Jane Eyre (TV 1970)

Jane Eyre is an orphan, sent to Lowood school, and eventually becomes a governess at Thornfield hall to a girl named Adele. While she is there, many strange things happen and eventually she... See full summary »

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

Jack Pulman (screenplay), Charlotte Brontë (novel)

Stars:

George C. Scott, Susannah York, Ian Bannen

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George C. Scott	...	Edward Rochester
Susannah York	...	Jane Eyre
Ian Bannen	...	St. John Rivers
Jack Hawkins	...	Mr. Brocklehurst
Nyree Dawn Porter	...	Blanche Ingram
Rachel Kempson	...	Mrs. Fairfax
Kenneth Griffith	...	Mason
Peter Copley	...	John
Clive Morton	...	Mr. Eshton
Fanny Rowe	...	Mrs. Eshton
Susan Lawe	...	Amy
Angharad Rees	...	Louise
Carl Bernard	...	Lord Ingram
Nan Munro	...	Lady Ingram
Hugh Latimer	...	Colonel Dent

Storyline

Jane Eyre is an orphan, sent to Lowood school, and eventually becomes a governess at Thornfield hall to a girl named Adele. While she is there, many strange things happen and eventually she and Edward Rochester, owner of Thornfeild and Adele's guardian, fall in love. Suddenly, when Jane is about to win the happiness she deserves, a dark secret comes to light, and it will take all of her courage, love and understanding to triumph.

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Plot Keywords:

britain | england | based on novel

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Taglines:

A great story of love, now a great motion picture.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Geheimnis von Schloß Thornfield

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Omnibus Productions, Sagittarius Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As with most made-for-TV films of that era, this film premiered theatrically in Europe, but was only shown on television in the United States.

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Connections

Version of Woman and Wife (1918)

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Soundtracks

"Youth's the Season"
(uncredited)
from "The Beggar's Opera"
Arranged by Eric Rogers

User Reviews

about as good a version of Jane Eyre as you'll find

First, I doubt if I can give ANY version of Jane Eyre a 10, as every version I have seen so far puts too much emphasis on the part of the book involving Rochester and Jane (which is important) and not enough on her proposal of marriage from the vicar (which is VERY important to Ms. Bronte's theme)--this juxtaposition of plots is essential. It is mentioned in passing in several of the movies but never is allowed to have the prominence that it had in the book.

Now, despite this, I would say that this is my favorite version of Jane Eyre, though the Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine version of the 1940s is close to being as good.

George C. Scott is a great Rochester--very gruff, brooding and unattractive--as well as an incredibly fine actor. Susannah York is a stronger and spunkier Jane than Joan Fontaine's and I prefer the spunkier one. The only area where the 1940s version seemed better was in the back story at the horrible school where Jane was raised.