JANE EYRE
UK, 1971, 107 minutes, Colour.
Susannah York, George C. Scott, Ian Bannen, Jack Hawkins, Nyree Dawn Porter, Rachel Kempson.
Directed by Delbert Mann.
Jane Eyre was previously filmed in 1944 with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine, a version that is still worth seeing. The present colour version was made by a company principally for TV release, one of a series of classics, with noted actors and directed by Delbert Mann (who directed Marty (1955). A previous film was the star-studded version David Copperfield (1970). In 1972 Kidnapped, with Michael Caine and Trevor Howard was released.
As with the previous version, the film takes liberties with the book, but the performances of George C. Scott and Susannah York, as well as the Yorkshire photography ensure audience satisfaction. The film is not great, but is worth seeing.
1. Was there enough background in the film to establish Jane as a nineteenth century, underprivileged orphan - the attitude of Aunt Reed, the school, Mr. Brocklehurst and cruelty in the name of education and Christianity, the cutting of the hair, punishments, friendship with Helen and Helen's death?
2. How did this background form Jane as a woman? Why did she not want to stay at the school?
3. What picture of English aristocratic life did Mr. Rochester's home and household give, Miss Fairfax, the rooms, Adele, the contrast with the orphanage?
4. What kind of a woman was Jane? What qualities did she have?
5. What kind of man did Rochester seem to be - the incident with the horse, his gifts to Adele, Jane's piano-playing, his off-handed remarks and sarcasm, his lonely aloofness?
6. Why did Jane fall in love with him?
7. Why did he fall in love with Jane?
8. What impact did the sequences with the guests make on you - especially Blanche Ingram and the snobbery and attitudes towards governesses and Jane? What social comment was being made?
9. Were you glad that Jane and Rochester were to be married? Did you expect the ceremony to be interrupted? Had you suspected anything from the Grace Poole sequences, the fire, Mr. Mason and his being attacked?
10. Did you understand Rochester's predicament? Did you sympathise with him? Why?
11. Should Rochester have proposed to Jane that she stay with him? What should Jane have done? Did she do the right thing?
12. Was Jane happy with the Rivers' family? what kind of man was St. John Rivers? Did you like him? Did you enjoy his pulpit proposal? Would Jane have been happy with him as a missionary?
13. Was the reconciliation of Jane and Rochester moving? Were you glad the film had a partly happy ending? Why?
14. Did this film help you to understand nineteenth century people and manners?
