw this version of Jane Eyre when I was in college in the '80s. I'd never seen a repeat of it, but this Jane Eyre stayed in my heart until 2005 when I happened to see the DVD version. I bought it and have watched it over and over again since then.
I love this version's period setting--a grand castle, lush grounds and Victorian furnishings. Most of all, I love Timothy Dalton's portrayal of Rochester. Rochester is just as I imagined him to be from reading the book as a child--at times coarse, haunted, mysterious, engaging, commanding, assertive and desirable. (I will never know why Jane did not find him handsome; perhaps had she been less interested in the carpet, she could have seen the male beauty that was before her. Dalton is handsome, indeed, in a rugged sort of way.) This actor expertly delivered long, 18th-century dialogue in a believable way. His acting range is astonishing. From giggles to tears to female impersonation, Dalton's Rochester had me riveted and sympathizing with him, despite his "insolence."
I'm very happy with my purchase. No version of Jane Eyre equals this one as far as I'm concerned.
True to the book, almost to a fault
Despite the low production values (I think most of it was shot on video rather than film, which is entirely excusable given the budget constraints of older BBC productions), this is the best motion picture version of Jane Eyre I have ever seen. The credit for this goes, in my opinion, almost entirely to one person: Timothy Dalton. He portrays Rochester perfectly, and I say this because [enter lit geek] I actually watched this once while following along with the book, and Dalton matched Bronte's descriptions of Rochester's inflections, facial expressions, and emotions scrupulously and to great dramatic effect. (Seriously, anyone inclined to do this should look at the proposal scene. It's uncanny.) [exit lit geek] Dalton is able to convey the many contradictions in Rochester's character and actions--his world-weariness, his humor, his surliness, his kindness, his depression, his barely contained passion, his selfishness, and his subtle, somewhat sinister, manipulativeness. For example, watch the manic matter-of-factness in his face when he says "It's not because she's mad that I hate her!" Watching Dalton, you can see why Rochester poses both a great temptation and a monumental threat to Jane--why she is so attracted to him, and yet has to leave him. My only criticism of Dalton as Rochester is that he is a bit too handsome, but I'm not complaining.
I must agree with those who said that Zelah Clarke looks a bit too old to play Jane (Physically, Samantha Morton--1997--looks the part more than any other Jane Eyre I've seen.), and I need to add that Clarke's enunciation kind of bugged me, but otherwise I think she does an excellent job. Whether trading barbed witticisms or exchanging painful confidences, Clarke and Dalton interact with humor, affection, and intensity.
The one problem with this version, and it is probably a direct result of sticking so close to the book, is that some of the speeches seem to go on a bit too long. But then, this production is more like a play than a movie, so soliloquies don't seem out of place. People who enjoy theater productions (and by this I don't mean _Cats_ or _Beauty and the Beast_) will probably get a lot more out of this production than those who are primarily used to Hollywood films.
An Error for Eyre
The horrible quality of this production is a disgrace. It reminds me of when grandma watched Dark Shadows. The interior shots look like a bad soap opera. I kept praying for more exterior shots so I could see some sort of quality. If you are thinking this will be a Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice, trust me you will run SCREAMING for the nearest moor. Timothy Dalton, an outstanding actor in my opinion, loses all appeal. Even he can't overcome the tragic quality of direction, lighting, sound and set. But really who could.
The BBC has raised the mini-series to an astonishing creative peak. A prime example is the 1994 production of Middlemarch, based on the classic novel by George Eliot, which juxtaposes morals and money, grand ambitions with petty jealousies, and pursuits of the mind with bodily needs. A handsome young doctor named Lydgate (Douglas Hodge, Vanity Fair) comes to the provincial town of Middlemarch to start a new hospital; a headstrong young woman named Dorothea (Juliet Aubrey, The Mayor of Casterbridge) yearns to contribute to the greater good of the world. These idealists enter into marriages that derail all their intentions and lead them into lives they never imagined. The network of characters in this six-episode program, ranging up and down the societal ladder, create... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Anthony Page DVD Release Date: Released the 19 April 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The first two episodes of this BBC miniseries only hint at the delights to come. A lawsuit aimed at church reform in the town of Barchester forces a decent middle-aged clergyman (the august Donald Pleasence, best known in the U.S. for the Halloween movies) into a moral crisis and a conflict with his son-in-law, a pompous archdeacon (Nigel Hawthorne, The Madness of King George). The gracefully written and acted narrative shows glimpses of dry wit--but in episode 3, the arrival of a new bishop (Clive Swift, Keeping Up Appearances), his imperious wife (Geraldine McEwan, The Magdalene Sisters), and his devious chaplain (Alan Rickman, Truly Madly Deeply, the Harry Potter movies) launches The Barchester Chronicles into a satirical power... More Info about this DVD Director(s): David Giles (III) DVD Release Date: Released the 25 January 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels were all the rage (relatively speaking) in the mid-1990s. Clueless updated Austen's Emma, which was more conventionally adapted in another version (Emma) starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Emma was produced yet again, this time for British television, as were a celebrated miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and this splendid film of Austen's Persuasion. Persuasion is the story of a love that survives eight years of dormancy and the frustrating obstacles of class prejudice in 19th century England. Anne (Amanda Root) is captivated when she meets the dignified naval officer Capt. Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), but she is advised to discourage his romantic overtures because he has no fortune. They meet... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Roger Michell DVD Release Date: Released the 01 February 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Misguided stepmothers, romantic betrayals, secret marriages--these are not just the makings of modern soap operas; this is what makes the BBC's delightful four-episode miniseries Wives and Daughters come to life. Sweet Molly Gibson (played artfully by Justine Waddell, who communicates more with a squint of her eyes than most actresses can with pages of dialogue) was living life pleasantly when her widowed father (Bill Paterson) decides that, for the good of his daughter, he must remarry. In comes Claire, played to screeching perfection by Francesca Annis. Molly's life is turned upside down by the usually well meaning but off-the-mark Claire, who insists on things being done the proper way. Added to the stew is Claire's beautiful, educated daughter, Cynthia (Keeley Hawes),... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Annis - Gambon - Carmichael - Waddel - Francesca Annis DVD Release Date: Released the 24 April 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Jane Austen's classic novel of 1813, Pride and Prejudice, still wins the hearts of countless schoolgirls with its romantic story of Elizabeth Bennet and her Mr. Darcy. Now, the 1996 BBC miniseries is winning over adults, with its faithful adaptation, gorgeous scenery, and superb acting. The essence of the story is the antagonism between Mr. Darcy, a wealthy single man who believes Elizabeth to be beneath him, and Elizabeth, who upon being insulted at a dance by the aloof Darcy refuses to associate with him in any manner. Austen evokes incredible tension with the wit and flirtation of the two characters, and director Simon Langton (who also directed Upstairs Downstairs) successfully translates the repartee and conflict in this six-hour miniseries. Dialogue, for the most part,... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Simon Langton DVD Release Date: Released the 25 September 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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