Jane Eyre (1944)

The “Way Too Short” Old version

I watched this with Judy in April of 2008.

I love Orson Welles, but I did not think he made a very good Rochester. I have appreciated Joan Fontaine in other films (Suspicion – which probably got her this part / Ivanhoe) but between the time given and her persona, she just did not make it as Jane. I think the time issue is the biggest deal here. You take a 500 page novel and reduce it to 97 minutes and you just have to cut way too much. Judy just kept saying, “Wow, they keep jumping,” all the way through the film. I would give it kudos for being so early in film making, but it just seemed way too cheap and short.

Recommendation: absolutely necessary for Jane Eyre lovers, but way too short – if you have to miss one, miss this one.

~ by u2isgr8 on October 29, 2009.