Jerome/Jane: Hope you see this. I recently read a novel called Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher. It is Jane Eyre retold. In this novel, Jane is already 30 years old and has been living at Lowood all of her life, having been delivered there as a baby in a basket on the doorstep. The school took her in and gave her the plain name of Jane and the name Aire, after the local river. Jane grows up to be a teacher and a herbalist or apothecary/witch. Don’t let that put you off. Jane has all of the character traits that Bronte gave her. Mr. Brocklehurst, as miserly as ever, receives a letter from Rochester, asking to hire one of the “Lowood witches” to help him with a problem at Thornfield. Guess who goes; and there is a “horse scene.” In this scene, Jane retrieves the horse for Rochester, and in the course of their conversation, they introduce themselves and their new relationship. Rochester insists Jane ride back to Thornfield, and has her put her foot in the stirrup and hauls her up by her arm to sit behind him; and, of course, Jane records her reactions to this very close proximity to a man. From here the story diverges a lot. There are no guests, except the Ingrams; no gypsy lady, no adopted daughter, and no mad wife locked up upstairs. Miss Mason married Rochester after an arrangement with her father, and died of consumption shortly after the unconsummated marriage. This set of events drives the remainder of the story. I know your beliefs tend to bar you from occult matter, but I hope there is some room there for an exception. You might like this. It is a fun quick read, and parts of it are from Rochester’s POV.
Thank you so much for directing me to this! I just watched it! It was a fun little treat for the weekend before my birthday:) I found it very interesting that before the proposal and wedding Mr. Rochester admitted to Jane that there was a mental patient at Thornfield, but claimed she had been married to a member of his family. I noticed that Adele recieved her gift from Mr. Rochester, but right before the proposal. It felt like they wanted to take little details of the original story and sprinkle them around here and there. Like you, I also thought they would show the ripping of the veil once it was presented. I was surprised when that didn't take place, but oh well. Also, it seems like they spent more time showing Mr. Rochester chasing Bertha around more than the other versions did, which was an interesting choice considering how little time they had to work with. All in all, it was a very enjoyable adaptation, and again thank you for pointing it out. I miss watching new Jane Eyre content on your channel.
Happy early birthday, Kayla! I'm glad you were able to have yourself a Jane Eyre birthday treat! I thought his admission--so close to the truth!--was interesting too. At first I thought he might go all the way and I couldn't believe it. I did notice that, to borrow your word, they "sprinkled" little things throughout to reassure us that Rochester is a good guy. He's sympathetic toward Grace Poole; the way he talks about Bertha long before we meet her puts us in a more positive mindset about his treatment of her; he sharply orders Grace not to beat Bertha when she's attacking him; and he has that cute moment with Adele when he returns to Thornfield. Despite their limited time, they made it a point to show his good qualities and emphasize that, even though he made some bad choices and had a bitter outlook, he was redeemable. I'm so happy you also enjoyed seeing this version! For me it was super exciting to have a new Jane Eyre to watch and write about and share. I've missed this too. It was a huge pleasure to step back into Jane Eyre mode, and now it's got me reminiscing about all the adaptations and my favorite parts in the book. I wouldn't be surprised if I watch another adaptation soon. :)
Thank you so much for the shout-out Jerome! When I first seen this movie I didnt care for it. However, after watching a couple other old tv versions that could be considered worst, (especially the 1957 Patrick Macnee one) this one wasnt too bad. I definitely couldnt tell that Zachary Scott played Rochester who I knew from Mildred Pierce! I did like Sally Ann Howes as Jane but I do agree that she is too pratgy for the role. Joan Fontaine and the breck hair commercials are definitely my favorite from this dvd! Btw Sally Ann Howes is really adorable in the film adaptation of Dickens Nicholas Nickleby in 1947 😊
I've been living in Jane Eyre recently having went through your adaptation comparisons again, as well as a few minseries, and rereading it (just finished it last night) and was sorry for it to be over, so excited to check this one out! That was entertaining! My particular favorite parts was him calling Blanche a 'supercilious stick' and when they meet the night before the wedding 😂
Oh wow, that's amazing timing! I'm so glad that my video was able to extend your Jane Eyre binge and that you enjoyed the adaptation! Haha, that line made me laugh too, and yes! That scene the night before the wedding was very charming. Usually the story is building a sense of foreboding there, but it was kind of nice to take a different approach, and I liked seeing them have fun together. :)
Love seeing your enthusiasm for this subject that is dear to your heart! So did you say you were able to confirm that was Tippi Hedren in the Breck commercial? The clip you showed does look like her. And she was working as a model doing TV commercials during that time period. That's how Hitchcock "discovered" her. She was in a commercial for a diet soda that he saw on TV and he became infatuated with her. He instructed the studio to find her so he could do a screen test. But I bet you are already familiar with that story. The association with Hitchcock started well, but unfortunately did not go well after that. You probably know that story as well.
I didn't get confirmation, but I did find all the information you shared, and since the dates seem to check out, I feel pretty confident that it is her. :)
Although I don't follow "Jane Eyre" myself, one thing I admire about you is your dedication to the "Jane Eyre" lore. This is to you what stories like "A Christmas Carol" or "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" are to me. Kudos, J!
