Of the numerous screen adaptations of Charlotte's Brontë's 1847 classic novel, this five-part 1973 BBC series can be especially praised for both its faithfulness to the book and solid lead performances. Robin Chapman's script features great reams of narration from the title character that is drawn directly from Jane Eyre, as is much of the dialogue spoken by the titular plain but intelligent orphan girl who as a young woman takes the position of governess at the English country estate of brusque but sensitive Edward Rochester. The resulting wordiness could have made for fairly dreary going if the material hadn't been in the hands of such committed actors as Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston—both leads recite their lines with an aplomb that brings the unlikely couple to life, while the rest of the cast offers solid support. Unfortunately, the sets andcostumes, while perfectly fine for the standards of 30-odd years ago, look a bit dowdy today, and the outdoor sequences lack the lush cinematography of more recent BBC films (the DVD transfer, moreover, lacks crispness, with some images a bit dark and blurred). Still, the high quality of the adaptation and acting make this one of the better filmed versions of Jane Eyre on the market. DVD extras include a text bio of Brontë and cast filmographies. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
Jane Eyre
Acorn, 2 discs, 248 min., not rated, DVD: $39.99 Volume 21, Issue 5
Jane Eyre
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