Director: Joan Craft
Stars: Sorcha Cusack, Michael Jayston
Jane Eyre is a great love story of a couple who meet and soon feel an attraction for each other. However this attraction evokes conflict in each. This conflict is resolved by suppressing (concealing) their love for one another. Jane's suppression is passive-submissive, but Rochester's initial suppression is to treat Jane somewhat coldly in maintaining distance, as a master to his servant. Rochester later warms to Jane, but still in a reserved manner. Increasingly intrigued by Jane, Rochester intelligently probes her to reveal her personality, in a cat and mouse manner, but she responds in intellectual kind while maintaining her station in a subordinate (but sometimes mildly impudent) manner.
However, subtle indications are shown in their growing relationship where mutual, but concealed, love is hinted - Jane shows jealousy of Rochester's female friend and devoted service to his wishes in loving Rochester, while Rochester shows his captivation with Jane's independent and intelligent opinions, her devotion to her moral principles, and her lack of greed and lack of self-centeredness. Rochester is not put off by Jane's plain appearance, and Jane does not find Rochester particularly attractive (even though he is) - both are of like mind in judging beauty by personality qualities rather than by physical attributes. However, they still conceal their growing love from each other.
Their love grows, but remains concealed, again because each is in conflict over loving the other. Jane is in conflict because she realizes she is just a "plain Jane" and a mere servant (although born into a good family) who is below the social status of Rochester who would be a prize catch for any lady of high social standing. Rochester is in conflict, not because of Jane's servant status, which is irrelevant to him, but because of his concealed secret that he must never reveal. So each falls deeper in love while fighting hard to mask any display of their love for one another.
Simmering conflicts eventually boil over in seeking resolution. This occurs as the turning point in their relationship.
The climatic end occurs much later, in the movie's resolution.
Some versions handle some of the above key elements better than other versions, but most are lacking to some degree in portraying most of these elements. This 1973 version handles all the above key elements superbly, in a comprehensive and psychologically valid manner. As a result one is afforded the opportunity to understand the complicated dynamics of the love relationship that Bronte so well delineated in her book. The narrative of Jane's voice at times, expressing her innermost thoughts, is frequently employed in this 1973 version, and does much to enrich our understanding of the dynamics at play.
Cusack's Jane is not as stoic and Victorian as in the other versions (except for Samantha Morton's Jane in the 1997 version which is a more emotionally expressive Jane as is Cusack's Jane). However, like Morton in 1997, Cusack in 1973 remains as a self-disciplined, moral and rational Jane. Jayston's Rochester in this 1973 version is brilliantly performed, demonstrating subtlety of intellect and expression but with deep passion. Dalton's 1983 Rochester was likewise brilliant but more passionate and not as subtle as Jayston's 1973 Rochester. Where the 1983 version presents Rochester and Jane as opposites (that attract) in many ways, this 1973 versions shows Rochester and Jane as more alike intellectually and emotionally, as kindred spirits. However, Jayston's Rochester is more natural and involving, as is Cusack's Jane, than in any other version.
Jayston and Cusack superbly portray all the key elements essential to making he story work as a great love story. From early on Jayston's Rochester is intrigued by Cusack's Jane and soon comes to engage in some intellectual sparring in a battle of wits with her, laced with humor. This is beautifully depicted in this 1973 version, whereby kindred spirits unify in a growing love - two personalities meant for one another find their home. Jayston's subtle non-verbal expressions are priceless in making his Rochester so superbly portrayed.
Additionally this is the most coherent and complete version of Jane Eyre. All key events are shown in a form that is completely developed - no summary presentation here. No version is totally faithful to the book - all versions either modify or omit events depicted in the book. This is only a problem where the essence of the book is degraded. It is no problem in this 1973 version.
However this 1973 version is more cerebral in containing complex dialog that elucidates Bronte's concepts. Unlike other versions, there is no "dumbing down" here. Simplifying the dialog would make for wider audience appeal, but would degrade the story. This 1973 version is not so degraded.
I have seen all film versions since 1972 as well as the 1943 version. For me this 1973 version is what I have been searching for that does justice to the book. Much credit for the superiority of the 1973 version is in Joan Craft's perfect direction.
I would encourage the viewer to see as many versions as they can. It is a tribute to a great work that so many versions have been made.