You can't imagine how thrilled I was when I got home from work this morning and turned on TH-cam while eating my breakfast. I tend to watch one particular TH-camr daily and his videos usually show up first in my personal feed, but today, I was instead treated to your smiling face. My first thought was "oh, this is one of Jerome's old Jane Eyre reviews". But then I saw that it was 1961 (hmmm, that date doesn't sound familiar....) and then I saw that you'd just posted the review several hours earlier. This was such a fun review to watch! I especially enjoyed your anecdote about "the Horse Scene" with your brother....nice way to sneak "the Horse Scene" into this Jane Eyre review 😆 Your passionate, run-on sentence decrying the omission of Jane's childhood and family and the theme of forgiveness (from about 11:30 - 12:45) (which is wholly understandable in anything less than a miniseries) was followed by your belated self-deprecating "don't get me started". Your love for the novel and its layers and depth are on full display. You're right, "Jane Eyre" is so much more than just a governess/employer romance! I'm always disappointed when they don't maim Rochester after the fire, too. C'mon, there's always the Napoleonic hand-in-the-jacket trick (used to great effect by Michael Jayston in the 1973 mini-series)....no expense for special makeup. Rochester needs to suffer a little, and how else can Jane become his literal right hand? And as you well know, I am definitely a "die-hard Jane Eyre Fan and Completionist regarding adaptaions" After napping for a few hours, I spent an hour of this rainy Sunday evening watching this TV program (at only an hour long, it just doesn't feel like a "movie"). I'm glad I'd watched your review first, and then rewatched your review again afterwards. As always, your commentary was spot on. I rented the show from Amazon Prime for a whopping $0.99 and may watch it again tomorrow. If I hadn't seen your review first, I would have found this truncated version annoying, but you'd already voiced all the aggravation out of the production for me. 😄 I agree with your observations - the St John proposal just seemed silly and out of place; the fire scene at Thornfield was surprisingly long; and the reunion scene is sweet. Overall, it was an acceptable adaptation. Oh, and I loved the Breck commercials. "Breck Girl" portrait ads were ubiquitous in women's magazines, I guess into the 1980s. Just seeing these commercials, I could smell the shampoo. Breck, Prell, and Head & Shoulders were the shampoos we had in our house back then...until LemonUp became popular in the 1970s (I don't recall if I ever tried that or not, but definitely remember the distinctive bottle caps). Funny how things just disappear from everyday life and you don't notice they're gone until you find out that they're now "vintage" 🤣 Thanks for yet another great review, Jerome! 🥰 P.S. Guess it's time to read the novel again, maybe even dive into one of the miniseries....
I'm so happy that you enjoyed both the review and the show! Thanks for coming back to share your thoughts on it. I agree, it feels wrong to call it a "movie" or a "film" with it being so short. I'm glad I could deal with some of the issues for you ahead of time so you wouldn't have to be as distracted by the odder choices and omissions. :D And yes, haha, those Breck commercials were a great bonus! My mom recognized them immediately and said they used those products in her family growing up. :) Same here! I've got a hankering to have myself a little Jane Eyre marathon...
I remember hearing about this version back in 2014 and was under the impression it was lost to time. Now you made my afternoon ❤️ Oh darn, I was almost looking forward to Fitz Weaver as Rochester.😅 10:52 that reminds me a bit of St. John in the 1934 version.
Another very fun Sally Ann Howes movie is Paradise Lagoon aka The Admirable Chrichton based on a JM Barrie play. Costars Kenneth More. Very funny role reversal story. Howes certainly has a touch of the blonde ice queen which makes me wonder how she escaped being drafted by Hitchcock…. People often compare The Southerner to the earlier Grapes of Wrath-Great Depression era rural poverty, etc.
I just saw this, and had to see what you had in your Jane Eyre project about it. It wasn't very good, but it holds up as one of the better short versions. The characters are off, and very little of Charlotte's beautiful dialog is exists. Adele is one of the better Adeles. And Jane actually puts out the fire without Rochester's input.
I didn’t know this version existed. I’ve tried to rent it on Prime but it’s apparently not available on this side of the pond. I think it is possible to buy a physical copy from Amazon so I’ll do that, I’ll just have to sit patiently waiting for it to arrive, not! I’ll be glued impatiently to the delivery tracking number I’m given and hopping on the spot waiting at the door like an excitable Labrador lol. It’s always fun to see new versions and it’s always fun to watch your great reviews on Jane Eyre and everything else. I’ll be sure to watch them twice lol For a brief moment when you first shared the image of Zachary Scott I thought it was William Campbell who played Trelane on Star Trek, maybe it was the hair. The story you shared about the horse scene and your brother was very funny lol. It is an important scene lol Hearing your thoughts about what was left out was really interesting and has made me even more intrigued to watch it. I was able to find and watch The Robert Goulet All Holiday Special segment today. Hugh Jackman did pretty well singing that section of The Music of the Night and Will Ferrell did a decent job too, surprisingly, although it shouldn’t really have been a surprise because you did mention that he could sing lol. ~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~
Oh, what a bummer! I'm glad you'll get to see it, though, even if you have to wait. I hope you'll come back and let me know how the physical copy looks and what you think of the adaptation! I see what you mean about a resemblance to William Campbell. I know Zachary Scott reminded me of someone when he first showed up, but I couldn't put my finger on who. Maybe that's it. I think the mustache, or lack thereof, is what made me fail to recognize him. I looked at images of him mustache-less in 1945's The Southerner (which another commenter mentioned), and I thought he bore a much closer resemblance to his older self in Jane Eyre than to his mustachioed self in Mildred Pierce, which came out the same year. Annnnnnd we're talking about mustaches again... I'm glad you found that video! I wasn't sure if it was on TH-cam or just something I had saved on my computer for a while. Yes, Ferrell revealed a hidden talent there. It's amazing how many actors and comedians are also great singers and gifted musicians.
