JANE EYRE (DVD) DVD

Jane Eyre
Director Franco Zeffirelli stresses emotional realism over gothic chills in this restrained adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic. The screenplay, by Zeffirelli and Hugh Whitmore, remains relatively faithful to the original story, beginning with a condensed look at the troubled childhood of young Jane (Anna Paquin) and her mistreatment by a cruel aunt (Fiona Shaw). The bulk of the film centers on Jane as an adult (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a prim governess who accepts a position at Thornfield Hall caring for the young Adele (Josephine Serre). There Jane also must deal with the estate's head, Edward Rochester (William Hurt), a mysteriously brooding yet oddly alluring older man. She finds herself drawn to Rochester, but their potential romance is threatened by Jane's fears and Rochester's internal torment. Rather than the spooky visuals of earlier adaptations, Zeffirelli and cinematographer David Watkins opt for a subdued gloominess, placing emphasis on Gainsbourg's and Hurt's wounded portrayals. Fans of the gothic will likely find Zeffirelli's interpretation anemic in comparison to the passionate 1944 version with Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles, though others may appreciate the more naturalistic and faithful approach. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Cast William Hurt as Edward Rochester Charlotte Gainsbourg as Jane Eyre Joan Plowright as Mrs. Fairfax Anna Paquin as Young Jane Geraldine Chaplin as Miss Scatcherd Billie Whitelaw as Grace Poole

Crew Dennis Bosher - Art Director Raimonda Gaetani - Art Director Joyce Herlihy - Associate Producer Noel Davis - Casting Jean-Francois Lepetit - Co-producer Giovannella Zannoni - Co-producer Jenny Beavan - Costume Designer L. Justin Muller - First Assistant Director Jonathan Benson - First Assistant Director Maria Teresa Girosi - First Assistant Director Franco Zeffirelli - Director Richard Marden - Editor Harvey Weinstein - Executive Producer Bob Weinstein - Executive Producer Claudio Capponi - Composer (Music Score) Alessio Vlad - Composer (Music Score) Claudio Capponi - Songwriter Alessio Vlad - Songwriter Roger Hall - Production Designer David Watkin - Cinematographer Dyson Lovell - Producer David A. Stephenson - Sound/Sound Designer Franco Zeffirelli - Screenwriter Hugh Whitemore - Screenwriter Peter Childs - Draftsman Charlotte Brontė - Book Author

Jane Eyre
Zefferilli's film version of the oft-filmed Brontė novel is surprisingly short on omance. In the prototype Gothic romance, the eponymous young heroine (Charlotte Gainsbourg) takes a post as a governess at the vast abode of Mr. Rochester (William Hurt), a tall, dark, wealthy stranger, whose darkened brow betokens a stormy past. For whatever reason, Zefferilli has chosen to abandon his florid brand of romanticism in exchange for quietly tasteful production values without much in the way of expressiveness. Eschewing the evocative power of myth and archetype, he opts for realism and psychology in what feels like a romance between a shy bookstore clerk and a saturnine professor. To that end, he's cast the film well. Gainsbourg makes the heroine's quiet goodness and gift of insight believable, while Hurt emphasizes Rochester's pain and complexity, scanting the aggression and passion which is an integral part of the character. The excellent cast includes Anna Paquin, Joan Plowright, Billie Whitelaw, John Wood, and Maria Schneider. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: DDS: Dolby Digital Surround Additional Features: cc Theatrical trailer "All About Jane" special DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 116 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Opening Credits: Willful and Obstinate [8:33] 2. Next to Godliness? [5:25] 3. Correcting Nature [5:42] 4. "Forever and Always" [5:15] 5. Starting Anew [8:05] 6. The Rochester Estate [3:51] 7. Aiding A Stranger? [7:33] 8. "Better Than Some" [2:42] 9. Shadows and Beauty [5:10] 10. Honoring Obligations [5:22] 11. "You're A Fool" [3:38] 12. A Party at Thornfield [2:39] 13. "It Is Not Her Fault" [6:40] 14. Guilt and Forgiveness [4:46] 15. "As I Promised" [6:43] 16. Regrets? [1:25] 17. Mrs. Rochester [5:36] 18. "Don't Leave Me, Jane!" [3:08] 19. Recovering Strength [5:28] 20. "Our Happiness, Complete" [4:12] 21. End Credits [5:56]