Another Jane Eyre in pipeline

With Ciaran Hinds as Rochester Yeahhhh

(I don't know what happened to the text in my last mail ... here is it again!) I found the following the other day when I was doing my regular "Austen-surf". Another Jane Eyre in pipeline - what a feast! I don't believe a bit about the nonsense of CF being typecast if he does another costume-drama hero though. Colin has such an amazing ability to transform himself into whatever roles he plays. Nobody seems to worry about Kenneth Branagh becoming typecast with all those Shakespearan (sp?) roles ...Q: Can you tell me what English manor house was used as Pemberley in A&E's Pride and Prejudice? I think Colin Firth would make a great Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre. -M.C. Defiance, Ohio. A: Exteriors of Mr. Darcy's family estate were filmed at Lyme Park on the Cheshire-Derbyshire border in southwest England. Interiors were filmed at nearby Sudbury Hall. Firth would run the serious risk of becoming typecast by taking on another role such as Rochester. You can catch the actor later this season in a PBS adaptation of Joseph Conrad's Nostromo. A&E will be giving Jane Eyre its miniseries treatment next season, but Ciaran Hinds, who starred in the feature version of Jane Austen's Persuasion, will play Mr. Rochester. Samantha Morton, who has a featured role in A&E's upcoming Emma, will take the title role in that production.

Hinds could turn out to be the definitive Rochester. There hasn't been a great one yet, do you think? I like Dalton the best, but a new nice lush production will be heavenly. http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?%22Jane%20Eyre%22%20%281983%29%20%28mini%29 That is the link to the '83 Dalton version on the IMDB. Look at the bottom of the page where it tells about all the other versions, especially very very early ones. I wonder if there was some sort of Jane Eyre kick or revival happening in the early part of the century.

And to think I almost rented it last night. But I finally rented Enchanted April, was way too tired to watch. Did anyone catch Biography of the year Bill Gates??????

Which one did you almost rent Roar? Did not see the bio show, but Joan was giving some play-by-play in chat.

I have always preferred the Dalton version to the Welles (or the Hurt). I did like George C. Scott as Rochester, however, although I thought Susannah York was wrong for Jane. I look forward to Hinds. (How is it we have never mentioned the actress playing the title role? Hmmm)

I almost rented JE with Dalton. Everytime I go into the chat room noone is there. where's HC?????

I will meet in you there Roar. You having a slow day?

Did anyone catch Biography of the year Bill Gates?????? Yes - sort-of - with divided attention. :-) It was very well done - viewed him from every imaginable perspective - family members, peers, employees, competitors, financial analysts, etc. . Whatever opinion one may have of him and his ambitions, there is no doubt that he is a very interesting fellow!

Hinds in a new JE! I'm tremendously excited. Loved Persuasion with Amanda Root! I _am_ partial to the Dalton version; however!

Watched the Fontaine, Wells version of JE just this weekend on AMC; hadn't seen it in quite some time. I was always a fan of the Dalton, Clark version, but seeing Wells, who is not usually a favorite of mine, made me think that Tim hammed it up a wee bit too much. I much favored the understated delivery of Wells, much to my surprise.

I also loved the Wells version of JE, Wells melodrama was perfect. I haven't seen the Dalton, Clarke version but plan on renting it soon. I really disliked the version with William Hurt. Although the age difference between the two may be historically correct, every time he touched her it made me uncomfortable. Kept thinking "get your hand off her you old fart" Mich

I absolutely loved the version with Welles too but I love Ciarin Hinds in Persuasion so this should be quite a treat for me!

What is is about him, Pamela?

HI everyone! I love Ciarian Hinds, especially the piercing of the soul speech. Has anyone seen him in the Catherine Cookson melodrama, The Man Who Cried, where once again with Amanda Root?

And he will be with her again in the BBC thing about Turing.

Ciaran Hinds -- Another actor w/ "fine" eyes. There's such an intensity about him. I've enjoyed watching him in other parts, such as Circle of Friends, Hostages, even The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (a weird movie, IMO).

Intensity. Is that it? He is the type who would look you right square in the eye, isn't he?

This would be the what, fourth version of Jane Eyre produced? I don't know, but I always thought that Joan Fontaine looked like a deer caught in headlights henever she looked looked at Wells. Maybe it was just the lighting. Don't get me wrong, I like the movie, I just didn't like Fontaine. Just had to put in my half -cent.

