Saturday, August 11, 2018

Off topic: "Jane Eyre" 1983 BBC miniseries

I ran across this little gem on Amazon Prime video.  I recall watching bits of this version while I was a kid in the 80s on PBS but never catching the whole thing.  "Jane Eyre" is one book I had to read in school that I genuinely enjoyed reading (besides "Pride and Prejudice").  I am one of those people that is a big fan of the "Pride and Prejudice" miniseries that ran on A&E channel back in the day with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.  I think this miniseries ranks close to that in my enjoyment of viewing.  The actress who plays the young Jane, Sian Pattenden, is fabulous in her outrage and passion.  She reminded me of Eleven from "Stranger Things" in her looks and acting.  It took me a while to warm up to the quiet acting of Zelah Clarke who plays adult Jane, but when she is onscreen with Timothy Dalton, the quintessential Mr. Rochester, she really lights up the screen.  I think Timothy Dalton nails playing Rochester.  He may be too "good looking" but that doesn't bother me a bit (haha).  He burns up the screen when he rants about his "secret" hidden upstairs when the jig is up and when he tries to convince Jane not to leave at a pivotal moment.  They actually have a popping chemistry together.  Jane's interlude with her cousin St. John Rivers (well played by Andrew Bicknell) and her long consideration and answer to his proposal is also a well done segment of acting.  Anyway, this was an eleven episode (just 30 minutes each) series was a joy to watch.  It may not be in widescreen or high definition, but the acting and writing is a must see for any fan of "Jane Eyre."  Now to watch that adaptation of "A Little Princess" from the 80s...

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