Orson Welles & Joan Fontaine in "Jane Eyre" (1943) - feat. Agnes Moorehead & Elizabeth Taylor

In 1829, nine-year-old orphan Jane Eyre (Peggy Ann Garner) lives at the English estate of her cruel aunt, Mrs. Reed (Agnes Moorehead), who favors her spoiled son, John (Ronald Harris).
Mrs. Reed sends Jane to Lowood Institution, an austere boarding school for orphans, run by sadistic Henry Brocklehurst (Henry Daniell). Jane enjoys learning, and her friendship with Helen Burns (Elizabeth Taylor), a kindhearted pupil. Jane also appreciates the attention of Dr. Rivers (John Sutton).
One day, Brocklehurst cuts off Helen's curly hair, then orders her and Jane to march in the rain as punishment for their "vanity" and "rebelliousness." The harsh experience proves fatal for Helen, and Jane loses her gentle friend.
In 1839, Brocklehurst offers Jane (Joan Fontaine) a teaching job, but she is determined to escape Lowood. After placing an ad seeking a position as a governess, Jane travels to a country estate known as Thornfield, where she is met by Mrs. Fairfax (Edith Barrett), the housekeeper. Jane's pupil is a French girl named Adele Varens (Margaret O'Brien), the ward of Thornfield's absent master, Edward Rochester (Orson Welles).
At night, Jane sees smoke coming from Rochester's bedroom. Jane awakens Rochester before he is consumed by the fire, and he allows her to assume that the blaze was set by Grace Poole (Ethel Griffies), a supposedly unstable seamstress living in a little-used wing of the mansion. The next morning, Rochester leaves for a house party at the home of Blanche Ingraham (Hillary Brooke).
The winter passes without word from Rochester, until one day, the household learns that he is to arrive with Blanche and other guests. Much to Jane's dismay, Mrs. Fairfax insinuates that Blanche will soon become Rochester's wife. Jane grows more troubled upon meeting the beautiful, haughty Blanche, but both she and Rochester feel their bond grow stronger when they talk. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Mason (John Abbott ), of Spanish Town.
Rochester accuses Blanche of caring more for his money than for him, and she leaves with her family and the other guests. Rochester then tests Jane by informing her that he has found another position for her, and when she finally confesses her love for him, he passionately proposes.
Adele is thrilled that Jane is to be her new mother, but Mason stops the wedding ceremony by announcing that Rochester is already married to Mason's sister Bertha. Rochester then leads the wedding party to Thornfield and shows them Bertha, who is violently insane.
With nowhere else to go, Jane returns to Mrs. Reed, who has fallen ill, and nurses her until her death.
One night, Bertha sets the Thornfield mansion on fire and Rochester is seriously injured.
Finally, Rochester enters the ruins of the mansion. Jane realizes that he is blind, and her passion convinces him that she feels more for him than mere pity.
A 1943 American Black & White drama film directed by Robert Stevenson, produced by Kenneth Macgowan and Orson Welles (uncredited), screenplay by John Houseman, Aldous Huxley and Robert Stevenson, based on Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel of the same name, cinematography by George Barnes, starring Orson Welles, Joan Fontaine, Margaret O'Brien, Peggy Ann Garner, John Sutton, Sara Allgood, Henry Daniell, Agnes Moorehead, Aubrey Mather, Edith Barrett, Barbara Everest, Hillary Brooke, Ethel Griffies, Eily Malyon, Ivan Simpson, Erskine Sanford, John Abbott, Elizabeth Taylor, and Mae Marsh. Released by 20th Century Fox.
Dame Elizabeth Taylor's role as Helen Burns was uncredited.
The musical score was composed and conducted by Bernard Herrmann.
David O. Selznick hired John Houseman in February 1941 while Houseman was directing Philip Barry's play "Liberty Bell". Houseman's first assignment for the producer was writing this. Aldous Huxley also contributed to the screenplay, rendering the character of Mrs. Rochester unseen, assuring that she would be more menacing, and circumventing British censorship regulations on the depiction of madness. Other screenplay contributors include DeWitt Bodeen, and playwright Keith Winter.
In early December 1942, Selznick wrote Goetz that he and Welles agreed on the importance of casting character actors who were new to motion pictures. He offered to be present at a casting meeting, and asked that Welles be there, as well-"because I know few people in the history of the business who have shown such a talent for exact casting, and for digging up new people." Mercury Theatre players from stage and radio who appear in Jane Eyre include Agnes Moorehead, Erskine Sanford, Eustace Wyatt, and Edith Barrett; but the character roles generally went to familiar Hollywood performers, many of them with British stage credits.
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times, called this a "moody" film, "grimly fascinating in its own right," with "continuous vitality as a romantic horror tale" in which Welles's "ferocious performance" was "interesting to observe.

