And no one could possibly have believed the glamorous Ms. And as befit that studio the budget for the project was pretty anemic. I had previously reviewed a 1934 version that starred Virginia Bruce and Colin Clive had done for Monogram. I count 22 versions on the Internet Movie Database, but this one starring Joan Fontaine as plain Jane Eyre and Orson Welles as the brooding Rochester is probably the best known. 9/10 Bethany CoxĬharlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is certainly one popular item for adaption to the big screen and small. Overall, I loved this film and adaptation. Agnes Moorhead, Hilary Brooke and Elizabeth Taylor give superb performances even if their performances are brief, Henry Daniell is appropriately icy which makes his and Jane's conflict even the more interesting, Peggy Ann Garner is a very believable young Jane and Margaret O'Brien is cute. Orson Welles's Rochester is brooding and boisterous though I do understand why some may find that he overdoes it, I personally think he is more subtle than some of his other performances, and Joan Fontaine is a delicate, dignified and attractive(if slightly wan) Jane. The dialogue is suitably literate and intelligent, and Stevenson directs imaginatively as he always did.
Charlotte Bronte's story is so timeless, and I liked the passion the film exuded, how well-measured the pace was and the conflict between Jane and Brocklehurst was kept intact. On its own terms it excels even more, particularly in the beautiful production values, the crisp black and white cinematography helps convey a genuine atmosphere, and Bernard Hermann's haunting score, his second best of the 40s after The Ghost and Mrs Muir. The book is so wonderful, and I think this is a solid enough adaptation of it. That said, I had no problem with everything else. I do agree about the last 3 lines of the film hinting at a happier denouncement, which will have divided some people, I would have preferred it personally if they had maintained the "grimmer" tone of the book. But I do prefer this 1943 film to the 1970 version which was compensated by the production values, the score and the performances but could've done with more conflict(particularly between Jane and Brocklehurst) and a better VHS/DVD transfer, the 1997 version which had a great cast on paper but too short, too rushed and under-characterised and the Zeffirelli film which had its moments such as the way it was made but dull.
Is it the best adaptation overall? No not for me, the 19 versions just beat it. I think of the film adaptations of Jane Eyre, this film is the best one.