@@Weiselberry I’m looking forward to watching it and will report back🫡 I couldn’t actually find the Saturday Night Live clip on TH-cam so I googled using different searches and finally put in SNL Hugh Jackman, Will Ferrell, Robert Goulet and I saw a link to the clip and thought Is it Ok? It seems Ok, will I risk it? Will I bravely perhaps foolishly gamble and channel the confidence and iron will from those few, those happy few, those band of moustachioed brothers like Ronald Colman and Zachary Scott to hit play on a clip from a website I wasn’t sure about, Ronald Colmans moustache would gamble and play the clip to see Hugh Jackman in the phantom mask and to hear Will Ferrell sing so I gambled too lol I’ve gone loopy with the moustache thing again :0 After some research I’d say the website was safe. It is funny how different someone can look with or without a moustache, I saw a video a few years ago where a mother walked past her son because she didn’t recognise him after he shaved his moustache, it’s bonkers. ⠀⢀⣠⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣶⣾⣿⣿⣶⣦⣴⣾⣿⣿⣷⣦⣄⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣄⡀⠀ ⣰⣿⠟⠛⢻⡆⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡄⢰⠟⠛⢻⣿⡆ ⢻⣿⣦⣀⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠋⠀⠀⠙⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣤⣀⣼⣿⡇ ⠀⠛⠿⢿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠿⠿⢿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠋⠀ ~ Thank you again Ms Weiselberry ~
Even though I'm not a fan of the Bronte sisters, (terrible 10th grade English teacher who made several books unreadable for me, including Julius Caesar, and Tale of Two Cities despite my liking Shakespeare and Dickens in general. We also did Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre back to back.) I'll like and comment to boost your algorithm.
Haha, thank you very much for holding your nose just to help me out! :D I'm sorry your teacher ruined all those books for you. I probably would love them less if I'd had to study them under someone I didn't like. As it is, the only ones I had to read in class were Wuthering Heights and Julius Caesar, but it wasn't my first time for either and I had good teachers who helped me appreciate them more.
Jerome: I'm a lot older than you, and I'm pretty well-read. But, admittedly, I'm a bit weak on wordy, long, 19th-century novels. Many of those stories are great, but a lot of the books feel like walking through mud. The good news is that they've made for some great film adaptations, much like Shakespeare. I've been enjoying your videos for some time, and you convinced me to give "Jane Eyre" a chance. I like Orson Welles, and I like Joan Fontaine, so I reached for the 1943 film. Short story: I liked it! I might watch another version or two. So, there ya go. I have a Bronte Sister under my belt. My mother would be proud. She liked the Brontes, Dickens, and Poe a lot. And, I appreciate Poe's 20th-century-style concision a lot.
Enjoyed the 1944 Jane Eyre with Orson Welles. This one looks interesting. There is a Dorian Gray 1960 broadcast here on YT. It's not bad. Creepy Dick Smith makeup too. Glad I found your channel after all the years you have been on.
There will be only one version I cherish and that would be the Orson Wells Joan Fontaine version with the haunting Bernard Herrmann score. It really sets the mood.
I have talked about Wuthering Heights a bit. Well, more than a bit. A few years ago I did a whole video on the book, including my thoughts on some of the adaptations. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/Vk4kWZdW2Ds/w-d-xo.html Not long after, I watched the 1992 version in its entirety, and I did a mini review of that in this video: th-cam.com/video/dHtuzwPLTcg/w-d-xo.html
@@Weiselberry I'm a big fan of Laurence Olivier/Merle Oberon 1939 adaptation. Wuthering Heights is a much darker tale than Jane Eyre; almost a horror story. They don't make movies like this anymore...
Hi J. I really liked this version, both the first and second viewings. Nice and concentrated, like Cliff Notes or maybe a graphic novel. I didn't miss the horse or Pilot the dog. The childhood scenes, however...it's a good thing many of us have read the original. Loved the acting, the music, the camera angles, all of it. And those commercials! I wonder if Breck Banish is still for sale. I shall ask my druggist about these fine hair care preparations. Great review, thanks very much.
I'm glad you liked it! And both times too! I can't say I missed Pilot either, since I completely forgot he was supposed to be there the first time around. Good luck on your Breck quest, haha! I was curious about the company, so I looked up Breck hair products. At first glance it appears they may still be available, but given the insane prices I'm seeing for a bottle of shampoo or hairspray, I'm thinking they might be unused relics people unearthed while cleaning out their grandparents' houses, and instead of throwing them away they decided to list them on eBay. Who knows, maybe shampoo and hairspray don't expire?
Jane Eyre is a totally different animal from any of Austen's novels. Time period, writing style, social commentary focus, heroine type, degree of romance, etc.: all different. I know some people like to set Austen and Charlotte Brontë against each other, but I see no reason to make them competitors. Their books have separate merits (and imperfections!), and a lot of us love both. :)
It's so wonderful to hear someone enthusiastic and happy 😁🎉 You have encouraged me to take an interest in an author that I have never in the slightest even sniffed at before ✨😏 It feels as though there has been decades of choice between soulless spangly gewgaws or grinding dirge and doom😢 To see your smile is the dawn chorus on the freshest of September morns with perhaps Neil Diamond humming along 💐x
Oh dear, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn has been on my watchlist for ages. I'm pretty sure I said I needed to see it back in 2015 when I reviewed the 1943 Jane Eyre (the connection being young Peggy Ann Garner, who was so good as young Jane), and here we are, all these years later, and I still haven't watched it. Thanks for the reminder!
