Movie Monday: Jane Eyre (1943)

Jane Eyre, the classic film not the novel, came as kind of a surprise to me. Typically, I am not a fan of Orson Wells (sorry, Citizen Kane!) because I feel that he, much like Bette Davis, had the tendency to make the films he starred in more about himself as an actor than the actual plot of the film. Anyway, I am here today to review Jane Eyre from 1943 and why this film surprised me.

I just happened upon Jane Eyre when I watched it the first time, and from the moment I started watching it I was hooked! In my opinion, this film was Joan Fontaine’s best work as an actress. She really showed her depth and range in emotion which is exactly what this role alone called for.

This version of Jane Eyre really captures what the imagination conjures up while reading the novel. Orson Wells plays his role particularly well since it was necessary he take the backseat to Fontaine in this role. This may be a controversial opinion, but I have always thought that Orson Wells was a bit overrated as an actor, director, and producer. This doesn’t mean he never had the potential to be great, but it sure seems that with all of the opportunities Hollywood gave him he somehow disappointed that people of that era.

I digress, Jane Eyre is a spectacular win for both Wells and Fontaine! The casting in this version of Jane Eyre was particularly well done. Wells and Fontaine really sold me on the fact that they were not acting but, instead, the actual characters they were playing. Lastly, I would like to mention the set of this film was also very impressive to me. For a 1943 movie, Jane Eyre truly captures all of the intrigue and magic of the novel!

Much Love,

Sarah