Stars: Sorcha Cusack, Michael Jayston
Jane Eyre is a great love story of a couple who meet and soon feel an attraction for each other. However this attraction evokes conflict in each. This conflict is resolved by suppressing (concealing) their love for one another. Jane's suppression is passive-submissive, but Rochester's initial suppression is to treat Jane somewhat coldly in maintaining distance, as a master to his servant. Rochester later warms to Jane, but still in a reserved manner. Increasingly intrigued by Jane, Rochester intelligently probes her to reveal her personality, in a cat and mouse manner, but she responds in intellectual kind while maintaining her station in a subordinate (but sometimes mildly impudent) manner.
However, subtle indications are shown in their growing relationship where mutual, but concealed, love is hinted - Jane shows jealousy of Rochester's female friend and devoted service to his wishes in loving Rochester, while Rochester shows his captivation with Jane's independent and intelligent opinions, her devotion to her moral principles, and her lack of greed and lack of self-centeredness. Rochester is not put off by Jane's plain appearance, and Jane does not find Rochester particularly attractive (even though he is) - both are of like mind in judging beauty by personality qualities rather than by physical attributes. However, they still conceal their growing love from each other.
Their love grows, but remains concealed, again because each is in conflict over loving the other. Jane is in conflict because she realizes she is just a "plain Jane" and a mere servant (although born into a good family) who is below the social status of Rochester who would be a prize catch for any lady of high social standing. Rochester is in conflict, not because of Jane's servant status, which is irrelevant to him, but because of his concealed secret that he must never reveal. So each falls deeper in love while fighting hard to mask any display of their love for one another.
Simmering conflicts eventually boil over in seeking resolution. This occurs as the turning point in their relationship.
The climatic end occurs much later, in the movie's resolution.
Some versions handle some of the above key elements better than other versions, but most are lacking to some degree in portraying most of these elements. This 1973 version handles all the above key elements superbly, in a comprehensive and psychologically valid manner. As a result one is afforded the opportunity to understand the complicated dynamics of the love relationship that Bronte so well delineated in her book. The narrative of Jane's voice at times, expressing her innermost thoughts, is frequently employed in this 1973 version, and does much to enrich our understanding of the dynamics at play.
Cusack's Jane is not as stoic and Victorian as in the other versions (except for Samantha Morton's Jane in the 1997 version which is a more emotionally expressive Jane as is Cusack's Jane). However, like Morton in 1997, Cusack in 1973 remains as a self-disciplined, moral and rational Jane. Jayston's Rochester in this 1973 version is brilliantly performed, demonstrating subtlety of intellect and expression but with deep passion. Dalton's 1983 Rochester was likewise brilliant but more passionate and not as subtle as Jayston's 1973 Rochester. Where the 1983 version presents Rochester and Jane as opposites (that attract) in many ways, this 1973 versions shows Rochester and Jane as more alike intellectually and emotionally, as kindred spirits. However, Jayston's Rochester is more natural and involving, as is Cusack's Jane, than in any other version.
Jayston and Cusack superbly portray all the key elements essential to making he story work as a great love story. From early on Jayston's Rochester is intrigued by Cusack's Jane and soon comes to engage in some intellectual sparring in a battle of wits with her, laced with humor. This is beautifully depicted in this 1973 version, whereby kindred spirits unify in a growing love - two personalities meant for one another find their home. Jayston's subtle non-verbal expressions are priceless in making his Rochester so superbly portrayed.
Additionally this is the most coherent and complete version of Jane Eyre. All key events are shown in a form that is completely developed - no summary presentation here. No version is totally faithful to the book - all versions either modify or omit events depicted in the book. This is only a problem where the essence of the book is degraded. It is no problem in this 1973 version.
However this 1973 version is more cerebral in containing complex dialog that elucidates Bronte's concepts. Unlike other versions, there is no "dumbing down" here. Simplifying the dialog would make for wider audience appeal, but would degrade the story. This 1973 version is not so degraded.
I have seen all film versions since 1972 as well as the 1943 version. For me this 1973 version is what I have been searching for that does justice to the book. Much credit for the superiority of the 1973 version is in Joan Craft's perfect direction.
I would encourage the viewer to see as many versions as they can. It is a tribute to a great work that so many versions have been made.