Ms. Weiselberry, Finding misleading or wrong information on Amazon Prime is not uncommon, including in the cast list. About a month ago I watched "One Way Out" (1955), which is a British crime drama. However, the picture used in the description clearly showed Sidney Poitier and Richard Widmark, almost certainly from "No Way Out" (1950). Needless to say, I was momentarily confused trying to match that picture with the plot description of a very different movie. On another topic, have you ever seen "I Walked With A Zombie" (1943)? I don't remember if you've ever reviewed it, but it is a variation on "Jane Eyre" and one film historian even called it "Jane Eyre in the Caribbean". It was one of producer Val Lewton's horror movies and it was directed by Jacques Tourneur.
Yes, I've caught other mistakes on there with information and pictures. It's too bad, but I do catch mistakes everywhere else too. Erroneous information just runs rampant on the internet, unfortunately. I've talked about I Walked With a Zombie a few times here. I enjoy the movie; however, I'm kind of in the minority when it comes to the Jane Eyre comparison. I recognize all the similarities, of course, but I feel like some people go overboard calling it a retelling and whatnot. Maybe I'm too literal or loyal when it comes to the original, but to me there are too many deviations for it to be considered an adaptation or alternative version. It's a great spooky, atmospheric film, though. Here are links to videos where I've talked about it. First mini review from 2017: th-cam.com/video/I1hpYQVvM3E/w-d-xo.html Val Lewton video from 2021: th-cam.com/video/_oOz3deZjcE/w-d-xo.html Second mini review from 2021: th-cam.com/video/qbG_DTtf-78/w-d-xo.html
Those derided Victorians, who looked upon every man as a potential husband, certainly extracted every ounce of interest from a dull genus. Yet, while she respected the Professor's intellect, and genuinely looked forward to the visits of the young Welsh doctor, she resolved to go on buying Savings Certificates, for her old age. For she believed in God-but not in Jane Eyre. Helen's thought from The Spiral Staircase.
@@Weiselberry No it is not available. There is only a clip of it and a short review. It seems to be a very good version. The actress plays both Jane Eyre young and adult
@@WeiselberrySome people who have watched and reviewed the 1956 version said it's only available to watch on British Film Institute in London. It would be better if that show is available in public for the sake of completing in watching JE adaptations.
@@Weiselberry Curiously, both Stanley Baker and Zachary Scott lived only 5 decades. Both had cancer, the second, son of a surgeon, had a brain tumour. It is my impression that both deliver a similar Mr Rochester. Both have a similar completion , a strong presence, and a good voice. This version is too condensed but it is a good one,. There is no time for dialogue nor he could show his difficult humour. Both Mr Rochester show tenderness, love, and sweetenes in love scenes. I enjoyed when he almost kiss her!
This 1961 one is a rather poor adaptation, sorry to say. If you still love Jane Eyre, there are 2 hard to find adaptations recently uploaded on YT, the 1963 British one with Ann Bell and Richard Leech (a very good version, unfortunately 2 episodes were wiped apparently, Richard Leech is a wonderful Mr. Rochester) and the 1971 Spanish series (Maria Merlo and Rafael Arcos, a very fine adaptation with another great Rochester and the most terrifying Bertha I've ever seen in my life). Both Richard Leech and Rafael Arcos really look the part.
I intend to watch the 1963 version (what remains of it) soon, but I didn't know the Spanish one had popped up! For a couple years I've had a link to a site where you can view it bookmarked, but I've put it off because it didn't have subtitles. It looks like the TH-cam upload has English closed-captioning, which I guess is the next best thing. I'll definitely check it out!
Always hated this story…. Still do….. never liked Zac Scott….. glad that I will never watch this …. But maybe… I will check out your other reviews and maybe give one version or the other a chance….
Jerome/Jane: Hope you see this.
I recently read a novel called Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher. It is Jane Eyre retold.
In this novel, Jane is already 30 years old and has been living at Lowood all of her life, having been delivered there as a baby in a basket on the doorstep. The school took her in and gave her the plain name of Jane and the name Aire, after the local river. Jane grows up to be a teacher and a herbalist or apothecary/witch. Don’t let that put you off. Jane has all of the character traits that Bronte gave her.
Mr. Brocklehurst, as miserly as ever, receives a letter from Rochester, asking to hire one of the “Lowood witches” to help him with a problem at Thornfield. Guess who goes; and there is a “horse scene.”
In this scene, Jane retrieves the horse for Rochester, and in the course of their conversation, they introduce themselves and their new relationship. Rochester insists Jane ride back to Thornfield, and has her put her foot in the stirrup and hauls her up by her arm to sit behind him; and, of course, Jane records her reactions to this very close proximity to a man.
From here the story diverges a lot. There are no guests, except the Ingrams; no gypsy lady, no adopted daughter, and no mad wife locked up upstairs. Miss Mason married Rochester after an arrangement with her father, and died of consumption shortly after the unconsummated marriage. This set of events drives the remainder of the story.
I know your beliefs tend to bar you from occult matter, but I hope there is some room there for an exception. You might like this. It is a fun quick read, and parts of it are from Rochester’s POV.
