The third and most recent film made in the last 10 years based on Charlotte Brontë's classic Gothic romance, the 2006 edition of Jane Eyre—produced for Masterpiece Theatre—maintains fidelity to the source material but places added emphasis on the love story. Ruth Wilson plays the young governess who gradually falls in love with the brooding master of Thornfield Hall, Edward Fairfax Rochester (Toby Stephens). After rescuing him from a suspicious fire, Jane senses that Rochester is guarding some mysterious, dark secret. When her worst fears are confirmed, the penniless governess flees Thornfield, unaware that even more shocking revelations are in the offing. Although the production is just about flawless in terms of sets, costumes, lighting, photography, and other technical details, the stars don't share the chemistry as previous Jane-Rochester combos: Wilson is too pallid and Stephens too callow. Francesca Annis is perfectly cast—and does a fine job—as Lady Ingram; however, she can't offset the leads' relatively weak performances. But make no mistake: this version of the oft-filmed novel is no disaster, it's just a bit of a disappointment. A strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)
Jane Eyre
WGBH, 2 discs, 228 min., not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 22, Issue 3
Jane Eyre
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