No one in their right mind would ever expect a fifty-minute TV movie version of JANE EYRE to ever work as an adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's lengthy bildungsroman. However, this production is pure tripe, tipping this gothic story into outright camp and not even good camp. The whole episode plays more like a mystery, starting when Jane comes to Thornfield and starts hearing evil cackling the moment she steps into the soundstage parlor. The horror-style touches are laughable, with everyone playing dumb about Bertha Mason's presence in comical ways. Jane Eyre is more of an airhead and Rochester is now a drunken, lecherous lout. The ending is just rushed as usual-- once again, I am reminded that cutting out the Rivers section mangles the story to the point where Jane's return just cannot work.
At the very least, they did not cast a hunk to play Rochester-- this guy is more the shaggy, harsh-faced character Bronte describes-- but that's about the best I can say about this version.
At the very least, they did not cast a hunk to play Rochester-- this guy is more the shaggy, harsh-faced character Bronte describes-- but that's about the best I can say about this version.