"flibbertigibbety" 👍 What a delightful expression. I've never heard that before and had to look it up.
Thank you so much for directing me to this! I just watched it! It was a fun little treat for the weekend before my birthday:) I found it very interesting that before the proposal and wedding Mr. Rochester admitted to Jane that there was a mental patient at Thornfield, but claimed she had been married to a member of his family. I noticed that Adele recieved her gift from Mr. Rochester, but right before the proposal. It felt like they wanted to take little details of the original story and sprinkle them around here and there. Like you, I also thought they would show the ripping of the veil once it was presented. I was surprised when that didn't take place, but oh well. Also, it seems like they spent more time showing Mr. Rochester chasing Bertha around more than the other versions did, which was an interesting choice considering how little time they had to work with. All in all, it was a very enjoyable adaptation, and again thank you for pointing it out. I miss watching new Jane Eyre content on your channel.
Happy early birthday, Kayla! I'm glad you were able to have yourself a Jane Eyre birthday treat!
I thought his admission--so close to the truth!--was interesting too. At first I thought he might go all the way and I couldn't believe it. I did notice that, to borrow your word, they "sprinkled" little things throughout to reassure us that Rochester is a good guy. He's sympathetic toward Grace Poole; the way he talks about Bertha long before we meet her puts us in a more positive mindset about his treatment of her; he sharply orders Grace not to beat Bertha when she's attacking him; and he has that cute moment with Adele when he returns to Thornfield. Despite their limited time, they made it a point to show his good qualities and emphasize that, even though he made some bad choices and had a bitter outlook, he was redeemable.
I'm so happy you also enjoyed seeing this version! For me it was super exciting to have a new Jane Eyre to watch and write about and share. I've missed this too. It was a huge pleasure to step back into Jane Eyre mode, and now it's got me reminiscing about all the adaptations and my favorite parts in the book. I wouldn't be surprised if I watch another adaptation soon. :)
I love how you said "wonky"! Your videos are always a delight!
Jane's Eyre, Jane's theyre, Jane's everywhere.
Thank you so much for the shout-out Jerome! When I first seen this movie I didnt care for it. However, after watching a couple other old tv versions that could be considered worst, (especially the 1957 Patrick Macnee one) this one wasnt too bad. I definitely couldnt tell that Zachary Scott played Rochester who I knew from Mildred Pierce! I did like Sally Ann Howes as Jane but I do agree that she is too pratgy for the role. Joan Fontaine and the breck hair commercials are definitely my favorite from this dvd!
Btw Sally Ann Howes is really adorable in the film adaptation of Dickens Nicholas Nickleby in 1947 😊
Love your content Jerome! When it comes to books or movies , this is the best channel to be in
Thanks for that, Tony! :)
I've been living in Jane Eyre recently having went through your adaptation comparisons again, as well as a few minseries, and rereading it (just finished it last night) and was sorry for it to be over, so excited to check this one out!
That was entertaining! My particular favorite parts was him calling Blanche a 'supercilious stick' and when they meet the night before the wedding 😂
Oh wow, that's amazing timing! I'm so glad that my video was able to extend your Jane Eyre binge and that you enjoyed the adaptation! Haha, that line made me laugh too, and yes! That scene the night before the wedding was very charming. Usually the story is building a sense of foreboding there, but it was kind of nice to take a different approach, and I liked seeing them have fun together. :)
Another great one, Jerome! Have a nice week-end 🍻🍻
Love seeing your enthusiasm for this subject that is dear to your heart!
So did you say you were able to confirm that was Tippi Hedren in the Breck commercial? The clip you showed does look like her. And she was working as a model doing TV commercials during that time period. That's how Hitchcock "discovered" her. She was in a commercial for a diet soda that he saw on TV and he became infatuated with her. He instructed the studio to find her so he could do a screen test. But I bet you are already familiar with that story. The association with Hitchcock started well, but unfortunately did not go well after that. You probably know that story as well.
I didn't get confirmation, but I did find all the information you shared, and since the dates seem to check out, I feel pretty confident that it is her. :)
Although I don't follow "Jane Eyre" myself, one thing I admire about you is your dedication to the "Jane Eyre" lore. This is to you what stories like "A Christmas Carol" or "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" are to me. Kudos, J!
Thanks for this neat Jane Eyre movie review!
I haven't seen this version. Will have to check it out. Great stuff.Thanks!
That horse is indeed pivotal.
You can't imagine how thrilled I was when I got home from work this morning and turned on TH-cam while eating my breakfast. I tend to watch one particular TH-camr daily and his videos usually show up first in my personal feed, but today, I was instead treated to your smiling face. My first thought was "oh, this is one of Jerome's old Jane Eyre reviews". But then I saw that it was 1961 (hmmm, that date doesn't sound familiar....) and then I saw that you'd just posted the review several hours earlier. This was such a fun review to watch!
I especially enjoyed your anecdote about "the Horse Scene" with your brother....nice way to sneak "the Horse Scene" into this Jane Eyre review 😆
Your passionate, run-on sentence decrying the omission of Jane's childhood and family and the theme of forgiveness (from about 11:30 - 12:45) (which is wholly understandable in anything less than a miniseries) was followed by your belated self-deprecating "don't get me started". Your love for the novel and its layers and depth are on full display. You're right, "Jane Eyre" is so much more than just a governess/employer romance!
