Jane Eyre 1949 with Mary Sinclair and Charleton Heston
Imdb lists Mary Malone as playing Jane Eyre, however, the credits from the production list Sinclair. I have no explaination for this. Once again, Thisbeciel has some screencaps for us, and another video clip from the 1957 Jane Eyre with Joan Elam and Patrick McNee. This production is in most respects identical to the 1952 version with Katherine Bard and Kevin McCarthy. The sets are the very same sets, the story has many of the same changes, and even some of the camera angles and direction are identical. There are a few differences, and some of them are quite interesting while others are very silly indeed. So, let's get started. Here are a few selections from the screencaps:
There's no Hay Lane scene. Mrs. Fairfax calls Jane to meet the master. He makes shadow puppets for her- actually, for a few moments this is all we see of Rochester while Mrs. Fairfax keeps repeating how strange he is.
Rochester meets up with Jane and Adele in the garden with Bertha looking on.
I don't know what it is about these second interviews... this is the 'look at my leg, Jane' shot which also appears in the 1952 version. Then, as in the 1952 version, Bertha sets his chair on fire.
Rochester roughs Jane up to keep her quiet about the fire. This is the 'you're depressed' scene moved into the garden. 
Jane decides to leave, then Rochester proposes. 
Mr. Mason, and Briggs decide to visit Grace Poole.
Miss Eyre! Pst! Pst! Miss Eyre! Oh, so that strange woman watching the wedding was his wife all along!
We think this is a first- Bertha lunges at Jane. 
Rochester begs Jane to stay, then throws himself on the stairs (looks a little like he has fallen asleep on the stairs with his security blanket. Oh, the depth of symbolism in this production is very great indeed).
And you know how the rest goes. This production starred Mary Sinclair as Jane Eyre, Charlton Heston as Mr Rochester. And also starred Viola Roache, Ethel Everett,Joan Wetmore. It was adapted by Sumner Locke-Elliot, produced by Worthington Miner, and directed by Franklin Schaffner.
3 comments:
I watched clip 2 of the 1957 version. Man, this is a new approach: Rochester as Dirty Old Man. Doesn't he ever think of anything else? If Jane hadn't been so oblivious (another "I don't understand you!") he'd probably have taken her to the mat right in the middle of the party!
I rather liked his cover for Mr Mason! she accidentally stabbed, clawed, and chewed on his arm a bit. But the best is how everyone is so obedient in returning to the party.
Does he go on to explain that "she" was just a servant who had a bad turn? Are the guests to assume that Mr. Mason was messing around with some female domestic who suddenly turned violent? What was he doing upstairs in the middle of the party, anyway? I think Rochester's explanation would raise more questions than it answered!
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