Jane Eyre (1944)

Truly Dreadful Film

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Jane Eyre is one of my mom's favorite stories, second only to Great Expectations. Consequently, I've watched all the film versions. By far, the best adaptation is the 2007 version with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. If you love this story as much as my mom does, watch that version.If you're not particularly attached to Charlotte Bronte's words, and you like black-and-white romances, you could do much worse than watch the 1943 version of Jane Eyre. Joan Fontaine plays the title character, and while she's not particularly likable or compelling, she does know how to give a powerful speech. The famously unloved orphan takes a job as governess to Adele, played by young Margaret O'Brien, answering to the little girl's guardian, the brooding and mysterious Edward Rochester, played by Orson Welles. Orson Welles wore many hats in Hollywood, and while he created many film noirs during his time, I never really thought of his face as being particularly mysterious.All in all, it's not a bad movie, if you like similar old flicks like Rebecca or Laura. The famous love scene in which lightning strikes the tree is very fun to watch in this version. Also, the beginning of the film, during Jane's childhood, has some interesting scenes portraying the horrors of growing up in a girls' orphanage. A young Elizabeth Taylor plays Jane Eyre's friend Helen, and she definitely competes with Margaret O'Brien as the cutest kid in the film. This version is my second favorite adaptation, but again, I'd recommend the 2007 adaptation as the best.

Not bad, definitely a step up from 1934 but that's not saying much. I've heard good reviews for this one, so much so that for some this is the best version. I can see how they could see that and for the time period, absolutely. However, years later Jane Eyre has been adapted in ways that succeed this one for a number of reasons.Story wise, the first half was really well done. Elizabeth Taylor was a surprise, she played Helen. The second half took a good chunk of film time before Rochester even proposed so I kept wondering how it was going to fit everything left in. The answer was to keep all the scenes short and deviate the story when Jane leaves. Instead of going to the moors she goes to Gateshead, for the first time in years. I was told Mr. Rochester would come in and rescue her in the 1944 adaptation but was glad to see that wasn't true, she came back to him as written. Performances were both well done. Orson Welles isn't my favorite Rochester but did a decent job. For me, he was just too shadowy without being light-hearted enough. Joan was very good, even with the 1944 constraints she pulled it off to fit the best of both worlds, staying true to Jane's character with Hollywood acting thrown in.

Jane Eyre (1943) *** (out of 4)Good telling of the classic novel has the orphaned Jane Eyre (Joan Fontaine) finally escaping from a brutal school where she accepts a governess job for the mysterious Edward Rochester (Orson Welles). Once on the job Jane soon discovers that the mysteries surrounding Edward might come back to haunt both of them.JANE EYRE is an incredibly popular novel that has been turned into countless movies. While I certainly haven't seen them all, this here is considered by many experts to be one of the best versions out there. There's certainly a lot to like about this film thanks in large part to some nice direction, a terrific atmosphere and of course the legendary stars but the film is still far from perfect in a few other areas. With that said, fans of the novel or this period of Hollywood are still going to find this rewarding.Director Robert Stevenson does a pretty good job directing the film as he's able to bring some nice style as well as create a very good atmosphere. There are some fairly dark moments here that will almost remind people of what would follow in film noir but the darkness here is quite effective. The use of shadows inside the castle are also put to good use. I will say that I thought the flow of the story could have been handled better as it really did seem like a lot of stuff just happened way too fast. I say this because it just seemed the final third of the film was rushed including the ending, which is a tad bit forced. The screenplay's story structure could have also been handled better.With that said, the stars certainly shine here with Fontaine doing an excellent job in her role. I thought the actress fit the role perfectly and she also made you believe everything that this young woman was afraid of. I thought she played the scared victim quite well. As for Welles, he too comes across extremely good and especially the way he manages to be mysterious with just a few cracks of humanity, which of course is seen by Eyre. Margaret O'Brien is good in her supporting part as is John Sutton as a kind doctor and Henry Daniell as the religious nut. Peggy Ann Garner also deserves a special mention as she's terrific in the role of Eyre as a child.JANE EYRE certainly has a lot going for it even with the flaws that are scattered throughout. While the film is far from perfect, the atmosphere and the two leads make this worth watching.

After having unhappy childhood, a young governess employee in Thornfield Hall as governess to a young girl and falls in love with her brooding father, but their happiness is prevented by his mysterious past connect to who is residing in Thornfield tower.The movie is boring and consider to best version of Jane Eyre. Orson Welles did excellent job as brooding and arrogant Rochester. Joan Fontaine is all right as Jane Eyre (Fontaine is cute, but she has plain feature), most of the cast is okay, watch for Elizabeth Taylor as Jane's friend, Helen in orphanage/boarding school when she was a little girl.