Jane Eyre

[Boleyn]

OK who is going to watch it at 9pm?

I didn't see Jane Eyre, was it good? I forgot about it, but i was very excited to see a trailer for Wide Sargasso Sea. I can't wait to see that.

LOL at Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen.
I stopped watching when I realised that the way he talked (specifically, the way he paused between phrases) was reminding me of Griff Rhys Jones.

Yep, watched it- was my fave book as a child (still like it now)

Thought Jane was good, as she was indeed plain, but agree that it rattled through- found myself explaining the more in depth bit to Dh on a few occasions

I liked it but I still have read the book, oh the shame. I shall...

I thought it was alright, although I wasn't gripped.

justamum do you know when Wide Sargasso Sea is on and who's showing it?

oh foxinsocks, the LLB comparison was hysterical but may render this Rochester impossible for me to watch now!
Saadia, I think the Sarg Sea is on the bbc - if you check the Jane Eyre page on bbc.co.uk it had an ad for it I think.
I love the book so much and may have to go back to it. It's one of the few books I've ever reread for pleasure along with P and Prej and The Woman In White.

I watched this. Love Jane Eyre but felt disappointed with this adaptation. It was too quick. The relationship between Jane and Helen Burns reduced to a look and one chat!
Will probably watch the next instalment though.

I agree that the whizzed through the childhood too quickly, although actually id does form a relatively short part of the book.
For me Jane is fine on the looks front, not too pretty but not too plain. Rochester is too much eye candy, sulky rather than surly maybe? Can see why they did it though.
I think the friendship/relationship seems to be going too fast as well.
Some one mentioned that Adult Jane was too passive unlike the child. I think that is the point, she has had a lot of that knocked out of her by the dreadful school. Gradually she blossoms through being away from it, and her deepening relationship with R.
I suppose in the book, she says one something demure but can't quite help the directness of her glance, or too much candid eye contact, not flirtatious but just direct. Not sure if they are achieving that.

lol -sorry queen. It totally ruined it for me aswell. When he was sitting in his study talking to her, I was just waiting for him to point out some beautifully patterned wallpaper!

Oh I'll need to watch out for Wide Sargasso Sea as it is part of my OU course! Can't believe I missed a rerun of The Camomile Lawn.

I still prefer the atmosphere of the film version with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine. It just captured the whole essence of the book completely for me, very dark and brooding throughout and Orson Welles fit the description of Rochester perfectly. Funny how a film could give so much emphasis on Jane's early life and a 4-part series practically flew through it! Such a shame as the actress playing young Jane was doing a convincing job. They totally missed the excellent put down Jane gives her Aunt Reed before leaving for Lowood (can you tell I've read it a few times!)

They show the old film version on TCM sometimes and it is well worth seeing, even if you don't like old films.

It would be impossible to convey the nuances of their relationship, which developed over about 4 months of evening conversations after dinner and on the estate, on film.

Also impossible to capture on film is the inner struggle Jane had w/herself after finding out that Rochester was still married.

'I care for myself' is the line she spoke, only to herself, that makes the novel - especially given the role of women in society in the time it was written - truly great.

Jane chose to walk out rather than become what she felt would soon be Rochester's bed warmer, despite having nothing, despite being not very pretty, despite having no one else in the world.

B/c she felt she deserved better than to be someone's mistress. No matter how much she loved him, she loved herself more.

thanks for that info queenceleste

you're welcome Saadia. the bbc website also has loads of behind the scenes stuff which I stopped looking at because I want to keep some mystery! e.g. Rochester having his sideburns adjusted by make up lass showing a little more cleavage than Charlotte Bronte would have liked I think.

Expat - respect to your post and to your fine use of the expression "bedwarmer".

Twoifbysea - I've never seen the welles/Fontaine version and would love to. I thought George C Scott had played Rochester - does that ring bells? I wanted this Rochester to be indifferent to her for longer - that's how I remember the book.

Overrun it's funny what you said about the childhood bit being quick - I'm sure I read the director in the Radio Times bragging about how much time they'd devoted to it! But I could have done with more of the childhood friendship too.

forgive too many posts by me, I'm becoming obsessed...

George c Scott played Mr Rochester with Susannah York in a 1970 telly version - I think that's why my Rochester is George in my mind's eye! I think I also mix up screen Rochesters with screen Heathcliffes.

But did anyone see Samantha Morton as Jane in 1997? I'd love to see that - I think she's an amazing actress.

QueenCeleste, I had the version on video and have been looking for the dvd, content to Sky+ the film when it comes on and watch it until dts scream! There are quite a few screen versions but this has been the only one which shows the friendship between Jane and Helen (a very young Elizabeth Taylor)and has a truly scary Mr Brocklehurst. He hardly appeared in this one and no Miss Temple or Bessie (fleeting glimpse at best.)

You need to have certain characters for the story to make true sense. I am guessing the Rivers family will feature in this one (they are missing from the Welles one but I didn't feel they would have added to it.)

Twoifbysea, are you doing intro to the humanities? I remember doing Wide Sargasso Sea with the OU, I actually got it off the shelf during Jane Eyre, couldn't remember if it was meant to be before or after, the old woman part! I agree with most abut Rochester, thought it was an odd casting, he didn't seem to quite fit that century... also reminded me of Damian Lewis too, I loved him in the forsyte saga, even though he evil to Irene!

even though he WAS evil I should say, must start pre viewing messages

Message withdrawn

I am indeed Carrotcake. Just started, very nervous about my abilities but there you go, it is all subjects I am interested in which should help.

Any tips much appreciated.

Wide Sargasso Sea, I saw an ad on BBC4 but it just said "coming soon" which is fine timing for me.

Oh, I bet you'll love it, it's a really gentle introduction back into studying and such a varied, interesting course. For some reason I particularly remember the different types of greek columns?!I went on to do the philosophy and then literature after that, met some nice people at the seminars too. Although, after the first year you don't meet as often, which is why I then went to art school, to have more attendance time and I transfered my credits. OU is fab, hope you enjoy it

Carrotcake - how did the credit transfer work from OU to art school? I am thinking of applying for brick uni next year, by which time I will have 195 OU points (60 at level 1, 75 at level 2 and 60 at level 3) - I know you can't give me a detailed answer, but just wondering what the application process is like (I would hope to go in at the beginning of the 2nd year of a sociology/social policy degree)

Yes, sorry, moved off from Jane Eyre! Molesworth, it was quite easy to transfer it although I guess it depends on your institution. I skipped foundation and discussed going into the 2nd year, and they said it would be harder to catch up with the theory but it was up to me. DD was only 9 months and I was still breastfeeding so I started in the first year part time, and then moved straight into the second year with everyone else which worked best for me. I had 120 points as I didn't complete the third year with ou and it was great to feel that they hadn't been wasted. I think I just asked them for the certificate and showed it to my course leader. They seemed pretty flexible. Good luck with yours...

thanks for that CC - and respect to you doing all that with small children!

5.10 pm this evening for anyone like me who missed it last week.

What I like about this production is that it was filmed in the Peak District where the book was set (Charlotte's best friend was married to the vicar of Hathersage). Spent most of the time looking at the scenery to see if I could recognise anywhere!