[@sebaceous]

this is by far the best version.

[@NancySanders-om4ic]

First time I've seen "Jane Eyre" and I must say,it is a very well acted film,and the story line is quite profound.Thank you,for showing it.

[@Marketoromagnolo]

Joan Fontaine very underrated actress, should have deserved more

[@Kpink744]

She was excellent in Daphne De Maurier’s Rebecca with Laurence Olivier 🇬🇧

[@karenkms2019]

Orson Welles, what a voice, very soothing. Like Alan Rickman.☺️ May these 2 lovely men rest in Peace.❤

[@lonavalin4679]

Ive seen this movie more than a dozen times. Still love it.

[@Kpink744]

Always for decades my favourite version thank you 🇬🇧

[@lesawilkes5673]

Thanks, it's very hard to beat this original Black and White version. I've watched just about all of them....... The story is dark, so the tone is... Jane was ahead of her time, and so was Bronte. Independent women.

[@TheBelrick]

Pure disaster for humanity of course.

[@CplArvinBethe]

Jane was of her time, not ahead.

[@EMBERS-BECAME-BRIGHT-JOY]

I've never heard the classic story, Jane Eyre, until now ❣️

[@marionthompson3365]

My favourite version. Haunting and dark.

[@irenapalkowska5818]

Nie przypuszczałam,że Orson Welles był taki przystojny 🌹

[@jeannettelequang7702]

Lúc còn trē trung thì ai ai cūng có nét quyên rū rôi, đó là điêu tu nhiên thôi!

[@WonderWoman000]

Such an excellent film and book

[@virginie7444]

Thank you for this good movie

[@EugénieAgoudjian]

Splendid ! 🙏

[@cynthiataylor2092]

Elizabeth Taylor's first film where she played Helen. She was uncredited. Her first film!! Peggy Ann Garner played the role of a younger Jane. Cindy 🎥

[@stevevilinsky7464]

Elizabeth Taylor’s first film was actually a year before from Universal,”There’s one Born every minute “. I not sure the film even exists,for its never shown.

[@dianadoos1944]

When i saw Elizabeth, I could not believe it as I did not read the credit

[@stevevilinsky7464]

She was uncredited,and Universal dropped her some time later.

[@jacquelinenguyen759]

Thank you Donald for your posting of the most favorite movie.

[@conniebucy2423]

Thank you for this movie!!

[@zaynapabdullah2368]

the best version

[@evbyers4708]

This is high on my favourite movies list.

[@janetshaffer423]

So dramatic and satisfying!

[@RbSilva-j9i]

Wonderful movie ❤ Love these old movies 😊 Thank you soo much for uploading this movie 🙏

[@roberthevern6169]

I recall in 7th or 8th grade at Parochial school, some 50+ years ago, Jane Eyre was all the rage among my female classmates! Don't know if the Priests/Nuns approved or encouraged, but they did not disapprove to my knowledge! If this movie is an accurate portrayal of Charlotte Bronte's book, I find it quite amazing that it was so well liked...! Dark is an understatement! Mr Welles delivery of extended passages was excellent! Ms Fontaine's portrayal of Jane conveyed so perfectly the waves of emotion! As a male, I enjoyed this immensely! Thank you, Donald P Borchers for this very good post!

[@duzypotz]

Elizabeth Taylor is just so heartbreakingly lovely...

[@ABC-jd9ep]

E dove sarebbe la Taylor?. Grazie

[@JamieBrank]

I forgot she was in the movie. She plays Helen ​@@ABC-jd9ep

[@N18mente]

Фильм старый и история известная, но посмотрела с большим удовольствием. Мечта женщин, чтобы так любили!💐

[@debraorgan5262]

Extraordinarily outstandingly superbly casted : ' Jane Eyre' ' movie.. Loved ever minute so totally engaging . Thankyou for sharing.

