I’ve been rewatching adaptions of Charlotte Brontë’s most famous novel so I could give each of the major ones more of a review. Jane Eyre (1997) was originally released on ITV in the U.K. and on A&E in the U.S, and it’s pretty easy to find this one on streaming right now (check out JustWatch.com or the widget at the bottom of this post). At 108 minutes, it’s not quite long enough to cover the story in detail, but this flick does cover the main points well.
Samantha Morton was around 20 when she played the title role, so appropriately young, while Ciarán Hinds was in his 40s, which is what the book says Rochester should be. She manages to show a mix of strength, nerves, curiosity, principles, all the complexities that the character requires, while Hinds glowers over. He’s an appealingly broken Rochester, beaten down by life’s complications, but also mercurial with a dangerous edge. The dialog includes some of the novel’s text, and the two actors have great chemistry. Their sparring is enjoyable to watch!
Which is good because it’s the only spark in this visually drab production, alas. The settings are dark and gloomy, more than they really need to be even for a Brontë story, and the costumes by Susannah Buxton are generally grey and colorless. Jane Eyre is plain, but she’s not described as drab and dull. Rochester is a gentleman, and while his personality is brooding, he’s no black-clad emo kid. This all really emphasizes why the period can be the death of fashion! While this one is excellent to watch for the acting, it’s boring for the costumes. I guess this is one to watch while sewing or doing the dishes.
Have you watched this version of Jane Eyre?
Find this frock flick at:
When I read Jane Eyre, Hinds and Morton are the closest to what I envision in my head. Thus I have a bit of a soft spot for this version.
This was the first rendition of Jane Eyre I watched. My dad bought me a double-VHS set of Emma (with Kate Beckinsale) and Jane Eyre at Costco in like 1997/98, because it seemed like something I would like, and he was not wrong. I cannot for the life of me even see the slightest difference in Jane’s sleeves in the gray dresses you mention–they look exactly the same.
I have that set in DVD. The Hinds-Morton “Jane” is my favorite ever: beautifully acted, well written, etc., although I wish it could have been longer; financing difficulties? (Which might account for the drab/minimal costuming.) Also, why is Blanche so often blond? Bronte describes her as very dark.
I remember Cirian does an awful lot of “barking” in this version (yelling at Jane all the time).