Jane Eyre Adaptation Comparison #2: The First Conversation

Taking a look at Jane's first official interview with Rochester.

[@c3ll7j]

I'm late but I just got introduced to the 1997 and 2006 versions and am enjoying watching your comparisons! Thank you for the in depth looks you did.

[@Weiselberry]

Welcome! :)

[@joylederman4501]

OMG, I LOVE your spreadsheet! I have a bare-bones list of "what is included" in each film adaptation I've watched, but it keeps expanding to add more details until it is beginning to approach this level of detail. The more I watch the movies, the more they blend together in my brain. "Which version showed Jane actually eating slop intended for the pigs while she was wandering, starving, after leaving Thornfield?" "Which versions did she try to grab the horse's reins, and included the line about bringing the Mountain to Mohammed?" "Which versions included the Rosamund story?" "What breed of dog was Pilot?" "How was the Gypsy Scene handled?" It's the little details that make Jane Eyre so much more than just another Period Romance, at least for those of us who have been huge Jane Eyre fans for the past 50+ years. There are lines from the book that still stick in my brain from the first time I read the Reader's Digest Condensed Version when I was in my early teens: "cicatrized visage" has been in my head since then. Have often heard Timothy Dalton's delivery of the line "I like this sky of steel...I like Thornfield, my home as it COULD be" as I'm riding my mower on an overcast day. So glad I've finally rewatched all the major adaptations so I can enjoy your Scene Comparisons! You are an absolute treasure, Jerome Weiselberry!

[@Weiselberry]

Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only one! And I 100% feel the same way: seeing which little details an adaptation chose to include is just as enjoyable as watching the story unfold, and that's why we'll never get tired of rewatching these. I'm not a dog expert, though; while I can recognize different dog breeds, I can seldom identify them, so you've got an advantage there. :)

[@rul4522]

I like the way you do your comparison.

[@winterburden]

This Jane Eyre comparison is totally worth the wait! Love the new checkbox chart 😃

[@Weiselberry]

Glad you like it! Yes, the chart turned out to be really helpful, so I think I'll stick with it. :)

[@rosasutubechannel]

The sketches are important to me so he can start to see who she is. I also love her honestly saying the orphanage or brocklehurst were bad. And his reaction to that.

[@nhmisnomer]

I like the lighting in the 2006 version. It looks like candlelight which is all they'd have unless they used oil lamps. I love the 1983 version, but it's too well lit, obviously studio lighting. It's not only a nice touch to get authentic lighting; it adds a feeling of intimacy to the scene. It feels like Jane is a stranger coming into an intimate family setting led by an enigmatic man. I have issues with the 2006 version, but they got the atmosphere right.

[@Little_Silva]

As a fellow Jane Eyre fan--and a student of literature--I personally enjoy the versions that include Jane's disapproval of her school and schoolmaster. Such as in the 2006 version when Rochester asks her if they fed her and she honestly answers no. I feel that it shows a sudden like-mindset of both she and Rochester. Neither easily fall prey to the dictations of others. I also approve of the ones where he is not quite so cruel to Adele. While he may view her as a representative of what his shameful past, she is also a symbol of innocence and that children can be molded into better things if taught well. It is one of the things that I think he likes about Jane; she is capable of molding Adele into someone who is both physically and inwardly appealing. I must agree that the piano part is a favorite of mine because I feel it tells Rochester a great deal about Jane. Yes, she plays "a little" but she also is unlikely to boast of speak untruths of herself. It gives light to the fact that Rochester can trust what she tells him.

[@CarlB_1962]

I watched most of your Jane Eyre series without ever having read the book, but I finished it last week and I have to say I loved it. The character of Jane is amazing. As for Rochester, I swung from like to dislike and back again like a demented pendulum! And don't get me started on St John Rivers!

[@Weiselberry]

Yay, I'm so glad you finally read (and loved!!) the book! That's great! My videos will probably make more sense now. :D

[@cellowali2865]

I like the first conversation scene in 1983 especially that part where Dalton 's Rochester looks at mrs fairfax and says - she bewitched my horse. And his eyes actually look bewitched.