I'm always disappointed when they don't maim Rochester after the fire, too. C'mon, there's always the Napoleonic hand-in-the-jacket trick (used to great effect by Michael Jayston in the 1973 mini-series)....no expense for special makeup. Rochester needs to suffer a little, and how else can Jane become his literal right hand?
And as you well know, I am definitely a "die-hard Jane Eyre Fan and Completionist regarding adaptaions" After napping for a few hours, I spent an hour of this rainy Sunday evening watching this TV program (at only an hour long, it just doesn't feel like a "movie"). I'm glad I'd watched your review first, and then rewatched your review again afterwards. As always, your commentary was spot on. I rented the show from Amazon Prime for a whopping $0.99 and may watch it again tomorrow. If I hadn't seen your review first, I would have found this truncated version annoying, but you'd already voiced all the aggravation out of the production for me. 😄 I agree with your observations - the St John proposal just seemed silly and out of place; the fire scene at Thornfield was surprisingly long; and the reunion scene is sweet. Overall, it was an acceptable adaptation.
Oh, and I loved the Breck commercials. "Breck Girl" portrait ads were ubiquitous in women's magazines, I guess into the 1980s. Just seeing these commercials, I could smell the shampoo. Breck, Prell, and Head & Shoulders were the shampoos we had in our house back then...until LemonUp became popular in the 1970s (I don't recall if I ever tried that or not, but definitely remember the distinctive bottle caps). Funny how things just disappear from everyday life and you don't notice they're gone until you find out that they're now "vintage" 🤣
Thanks for yet another great review, Jerome! 🥰
P.S. Guess it's time to read the novel again, maybe even dive into one of the miniseries....
I'm so happy that you enjoyed both the review and the show! Thanks for coming back to share your thoughts on it. I agree, it feels wrong to call it a "movie" or a "film" with it being so short. I'm glad I could deal with some of the issues for you ahead of time so you wouldn't have to be as distracted by the odder choices and omissions. :D And yes, haha, those Breck commercials were a great bonus! My mom recognized them immediately and said they used those products in her family growing up. :)
Same here! I've got a hankering to have myself a little Jane Eyre marathon...
I remember hearing about this version back in 2014 and was under the impression it was lost to time. Now you made my afternoon ❤️
Oh darn, I was almost looking forward to Fitz Weaver as Rochester.😅
10:52 that reminds me a bit of St. John in the 1934 version.
I loved Zachary Scott in The Southerner. Just heartbreaking.
Hmm, I'm not familiar with that title!
This looks really good. Thanks for mentioning it!
Another very fun Sally Ann Howes movie is Paradise Lagoon aka The Admirable Chrichton based on a JM Barrie play. Costars Kenneth More. Very funny role reversal story.
Howes certainly has a touch of the blonde ice queen which makes me wonder how she escaped being drafted by Hitchcock….
People often compare The Southerner to the earlier Grapes of Wrath-Great Depression era rural poverty, etc.
Sister Jerome, I wasn't even aware that there was a PBS in 1961; you learn something new every day.
It was on CBS. :)
@@Weiselberry Silly me.
@@alandhopewell Totally understandable! They sound a lot alike, so you must have misheard. :)
I remember Sally Ann Howes from one part of the anthology horror film 'Dead of Night' (1945).
Ah yes, she was the young girl in that! Good catch.
I just saw this, and had to see what you had in your Jane Eyre project about it. It wasn't very good, but it holds up as one of the better short versions. The characters are off, and very little of Charlotte's beautiful dialog is exists. Adele is one of the better Adeles. And Jane actually puts out the fire without Rochester's input.
I didn’t know this version existed. I’ve tried to rent it on Prime but it’s apparently not available on this side of the pond. I think it is possible to buy a physical copy from Amazon so I’ll do that, I’ll just have to sit patiently waiting for it to arrive, not! I’ll be glued impatiently to the delivery tracking number I’m given and hopping on the spot waiting at the door like an excitable Labrador lol. It’s always fun to see new versions and it’s always fun to watch your great reviews on Jane Eyre and everything else. I’ll be sure to watch them twice lol For a brief moment when you first shared the image of Zachary Scott I thought it was William Campbell who played Trelane on Star Trek, maybe it was the hair. The story you shared about the horse scene and your brother was very funny lol. It is an important scene lol Hearing your thoughts about what was left out was really interesting and has made me even more intrigued to watch it.
I was able to find and watch The Robert Goulet All Holiday Special segment today. Hugh Jackman did pretty well singing that section of The Music of the Night and Will Ferrell did a decent job too, surprisingly, although it shouldn’t really have been a surprise because you did mention that he could sing lol.
~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~
Oh, what a bummer! I'm glad you'll get to see it, though, even if you have to wait. I hope you'll come back and let me know how the physical copy looks and what you think of the adaptation! I see what you mean about a resemblance to William Campbell. I know Zachary Scott reminded me of someone when he first showed up, but I couldn't put my finger on who. Maybe that's it. I think the mustache, or lack thereof, is what made me fail to recognize him. I looked at images of him mustache-less in 1945's The Southerner (which another commenter mentioned), and I thought he bore a much closer resemblance to his older self in Jane Eyre than to his mustachioed self in Mildred Pierce, which came out the same year. Annnnnnd we're talking about mustaches again...
I'm glad you found that video! I wasn't sure if it was on TH-cam or just something I had saved on my computer for a while. Yes, Ferrell revealed a hidden talent there. It's amazing how many actors and comedians are also great singers and gifted musicians.
