Jane Eyre
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.64 You Save: $10.34 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $8.49 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Jane Eyre
Movie Review: Competent adptation of Bronte novel...but uneven melodrama...
Summary: 4 Stars
Watching 'Jane Eyre' is like watching two films. The first part seems so far removed from what follows and is easily the best part of the movie. We see a young Jane (Peggy Ann Garner) being placed by her cruel aunt in an orphanage run by wicked Mr. Brocklehurst (Henry Daniell at his most chilling). One of her schoolmates is a very young Elizabeth Taylor as Helen Burns, long dark curls and eyelashes revealing her to be very beautiful, even at an early age. And the wonderful John Sutton is the doctor who witnesses the brutal treatment of the girls at the school. All of this is conveyed in a brooding series of scenes, lit with low-key lighting and many atmospheric effects backed by Bernard Herrmann's moody background score.
The second part of the story involving the mature Jane Eyre (Joan Fontaine) is less successful in keeping with the richness of detail shown earlier. Furthermore, Joan Fontaine is never fully convincing as the plain governness, demure and docile to an irritating degree and never developing the spine of steel Jane's character demands.
Instead, she is completely dominated by Orson Welles--overacting to the nth degree in a very theatrical manner as Mr. Rochester--and the story is sent reeling off course to an unsatisfying conclusion. The structure of the film is so offset by the impressive first half-hour that the second part seems artificial by comparison.
Some excellent black and white photography by George Barnes cannot conceal the artificiality of studio sets. All of the supporting performances are well acted. As usual, Agnes Moorehead does an outstanding job.
Summing up: The first half is brilliant. Joan Fontaine seems to be aware that she's being overshadowed by Welles in one of his most florid roles. Obviously, he had a hand in the direction.
Movie Review: Viewer, she married him
Summary: 4 Stars
Among the main reasons this 1946 Robert Stevenson film version still remains the definitive filmed dramatization are its spectacular sets and great shadowy Expressionist cinematography; Thornfield is imagined here as a great Gothic dream of a place, with turrets and crenellations and stone fireplaces and great windows that could never exist in real life. It's much more of a dream of a great house than any mansion could be, even Haddon hall (the supposed inspiration for the house in Charlotte Bronte's novel, and used for locations for the Fraco Zeffirelli film version). Orson Welles is the best Mr. Rochester there's ever been, which is remarkable considering the number of other first rate actors who have played the role, from George C. Scott to Timothy Dalton to Thoby Stephens, and Jane Fontaine is much better (and less wimpy) than you'd expect in the title role. The production also features three terrific child actresses: Peggy Ann Garner as the young Jane, Elizabeth Taylor (in one of her best early roles) as Helen Burns, and Margaret O'Brien as the annoyingly coquettish Adele Varens. The final third part of the novel, with St. Johns Rivers and his sisters, is absent, but in movie terms it's amazing how little you'll miss it, (unless you're a purist); conversely, Stevenson and the adaptors (who include Aldous Huxley and John Houseman) fortunately kept the most salient horrifying episodes at Lowood with Mr. Brocklehurst, Jane's rigid early nemesis. This film was part of the craze for "prestige" British literary adaptations that struck Hollywood in the late 30s and early 40s, and it's one of the very best.Movie Review: Great DVD! Worth the money
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great print of the film and chock-full of terrific DVD extras -- a featurette about director Robert Stevenson and star Orson Welles, two great commentaries, plus a wonderful feature where you just hear Bernard Herrmann's score and see the action, without dialog or other sound effects. Amazingly, despite the loss of Orson Welles' magnificent voice, the movie is so well-shot and fascinating to look at that it works as well or better as a silent film -- I'd love to see this capacity on more DVDs.
Toby Stephens noted in his work in 2006's BBC Jane Eyre that he deliberately toned down his performance so that he would not be as melodramatic as the Rochester in Charlotte Bronte's novel (Stephens has also said he watched this film in preparation for his role). Welles followed the characterization in the book a little too faithfully and his performance consequently is criticized by some as hammy -- but since he himself was larger than life and touched by tragedy, somehow he can pull off a melodramatic performance in a way that Toby Stephens wisely recognized he couldn't. Welles' strong physical resemblance to the character Bronte described gives him another advantage over Toby Stephens. The greatest flaw in Welles' characterization is that there is zero chemistry between him and Joan Fontaine -- you like him, you like her (although like most film Jane Eyres she is too wimpy), but somehow their coming together as a couple makes no sense. You don't get why he needs her, or what she sees in him.
Movie Review: One of the better Jane Eyre's...
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the oldest version of Jane Eyre I've ever seen, and although not my favorite, it is very well done. I think that Margaret O'Brien, in her role as Adele, far outshines any other actress's portrayal of this sweet little French girl thusfar. Orson Wells was true to the Rochester character, and Joan did a wonderful job as our heroine, Jane, playing her vulnerability better than most. I like it in black and white...while considered dated by some, I think it adds a broodiness that you can't get in color.Movie Review: Wonderful romantic gothic from Hollywood's classic era
Summary: 4 Stars
Very much a product of its time, this is nevertheless a thoroughly entertaining production -- well cast with beautiful black & white art direction and moody gothic atmosphere. The music is especially memorable. One of the most memorable and watchable versions of the story -- and includes the always wonderful child actress Margaret O'Brien as Adele. Also lovely to see little Elizabeth Taylor as Helen. Orson Welles is superb and Joan Fontaine is quite believable as Jane.