[@supergran1000]

Another wonderful video, Jerome. Well done. The checklist has been well thought-out and is useful, but I'm ambivalent about the exercise of just "ticking the boxes". There are several JE adaptations out there which do just that - they include all the key speeches of the different scenes, perhaps even reproducing Bronte's dialogue word for word. Yet some of these same adaptations leave me unmoved. For me, a good adaptation is more than just the sum of its parts, if you see what I mean. The most important things for me are to get the characters right and to capture the right "feel" and spirit of a scene. Still, it's fascinating to see how corresponding scenes have been tackled in the different versions. Such variation! Look forward to the Second Conversation comparisons! :)

[@Weiselberry]

Thank you! I agree, an adaptation shouldn't just be ticking boxes. I'm only using it as a content guideline so that I don't mix up who did what. Glad you're enjoying the series! :)

[@weinerschnitzelrock1]

good summation. I like Rochester with a dash of his odd humor. (Cieran Hind and Michael Jayston) He only laughs (at himself) when he asks Jane if she thinks him handsome. I have a tug of emotion for Charlotte Gainsbourg. She has quiet dignity. Melts your heart to see her smile. The music in Zeffirelli's 1976 add passion. (Allesio Vlad and Claudio Capponi ).The 1970 music by John Williams captures perfectly the different moods of the novel).

[@bcd4562]

This was great!

[@marybrenner5071]

Enjoyed your comparisons...my favorite book...not sure if there's a perfect version...there is an old kinescope version with Charlton Heston...before your time...👍👌👏😎

[@Weiselberry]

Thank you! Ah yes, I've seen that one. :) I reviewed it at the time, several years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4DYgnaClJWendk

[@kellyjkennedy]

With all the Jane Eyre productions I’m curious which current actors you’d choose if you could cast your own production.

[@Weiselberry]

Now THERE'S a question!

[@iluvmusicals21]

I'm really enjoying these reviews now that I've found them! I don't blame you for not having a favorite, I find that I compare all versions to the one in my head, and of course, none stack up perfectly. Whether it is dialog, atmosphere, how I imagine the character looks, etc. it is 1 point for, 1 point against . . . I must just add for no pertinent reason, that I really dislike Virginia Bruce in anything movie.

[@Weiselberry]

Yay, I'm glad you're liking them!

[@TexasRoadTrip123]

I agree, Jerome. I dislike Orson Welles’s Rochester ordering Jane to pour more hot water into his foot basin.

[@pamelahall517]

Yet another session I missed. This first conversation was a delight to read and watch. I have thoughts! JE 1934: The total deviation from the characters let me know what to expect from this “adaptation”. It’s like screenwriters ignored the book on purpose. A beautiful, Jane? Sweet, besotted Rochester? Really?? JE 1943: This is more like it! (Yes, the finger snapping was annoying and Jane is too pretty but I really liked this version.) I loved how the scene was filmed, the way the characters were blocked. I liked the dialog and how it was delivered by both of them. Jane acted a little to hurt by him, but Welles' Rochester was perfectly abrupt and changeable! JE 1970: I was like meh. This Rochester looks way too tired and old for me through the whole film! And I do not like this "mature" Jane as a blond, what can I say? The music in this version was outstanding though and its nice to hear Jane play it. JE 1973: This is one of my favorite scenes in this adaptation. I love this Jane’s animated responses and Rochester’s abruptness but growing interest in Jane. This has a good Mrs. Fairfax as well and I’m glad she sticks around. While this version ticks all the boxes, sometimes it’s better to read it rather than see it in every detail. Though I did enjoy seeing ALL of Jane’s pictures. It was great they included them. JE 1983: I enjoyed this one slightly more than its predecessor, though, I wish Rochester was on a chair rather than a chaise. It looked weird to me. Yet, I like how he warmed up to Jane after testing her out. I also like that some of Jane’s drawings were shown and Rochester’s delve into them and then his abruptness after this. Adele’s treatment was also nicer. It covered the book well in both tone and dialog. I knew from this scene I would enjoy the rest of the production. It wet my appetite for more. JE 1996: Joan Plowright’s Mrs. Fairfax was just as I pictured her in the book. Glad she got ample screen time. I also enjoyed this happier Adele. I actually like how this scene was broken up into different setting and the playfulness around the talk of drawings, the smiles between Jane and Rochester and the look he gives as his eyes follow her out of the room. Like hmmm, there is going to be more to this for him. JE 1997: OK, I did and didn’t like Rochester and Adele’s closeness. It was nice to see but maybe too familiar to be like the book? But then, when has the book mattered in this adaptation? The altered dialog, and Jane’s indignation also bothered me though I like this calmer, even voiced Rochester here. Too bad he didn’t stay more like this in the rest of the adaptation! JE 2006: I liked how Jane isn’t summoned to him right after the horse scene. I did not like this Adele so much but the French prattle in the background was a sweet touch. I liked how Jane played on the piano while he examined the drawings. That was a nice way to kill two birds with one stone. And that cheerful musical piece in such grim surroundings was a brilliant choice. His look hearing it, priceless! The somewhat altered dialog did not bother me a bit. I like this Jane and Rochester a lot. JE 2011: The wardrobe dept did an excellent job. I loved the look and the setting as well. I sort of liked the embellished dialog, somewhat. This version was good at showing how well Jane was able to hold her own in this conversation with her gruff master. I can see his growing surprise at her responses and his interest of her from this first meeting, which I liked. This was very well done. I have to say I don’t have a favorite. Each one (aside from 1934!) bought little nuggets of book in their own way. It was enjoyable to see how each version handled this meeting. I so appreciate your devotion to this project. Your spread sheet was helpful. It was a lot of work but you maneuvered this section expertly. So happy to be revisiting your JE project along with the novel!

