The Enthusiast's Guide is only meant as an overview, and is full of my own opinions. Many fans can be found for each version and their opinions are respected. My main requirement for each new adaptation is that it remain faithful to the novel,which is not asking much since you are calling it Jane Eyre. I do believe that if you just stick to the novel you can't go wrong since it is an enduring and timeless story. However, most adaptations seem to re-interpret Jane Eyre with the present generation in mind, and so I usually must keep my sense of humour when watching each adaptation. I encourage you to keep yours, especially if I (personally!) don't happen to think highly of your favourite adaptation. Anyways, for the most part I do enjoy each adaptation because there is always something new to see, and I don't want to dissuade anyone from seeing any versions.
Jane Eyre 1934
Virginia Bruce and Colin Clive
Have you ever thought Jane Eyre was too sad? Or that it would be so much better if Rochester would just give Adele a puppy? Than this one is for you. It turns the story into cute romantic fluff, with Clive!Rochester falling over himself to please Jane. Adele just falls over generally- into vases and while running around.
Jane Eyre 1944
Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles
Very moody and atmospheric, relying heavily on the novel's gothic themes. Fontaine's Jane is rather more a damsel in distress with Welles' acting a very intense (look into his eyes... if you dare!) Rochester. Script-wise it does a good job condensing the novel and as just a movie, it is very well done. As an adaptation, it doesn't bring out all facets of the novel
Jane Eyre 1949
Mary Sinclair and Charlton Heston
One hour TV drama shown on the American series "Studio One". Rather a pedestrian turn with it being neither good nor very bad giving allowances for the American accents, and the focus of the story on Jane and Rochester.
Jane Eyre 1952
Katharine Bard and Kevin McCarthy
Another version turned out by "Studio One" with a very similar script to the 1949 version. The little scene of Jane leaving Lowood (and telling off Miss Scatcherd) that is in the 1949 version is cut here. Kevin McCarthy also makes Rochester a bit nicer than Heston. And Katharine Bard... well, she's blonde.
Jane Eyre 1957
Joan Elam and Patrick MacNee
Another one hour television production, this time turned out by Matinee Theater. Jane is very ethereal, not caring much when Rochester tries to grope and kiss her during the second interview and mostly interested in the man behind the actions. Jane's dialogue can also become rather grandiloquent and ... annoying.
Jane Eyre 1970
Susannah York and George C. Scott
The landscapes and the music in this series are beautiful, but the main actors give a rather flat performance. Scott especially so. And maybe if the acting was better, this would have masked the fact that the actors were really too old.
Jane Eyre 1973
Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston
A BBC miniseries, which is, in my humble opinion, the very best adaptation of this novel. Cusack presents a very credible, layered Jane, and Jayston is superb in bringing out all the aspects of Rochester's complicated character. The script is the closest to the novel with little added scenes and whole chunks of dialogue lifted from the book. Absolutely outstanding.
Jane Eyre 1983
Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton
Another BBC miniseries which fails to capture the novel so precisely as the previous 1973 version, but does a very good job. Zelah Clarke gives a good though not too passionate performance, and though Dalton can be too theatrical sometimes, he presents a credible Rochester.
Jane Eyre 1996
Charlotte Gainsbourg and William Hurt
Beautiful cinematography and music, though the overall tone of the film is melancholy. There isn't much passion and humour brought out in Jane or Rochester.
Jane Eyre 1997
Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds
This production is marred by a terrible script and a terrible interpretation of Rochester by Hinds. The beauty of Charlotte's prose is taken out of the dialogue, and often the characters sound cliched and trite. Hinds seems to consider Rochester a "very very very very angry man" and doesn't try to see much beyond that.
Jane Eyre 2006
Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens
Beautiful cinematography and music are featured in this BBC miniseries and Ruth Wilson makes a really fantastic Jane- presenting her many emotions in a believable and subtle way. Toby Stephens is not quite the Rochester of the novel, he's more of a charming "rake" and his absolute love for Jane is not as apparent as his absolute love for tail. A thoroughly modern interpretation, sensationalzing the novel and turning it into more of a Gothic/Harlequin romance.
Jane Eyre the Musical
Marla Schaffel and James Barbour
This is the Paul Gordon/John Caird musical that went to Broadway in 2000/2001. Though not not exactly like the novel, to my mind, it captures the spirit exactly and the fact that many of the songs contains Charlotte's prose is commendable. Schaffel is an engaging Jane, while Barbour gives a more layered performance than many of the actors to play Rochester in film versions.
Sangdil 1952
Madhubala and Dilip Kumar
An Indian film released in 1952. Whether or not this film is an adaptation of the novel is perhaps debatable. The setting is completely changed to India and there are changes to the story reflecting Indian culture. Yet, the basic story of Jane Eyre is there and many scenes are taken from the novel- notably the Gypsy scene (with Shakur impersonating a male astrologer) In my opinion this is a very enjoyable representation of the novel. Kamal is played with a strong moral sense, shyness and innocence. Shankar is admirably played with much angst and playfulness.
Jana Eyrová 1972
Marta Vancurová and Jan Kačer
A dear friend was able to find this rather obscure adaptation made in 1972 Czechoslovakia. The copy she found is in Czech with no subtitles, so I can't understand a word of it. However, I will comment on the overall tone that I received from the four hour adaptation- melancholy and artsy (perhaps reflective of a low budget). Not as much passion to certain scenes as one would expect, but I did enjoy this adaptation and they did a good job with condensing the material. Except for the Lowood portion of the story, which they cut out.
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Illustration of Jane Eyre by Robert Lauer
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