Jane Eyre (1942)

In my effort to balance my film knowledge, I recently watched Jane Eyre (1942) with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine, directed by Robert Stevenson, the screenplay by Aldous Huxley, Robert Stevenson, and John Houseman.

It doesn't matter how old a film is, or how many quality movies I see of recent production dates, there is no equivalent to films from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Wow. Orson Welles was overshadowed in his life and now post-humously by his brilliance of the radio play The War of the Worlds and the film Citizen Kane. But did you know he was also a dynamic actor? Even when he wasn't controlling everything in the process? Orson's subtlety of emotion whilst coexisting with his brazen nature was surprising and delightful to see. My favorite moment was when he ascends a hill and his cape flaps in the wind. Wow. And they say that John Wayne was the symbol of the masculine. Obviously not enough people saw that moment in film history. Phew! Mercy!

This black and white film tackles some intense themes, including duty and love, and while I have not read Charlotte Bronte's novel, I believe the commentaries that say this film remained true to her original vision. It isn't easy to distill a classic novel into a film, but director Stevenson was able to make it work. The lighting was stark and high-contrast, yet I can imagine it no other way.

To be fair to Joan Fontaine, she did a fantastic job of "standing up to" Orson's bigger than life presence. She never overshadowed him, nor was weakened by his strength. Rather, she remained poised and dignified without ever losing the femininity the role required. See the film for her as much as for anything.

Rating:
4 of 5 stars

Recommendation:
If you're looking for a classic black-and-white film about a love that endures, see this film. And keep your eyes open for that fantastic moment of Orson and his cape.