@@Weiselberry I’m looking forward to watching it and will report back🫡
I couldn’t actually find the Saturday Night Live clip on TH-cam so I googled using different searches and finally put in SNL Hugh Jackman, Will Ferrell, Robert Goulet and I saw a link to the clip and thought Is it Ok? It seems Ok, will I risk it? Will I bravely perhaps foolishly gamble and channel the confidence and iron will from those few, those happy few, those band of moustachioed brothers like Ronald Colman and Zachary Scott to hit play on a clip from a website I wasn’t sure about, Ronald Colmans moustache would gamble and play the clip to see Hugh Jackman in the phantom mask and to hear Will Ferrell sing so I gambled too lol I’ve gone loopy with the moustache thing again :0 After some research I’d say the website was safe. It is funny how different someone can look with or without a moustache, I saw a video a few years ago where a mother walked past her son because she didn’t recognise him after he shaved his moustache, it’s bonkers.
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~ Thank you again Ms Weiselberry ~
Yay! A new Jane Eyre review! I'm a huge fan of your Jane Eyre project so I have to ask: there's no gipsy scene in this one? 😁
No, unfortunately not, haha!
Even though I'm not a fan of the Bronte sisters, (terrible 10th grade English teacher who made several books unreadable for me, including Julius Caesar, and Tale of Two Cities despite my liking Shakespeare and Dickens in general. We also did Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre back to back.) I'll like and comment to boost your algorithm.
Haha, thank you very much for holding your nose just to help me out! :D I'm sorry your teacher ruined all those books for you. I probably would love them less if I'd had to study them under someone I didn't like. As it is, the only ones I had to read in class were Wuthering Heights and Julius Caesar, but it wasn't my first time for either and I had good teachers who helped me appreciate them more.
Jerome: I'm a lot older than you, and I'm pretty well-read. But, admittedly, I'm a bit weak on wordy, long, 19th-century novels. Many of those stories are great, but a lot of the books feel like walking through mud. The good news is that they've made for some great film adaptations, much like Shakespeare.
I've been enjoying your videos for some time, and you convinced me to give "Jane Eyre" a chance. I like Orson Welles, and I like Joan Fontaine, so I reached for the 1943 film. Short story: I liked it! I might watch another version or two.
So, there ya go. I have a Bronte Sister under my belt. My mother would be proud. She liked the Brontes, Dickens, and Poe a lot. And, I appreciate Poe's 20th-century-style concision a lot.
I love your reviews. ❤
Thank you!
Enjoyed the 1944 Jane Eyre with Orson Welles. This one looks interesting. There is a Dorian Gray 1960 broadcast here on YT. It's not bad. Creepy Dick Smith makeup too. Glad I found your channel after all the years you have been on.
Nothing can beat the original uncut Orson Welles version.
There will be only one version I cherish and that would be the Orson Wells Joan Fontaine version with the haunting Bernard Herrmann score. It really sets the mood.
Have you done reviews of Wuthering Heights? I'm not sure which story I like best.
I have talked about Wuthering Heights a bit. Well, more than a bit. A few years ago I did a whole video on the book, including my thoughts on some of the adaptations. Here's a link: th-cam.com/video/Vk4kWZdW2Ds/w-d-xo.html Not long after, I watched the 1992 version in its entirety, and I did a mini review of that in this video: th-cam.com/video/dHtuzwPLTcg/w-d-xo.html
@@Weiselberry I'm a big fan of Laurence Olivier/Merle Oberon 1939 adaptation. Wuthering Heights is a much darker tale than Jane Eyre; almost a horror story. They don't make movies like this anymore...
Hi J. I really liked this version, both the first and second viewings. Nice and concentrated, like Cliff Notes or maybe a graphic novel. I didn't miss the horse or Pilot the dog. The childhood scenes, however...it's a good thing many of us have read the original. Loved the acting, the music, the camera angles, all of it. And those commercials! I wonder if Breck Banish is still for sale. I shall ask my druggist about these fine hair care preparations. Great review, thanks very much.
I'm glad you liked it! And both times too! I can't say I missed Pilot either, since I completely forgot he was supposed to be there the first time around. Good luck on your Breck quest, haha! I was curious about the company, so I looked up Breck hair products. At first glance it appears they may still be available, but given the insane prices I'm seeing for a bottle of shampoo or hairspray, I'm thinking they might be unused relics people unearthed while cleaning out their grandparents' houses, and instead of throwing them away they decided to list them on eBay. Who knows, maybe shampoo and hairspray don't expire?
Awesome! How would you compare Jane Eyre to Jane Austen's works? I've enjoyed Pride & Prejudice and Emma 🙂
Jane Eyre is a totally different animal from any of Austen's novels. Time period, writing style, social commentary focus, heroine type, degree of romance, etc.: all different. I know some people like to set Austen and Charlotte Brontë against each other, but I see no reason to make them competitors. Their books have separate merits (and imperfections!), and a lot of us love both. :)
Very good.
You are amazingly knowledgeable and interesting.
It's so wonderful to hear someone enthusiastic and happy 😁🎉
You have encouraged me to take an interest in an author that I have never in the slightest even sniffed at before ✨😏
It feels as though there has been decades of choice between soulless spangly gewgaws or grinding dirge and doom😢
To see your smile is the dawn chorus on the freshest of September morns with perhaps Neil Diamond humming along 💐x
didn't even know about this 1961 film. loved the one with fontaine though. any chance we can get a review of a tree grows in brooklyn 1945?
