Okay, I'm gonna start by saying I'm in my early 40s and read Jane Eyre when I was a teenager, so I was only familiar with the plot, basically. SO, when I saw my first version, which was the one that aired recently on A&E, I was spell-bound. Ciaran Hinds I thought was wonderful . . . a truly passionate Mr. Rochester. Who cares if he went over the top. That's what a really passionate man does . . . I thought he was a wonderful choice, as Mr. Rochester is not supposed to be a handsome man, and felt t e TD one would neglect to emphasize that point. SO, I went out and bought the TD version, after reading the kudos from this and other boards . . . Okay okay . . . Timothy Dalton is wonderful . . . no question, especially considering the style the adaptation was made in . . . very staid, very British. But is he too handsome to play Mr. Rochester, who after all, was not supposed to be so. But he really charged my battery!! The one thing that bothered me throughout the production was their BIG size difference. Is he really THAT tall? or was she eally THAT short? I kept wanting to put her on a stool whenever they were kissing or hugging. Her neck must have hurt for weeks!! : )) Her acting was too subtle for me and alas, she was too old. So, I went out and rented William Hurt/Charlotte ______ last night. Such a different production that the other two, but I found I really enjoyed parts of it . . . especially the midnight proposal scene . . . that kiss is to die for . . . he can seduce me anytime. I found she was my favorite Jane . . . I felt the director hadn't tied her hands and didn't keep saying "less emotion! less emotion!" The other Janes just couldn't put any emotion on their face and it drove me nuts . . . What I was REALLY disappointed in was the ending. Where's the passion! I was expecting a BIG payoff at the end since they had teased us with little contact throughout the film, but alas, we don't even know if SHE knows his wife is dead!!! But it was beautiful and look forward to viewing it again tonight! Also, Joan Plowwright was a treasure and really added much to the whole ambience of the film. So, I must favor the A&E adaptation because of the passion, but love TD too! Well, there it is . . . I know I'm not in the majority . . . be kind to me! Will be going out and find a used copy of the novel to enjoy the original!! Thanks!

Wouldn't it be great if we could patch together all the good bits from all these versions and make the ultimate Jane Eyre movie? About Timothy Dalton being so tall next to Zelah Clarke, in the book Rochester often comments on how small Jane is. And this version is the only one I noticed where Rochester calls her "Janet" as an endearment. I must say, I seriously considered Janet as a name choice when we had our first baby due to the way TD said it. I've been meaning to get a hold of "Wuthering Heights" with TD, and the Ralph Fiennes version, too. I just haven't spent much time in front of the TV lately -- just in front of my computer monitor!! And reading my Brontes! I haven't read "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" before, and I guess I need to put that on my list, but I've got four books going right now, and three are from the library and therefore have "deadlines." And a 3-year-old and an 11-month-old with ear infections! TV is at the bottom of the list of things to do! At least we have a nice assortment of interpretations to choose from when we need a Bronte fix on the screen! Take care! Melissa

As most of you probably know, I really couldn't stand the recent A&E adaptation. I recognized about three lines of original dialogue from Charlotte Bronte -- that's it. Thought that Hinds was way over the top & probably hadn't read the book to begin with. I was so disappointed that I couldn't make it much past the Lowood scenes. Calling this thing "Charlotte Bronte's JE" is the misnomer of the year, IMHO.

My favourite version is the Hurt-Gainsbourgh movie. Despite the fact that the story does not follow the book, this is the only film imho, which captures the atmosphere, the true spirit, of Jane Eyre... This film differs from the other movies, because the story is told in a silent, subtle way... Hurt portrays Rochester the way I see him: as a deeply wounded yet gentle soul... and Gainsbourgh�s introvert, down-to-earth Jane is very convincing, too.... they tell the story with much passion and heart, but -thank goodness- without being *theatrical* (like Hinds-Morton)! The only other actor who is capable of portraying Rochester, too, is Alan Rickman.... the way he portrayed Col. Brandon in "Sense And Sensibility" took my breath away... he�d be the perfect Rochester! What a pity that he has not yet portrayed him.... Hope dies last! :-) bye:-), Miss Eyre

How many JE Film Adaptations have there been? Is there a list anywhere?

Here�s the list (not in chronological order): (source: Internet Movie Data Base) bye:-), Miss Eyre

oh dear, I forgot how to write html LOL... second try: Internet Movie Data Base`s List bye:-), Miss Eyre

What an incredible list. Do you have copies of all these versions in your own tape library? Amazing.