Saw Hurt version the other night and did not like him as Rochester, too darned nlond ;-) Just kidding but he felt unnatural somehow. The actress playing Jane Charlotte ? was rather well cast I thought. Amanda Root was doing one of the school teachers there. Prefer Welles to this one not having seen Dalton yet.And Ciaran? Yes that could be something I am halfway through The man that cried...don't remember what interrupted me. Amanda had not shown up yet.

Ann, I agree with you about the Hurt version of Jane Eyre. Hurt was compleatly wrong as Mr Rochester and there was just too much missing from the book (among other things the whole story about Jane's cousins). But the money for renting the video was well spent anyway because of the location they had chosen for Thornfield. I spent a wonderful day with some of my dearest friends at Haddon Hall in Derbyshire and really enjoyed seeing it in this movie. Lookimg forward to see the CH version eventually and if i can beat the Dalton version.

I loved Hurt's Rochester. He was the saving grace of the film.

I agree that Hurt was not my favorite Rochester. That distinction actually belongs to George C. Scott, who was wonderful. Such a bummer that that version is not available on video. Timothy Dalton was also very good, though.

Susan: Timothy Dalton was also very good, though. Speaking of which, the Timothy Dalton version is our next Virtual View set to begin discussion on March 9. To Blockbuster ladies!

One stray thought: Why, if it is called Jane Eyre, do we identify versions of the films by the man who played Rochester? ;-)

You think of that Cheryl, intriguing n'este pas? So Hilary, you did not like Jane actress in that version? I think I missed something in the Rochester performance- no not the look- I can survive a movie without that quality..;-) Maybe I must rent it once more if you found it good. I can not find Dalton version. Is it available in Lund(Or is it G�teborg?) Elisabeth ?

I just watched the TD version of Jane Eyre, for the first time in at least 9 years. I loved it! They were so good. Both TD and ZC were perfect for their roles. And I must say, though some will say it is sacrilege, TD bares more than a passing resemblence in looks and countenance to our dear CF!

TD version Not Available!! near here Charlotte Gainsbourg is the daughter of singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg and English actress Jane Birkin. She was pretty good as Jane opposite Hurt's Rochester. Her english accent sounded (to me at least) rather on the nose. Here's a great link dedicated to her and the film Belles de jour, with other links to Jane Eyre, her dad and some more goodies : http://www.netlink.co.uk/users/michael/gnsbourg.html

Thanks Johanne! I grew quite fond of her Jane Eyre, she had integrity and an interesting face.

Poor Bernie. We hounded her so mercilessly she felt she had to dash off a stop gap review to keep us happy, even though she is under a pile of work and trying to get out of town for the week. Thank her when she gets back, would you? I promised a review of the recent ITV/A&E production of "Jane Eyre", which I saw recently. Unfortunately, I've been very busy, but I'll compromise by writing this mini­review now and a much fuller one at a later date. It is a two hour adaptation, but I think you'll enjoy it.The story is abridged in places - the Lowood school years are severely condensed and the whole of the stay with St.John Rivers and sister is pruned. The main part of the story remains fairly faithful to the book. I don't think the missing bits detract from the story too much :-) I think both Samantha Morton as Jane and Ciaran Hinds as Rochester played their respective roles superbly. Ciaran Hinds played Rochester with much passion. I think he is convincing as Rochester. My only gripe really is that it was only 2 hours long !! For all die hard Ciaran Hinds fanatics, I would say this is a must see :-) Hope that helps a little. More to follow ...

Bernie -- I know you won't be able to read this for a while, but thanks very much. I am looking forward to seeing this JE even more. I appreciate your taking the time to keep us up to date! (Hope your workload eases up a bit.)

Bernie...thank-you for the review. I just didn't know how I was going to wait until the fall. I'm anxious to read your more complete review. Only 2 hours...what a disappointment. There must have been other sections just chopped to pieces. Was the gypsy in or out? What about the scene in the garden? What about the end? Was it all globbed together like the Hurt version? OK, now here's the big question... In your opinion, which version is better...Ciaran Hinds or Timothy Dalton? Thanks again!

Bernie, thanks so much -- it was a great effort not to press you in chat, but please give us more as soon as humanly possible!

Oh now I feel guilty, for I was one of those pushy interrogators...:-(

No, Cheryl, surely not ;-)

But Cheryl, occasionally the whiners have it...