[@Weiselberry]

I like how you said that sometimes it's preferable to read a scene rather than to see every little detail put onscreen. I generally agree. Much as I love it when all the little things are included, and the perfect adaptation seems like the one that's going to follow the book to a T, it doesn't always work in a visual dramatic medium. This isn't real life you're watching, so you do expect conversations to be more streamlined than they would be in reality. I know I said a couple times in this series that none of the adaptations quite matched what I pictured when I read the book (though, like you, I found they all brought something wonderful to the table). I'm not sure what I would do if *I* were in charge of making an adaptation, as I'd be loathe to part with any line, but I'd be equally reluctant to drag things out for too long or bore viewers with my fastidious attention to detail. My thinking is it probably shouldn't take you longer to watch the scene than to read it... Besides, if you leave out some details, those will be treats that the first-time reader who's only seen a movie version can discover! Thank you again for sharing your notes! They are most entertaining to read. :)

[@a.inesfidalgo3367]

I really love your commitment to Jane Eyre! Jesus there are so many adaptations and honestly, I've only seen the movies from 2011 and 1996 and the 2006 mini-series and while I don't think any of them did justice to the book I was satisfied. Would you recommend watching the older versions and which?

[@rachelport3723]

1973 and 1983 follow the book most closely and take almost all their dialogue from the book. They are my favorites, if I may put in my two cents. I always rate adaptations by their faithfulness to their books.

[@Weiselberry]

I know, the sheer number of adaptations can be overwhelming, but you've made a good start! I feel like every adaptation (or just about every...) has something of value it brings to the table. But I do agree that 1973 and 1983 are considered the two most faithful adaptations. I've yet to see a perfect adaptation of the book, but if you're looking for something that's a close match, that's the way to go. :)

[@rosasutubechannel]

I would definitely recommend 1983 version to everyone. But 1973 only if you are a verry big fan as it feels ... very VERY old and slow. Maybe just watch clips of the best sceans?

[@carybaxter274]

I'm a student of screenwriting, and I understand why most adaptations of elaborate books are severely cropped or altered. The liberties taken with Jane Eyre 1997 were ingenious. It shows that what matters is not the details of the book but the arc of the plot and the feelings that are evoked. In 1997, the child actress playing young JE was wonderful and this enhanced the early scenes. It is important that we live Jane's childhood with her. I've heard the criticisms often attached to JE-1997, but I don't agree, and I find the criticisms petty compared to the finished work. The brilliant pace and artful editing produced an artistic whole. Samantha Morton's craft evokes feelings that are unforgettable, haunting. The childhood scene at young Jane's close friend's death is perfect. The much maligned performance of Hind's Mr. Rochester was actually quite good, I thought. The story does not require a Prince Charming which is the Hollywood cliche. The wretched awkwardness of the hand-holding scene following the fire was gut-wrenching and authentic. It served the story very well. Some people thought Morton was too attractive to play JE, but her dress and demeanor were quite effective in making her plain and inadequate. The housekeeper was a brilliant brush stroke that enhanced the texture of the work. The alterations to the story were carefully and artfully chosen, and I know how necessary the alterations were. In the end, there is a work of great value and longevity.

[@TheStarflight41]

Agreed... 1997 for sure. Samantha IS Jane Eyre. Superb acting all around...

[@greymouse718]

I have read the book many times, and remember it well. In my opinion, only one of all screen vertions has the right to be called "Jane Eyre". It's the 1983 version. The only that follows the lines from the book. Besides the cast is well chosen. Thanks to dashing Timothy Dalton and lovely and gentle Jane, I watch the film again and again. As for other versions I even couldn"t watch any of them to the end. They don't capture me a bit. But tastes differ.