Oh dear, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn has been on my watchlist for ages. I'm pretty sure I said I needed to see it back in 2015 when I reviewed the 1943 Jane Eyre (the connection being young Peggy Ann Garner, who was so good as young Jane), and here we are, all these years later, and I still haven't watched it. Thanks for the reminder!
Fritz Weaver?!
Ms. Weiselberry,
Finding misleading or wrong information on Amazon Prime is not uncommon, including in the cast list. About a month ago I watched "One Way Out" (1955), which is a British crime drama. However, the picture used in the description clearly showed Sidney Poitier and Richard Widmark, almost certainly from "No Way Out" (1950). Needless to say, I was momentarily confused trying to match that picture with the plot description of a very different movie.
On another topic, have you ever seen "I Walked With A Zombie" (1943)? I don't remember if you've ever reviewed it, but it is a variation on "Jane Eyre" and one film historian even called it "Jane Eyre in the Caribbean". It was one of producer Val Lewton's horror movies and it was directed by Jacques Tourneur.
Yes, I've caught other mistakes on there with information and pictures. It's too bad, but I do catch mistakes everywhere else too. Erroneous information just runs rampant on the internet, unfortunately.
I've talked about I Walked With a Zombie a few times here. I enjoy the movie; however, I'm kind of in the minority when it comes to the Jane Eyre comparison. I recognize all the similarities, of course, but I feel like some people go overboard calling it a retelling and whatnot. Maybe I'm too literal or loyal when it comes to the original, but to me there are too many deviations for it to be considered an adaptation or alternative version. It's a great spooky, atmospheric film, though. Here are links to videos where I've talked about it.
First mini review from 2017: th-cam.com/video/I1hpYQVvM3E/w-d-xo.html
Val Lewton video from 2021: th-cam.com/video/_oOz3deZjcE/w-d-xo.html
Second mini review from 2021: th-cam.com/video/qbG_DTtf-78/w-d-xo.html
Fair point on the comparison. Thank you for the links! @@Weiselberry
Awesome stuff
Have you ever reviewed the Charleton Heston as Rochester television play? Can't remember the year.
Yup, I talked about that one in this old video: th-cam.com/video/mOuQCL_0kgw/w-d-xo.html It aired in 1949.
@@Weiselberry your video aired in 1949?
@@glennsmusic Yup, I posted it mere hours after the broadcast! Wise guy. :)
@@Weiselberry LOL!!!
@JeromeWeiselberry >>> I was just looking through your earlier videos and realized you have made a LOT of vids involving _Jane Eyre._ 😊
Wait, what do you mean, there's no horse scene?!
What does your t-shirt say? I can't quite read it on my phone.
It's a quote from the book: "I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will."
Those derided Victorians, who looked upon every man as a potential husband, certainly extracted every ounce of interest from a dull genus. Yet, while she respected the Professor's intellect, and genuinely looked forward to the visits of the young Welsh doctor, she resolved to go on buying Savings Certificates, for her old age. For she believed in God-but not in Jane Eyre. Helen's thought from The Spiral Staircase.
What about 1956 version?
That's the one with Stanley Baker, right? I haven't had an opportunity to see that one yet. Is it available somewhere?
@@Weiselberry No it is not available. There is only a clip of it and a short review. It seems to be a very good version. The actress plays both Jane Eyre young and adult
@@WeiselberrySome people who have watched and reviewed the 1956 version said it's only available to watch on British Film Institute in London. It would be better if that show is available in public for the sake of completing in watching JE adaptations.
@@Weiselberry Curiously, both Stanley Baker and Zachary Scott lived only 5 decades. Both had cancer, the second, son of a surgeon, had a brain tumour. It is my impression that both deliver a similar Mr Rochester. Both have a similar completion , a strong presence, and a good voice. This version is too condensed but it is a good one,. There is no time for dialogue nor he could show his difficult humour. Both Mr Rochester show tenderness, love, and sweetenes in love scenes. I enjoyed when he almost kiss her!
You should go to Britain and get a job as a tour guide in Bronte country !
This 1961 one is a rather poor adaptation, sorry to say. If you still love Jane Eyre, there are 2 hard to find adaptations recently uploaded on YT, the 1963 British one with Ann Bell and Richard Leech (a very good version, unfortunately 2 episodes were wiped apparently, Richard Leech is a wonderful Mr. Rochester) and the 1971 Spanish series (Maria Merlo and Rafael Arcos, a very fine adaptation with another great Rochester and the most terrifying Bertha I've ever seen in my life). Both Richard Leech and Rafael Arcos really look the part.
I intend to watch the 1963 version (what remains of it) soon, but I didn't know the Spanish one had popped up! For a couple years I've had a link to a site where you can view it bookmarked, but I've put it off because it didn't have subtitles. It looks like the TH-cam upload has English closed-captioning, which I guess is the next best thing. I'll definitely check it out!
Always hated this story…. Still do….. never liked Zac Scott….. glad that I will never watch this …. But maybe… I will check out your other reviews and maybe give one version or the other a chance….
Hm, if you've already determined that you hate the story, I doubt you'd enjoy watching any other version.
@@Weiselberry 👍👍👍😎
Why do you have a man's name ?
It's just a pseudonym I made up for the channel. Kind of like using the name "Mr. X"...
@@Weiselberry Why not Jenny Weiselberry ?