The best of the best! Firth and Ehle and an amazing screenplay create this excellent version of Jane Austen's classic! Adaptations do not get better than this.
Of the over 25 film and television versions of Jane Eyre that I have experienced, this is the definitive version. Yes, the production's look is a bit dated, but the length allowed for a full exploration of Charlotte Bronte's classic text. And while many still think that Timothy Dalton was too attractive to be Rochester, he was masterful in the role, so I graciously overlooked his hotness.
Another amazing Andrew Davies success! Davies script, along with outstanding performances from Matthew MacFayden, Claire Foy and Tom Courtenay, made Dicken's sprawling tale accessible, romantic and incredibly moving.
Richard Armitage as Thornton. What? Isn't that enough?
This 1944 Paramount production based on Dorothy Macardle's fantastic haunted house novel, breaks the BBC's stranglehold on my top 5. The film features excellent performances by Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey along with a script that stays incredibly faithful to the original. This film manages to be simultaneously charming and scary as hell. If you haven't had the pleasure, I recommend renting it immediately.
Pride and Prejudice (Restored Edition)
Jane Eyre (BBC, 1983)
Little Dorrit
North & South
The Uninvited (1944)
How can it be I've only seen 3 of these?! Must check out "The Uninvited," though "Jane Eyre" has never been one of my fave books, no matter how good the adaptation.
ReplyDeleteHey jen, I think you would love The Uninvited, it's a very British ghost tale. As to JE, I've always felt like this production was the only filmed version that actually captured the feel of the book. It is a very straightforward version and because of length, tells the complete story. It's funny that the strength of any JE comes down to the strength of who plays Rochester, and Dalton is very good. I think I should have split this category into BBC adapts and non BBC adapts:)
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