BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation

Subject: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: harpmolly
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 04:35 PM

I just have to put a word in here for anyone who may have missed this. The BBC has done a new miniseries adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre", and the first installment aired on PBS (in the States) last week. (I believe it aired in the UK last October). I started watching rather casually, because the book has always been one of my favorites, though I haven't read it in years. Well, all I can say is, by the end of the first two hours I was RIVETED to the screen, and almost threw something at the TV when they said "Tune in next week for Part 2!" My inner child was yelling, "But I don't WANNA wait!"

They cast a relative newcomer (Ruth Wilson) as Jane, and she (IMHO) is fantastic. And Toby Stephens' Mr. Rochester, again in my humble opinion, is truly amazing (although arguably too handsome for the role, he endows it with such depth that I'll overlook it!). The chemistry between the two of them, and how it is played out, was just wonderful, and I'm all aflutter waiting for the denouement.

The funniest thing about it is that my roommate has been gone all week, and when I saw her the other night I casually mentioned that I'd watched it, and she said, "Oh my God, I did too, and I can't stop thinking about it!" It transpired that we had both loved it, had both picked up the book again to reread it, and had been lying in bed reading at the same pace at the same time! I also had a customer at work who had the same reaction (though she's never read the book).

Anyway, I know I'm being a little obsessive (moi?) but anyone who is a fan of the book or of Masterpiece Theatre should definitely make a point to watch this (and try to get hold of the first half if you can). It is really worth it. I'm going to have to get the DVD, as I did miss the first few minutes (though all I really want to do is watch all the Jane/Rochester scenes again...;))

This has been a public service announcement *grin*.

Cheers,

Molly

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Scoville
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 04:40 PM

Okay, I saw half of the first part and turned it off. I know that screenplays have to be streamlined to fit into a watchable amount of time, but I felt like this one was just marching through the story with no reflection or real feeling at all. Frankly, I think it's my least favorite adaptation yet.

We like the Ciaran Hinds/Samantha Morton one better. None of the versions we've seen are all that we'd like, but Hinds makes a good Rochester and Morton is pretty good (although a bit tough). I think my mother's overall favorite is still the 1944 Joan Fontaine one, even though Fontaine is too pretty and the story line is very severely condensed to make it feature length.

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: harpmolly
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 04:45 PM

Heh heh...that was quick! :)

Actually, having just reread the book as I said, I thought it was very faithful for how streamlined (as you say) it was. Besides, I can see why they would streamline the first part; the real meat of the story is the Jane/Rochester relationship, and they might have felt that keeping the first part simple would allow more time for that. (Plus, as I said, I missed the first few minutes...she was already at Lowood when I tuned in).

Anyway, to each their own, of course. :) I should say,though, that the reviews I read mentioned that they were quite a bit more faithful to the latter part of the book (where she goes to live with John and the ladies) than many other adaptations. We shall have to see (or at least I shall. ;))

(And of course, I do tend to be overly effusive when I'm excited about something...)

Cheers, M

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Scoville
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 04:51 PM

Fair enough.

I tend to be more interested in the spirit of things rather than the letter, so divergence from the story line in order to better convey the general idea in a limited amount of time doesn't bother me as much as it might some other people.

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 05:40 PM

My wife, Barbara, is a real Charlotte Brontë aficionado—and Jane Austin, and. . . .   She can practically do a "sing-along" with the dialogue of a number of these books.

In our library of videotapes we have almost every version of Jane Eyre committed to film, even as far back as Joan Fontaine (a bit long in the tooth for the role) and Orson Welles (really rather good as Rochester). That one also has Peggy-Ann Garner as the young Jane and a very young Elizabeth Taylor as her friend Helen. CLICKY

We watched Sunday evening, and are awaiting the second episode coming up. Very good.

