UK Edition Extras for BBC Jane Eyre 1973
I have had confirmation that the UK edition does have a small photo gallery. For those of us who bought the US edition, the pictures are available here, thanks to Siansaska and Thisbeciel! A few of them are screencaps but two or three are new. One of them is clearly computer wallpaper material: 
12 comments:
I eventually got sent this by the way (bloody BBCShop taking ages) and have been trying not to watch the whole thing in one go, but ah it’s tricky. I am almost at the end now though, Jane is just with St John at Christmas. Ah it’s lovely. Luckily my (stupidly high) expectations were not brought down. What a delectable morsel of spanking gorgeousness Jayston’s Mr R is! And Sorcha is the first Jane I have ever seen I can actually imagine Mr R falling in love with. Dreadful flirts, though both of them. Tut tut.
Anyway, I will perhaps post a review on LERO once I find out how to do it. ;-)
I received mine via Acorn last week, I had pre-ordered a couple of months ago. I have watched it twice now, and although its more than 30 years since I saw the original, its just as good as I remembered! I agree with you, the casting is perfect. Jayston and Cusack strike the perfect note of teasing flirtation, whereas some other actors have emphasised the torment too much. The only thing I can think to criticise is Jayston's wig!! It doesn't detract from his gorgeousness though!
Lynne
to Liz:
That is one of my favourite descriptions of the show so far ;) And, you know, it is the rare portrayal of Rochester which isn't at least a little minxy.
I am looking forward to reading more of your thoughts!
Well, I guess neither was Hurt!Rochester minxy, nor Scott!Rochester. But I guess, they do not count: first one too depressed, second one too lifeless :) Jayston!Rochester is perfect indeed.
to Lynne:
I always thought it was injudicious use of hairspray. I cannot remember where I read it, but I came across something about playing Mr Rochester on film which declared that it is 'impossible' to portray him with any subtlety- that he has to be overblown and unrealistic.
Pshaw, I say. And Jayston is excellent proof of this. All of the passaged from the book which describe HIS point of view of the events in the novel come across in the look in his eyes, the tone of his voice, a nod of his head. You never once think he's just a fictional character.
to Siansaska:
Good point ;) I think I've been seeing too many of the minxy ones lately, especially with these posts I've been making on the musical!
I've had this version a week now, and it's lived up to my (exceedingly high) expectations. Loved Jayston!Rochester straight away, but Sorcha has taken a little while to grow on me (she has done done so though). They have lovely lovely chemistry and are frightful flirts. It's not my favourite proposal scene though ... Dalton!Rochester and ZC nail that scene more in my mind.
I liked this proposal better than the 1983 one (despite the obvious set) but it is still not perfect. It must be a very hard scene to write and play because of the length and large fluctuations of mood. And much of the dialogue is ambiguous and could be played any number of ways. How, for example, is Mr R to react when Jane says ‘but you are a married man!’?!
Ah the hair, the hair. I love 70s hair. I like Jayston’s pouffy hair, even if it is a wig. And I am a bit obsessed with Sorcha’s at the moment – I like how it becomes more elaborate when she’s with Diana and Mary. And is slightly askew the morning after the proposal, as if she’s dressed it in a hurry.
Oh yes I have plenty of highly elucidating comments to make about this adaptation! ;-)
to Liz:
I agree. It is my favourite staging of that scene so far, but there is still room for improvement. One thing that is new is how believable Jayston makes some of the more truly Rochesterian lines- the ones people tend to think sound too literary or theatrical. All other actors uncover his intention too soon. He is able to keep up the show that he is only having a chat up until the proper moment- otherwise we have the problem of Jane seeming senseless. (ex. the 'string'. Jane still doesn't realise what he means, apparently. But most actors really get in there with the deep reading of the line. He plays it as only barely concealled banter).
Re: the hair. I still think it's hairspray. A little over a year ago, I first heard of this production. Later, I saw some pictures (which I thought would be all I would ever get to see ;). My first impression was that Jayston had emotive hair. :) It poofed and curled when he was being teasing, laid down when he was guarded, stood out when he was enraged.
Now that's what I call acting! ;)
to amandaj:
I am relieved that I haven't inadvertently spoiled it by giving vent to my unbounded praise :) I worry about having that effect.
I don't care much for the '83 proposal. It is very good relative to others I have seen but it has some problems- the same problems I see through the entire production. Dalton does too much meaningless staring, Zelah never works herself up into that 'fire spirit' that is so crucial in that scene. I admit parts of it are very good. I like the 'strange gleams' in Dalton's eyes when he is asked to turn to the moonlight.
Yes, Dalton does look good by moonlight!
To bronteana: emotive hair! What a trouper that man is!
Having watched the proposal again (heavens what a chore ;-)) I like it a great deal better and understand what you say about Jayston's perfomance, relying upon his *speaking* lightly, but *looking* a great deal more (Jane is looking the other way of course). And it does make her seem like much less of an ignoramus!
to liz:
He does go that extra mile ^_^
Oh, Liz. Now I will have to see it again. I know that no one else will really be impressed by this, but my mother is something of an acting guage. She has extremely high standards. The slightest break in the fiction and she completely loses interest.
She has refused to read JE, but she has watched just about every adaptation I have (going on a dozen now). Despite seeing so many, she still missed out on major plot points because she just didn't care to pay attention because all of them came across as so contrived. And, this one is the exception! She often tells ME "oh, look at his eyes! Did you see that? Look!" And asks me to explain the significance of things such as 'Latmos' since Jayston brings out the significance so much with his voice and his expression- she was not content until I stopped and told her the story.
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