Films/DVD Asylum

"Jane Eyre:" say what you will, Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine

67.160.130.12

tinear

A

(and an unbelievably beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, when a very young child, that absolutely stole the scenes from the unfortunate little girl playing young Jane....) make a terrific couple in this Aldous Huxley screenplay reduction (the director and Houseman also were credited). Yes, it's melodramatic. But this story, told again and again (and Fontaine also starred in the Hitchcock/DuMaurier update that was "Rebecca") has the power to enchant those that let it.
One curiosity: Welles gives a marbles-in-the-mouth reading to his aristocrat that almost certainly influenced the young Marlon Brando in very dissimilar roles.
Watch it with your love interest and see if her tears don't flow....

Follow Ups:

William Hurt & Charlotte Gainsbourg - mbnx01 08:13:58 03/03/11 (0)
Were better. Joan Fontaine was too pretty to be Jane.

"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
RE: "Jane Eyre:" say what you will, Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine - patrickU 02:39:41 02/27/11 (2)
Not a very good film at all, over over everything, and certainly no match to Rebecca who is one of the best, ever.

This one just feels factice...But there moments to enjoy.
- No, see it again! The young girl is marvelous. And her relationship with Elizabeth - tinear 09:55:24 02/27/11 (1)
  Taylor's character, Helen, is one of the screen's great ones.
  Welles, btw, is reputed to have assisted quite a bit in the direction. Note the strange camera angles, the chiaroscuro lighting, the unusually framed closeups? And the glorious, though brief, cameo by Agnes Moorehead: pure gold.
  Welles creation I'd put against that of Olivier's, too. More.... manly!
  - RE: No, see it again! The young girl is marvelous. And her relationship with Elizabeth - patrickU 10:00:59 02/27/11 (0)
    Well actually before posting I look at some clips, and my feeling stay: A feeling of carton p�te...
    Now the angle of the faces as photographed were astonishing, that is true but the whole remain unconvincing.
    
    For me.
    It is a B movie.
    
    While Rebecca an A+++++ Or some of Lean�s in the same spirit too.

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