Jane Eyre (1956) User Reviews

Scary TV

[phil-street · 10/10 · 10 October 2006]

I remember watching this as a child.It was serialised on the BBC.I can remember hiding behind our settee during the scene that contained the mad Mrs Rochester.Although modern dramatisations of the book may be considered to be better produced, I find my mind quickly jumping back to those scary moments all those years ago. I have little recollection of the individual performances of the actors and actresses but the impressive cast list leads me to believe that it must have been an excellent production. Casting the late great Stanley Baker in the role as Mr Rochester might appear to some to have been perhaps a poor decision but in those early days of television fine acting choice must have been limited.Nevertheless, with Stanley Baker, black and white and a wonderful story line such a production would be difficult match even today

By episode 4 or 5 it was scaring the life out of me!

[g6lambert · 10/10 · 24 July 2010]

I was 9 or 10 when I first watched this version. I was OK with the first episodes and in fact the sight of the mad lady creeping around Thornfield in the dead of night was at first quite fascinating. I remember the eerie music and only seeing her feet or the candlestick she was holding. But it was when she enters Jane's bedroom and one sees her for the first time and she tears up the wedding veil that really scared me and I felt quite frightened when I went to bed for a few nights even when my mother and father were decorating right outside my bedroom door! I managed to persevere though and I watched it again when it was repeated a few months later.

I wonder how this 1956 serial would come over today?