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@jbrewitttaylor Ok! Jane Eyre adaptation research complete after 6 versions (there are many more, but I have to take my life back). Some thoughts:
2011 Mia & Michael. Beautiful cinematography. The psychological slickness we expect of contemporary film making. Best job of the feature length ones to incorporate the 3 phases of her life: Gateshead/Lowood, Thornfield, The Rivers' house. Dench is a scene-stealing Mrs Fairfax.
2006 Ruth & Toby. Oh my days, the chemistry is off the charts! And finally some "plain" casting! Rochester's reform is the loveliest. St. John storyline is executed brilliantly. Miniseries, so has the advantage of including everything.
1997 Samantha & Ciaran. He was woeful - too shouty, no charm (It wounds me to criticise the perfect Wentworth). Best captured the shocking nature of Adele's backstory and Rochester's wild European romp. Best creepy Bertha visitation to Jane's room.
1996 Charlotte & William. Room temperature performances, fine but interpretations of their characters were a bit "meh". Loads on Lowood, but sacrifices the Rivers family completely, which I can't abide. Bizarre casting of Elle "I can't do accents" McPherson as Blanche Ingram.
1983 Zelah and Timothy. T's performance is positively volcanic! So good!!! But he's playing against a wooden board so engagement and final reunion fall completely flat. As regards comment below: Don't worry Zelah, this Jane will be forever remembered as the most dreadful one.
1943 Joan & Orson. Just all wrong, but so wrong I came to love all the stuff I would normally hate. Rochester's baby face. Hilarious "Victorian" gothic set. A Golden Age Hollywood style beauty calling herself "plain".... Yes, Jane. Hideous.
Additonal info: I have been to Haddon Hall which is the Thornfield location in three of them, so it biases me toward them.
Final ranking:
1) 2006
2) 2011
3) 1983
4) 1996
5) 1943
6) 1997
1) 2006
2) 2011
3) 1983
4) 1996
5) 1943
6) 1997
Last comment: the scenes where he asks her stay in both 2006 & 2011 are exquisite. Beautiful in their own ways, but both kind of theologically interesting, I think. Wonderful, wonderful!!
