Jane Eyre [DVD]

Well, here's another BBC classic from the 1970s. The stars were favourable indeed during that period, and gave us high quality drama that can hold its head up proudly more than three decades on.

I don't want a 'celebrity' cast for my classics, I want good quality - and the likes of Michael Jayston, Sorcha Cusack, and the delightful Megs Jenkins were and are among the very best in telly drama circles.

Who cares if the 'Jane Eyre' made in 1973 looks 'slightly old-fashioned' ? And anyway, what is meant by 'old-fashioned'? Is it that actors can speak properly ? Is it that the actors know how to wear their clothes properly, and how to move in them ? Is it that the script is allowed to use the dialogue in the original novel - and to let a scene develop for longer than thirty seconds ? If the answer is yes to any of these, then give me a 'slightly old-fashioned' effort any time. It serves the drama so much better.

I am also not really interested in the obsession with location filming that so often intrudes upon the telling of the story in favour of a bit of fast-cutting technology and a range of mountains. Yet again, it must be said that television drama (especially studio-based drama) is first and foremost electronic theatre, not poor man's cinema. And there is nothing at all wrong with that!

Why snipe at sets built in a studio ? They are what they are, well-built and well-lit - and none the worse for that. (The snipers would never take pot-shots at the feature-film equivalent, also constructed in a studio, probably because the mystique surrounding the film industry is so much greater; the craftsmanship in television is the same - it's only the lighting that's necessarily different to suit multi-camera shooting.) All right, the cups and saucers are the wrong period at one point, but ...

'Jane Eyre' is one of the delights still to be found in the BBC's catalogue. Sorcha Cusack as the plain mousy-quiet Jane is perfect casting - not pretty, but lovely in an enigmatic sort of way, and you can believe utterly that Mr Rochester finds her intriguing enough to fall in love with.

She for her part could not fail to be equally attracted to the moody, brooding, often tetchy Rochester, as played by Michael Jayston. He smoulders beautifully, and the two of them are a superb double-act. (Their bickering banter from the moment they meet is often very funny - not something one expects to find in a Bronte novel - and it is good that these scenes are allowed to develop and to speak for themselves. I wish someone had told me to find the laughs in the novel when I had to 'do it' at school.)

There is an excellent supporting cast of nice people and nasty people - as indeed you might expect - and there's plenty of doom and gloom (along with some spine-chilling shrieks and jabberings in the dark) to add the necessary dash of melodrama to this delightful love-story.

This is another must-have for vintage drama fans - or for anyone wanting a thoroughly enjoyable and often touching version of this Bronte classic. As with most of these superb older productions, it knocks spots off later attempts to enshrine Jane Eyre upon the small screen.

Ha! I've finally found the definitive version of Jane Eyre. After watching quite a few really awful versions, I have to say this is the one that does it for me. Admittedly slighly dated looking at times, but wow, wow, wow it's got everything! The very lines of the book are brought alive by the 2 fine main actors, and at last, a Rochester who isn't drop dead gorgeous but really works at the part he is portraying and has real charisma, style, wit, the lot. Don't be put off by the age of the production, it is still wonderful!

As to the reviewers who gave 5 stars. This is the BEST and purest version of "Jane Eyre". Not only because of its perfect literally transcription - because of its marvelous actors! From the very beginning I was thrilled - and with Michael Jayston's entrance on the screen (as the best Rochester ever !!) the whole thing becomes breathtaking. His acting is brilliant. His Rochester is harsh, sardonic, cynical, mysterious, beaten from life and his heart is full love and tenderness. This is how we love our Edward Rochester. His performance is very next to the book.- And Jayston plays it all - without cheap tricks and seeking after effects. And through his acting I finally really understand ,why Jane is Rochester's equal, his likeness, his second self and WHY he is so absolutly desparate when they split. Jayston needs no pomp in acting, setting and musical support. He only uses his eyes and his wonderful voice to transport this wonderful story with all its hided feelings.
But don't forget Sorcha Cusack (daughter of the famous Cyril Cusack). Although often critizised -for me she is a perfect Jane Eyre: not a poor thing ("Hascherl" in AustroGerman!), but self-confident,eloquent, reserved, faithful, with a full heart. The perfect "counterpart" to Edward Rochester - on their search for love, comfort and care.
I like almost all of the other "Jane Eyre" Versions, especially the 2006-Toby-Stephens one. Every has its benefits and it is interesting HOW they tell (and develop) this immortal story.
But this "Jane Eyre" from 1973 is the ultimate BEST : clear, pure, without useless ornaments and shallow emotions.
With every viewing it gets better and better and better...