[@kaylanash3588]

I always find it very interesting that 1997's Mr. Rochester is the one who is the most affectionate with Adele. It is a very sharp contrast to his grumpy, rude, and angry behavior in other scenes. I usually like 1973 just fine, but I don't understand why Michael Jayston's Mr. Rochester is so intent on pushing Adele away. Other Mr. Rochesters like Timothy Dalton at least tolerate her. I wonder if that was the way they told Michael Jayston to act towards Adele or if that was his own personal interpretation of the script. Either way, I don't like it. The 2006 version of the scene was okay, although it is no where near to being my favorite scene in the mini-series. Lastly I like 2011's Jane's denial that she has a tale of woe.

[@haniem1137]

Could you rate the gothic scene in the adaptations as well? I want to know if you have opinions about it

[@supergran1000]

Pardon me, but what is the "goth scene"?

[@haniem1137]

Jane Eyre book has the ambiance of gothic novel and the characters live in gothic castles

[@supergran1000]

Oh, OK. Thanks. I thought you were talking about an individual scene.

[@bryancarrasquillo66]

😊

[@rachelport3723]

I finally got the 1973 version and was disappointed - while it does the best job of the scenes it includes, and I love Michael Jayston still, and think he gets Rochester's tone best of anyone, it doesn't include as much as 1983 and seems more disjointed as a whole. It might be called "Scenes from Jane Eyre." 1983 tells a story better. Those are still the two that are best, as far as I'm concerned. I also like Mrs. Fairfax's bewilderment in 1973. I don't like any of the adaptations that show Rochester being affectionate with Adele. I rather like Jayston's satirical tone with her, but Dalton is also true to the relationship as it stands. And on the subject of the piano - none of the adaptations include Rochester being a very good pianist. I'm a musician, so I remember things like that from the book. Thanks again for doing these.

[@Weiselberry]

I'm sorry to hear the '73 version wasn't quite all that you were hoping. Your explanation makes me wonder if that's the reason why I sometimes feel like I enjoy watching certain individual scenes more than the adaptation as a whole. Michael Jayston is hands-down the best part, and you're absolutely right about him capturing Rochester's tone in a way that no one else has. I think 2011 is the only version that shows Rochester playing the piano. In the scene after the first conversation, while Jane, Mrs. Fairfax, and Adele are eating, they can hear him playing portions of various pieces before he storms off to go shoot things outside. Interesting that we get to see him play, but not Jane.

[@rachelport3723]

I saw the movie when it first came out, but don't remember the piano playing. I'll have to watch it again. :)

[@supergran1000]

Hi Rachel. 1973 Mrs Fairfax is played by Megs Jenkins. Remember her? Mrs Dale's Diary! Yes, I love her bewilderment, too! I think 1973 is a very fine adaptation. Jayston is a terrific Rochester, really bringing out his playful side which is often sidelined in favour of "broodiness". Cusack is also good, although a little too "arch" for my taste. The most annoying thing for me about the '73 version is the obtrusive voiceover. I hate it! Unnecessary for the most part - the actors even pause to make way for it! I know what you mean about Rochester's relationship with Adele. I don't like to see gushing affection, but neither do I like to see downright cruelty. We know that Rochester doesn't hate the child, but hates the qualities that she has inherited from her mother. He cares enough about her to take "the poor thing out of the slime and mud of Paris" and transplant her "to grow up clean in the wholesome soil of an English country garden" where she can be "trained". I like to see that objective communicated. :)

[@rachelport3723]

I guess I don't mind the voice-over because I always have those words from the book going on in my head anyway, and miss some of them when they are not there. There are so many scenes 1973 does best. But I got the video of 1983 first, and was so glad at how much of the story it showed - more of Gateshead and Lowood, the wanderings on the moors after leaving Rochester, and after seeing clips of so many scenes from 1973 was hoping for the same kind of storytelling. Jayston is, I think, my favorite Rochester, in spite of not having broad shoulders. He speaks the way I have always imagined Rochester to speak. Arch is a good word for Cusack. But Jane would never have had such sleeves on her dresses, especially coming from Lowood.

[@hannahzwic5975]

Hello, i just came across your JE adaptation reviews. While it's entertaining watching the adaptations of these I don't really like any of them too much; but I only ever watched three ('83, 2006, 2011) in their entirety.

[@Weiselberry]

I understand what you mean. As much as I love watching the adaptations, none of them strike me as completely perfect.

[@rosasutubechannel]

How do you not like 1983!