[@luigiasalvemini6814]

Ho già visto parecchie versioni di Jane Eyre,forse questa mi manca, ne approfitto

[@cynthiataylor2092]

I will look for it. Thank you.

[@ΝικηΛιακακη-ω3ε]

Beautiful movie

[@gillclapham9683]

I absolutely love this version ❤❤ it got me hooked to the book ,

[@judyderieux8484]

Wonderful movie.......

[@JudithMarcello-fw5oh]

Always love this story and ghis movie.

[@edielynch7819]

Watching this makes me further realize how cruel religion has been!

[@JudithMarcello-fw5oh]

There are cruel people everywhere...and kind, also.

[@SallyIronic]

Wow did she hit the nail on the head with that first paragraph!

[@dougie1968]

Interesting to see the actor Guy Pearce started out in the movie industry as a makeup artist.

[@awrui8660]

I just loove aclasic movies 🎬 🎞 🎥

[@judyderieux8484]

Never tire of watching this film.....

[@evbyers4708]

Should have mentioned Margaret O'Brien being in this movie.

[@daniellebarroso6974]

❤❤ gostei dessa versão mais do q outras

[@diankreczmer6595]

I wonder if the child that jane eyre is in charge of is margaret o. Brian?

[@itsanalyne]

Yes it is Margaret O'Brien 😊

[@donnieallums4847]

Great movie ! Very morbid in some ways . The irony of a person spouting Christ out of one side of his mouth and acting like the devil himself being mean to a little child is unacceptable . Sad to say , but it is still going on in this modern day . How any adult could be nasty to a child is beyond comprehension . Thanks for sharing this movie . Greetings from south east Alabama USA ☮️❤️

[@irenapalkowska5818]

Szkoda, że nie ma lektora Pl,bo lubię takie stare kino 😢

[@1122334455595]

Qué pena! No sé inglés. Podría ser traducida ¿verdad?

[@Carmen-pw4ej]

The best,

[@BearsMjg]

Most inaccurate movie poster ever

[@kurthubbard-beale5003]

hmm, interesting to see that no other than Aldous Huxley wrote the screenplay.

[@terriseaton3049]

Is this Austen’s version of Beauty & the Beast?

[@pelagaki97]

Kind of. This novel is written from Charlotte Bronte

[@Kpink744]

No it’s from Charlotte Brontes Novel🇬🇧

[@rebeccadanvers884]

No. The plain and the beast. Jane was not a beauty, but plain Jane

[@budingerchristiane7959]

Dommage Q C pas en français..!

[@dorotheaduwel587]

Ich liebe den Roman und die verschiedenen Verfilmungen dazu. Jeder Regisseur hat seine Handschrift Mithilfe der Schauspieler hinterlassen.

[@sebaceous]

Large brilliant and black

[@maggieg8181]

Eyes of a true beast!!

[@stellabogado2576]

En castellano porfis?????

[@tinasassi5171]

Ma quante versioni fi sono di Jane Eire?

[@micaelabonetti949]

Tante.Tante.

[@RashaAsfor]

اتمنى ترجمته للعربية

[@malvinderkaur541]

Orson wells was another intellectual among others who wrote earlier about faulty stagnant Democratic political system in 'Animal farm' though a dark abstract satire neverthless understood by like minds, yet things in political arena have gone bad to worse all over world

[@emilymorley3655]

the author of Animal Farm is George Orwell who wrote the dystopian novel

[@mewtifultomerrow6571]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cy4330]

Gotta say when Mr Rochester appeared I was disappointed. This actor looks short and not very attractive lol. Timothy Dalton IS Mr Rochester!

[@gaetaneguitard7011]

Music was awful.

[@MsGreeceland]

No tiene traducción al español ?

[@ЕленаМатюхина-и7ъ]

Не могу смотреть издевательства взрослых, воспитанных людей над маленькой девочкой.

[@sandrawebber2272]

.

[@WakandaBabe]

Not a fan of this version at all. A little surprising to me but then, I am not a big fan of Joan Fontaine.

[@doloresradumski1708]

L no

[@terrytay1774]

She was more a better actress than her sister Olivia De Havilland

[@JamieBrank]

Have you ever seen The Heiress, Snake Pit, Lady in a Cage. Olivia was the better actor