{"id":15406,"date":"2011-01-27T21:32:12","date_gmt":"2011-01-28T04:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=15406"},"modified":"2022-02-20T18:42:31","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T01:42:31","slug":"jane-eyre-1943","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=15406","title":{"rendered":"Jane Eyre (1943)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Your duty is to prepare yourself to do God&#8217;s work in the world.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Poster-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-15407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Poster-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Poster.jpg 263w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nOrphaned Jane Eyre (Joan Fontaine) accepts a position as a governess for a domineering father (Orson Welles) with a tragic secret, and soon finds herself falling in love with him.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Agnes Moorehead Films<\/li>\n<li>Cross-Class Romance<\/li>\n<li>Elizabeth Taylor Films<\/li>\n<li>Governesses and Nannies<\/li>\n<li>Henry Daniell Films<\/li>\n<li>Joan Fontaine Films<\/li>\n<li>Margaret O&#8217;Brien Films<\/li>\n<li>Orphans<\/li>\n<li>Orson Welles Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nGeorge Stevenson&#8217;s adaptation of Charlotte Bronte&#8217;s classic gothic novel is a highly atmospheric, if ultimately undistinguished, literary drama. As a number of critics have noted, the most powerful moments occur during the film&#8217;s opening sequences, as young Jane (Peggy Anne Garner, perfectly cast):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner-1024x629.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"393\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner-1024x629.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner-768x472.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner-1536x943.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner-440x270.png 440w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Garner.png 1669w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>is sent away by her forbidding aunt (Agnes Moorehead, also perfectly cast):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead-1024x618.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"386\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead-1024x618.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead-768x463.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead-1536x927.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead-448x270.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Moorehead.png 1689w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>to live in a boarding school, where she&#8217;s cruelly mistreated by its brutal headmaster (Henry Daniell):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell-1024x619.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"387\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56564\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell-1024x619.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell-768x464.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell-1536x928.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell-447x270.png 447w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Daniell.png 1673w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; yet manages to form a fleeting friendship with tragic Helen Burns (a young, beautiful, uncredited Elizabeth Taylor). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor-1024x603.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"377\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor-1024x603.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor-128x75.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor-768x453.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor-1536x905.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor-458x270.png 458w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Taylor.png 1709w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the second half of the film isn&#8217;t as convincing or compelling. While not all agree, Joan Fontaine&#8217;s grown Jane simply didn&#8217;t impress me as the &#8220;fiercely independent&#8221; heroine Bronte wrote her to be. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3-1024x622.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"389\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3-1024x622.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3-768x466.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3-1536x933.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3-445x270.png 445w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Fontaine3.png 1675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Fontaine spends most of her screentime looking plaintively at &#8220;fearsome&#8221; Mr. Rochester (Orson Welles) &#8212; who, for his part, never quite manages to shed his own out-sized, Wellesian persona. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles-1024x626.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"391\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56566\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles-1024x626.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles-768x469.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles-1536x939.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles-442x270.png 442w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Welles.png 1671w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>(When Rochester bellows at the world, it&#8217;s Welles-as-Rochester making his presence known). Their budding relationship does gradually pull one in, but never really emerges as anything more complex than a schoolgirl crush made manifest. Meanwhile, the critical &#8220;subplot&#8221; concerning the mysterious woman locked away in Rochester&#8217;s home is given surprisingly short shrift, and is resolved far too quickly:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman-1024x674.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"421\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman-1024x674.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman-128x84.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman-768x505.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman-410x270.png 410w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Woman.png 1537w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and the inevitable compression of the rest of the novel&#8217;s events towards the final half hour of the film presents another challenge for viewers hoping to feel more invested in Jane&#8217;s fate. <\/p>\n<p>With all those complaints aired (my, how hard we are on literary adaptations!), this remains solid filmmaking, with George Barnes&#8217; moody camerawork particularly striking throughout. As noted in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.slantmagazine.com\/film\/review\/jane-eyre\/2864\">Slant Magazine&#8217;s review<\/a>, in a nutshell, this is &#8220;a well-constructed piece of studio work&#8221; &#8212; and overall, it&#8217;s certainly worth a look, particularly given its historical interest as an early &#8220;Orson Welles film&#8221;. (While he didn&#8217;t officially direct, he undeniably had a hand in the production). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The opening childhood sequences<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography-1024x631.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"394\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography-1024x631.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography-1536x946.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography-438x270.png 438w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography.png 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>George Barnes&#8217; atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2-1024x660.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"413\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-56571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2-1024x660.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2-128x83.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2-768x495.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2-1536x990.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2-419x270.png 419w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Jane-Eyre-Cinematography2.png 1571w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Bernard Herrmann&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s certainly worth checking out. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0036969\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1944\/02\/04\/archives\/the-screen-jane-eyre-a-somber-version-of-the-bronte-novel-with-joan.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.slantmagazine.com\/film\/review\/jane-eyre\/2864\">Slant Magazine Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2285jane.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/jane-eyre-4\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Your duty is to prepare yourself to do God&#8217;s work in the world.&#8221; Synopsis: Orphaned Jane Eyre (Joan Fontaine) accepts a position as a governess for a domineering father (Orson Welles) with a tragic secret, and soon finds herself falling in love with him. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Agnes Moorehead Films Cross-Class Romance Elizabeth Taylor Films Governesses and Nannies Henry Daniell Films Joan Fontaine Films Margaret O&#8217;Brien Films Orphans Orson Welles Films Review: George Stevenson&#8217;s adaptation of Charlotte Bronte&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=15406\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15406"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81456,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15406\/revisions\/81456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}