But by far the best of the film versions of Jane Eyre is the 1983 miniseries starring Zelah Clarke as Jane and Timothy Dalton (yes, that Timothy Dalton) as Rochester. Zelah Clarke is "plain and Quakerish" as described in the synopsis, and very convincing with her quiet, strong portrayal of Jane. Timothy Dalton (whom I had seen in a few movies before this, but hadn't really noticed that much until this) is a powerful, dark, brooding, and tragic Rochester. Both of them were perfect for the roles.

We have the VHS version CLICKY, but I think it has recently been released on DVD. It ran several episodes on "Masterpiece Theatre," something like a total of thirteen hours as I recall.

Barbara's take on this new version is that it captures the general spirit of the story, the actors are good, and the performances are good. But the dialogue and several details of the story have been dinked with a lot (e.g. in the book and in the Clarke-Dalton version, the old gypsy fortune teller was Rochester himself, all tricked up, not some woman he hired), and we're a bit apprehensive about seeing how they've handled Jane's encounter with the Rev. Rivers and his family. Definitely a Reader's Digest Condensed version of the story.

If you're really into Jane Eyre, see if you can rent the Clarke-Dalton version.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Scoville
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 05:51 PM

My mother goes into fits if they mess with the dialogue too much. I think she also likes the 1983 one but I don't think has watched it all the way through yet (I believe she just got it on DVD).

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 06:06 PM

I wish there could be a Muppets version of Jane Eyre...

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 06:15 PM

I know what you mean, Scoville. Barbara sits there muttering and snarling when they mess around with the dialogue.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 06:39 PM

I am enjoying it and re-read Jane and Wuthering Heights every two years or so.

Did I imagine a scene where Helen is made to stand on the hated stool out in the rain? Her cough becomes pneumonia and so she dies.
Orson Welles is my favorite Rochester.

Interestingly enough Timothy Dalton is my favorite Heathcliff. Years ago he starred in a strange version of Heights and ran around through most of the movie in a stunning green velvet outfit that flattered his eyes. He looked positively demonic.

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 06:45 PM

Loved it, can't wait for Sunday's installment!

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: harpmolly
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 07:26 PM

I should add that I just watched the fire scene again on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwqYw--mNK4

and it seems quite a bit longer than the bit shown last Sunday night (I certainly don't remember that last bit...*fanning herself wildly*). Perhaps they abridged it slightly for Masterpiece Theatre, from the original version aired on the BBC?

Anyway...:)

M

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: GUEST,Scoville at Dad's
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 11:21 PM

Scratch that--Mom says her favorite is the 1973 one with Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston as Jane and Rochester, but it was a miniseries and is more complete than the feature-length ones.



Now I'm not going to be able to get the image of a Muppets version out of my head, though.

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Alice
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 11:25 PM

I was rivetted, too. I wanted to see the rest of it last weekend instead of waiting!

I read Jane Eyre for the first time was a girl and have re-read it more times than I can remember.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 01:42 AM

Well damn, I sent a post to this thread earlier, and it seems to have vanished. In it I agreed with Don, the Timothy Dalton version is best. I think it was a BBC/A&E production, though, broadcast on A&E in the U.S., not on PBS. Same with my favorite version of Pride and Prejudice, with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth--it was an A&E production.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: harpmolly
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 02:38 AM

Well, I enjoyed the second part, though not quite as much as the first. Ummm...I don't remember there being quite as much, er, shall we say, spooning? ;) in the novel, though. *grin* Not really complaining per se...

Any other opinions on Part 2?

M

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 09:17 AM

We enjoyed it, very much, but not as much as the first part. Seemed to be a lot of filler with scenery, but then I love that, too.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: New BBC Jane Eyre adaptation
From: Scrump
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 10:37 AM

Not another one! It doesn't seem long since the last adaptation of Jane Eyre. They keep on re-adapting the same small set of classic books (everything by Jane Austen, certain books by Dickens and the Brontes, etc.) when there must be loads of great books that have never been adapted for TV.