Just look at this 1944 rendition from the IMDB: Plot Summary: Small, plain and poor, Jane Eyre comes to Thornfield Hall as governess to the young ward of Edward Rochester... (more) User Comments: a brooding,windswept moors-type film (more) User Rating: 7.6/10 (1,344 votes) Complete credited cast: Orson Welles .... Edward Rochester Joan Fontaine .... Jane Eyre Margaret O'Brien .... Adele Varens Peggy Ann Garner .... Jane Eyre (younger) John Sutton .... Dr. Rivers Sara Allgood .... Bessie Henry Daniell .... Henry Brocklehurst Agnes Moorehead .... Mrs. Reed Aubrey Mather .... Colonel Dent Edith Barrett .... Mrs. Fairfax Barbara Everest .... Lady Ingram Hillary Brooke .... Blanche Ingram (more)

Wow, 1944. I've heard of Joan Fontaine, Agnes Moorehead, and of course Orson Wells. This had to be in black and white.

I own a copy of the Hurt version, and the Jayston version.... had the Hinds version on video-tape, but deleted it in my rage over their acting :-)... saw the Dalton version twice, this one was better... Orson Welles gives me the creeps since "The Third Man" LOL, have not yet dared to see his portrayal of Rochester... the George C Scott/ Susannah York version seems to be interesting, this is the one I�d like to see next... BTW, do you know that a new version of Jane Eyre is in planning?! starring Ruth Wilson as Jane and Toby Stephens as Rochester: article: Ruth as Jane an interview with Toby Stephens bye:-), Miss Eyre

Ruth Wilson looks stunning. I haven't heard of Toby Stephens, is this a good choice? This was another interesting blog entry from the same site: Rumour has it that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp have been lined up to play Cathy and Heathcliff in a new movie version of Wuthering Heights. We'll keep our ears open......

Yes, she`s beautiful :-) and fresh from drama school. I don`t know Stephen`s work, either... lets wait and see :-) oh dear, I hope it`s just a rumour... what an odd couple it would be! :-)... the only positive thing I see here is that Jolie might inspire the MTV generation to read some good old literature again! bye:-). Miss Eyre

What are the personality traits of the Cathy and Heathcliff characters and how do they match up with those of Depp and Jolie.

hmm, difficult question... Cathy: manipulative, mistaking power/control for love, stubborn, spoilt. Heathcliff: trouble letting go of the past, revengeful; outsider, wounded soul. I know these actors just from Yellow Press - newspaper articles and we all know these "journalists" are more or less story-tellers :-)... In Jolie`s case: taking another woman`s husband suits the manipulatory aspect of Cathy`s character, I dare say LOL! Johnny Depp is a quirky sort of guy, looking for the unusual. He`s very well familiar with the gothic genre when you think of his collaboration with director Jim Burton in "Edward Sissorhands" or "Sleepy Hollow". A self-destroying personality he`s got (drugs, destructive relationships prior to his relationship with Paradis, vandalism) - there are traces of Heathcliff in Depp, I believe.... Well, these are just my general assumptions based on (more or less reliable) sources. This is OT: well, you know who comes to my mind when I think of Cathy? Scarlett O`Hara - the same type of woman, the difference is that Cathy *believed* that she loved Heathcliff, whereas Scarlett was more aware of her manipulative personality. Both men wasted their time, but Rhett Butler finally woke up one fine day, simply leaving her! "Gone With The Wind" is praised as one of the greatest love stories, but in fact, it�s a complete farce. bye:-), Miss Eyre.

Great analysis. What about Jolie's humanitarianism that somewhat counterbalances husband snatching, if that indeed is what is going on.

Angelina Jolie is doing a tremendous job working on behalf of orphans and displaced people worldwide, and she's got Brad Pitt helping her now. from abcnews.com (snip) Sept. 13, 2005 � The spotlight is nothing new to Angelina Jolie. Now, the tabloid favorite is working to deflect the attention that follows her every move to a part of the world that is often forgotten � Africa. "Africa is beautiful, marvelous, smart people, strong people, strong country and has a potential to be so much," Jolie told "Good Morning America" in advance of the release of a new MTV documentary chronicling her trip to a village in Kenya with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs of the U.N. Millennium Project. "I'd love to see Africa flourish because I think it would just � It's magnificent and it has so much hope, so much possibility." (snip)

No, it does not counterbalance it - you simply don`t take another woman`s husband! A man who leaves his wife for another woman is a no-good anyway, for it`s very likely he`ll leave the other woman, too: sooner or later, with or without kids! But her engagement for Africa shows that she is not completely spoilt :-). bye:-), Miss Eyre

I have no idea what the backstory is on Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Anniston. If I read the tabloids I would know more, or less.

Hello, I'm totally new to this forum. I've been searching for the Jane Eyre movie that stars Hinds & Morton. Could somebody please please help me find a free download of this video. Thanks

Hi, could somebody please tell me where I could find a free Jane Eyre download. I prefer the one with Samantha Morton & Ciaran Hinds. Please email me at sugarstuart@hotmail.com

Hi lsd/Sugar, I don�t know where you can get it. Miss Eyre.