Jane Eyre *** (1970, George C Scott, Susannah York, Ian Bannen) – Classic Movie Review 9163

Charlotte Brontë probably would not have liked director Delbert Mann’s smooth and glossy 1970 American TV version of Jane Eyre, which was released in cinemas worldwide. It is just too smooth and glossy. It won one Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition – For a Special Program (John Williams).

It is made on gorgeous Yorkshire locations (mistake: this does not make a film look more ‘real’, just prettier) so that all dark corners and sharp edges are gone, all beautifully shot in Eastmancolor by Paul Beeson. Nevertheless George C Scott (as Mr Rochester) does bring the weight and force of his dangerous, brooding personality to bear on the movie (this is especially satisfying because he is difficult to cast) and Susannah York is a very pleasant and appealing Jane. Their relationship is explored and its changes delineated with considerable success in Jack Pulman’s useful screenplay, as Rochester needs Jane more and she pines for him.

As with his earlier David Copperfield, Mann casts tellingly from the wide range of talented 1970 British thespians: Rachel Kempson (Mrs Fairfax), Constance Cummings (Aunt Reed), Ian Bannen (St John Rivers), Jack Hawkins, Nyree Dawn Porter, Kenneth Griffith, Peter Copley, Michele Dotrice, Jean Marsh, Clive Morton, Hugh Latimer, Angharad Rees and Peter Blythe. It is quite the vintage cast of the era, giving their estimable all as usual.

Composer John Williams comes up trumps, as so often, with a gorgeous score.

Oscar-winning film director Delbert Mann was born in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1920. He won for Marty (1955).

Other versions of Jane Eyre are: Jane Eyre (1934), Jane Eyre (1943), Jane Eyre (1968), Jane Eyre (1996) and Jane Eyre (2011).

The best George C Scott movies include Patton, Dr Strangelove, The Hospital and The Hustler.

George C Scott and Susannah York both also starred in A Christmas Carol (1984).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9163

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